FOLLOW THE LEADER
Hebrews 13.17
S: Followership
C: Discipleship
Th: Our Time, Our Turn, Our All
Pr: IF YOU WANT A GOOD LEADER, BE A GOOD FOLLOWER.
I. ACKNOWLEDGE (Hebrews 13.17)
II. SERVE (Hebrews 13.17)
III. GROW (Acts 17.11)
IV. IMITATE (I Corinthians 4.16)
V. RESPECT (I Thessalonians 5.12-13)
VI. PROTECT (Hebrews 13.18)
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• Recognize God’s hand at work.
• Pray for your leaders.
• Be a joy to your leaders.
• Be critical in mind, but not heart.
• Imitate their godly example.
Version: ESV
RMBC 24 May 09 AM
ILL Authority (H)
A husband was off to his lodge meeting, but before too long, his wife heard her him come back into the house.
She said, "Hon, I thought you were going to your lodge meeting."
"It was postponed." he replied. "The wife of the Grand Exalted Invincible Supreme Potentate wouldn’t let him attend tonight."
Clearly, the Grand Exalted Invincible Supreme Potentate was having some authority issues!
Well, it is true that we live in a culture with authority issues.
In fact, we Americans seem to have an edge on behavior that is against the social order, propriety and rules of any kind.
ILL Rules (S)
I remember vividly, about ten years ago, Isuzu pushed the rebellion theme hard with a television ad showing a bald and repressive grade-school teacher barking at kids to "stay within the lines" while coloring pictures, because "the lines are our friends." Shifting scenes, it shows the same student, years later, in an Isuzu SUV driving all over the countryside, definitely outside the lines.
No doubt, the rebellion culture easily finds its way into the church.
We may not mean it to, but it does happen.
Perhaps it is because it is our human nature to do so.
Rarely though, does rebellion in the church work out to be a good thing.
When people play politics with the direction of the church, it usually leaves a lot of hurt people.
Which makes me ask...
Does the phrase “church politics” make sense?
Church politics is about power struggles.
It happens when we want our own interests over what someone else or what the leadership wants.
When we show more concern for our individual interest and opinion than kingdom matters, politics takes over.
We are more interested in protecting our ministry, our piece of the pie, so to speak, that we see others as competitors and rivals.
This principle about inner competition within the framework of the church structure has been named in our prayer action plan.
It was decided by the Spiritual Health Committee that there has been a pattern of behavior here that we need to recognize and change.
This is our renouncement:
We renounce behavior driven by politics, power, and control.
Last week, we discussed how we needed to disciple our tongue (not discipline, but disciple).
This connects with our topic this week.
When we play politics, the weapons of choice are gossip, unkind words, and the judging of motives as people vie for attention and position.
We need a change of heart, and so comes our announcement:
We announce our submission to the leadership God has provided for our church.
Since leadership has been given the task to love and care for the flock, then it is important that we cooperate with them.
God has given them.
We need to respond to them.
Thus our affirmation:
We affirm that we are to obey our leaders and submit to their authority.
Now if you think I am going to talk a lot about obeying and submitting, I am not, except to say that it is there.
It is plain.
And when we do not do it, it is disobedience to God.
So comes our commitment:
We will practice a church life marked by submission and ordered by a Biblical leadership structure.
We have been working toward a more Biblical leadership structure for years, and now that I am leaving, I want to reiterate the point, because it ought to be obvious that I have no agenda now.
It needs to change.
We need to move toward a one-board structure with elders.
Eldership in the New Testament always appears in the plural, thus the leadership of the church is put into the hands of spiritually mature people as described in I Timothy 3.
It is their responsibility to direct, lead, and care for the church family.
As far as the Prayer Action Plan (which we are to PRACT – pray and act) goes, this is not the only principle about leadership.
In two weeks, we are going to speak about leadership behavior.
So, this is not the end of the story...
But today, we are speaking of when we are a follower, because we are not a leader all the time.
When we are not one of the elders, what is our responsibility?
This is the bulk of our message today.
ACKNOWLEDGE (Hebrews 13.17)
First, we acknowledge them.
We acknowledge that they are the leaders.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
Recognize that God is in control of leadership issues.
Please note this...
Our response to authority reveals what we really believe about God’s sovereignty.
When we rebel against the leadership of the church – when we refuse to follow them – we are in effect standing against God’s placement of the leadership.
Thus, it is a rebellion against God Himself.
God has put authority structures in place for own blessing.
So when we oppose the leadership, we are making a statement about our view of God’s work in our midst.
Along with this...
Note that elders have responsibilities regarding the spiritual life of the church.
In reality, the church is a theocracy, which means that the government of God prevails, meaning the elders rule under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The church is not a democracy where everyone has a say in how the church is to be governed.
This is a common mistake we make in Baptist circles, but more and more of us are getting it, as we seek to fall under a more biblical structure.
The elders (which in our setting is the pastors and deacons) are going to have to give an account to the Lord in how well they have done in their leadership positions.
If you are not an elder, you are going to have to give an account in how well you have followed.
That is powerful, isn’t it?
It should make us pause to consider whether we are fulfilling our roles as we ought.
The second responsibility is to...
SERVE (Hebrews 13.17)
Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Be a joy to your leaders!
When you team up with the leaders, you become a joy and not a burden.
When you get involved, you energize your leaders.
When you actively follow the Lord and attach yourself to the mission of the church, your leaders get excited to achieve more for the kingdom.
When you humbly confess your needs, spiritually and physically, the leaders want to respond because being a family is what we are to be about.
Which bring us to the third responsibility...
GROW (Acts 17.11)
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
The Bereans knew what was most important.
They knew that...
Scripture is the standard.
As Christians, we have an obligation that is higher than our leaders.
It is the Word of God itself.
We have an obligation to hear and respond to the truth.
We need to keep this in mind, because we are never to follow any leader blindly.
Therefore then, we are to...
Be critical in mind, not in heart.
We are to think through issues that are presented to us.
This does not go away, whether we are a leader or a follower.
And it is the nature of evaluation that there is an allowance for dissenting conclusions.
But as we said last week, we are not allowed to be unkind, judge motives or gossip when we don’t agree.
We can think critically, but we cannot be critical in the heart.
But when is it right to challenge leadership?
Is there any time that it is legitimate?
I think there are two principles.
When a leader requires us to do something prohibited by Scripture, the leader should be challenged.
And...
When a leader prohibits us from doing something required by Scripture, the leader should be challenged.
But again, note, there is not room for a critical heart.
If you think there is a real problem, go humbly to the leader.
Speak to him as a brother.
Follow the principles found in Matthew 18.
Now we come to the fourth responsibility:
IMITATE (I Corinthians 4.14-16)
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
Paul offers sobering advice, doesn’t he?
He says, “Imitate me.”
He says it both humbly and confidently.
Elders are living examples of how to follow Christ.
This means then, if your leaders are truly imitating the humility and servitude of Jesus, you can and should imitate them without fear.
You can follow the leader.
You know, one of my favorite things to do is talk with people about the Bible and how it fits into their lives.
And when we do this, we get an idea about what is going on in each person’s life.
They discover what is going on in mine and vice versa.
This is, by the way, why I love to speak to people about their spiritual growth plans, because the Christian life is not a matter of happenstance.
It is a matter of being deliberate.
On a related topic, please note that not every pastor and elder possesses a dynamic personality.
Some are soft-spoken and low-key, but they are also faithful and diligent.
Never underestimate the value of an elder or a pastor that is this way, for there are a lot of leaders with the public dynamics, but the morals don’t match the orals.
They offer lots of counsel, not a lot of life.
You always want...
What you see is what you get...
This brings us to the fifth responsibility...
RESPECT (I Thessalonians 5.12-13)
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
Be a constant encouragement.
Give that pat on the back!
Openly trust your leaders.
Give them the recognition that they are due.
It is hard work.
It is hard work to admonish – to counsel, warn and caution.
It is hard to come across with corrective messages all the time.
But when there is a positive response, it energizes your leaders.
And remember this is as well.
Your pastor is also your brother.
The elders are also your brothers in the Lord.
Be encouraging.
Now we come to our final responsibility as followers...
PROTECT (Hebrews 13.18)
Pray for us...
If you are not praying for your pastor and elders, you are not doing your job!
Prayer is essential, for...
There is a giant target on the back of each elder.
In reality...
I often feel as if I’m wearing a giant target on my back, and Satan is aiming right for me.
I do believe it is his aim to disable the leaders in the church.
He wants to distract us.
He wants us off center.
He wants us paying attention to the world more than we pay attention to Scripture.
This is why we need your protective cover.
You need to be praying for us.
Along with this, please note that sometimes you need to really forgive your leaders.
They are not going to be perfect.
They are not gods.
They are going to make mistakes.
Nevertheless, your cover for them is essential, because by serving you, they are serving the Lord.
They need your cooperation.
Finally, I want to say...
IF YOU WANT A GOOD LEADER, BE A GOOD FOLLOWER.
A good follower is a biblical follower, one who supports leadership without compromising the truths of God’s Word.
In essence, a biblical follower is a disciple of Jesus.
Followers aren’t subordinates on an organizational chart.
You are, rather, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Recognize, please, that we are a team – leaders and followers – and we are all disciples of the Lord Jesus.
And we make each other better.
A good leader will enable people to be influential followers.
A good follower will energize a leader into effectiveness.
We are a team, pure and simple.
For Further Study: Numbers 12.1-15, 16.1-50; I Samuel 26.9-11; Romans 13.2; Philippians 2.1-5; I Timothy 3.1-7; Titus 3.1-2; Hebrews 13.7; I Peter 5.2-3; Iii John 4
BENEDICTION:
Now may the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
RESOURCES:
SermonCentral:
Abrahams, Herman Having the Right Attitude towards Your Pastor/Church Leaders
Damiani, Pat A Biblical Response to Authority
Owens, David Avoiding the Mistake of Rebellion
Sims, Brien Empowering Leaders
Thomas, Roger 3 John: Church Politics 101
Other Sources:
Leo, John. "The Selling of Rebellion." U.S. News & World Report, 4 October 1998.
Lindsay, D. Michael. "Take Me to Your Followers." Rev! May/June 2008, 24.
Mayle, Sandy. "How to Play Second Fiddle." Discipleship Journal2003, 64-69.
Moore, John. "How Far Should I Follow?" Moody, June 1984, 26-29.
