Title: God’s Model for Leadership
Purpose: To motivate the church embrace a Biblical model of leadership
Intro: 1. I want to talk about Models
2. What do you think of? Clothing, Plastic Model, A person to model after?
3. I think of the Model of the Bible Building at Harding. It was a miniature of
what it was to look like
4. Webster: 1) An object, usually in miniature, representing something to be made or
already existing. 2) A person who poses for painters or sculptors 3) A person or
thing to be imitated or patterned after 4) A person employed to wear clothing to
display them
5) That which strikingly resembles something else
5. Jesus is our model to imitate (He is also the model for leadership)
6. The Bible gives us a distinct model for leadership
a. One that is used of God’s leadership in the 23rd Psalm
b. One that Jesus used of himself in John 10
c. One that is used of leaders of the leaders of God’s people in Ezekiel 34
7. Model is not a Hireling or Cowboy or CEO/Manager, but a Shepherd
8. Text: Ezekiel 34:1-10 - Will look at this text to see why Shepherding model is used
a. Context: Condemnation of the leaders of Israel - calls them Shepherds
b. In the condemnation, we are given a picture of what a shepherd does
c. This picture will help us to see what leaders in the church are to do
I. Shepherds feed (or pasture) the Sheep (v.2)
A. An Elders ministry involves feeding the flock
B. Exposition
1. I Peter 5:2 - Peter tells them to shepherd (or feed) the flock
2. Not about doing the “deciding” in a board meeting
3. Get as many elders as you can, I believe
a. Doesn’t work well with board meeting model
b. Works great with shepherding model
c. More sheep, more shepherds, better off sheep are
d. Large churches often don’t have enough shepherds
4. How does the shepherd feed the flock? (I Pet 5:1-3)
a. Involves an elders example
b. They don’t just tell you what to do (lord it), they MODEL it
c. They are spiritual fathers, we are to follow their example
5. So that is the key, leaders lead (not drive) and the sheep follow
6. Jesus paints a picture of how this works in John 10:1-5
a. Context, the theives and robbers are the Pharisees
b. (v.3) Sheep hear the voice and follow
When my son was born, I could pick out his voice in the hospital nursery. I knew the sound of his voice
c. (v.14) His sheep know him, and He knows his sheep
C. Lynn Anderson gives a depiction of this in his book
"They Smell Like Sheep"
D. The shepherd leads them to green pastures where the food is good
1. Elders in the church see that the disciples are getting all the food groups
2. Ensure it is Sound (healthy) Doctrine. Healthy food.
II. Shepherds Strengthen the Sickly (v.4a)
A. Let’s face it, a flock needs Shepherds to stay healthy
B. Specifically according to this verse
1. He strengthens the sickly
a. Sometimes you have a runt, do you beat it to make it eat?
b. You hand feed it milk, not solid food
c. ILL: A runt cannot handle what others can
- Like frozen juice, can’t drink it concentrated
- Has to be diluted and taken over time
- Jesus at one point said “I have many more things to tell you but you can’t bear them right now” He gave them what they could handle.
d. The key to handling the sickly is gentle care
2. He heals the diseased
a. Many sicknesses
- Atrophy - Non use, non growth
- Food poisoning - From not getting “Sound” food
- Goatitis - Inflammation of the head, they start butting the sheep
b. Even deals with physical sickness (James 5:14-15)
3. Binds up the broken
a. Sheep stumble and get injured in this life
b. Elders are part of a trauma team - Ministry is to deal with wounds
c. ILL: The couple that lost a child, searched for answers, preacher
and others gave them theological answers & sent them on their way.
When they came to one of the Elders, he said, I don’t know,
and cried with them. He didn’t have answer, but knew the cure.
4. Shepherd feels for his sheep.
C. ILL: Strengthening the sickly involves regular examination
1. John 10:2 - He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep
2. Shepherd gathers sheep into sheepfold every evening
3. With staff, he guides them in one by one & examines them for injury & health
4. Not concerned about the flock, but about every SINGLE sheep
D. Is it correct to say to an elder, "it’s none of your business how I am doing"
1. Guess what, he is in the sheep business
2. His business is not in a board room in a chair, but among the flock (I Pet 5:2)
3. His business is not only to know the sheep, but to examine them
III. Shepherds Rescue lost sheep (v.4b)
A. Sometimes you have a stray that get lost in the rocks
B. The shepherd is personally responsible for the sheep
1. This is seen in one of the other words used for elders
a. Episkopos - Bishop, Overseer (don’t like words in modern usage because
of the current cultural connotations behind them.)
b. Used of Jesus in I Pet 2:25 - Shepherd & “guardian” of your souls
c. Guardian is responsible. Often have a parental figure in mind
2. Jesus describes what a Shepherd does: (Matt 18:10-14)
a. The shepherd will go out of his way to find ONE lost sheep
b. How does he know one is lost? He knows his sheep!
c. What does he do when he finds it -- BAD SHEEP! And LEASH IT?
d. (Lk 15:5-7) Adds more detail: “When he has found it, he lays it
On his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls
Together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them,
“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost”
e. Shepherds are firm, but positive. Thinks the best of the sheep
C. Example of elder rescuing a straying sheep: Story of man in adultery
D. Sometimes a shepherd runs into difficult situations trying to rescue lost sheep
1. But hey, the model shepherd, Jesus, didn’t he go through difficult situations?
2. Talk about going on a journey to find the lost sheep, look at the journey Jesus took
Concl:
1. There is more, and you will get the rest next time
2. We see in the shepherding model, that elders
- Feed the Sheep,
- Strengthen the sickly
- Rescue the lost sheep.
3. This is intended to show you what the shepherd’s ministry involves
4. Typically, we have thought these things to be the responsibility of the Preacher in the church
a. Denominations use Pastors; we do the same thing & not call them that
b. **When a board of elders hires a preacher/pastor, they wind up employing 2 inadequate models:
1) CEO
2) Hired Hand - Will bail when things get rough
c. Need to know what Bible says so we make good choice when the day comes
d. Don’t get me wrong, not downplaying preacher’s role. But it is different than elders
- Is a specific place for preacher in God’s Kingdom - to preach the word?
- Is a specific place for shepherds in God’s Kingdom - to shepherd the sheep
5. May think, none of this applies to me beyond knowing what to look for in leaders
a. Leadership is not limited to Men; it is not even limited to elders
b. The difference:
- Elders authority and sphere of leadership is the whole church
- Yours may be different
- In some respect all of you are Pastors/Shepherds
- Parents, friends, etc.
6. Understand how to shepherd, so you can shepherd those that need it.
