Leadership God’s Way Series

Sermon Series “Exodus”

Exodus 18:13-18

“Leadership God’s Way”

Pastor John Bright

Exodus 18 “13 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.”

Open #1- Today is the Superbowl. The world will get to see the QB for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes. He is an amazing 25-year-old player who set a variety of records during the playoffs. Could he take on the San Francisco 49ers all by himself? Could one great player take on 11?

Open #2 – We had a successful stew and bake sale yesterday. Thanks to all who helped. I think we should have another one next month and don’t worry – we won’t ask all of you to wear yourselves out again. This time – Ralph and Debra Jo will do it all! Deb can cook all the chicken, peel the potatoes and chop all those onions (and bake all the cakes and pies). Ralph can stir both pots for hours and hours – we can put them closer together.

I know what you are thinking – NO WAY!

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We left the Israelites last week complaining and eating manna. Now they have their first battle.

Israel's First Battle - Ex. 17:8-16

• Amalekites attack the Israelites

• Moses stands on a hill with his staff raised and they win as the staff stays up

• Aaron and Hur hold up the hands of Moses as he grows tired

There will be more military battles during their 40 years in the wilderness and then more in the Promised Land. Here we see the pivotal role given to Moses - but he can never do all that needs to be done without help. Remember – Moses needed help speaking to the Israelites in Egypt so God gave him Aaron.

Today we are part of a denomination with many differing beliefs. We are still sorting out some of those and General Conference 2020 should help (hopefully). But we affirm a belief that is essential to how we view the Church… at least we are “supposed to.” Unfortunately, we have replaced it with a business model where clergy are the producers of ministry and laity are the consumers of ministry. This model always breaks down and it’s not the laity that are burning out at an alarming rate! We need to recover a belief in the Biblical model known as the Priesthood of All Believers.

1 Peter 2 "4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"

Here – he is not writing to one person (a pastor) but to the whole church. In this description of believers, the words “holy” and “royal” show us who we are because of our relationship to God through Jesus Christ. Then we are called a “priesthood” – that’s what we do. The Church is both – who we are and what we do.

Moses is now reunited with his family and father-in-law. Exodus 18:5 "and Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God."

This is a good reminder, along with being tired in Exodus 17, that this mighty man of God is still a human being (approx.. 80 years old). God can us every believer - no matter the age - prayer/phone calls/ cards. Our older adult member could join us in ministry in so many ways. There are no “little” jobs in ministry and all are qualified.

1 Corinthians 1 "26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;"