A Change of Leadership
Deuteronomy 34:1-9
Introduction: A few weeks ago, Cathy and I were driving in the Houston area when we came across a bumper sticker that read, “I’ll keep my money, you keep the change!” I think that bumper sticker expresses the sentiment of a lot of people today. Most of us don’t like change. I certainly don’t. Every once in a while, my wife rearranges the furniture in our living room and it drives me bananas. I ask her, “Why do we have to move the furniture around? Can’t we keep it in one place?” As uncomfortable as change may be, it’s a fact of life. To live is to change. Change is inevitable in all living systems. People and organizations which refuse to change and adjust to a rapidly changing world soon become extinct. The late Bishop McConnell, began his sermon one day by asking: "The dinosaur? The dinosaur? What happened to him? What destroyed him? Nothing! The climate around him changed. He didn’t. He died!" One of the reasons, I’m returning to school to get my certification in Mediation is to enhance my skills and expand my tools for ministry. I believe we need to constantly improve ourselves and our skills and that means embracing a certain amount of change. Now I not suggesting that all change is good. Some change can be debilitating and even destructive. But change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This is particularly true when it comes to a change of leadership. In our scripture reading this morning, the Israelites were experiencing a profound change of lea
dership. Moses had been their leader for forty years plus. And now just as the Israelites were preparing to enter the land that God promised them, Moses was dying. Just before he died, Moses was allowed to see the Promised Land but he wasn’t allowed to enter it. The change for the Israelites couldn’t have been more dramatic. It was a change from Moses to Joshua. Joshua had been commissioned to succeed Moses. That must have been quite a transition for the Israelites to make. But it was probably no more traumatic than the transition many churches have to make after a long pastorate. I’m sure there were Israelites who thought they were doomed because they no longer had Moses to lead them. But God cannot and will not be limited to using one person. If you don’t think so, read the book of Joshua. In some ways, Joshua was an even greater leader than Moses, because he led the Israelites into many victorious battles when they were hopelessly outnumbered. The scriptures clearly and consistently teach that God can use anyone to accomplish God’s purposes. They simply have to be open and willing to be used by God. The same can be said about any change of leadership, including a change of pastors. This morning I want to share with you three practices that will help smooth the transition between pastors and allow your new pastor, Nancy Sherman to be a strong and effective leader here. Let’s begin with the first practice.
I. First, let the pastor be the pastor. Notice that in verse 9 we read, “So the Israelites listened to [Joshua] and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.” The Israelites didn’t demand that Joshua be exactly like Moses. Joshua had a different leadership style than Moses but God was able to work just as effectively through Joshua despite the differences. I’m often amused at how congregations expect a new pastor to function exactly like the old pastor. When I first came to this church in 1987, I followed a pastor who had served here for four years. Every time I tried to do something new, I was told,“You can’t do that, because Paul did it this way!” I was constantly told that everything had to be done like the previous pastor, Paul. It really set back the ministry of this church for several years until I could finally earn the trust of the people. How many of you remember the story of David and Goliath? When David first approached Saul and told him that he was going to fight Goliath in combat, Saul urged young David to put on his armor. He even dressed David up in a coat of armor with a bronze helmet. But David found the armor wouldn’t fit. David told Saul, “I can’t go in these, because I’m not used to them.” (I Sam. 17:39b) So David took off the armor and picked out five smooth stones from a stream and brought his sling. And the rest as they say is history. The point is, David had to fight Goliath his own way. He couldn’t do it Saul’s way. The same is true for your new pastor, Nancy Sherman. You need to let the pastor be the pastor. Don’t expect her to be me or to be something she’s not. She’s got to fight the spiritual battles her way, with her own unique skills and talents. Don’t force her to be something she’s not. Joshua couldn’t be Moses. David couldn’t be Saul. And Elisha couldn’t be Elijah. God uses each of us in unique ways because our skills are unique. We’re not all the same. Each of us has unique strengths. Celebrate Nancy’s skills and allow her to use them for the glory of Christ and Christ will use her powerfully and you’ll share an effective ministry together. And that brings us to the second practice.
II. Second, assist your pastor in ministry. While Nancy does possess unique skills for ministry, don’t expect her to do everything. She’s only human and she’s going to need your help. She can’t do it alone. You may recall the time Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, once gave him a timely piece of advice. Jethro had noticed that Moses was acting as judge for all the Israelites that came to him with disputes. Jethro told Moses, “What you’re doing isn’t good. You’re going to wear yourself and the people out. The work’s too heavy for you; you can’t handle it alone.” (Ex. 18:17-18) Jethro told Moses to find God fearing leaders who were capable and honest and to have them judge the minor disputes. Then he told Moses to hear only the most difficult cases. “That will make your load lighter, because they’ll share it with you...[and] you’ll be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” (Ex. 18:22-23). In the same way, Nancy can’t carry out the ministries of this church alone. She’s going to need your help. If you make suggestions for her ministry, be prepared to help her carry them out or else keep your suggestions to yourself. To do otherwise, will be setting her up for failure. Remember the pastor’s like the coach of a team. No team in their right mind expects their coach to get out on the court and play. Nancy can train and equip you but you have to get out on the court. Nancy has some great ideas and leadership skills but she can’t effectively lead, if you won’t listen to her and carry out the ministry. You’re the players. You live in the real world. And it’s you who have to get out on the court and play. (Hoosier’s Illustration: Movie Clip where the coach is speaking to the players at halftime and they are losing the game because they refuse to follow the coach’s directions. Approximate time for clip: 5 minutes.)
No team or church can be successful if it rejects the leadership and directions of its leader. Which brings us to the last practice.
III. Last, but by no means least, pray for your pastor. Nancy’s going to need all the prayers she can get. I know. I’ve been there. Being a pastor is no easy task. No one can pastor a church in their own strength. If they try they’re doomed to fail. Only the strength of Christ can empower and enable the pastor to face whatever challenges may come her way. Paul knew this and that’s why he once wrote to the Thessalonian Christians, “Brothers, pray for us.” (1. Thess. 5:25) Pray each day for Nancy that God will strengthen her for the challenges here and that Christ will grant her the spiritual wisdom to provide the leadership that Good Shepherd Church needs.
Conclusion: If you want to see a smooth change of leadership, let your pastor be the pastor, help her in her ministry and pray for her constantly.
