U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.
Fort Ord Chapel
Seaside, CA
13 April 2008
Big Idea: Good Pastors are rare because they sacrifice life activities for their parishioners, by trying to lead like Jesus.
Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration); Jeremiah 6:16 (CEV) The LORD said: My people, when you stood at the crossroads, I told you, "Follow the road your ancestors took, and you will find peace." But you refused.; John 10:1-12 (NIV); Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” 1 Timothy 5:18 (KJV) For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward; Luke 10:7 (KJV) And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house; John 14:12 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father; Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you, … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD …"; Numbers 20:1-12; Numbers 27:15-17 (NIV) Moses said to the LORD, "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."’
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: John 10:1-12 (NIV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: John 10:1-12 (NIV)
III. READ THE TEXT: John 10:11 NIV (I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that Good Pastors are rare, because they sacrifice life activities for their parishioners by trying to lead like Jesus.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “How To Tell If You Have A Good Pastor”
VI. Introduction: How To Tell If You Have A Good Pastor. Good Pastors are hard to find. In fact, my favorite pastor of all time is Moses. Who can ever forget the story of Moses (in Numbers 20:1-12), and how he provided selfless pastoral leadership to the whining and complaining people of God? For don’t you remember, in the Book of Numbers – Chapter 20:1 – we learn of Moses’ sister’s (Miriam) death.
Of course, you remember Miriam. She was the sister that whinnied and complained so much (against Pastor Moses) that God struck her with leprosy. Caring for God’s people is challenging. So many times throughout the Book of Numbers, we find Moses and Aaron constantly going before God on behalf of the people. Simply, because the people of God were never satisfied.
Yet, the people of Israel then - mirrors church folk of today. If it’s not one thing’ it’s another. In fact, you may recall the People of God complaining about their need for water for themselves and their animals. Moses and Aaron once again carried the people concerns before God. As a result, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock (in Zin) and out of the rock would flow water for the people and their animals.
But, my hunch is, the more Moses thought about how much the people whined and how ungrateful they seemed to be, in spite of all God had done for them, it angered him. So much so, that the scriptures indicate that instead of Moses doing exactly what God told him to do; he struck the rock.
By striking the rock, Moses caused God “not” to get the glory that God deserved. As result, God told Moses - in Number 27 - that he would not be able to enter into the Promised Land. Now, I’ll be honest with you; if God had informed me, that due to my act of disobedience - which was brought on by the people that I served as pastor - I wasn’t going to enter the promised land, I probably would have been pretty upset.
But, Moses understood God. And, as a result, he didn’t display any sign of being concern about himself. He simply asks God to appoint a leader for the people that would lead them out and bring them in. For don’t you remember: “Moses said to the LORD, 1"May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:15-17 - NIV)"
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: Like Moses, Good Pastors are rare. The reason why they are rare is because they sacrifice life activities for their parishioners by trying to lead like Jesus.
a. Now, my brothers and my sisters, the Bible uses the metaphors: “Good Shepherd, Sheep, and Hireling” to suggest a resemblance between a Pastor and his congregation.
b. The metaphor - “Hireling” is used in the Bible to depict a “worldly” Pastor who really doesn’t care about his flock. He only cares about the wages received for looking after the flock.
c. A few weeks ago, on Fox News, there was an incident involving “a Nanny who apparently took a job to care for two newborn babies.
d. According to Fox News, the mother of the twins had done her homework, because the Nanny came highly recommended with a pretty good resume’ and lots of great references.
e. However, before the mother returned to work, she secretly purchased a Nanny Camera.
f. She hid the camera in her home, in a place, where the Nanny would most likely spend most of her time caring for the twins.
g. Later, while at work, the mother decided to check-in on the Nanny who was caring for her twins; and to her surprise, she witness the Nanny abusing her newborn babies.
h. Like a hireling, this Nanny was working only for the wages; and she cared less about the twins.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: The word “Hireling” occurs 6 times in the Old Testament; and in the New Testament it only occurs in John 10:12.
a. Unfortunately, today, we have “hireling” in all aspects of our government, as well as, educational institutions, churches, hospitals, and other organizations. In fact, to some degree today, if some of us didn’t really care about the people we serve; we might all be considered “hirelings”.
b. Which of you would go to work all of next week, and the following week (with the right attitude) if you were not going to be paid (or compensated) in any form or fashion?
c. I suspect not many. Work is a mean by which many of us gain income in order to provide for our families; and to pay the bills that we’ve incurred.
d. We know that the Bible teaches the importance of work. Paul tells us (in 2 Thessalonians 3:10b) that a “man that doesn’t work, shouldn’t eat.”
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: Because, the Bible says in 1 Timothy 5:18 (KJV) that “… the labourer is worthy of his reward.” Reward meaning wages.
a. Therefore, I submit to you today, there are hirelings, pretending to be pastors, serving God’s people without any personal interest in God’s people spiritual success.
b. They care less about how well their parishioners are handling their daily struggles and troubles.
c. Instead, they are more concern about the frequency and the amount of their pastoral pay.
d. So, my brothers and sisters, the question is "How Can You Tell If You Have a Good Pastor?"
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: In a Book dubbed, “Lead like Jesus” by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, the readers are encouraged to model their life, both in work and church, after Jesus.
a. For Jesus (as a Servant-Leader) was and Is the most successful leader of all times.
b. For don’t you remember, in a period of 3 years, “Jesus transformed twelve ordinary and unlikely people into the First Generation of Leaders of A MOVEMENT that continues to affect the COURSE OF WORLD HISTORY some two thousand years later.
c. So, it makes perfect sense to me, if I’m going to successfully lead in any aspects of this life, or encourage others to become successful leaders, I’m going to have to lead like Jesus.
d. It doesn’t matter. Wherever I’m placed, in order to be viewed by God as successful, both spiritually and naturally, I have to lead like Jesus.
e. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV): “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: Likewise, in our text today, we find Jesus (Himself) acknowledging that He is a Good Pastor; but He also tells us why He is a Good Pastor.
a. And the bottom-line up front:
b. … He’s a Good Pastor because He sincerely cares about all of His parishioners:
c. … the newcomers, children, older people, singles, families, and shut-ins and hospitalized.
d. Jesus Cares, and He’s willing to sacrifice His life activities for His MEMBERS.
e. For don’t you remember, the scripture says (in John 10:11-12): I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: So, the question is “How Do WE determine If WE Have A Good Pastor?”
a. There are at least two questions to ask ourselves in order to determine if we have a Good Pastor.
b. The first question to ask: Does the Pastor try to lead like Jesus?
c. In other words, does the Pastor cares about the entire congregation?
d. Are their new members; and is their a ministry geared around the new members?
e. Are their children in your church? And are their ministries that are geared around the children? Are their older people in your church?
f. And are their ministries that are geared specifically around the older people.
g. Are their singles in your church? And are their ministries that are geared around the singles in your church?
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 7: Are their members in the hospital or shut-in their homes in your church? And are their ministries geared around ministering to the hospitalized and shut-ins in your church?
a. Are their married couples in your church? And are their ministries that are geared around the married couples in your church.
b. Jesus ministers to all of us.
c. He doesn’t care about the geographical area from which I’ve come; and he doesn’t care if I am an “only child” or one of many children.
d. Jesus doesn’t care if I’m introvert or extrovert. He loves me in spite of me.
e. So, the question is … Is your pastor trying to lead like Jesus.
g. It was Jesus, himself, that said in John 14:12 (KJV): Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
h. So, the first question we should ask ourselves to determine if our pastor is a Good Pastor is … Does the Pastor “try” to lead like Jesus?
i. Any sincere attempt to minister to the entire congregation is a sincere attempt to “lead like Jesus”.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 8: For when the pastor ministers to the entire congregation, He is endeavoring to prepare and protect the congregation from the WOLVES of THIS WORLD.
a. The second question to ask, ourselves, in order to determine if we have a Good Pastor:
b. Does the Pastor sacrifice life activities for the parishioners?
c. In other words, if you’re are in a crisis, and is in desperate need of spiritual guidance, will your pastor (whoever he/she is) take time out of his busy schedule to counsel you if He can …
d. Or will he past that responsibility on to someone else?
e. The scriptures says (in John 10:12): …he that is an hireling… seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them …
f. So, if your pastor is seemingly willing to stand with you (and your family) in the midst of tough times … He or She is trying to “lead like Jesus”.
g. My brothers and sisters … we are living in a day and time when many leaders in Christendom are compromising their churches and Christ Standards;
******* 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION: But … those that are trying to lead like Jesus are STANDING up against immoralities, and are boldly saying that God’s WORD and STANDARDS haven’t change.
Those that are trying to “lead like Jesus” understand that Jesus never sends us into any Job or LEADERSHIP Situation alone … or with a flawed plan or a plan to fail:
Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV) says:
For I know the plans I have for you, … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD …
