Dakota Community Church
July 12, 2009
The Field & the Force 4
What of Pastors and Elders?
So far we have looked at:
1. When the Church is the field
When the church is the field it is seen as the place people come to do the work of God.
2. When the Church is the (labor) force
When the church becomes the force – the world becomes the field.
3. When and where is the gospel to be proclaimed?
The gospel is to be proclaimed everywhere and in every way!
4. In what ways is the force mobilized?
Just how do we get out there and work in the field?
Today I want to move back into looking at life within the Body of Christ and address a few issues that concern the work and the workers who are called to build up and equip the church to get out there into the field.
I have heard it said that pastors do not win people to Christ because “Shepherds don’t have sheep, sheep have sheep”!
5. What is the role of pastors and elders?
A. Is spiritual leadership even a scriptural idea?
Should we even have pastors and elders?
Don’t we all walk in relationship with God and if so why would we need spiritual leadership?
1 Peter 5:1-5
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Acts 20:28-31
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!
I Timothy 3:1-7
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Titus 1:5-9
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Key roles related to church leadership, as described in 1 Peter 5:1–5 and elsewhere in Scripture:
Chief Shepherd: Jesus is the Senior Pastor of every Bible-believing church.
... when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
First among equals: Elders/pastors should work within teams of peers, but a first among equals must take leadership responsibility for each team. Peter was a primary leader in the early church, but also a “fellow elder.”
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings...
Shepherds: Overseers (pastors/elders) of the flock that is the church.
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing
Sheep: The congregation (including the pastors).
...not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Wolves: False teachers and divisive members of the congregation.
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
B. Should our spiritual leaders be paid?
1 Corinthians 9:3-14
This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
1Timothy 5:17-18
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
What about these mega church millionaire pastors; is that right?
1 Peter 5:2 – “not greedy for money”
1 Tim. 3:3 – “not a lover of money”
Titus 1:7 – “not pursuing dishonest gain”
2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.
C. What does the role of pastor/elder involve?
i.) Feed the sheep.
Luke 12:40-46
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose the servant says to himself, ’My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
ii.) Protect the sheep.
Acts 20:28-31
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!
There are savage wolves that will come in amoung us.
What do you think they will look like? How will they act?
Will they stand up and announce, “Hello, I am here to distort the truth and draw people away from the gospel.”
Notice: They “will not spare the flock”.
It doesn’t matter who gets hurt; it’s not about the flock, it’s about them.
What about if the wolves have gained leadership positions?
What if questioning false doctrine gets you labeled as divisive?
You may have to leave that place.
Titus 1:9-11
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
It is not divisive to refute those who oppose sound doctrine… it is required!
iii.) Equip the sheep.
Ephesians 4:11-14
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Pastors are called to lead like Jesus, the Senior Pastor, as prophets, priests, and kings. Different pastors are better suited for each of these roles:
• Prophets Feed! They are gifted communicators (preaching and writing) and “shepherd the flock” as a large group.
• Priests Protect! They are gifted counselors and “shepherd the flock” on a more personal basis, working with individuals and small groups.
• Kings Equip! They are gifted administrators who “exercise oversight” over the flock by ensuring good stewardship and sound leadership overall.
D. What could go wrong?
This all fairly straight forward so... what could possibly go wrong?
Remember last week talking about what happened as soon as growth occurred?
A DISPUTE BROKE OUT!
Peter identifies the most significant threats to pastoral leadership and, consequentially, the church.
1 Peter 5:1-5
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Leading for the wrong reasons!
Serving ...not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be...
Leadership in the church is call to serve, not to be served.
This is not to be done out of a sense of duty; not to be done for selfish reasons; but instead to be done out of a heart of service to God and His people.
Ministry is a lifestyle not an occupation!
Leading for financial gain!
...not greedy for money, but eager to serve...
Ministry should not serve as a side business or an excuse to get a tax break.
A church should compensate their pastor, but the pastor must work for Jesus–not money.
Leading for positional power!
...not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
How do you know when someone is leading for positional power rather than service?
- They are all about being in authority, not so much about being under it.
- They control others by use of fear tactics.
- There is no tolerance of conflicting view points and no discussion.
- Jesus is backing their leadership; they are not following Him.
- They are threatened by the talents of others.
Leading for the approval of man!
...when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory...
The old saying goes that we preach for an audience of one!
Trying to please man is a recipe for disaster.
We cannot and will not have “peace at any price”.
Leading from a heart of selfish pride!
... Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
All sin originates from pride.
Pride is satanic. Ezekiel 28).
Isaiah 14:12-17
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!
You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."
But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate:
"Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?"
Ezekiel 28:12-17
’This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
" ’You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.
You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.
You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.
Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.
Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.
The force is to be lead by men who seek humility by the grace of God and rely DAILY on the gospel of Christ who washes and cleanses us of our sin by His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
In the coming weeks:
6. How do I know my part?
7. The Force at rest.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
