Exodus 18:13-26 13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” 15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” 17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” 24So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26So they judged the people at all times; the hard cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.
Intro. Should the church be like a general store or a supermarket? In a general store usually there is one counter with one person who likely owns the store and works hard to assist all customers. The store carries a variety of needs, many of which the counter person must reach or find for the customer and all customers must check out and pay at that one counter. The supermarket also carries a variety of products, most of which are arranged so customers can pick themselves and place in a shopping cart. The supermarket likely has a wider array of items and many more customers. What if it only had one check out stand like the general store? Would that help or hinder things? Well, it doesn't have only one. Because of the need to help more customers, supermarkets added multiple check out counters, express lanes, even self check out, and most have a customer service counter to handle situations beyond the scope of the checker. Why? When you add more customers you add a greater variety of needs and one person could not possibly handle all of that.
How does this relate to the church? In any local church are a variety of people at different places in their walk with the Lord. Some are able to find ways to help themselves but all need people to walk alongside them, answer questions, sort out issues, etc. relating to spiritual growth and relationship to God and others. If a church serves a few families of similar age, background, level of maturity, etc., it may be possible for one person to provide all the advice, friendship, examples, etc., they need but when you have several generations, marital statuses, economic backgrounds, levels of spiritual development, passions, interests, etc., it soon becomes almost impossible to operate like a general store. In order for one person to serve everyone most would be waiting their turn far too long and the ministry would not be effective.
As a local church with a range of peoples at varying levels of spiritual need, we must find a way to structure our activities and ministry offerings so that we effectively assist the greatest part of our congregation to make real spiritual progress, so individuals can look at themselves and know they are growing in their love for God and their love for others and really becoming Christ-like in character. We think that the advice given by Moses father-in-law, Jethro, is sage and wise advice that can guide us in creating a structure with easy and obvious steps everyone can take to assist their spiritual development.
How To Structure For Spiritual Advancement
First: Admit The Need. (v. 14) What is this thing that you are doing for (to) the people?
What's Wrong With This Picture? (v. 13)
Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.
1. It's now a couple months or so after leaving Egypt, Moses had lead them out by God's miracle power (see v. 8) through the Red Sea, through the desert, even into battle and victory with the Amalekites. Now he gets up early every day and handles disputes the people bring to him. "To judge" means to give a decision.
a. It stands to reason they'd come to Moses who'd spoken for and represented God to Pharaoh & all Israel. He says, "they come to me to ask God's answer" and Moses, being the "man of God" helps them to know "What would Jesus do?" He teaches God's ways.
2. For whatever reason Moses sees no problem. Perhaps this started out small. Two Judahites arguing over some gold jewelry an Egyptian had given them. Next day, half dozen from Asher, 10 from Benjamin, then an argument erupts between Ephramites and Manassehites, and little by little it grows. How many know it's easier to start something like this than to realize it's grown out of proportion & then get rid of it? Think "government agencies"!
a. So Moses opens the courtroom & all day long hears cases, makes decisions. All day long people wait in line to be heard. I wonder how many set up camp the night before to be first in line.
Face The Facts! (v. 17) The thing that you do is not good.
1. The problem with any ministry with more than a few people is that one person or even a few can't serve everyone effectively. Having too few leaders and workers results in serious problems.
a. The leader gets burned out (you…will surely wear yourself out) Moses could not be very effective doing all this alone: no time to get details before making decision; doing this day after day; trying to do other duties to lead Israel into Canaan, would wear him out.
Illustration: There is an indication he had neglected his duties as husband and father. Why were his wife and sons with Jethro? (v. 2-5) Moses’ father-in-law, took…Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, with her two sons…came…to Moses in the wilderness. Was he too busy to take care of his family?
b. The people, being underserved, become frustrated, impatient, angry, etc. (these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out). How many like to wait in line? Wait at doctor's office, grocery store, in traffic? This situation is like a 20 lane highway, feeding into one lane, and there is no alternate route, all the cars can only go this way. How many would give up, go back to their tents, complain about Moses (the church), decide to give up on God (just handle it ourselves, even if it's wrong), we just don't care. How would this endear them to Moses?
Illustration: There are several very funny commercials that show how customers get frustrated with tech support that has no staffing or resources and doesn't really know tech support. What would you do if you called for help with your computer, phone, internet, etc. and heard, "Hello, my name Peggy…" from a male voice with an obvious accent?
c. Resources are wasted. There were obviously people in this large group who were well qualified to serve the people. When Jethro says to find able men who fear God, are trustworthy, and honest, Moses looked around and there they were! When a few do everything it neglects the gifts and talents of many, underutilizes them, causes them to lose confidence in themselves, and potentially feel hurt.
2. This was a serious problem that Moses, first, had to admit, but the people also had to understand. Unless all acknowledged the need for change not much would happen. Even back then changing structures, traditions, "the way we've always done it" was difficult. Admitting the need is the first step.
a. Folks, problems like this exist in virtually every ministry setting today. There's always more to do than people doing it and usually a few are working almost non-stop to keep up with the needs of many. Studies used to tell us that 20% of the people in a church do 80% of the work but today they reveal it's more like 10% doing 90%. Can you say, The thing that you do is not good?
b. We are keenly aware that 100% of the people here need to be in relationship with someone who can help them have friends and grow spiritually. Myself, pastor Doug and Bill, our Life Group leaders can't fill all of this need. It's too much. We need to do something!
Second: Structure To Share The Load. (v. 19) Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel…(or here's an idea)
Unify The Vision. (verses 19-20)
Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.
1. Moses was still God's appointed leader. He must represent the whole group before the Lord, seek Him about their needs, questions. He was responsible for the overall content or scope of teaching, guiding, etc. He also would demonstrate how the must live (walk) as God's people and guide them in serving (the work they must do).
a. This is necessary for any ministry to prosper. God has a mission and purpose for each local church. Once found the leaders must promote it in a way that brings the congregation together and keeps them on God's path to accomplish His mission.
b. At Christian Chapel our mission is 2GO NDO – to transform all people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. To accomplish that we purpose to Love God, Love Others, and Serve the World. My role is to keep the mission in front, teach God's Word in support of His mission, ensure we are carrying out His purposes by creating structures so you can live it and be equipped to make it happen!
Ephesians 4:11-12 Christ gave…the church…pastors and teachers…to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church…until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord.
2. If we are all on the same page, working for the same thing, we'll all be being transformed and aiding others in their transformation, too!
Decentralize To Share The Task (verses 21-22)
Select…able men…to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times.
1. Set it up so every ten people has someone they can connect with who can lead, teach, help with decisions, walk together, and get access to more help when needed. Note: the most one person can be effective in leading is 12-20 people (15 is average).
a. This structure is very effective and productive with 3 million Israelites in the Sinai desert or with 200 Christians in Va. Beach. The delegated leaders "judge" the people on an everyday basis, build real friendships with them, learn together the things Moses teaches, help one another apply the teachings. When this happens most of the choices, disputes, questions of life get taken care of right there! The people grow up spiritually.
b. Within this the structure exists to take care of "great" issues. The leader of ten contacts the leader of 50, then 100, then 1000, and even up to Moses, himself, when necessary.
Third: Carry Out The Plan. (v. 23) If you do this thing, and God so commands you…
Embrace Necessary Change. (v. 24) Moses heeded…his father-in-law.
1. Change doesn't come easy. Even when we know that, "if we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always got," change is hard. Setting up new structures, parting with comfortable systems, letting go of familiar traditions, learning new patterns. They say the only ones who like change are babies with wet diapers and even then they can sometimes be stubborn.
2. If it is necessary the effort is worth it. If Moses didn't find a way to delegate his responsibility and authority how do you think he'd have kept the people together? They griped and complained enough as it was, why give them more stuff to get upset about. Someone has recently said that churches face either dramatic change or slow death.
3. We've seen a growing, crucial need for structural change in Christian Chapel. Our system for spiritual formation (becoming Christ-like) is not adequately serving and impacting most of our church. If this is our mission, we have to do something about it. We believe we need to be intentional about two things for this to happen.
a. Connecting people in the church to people so they can really become close friends, share life together, and develop long lasting relationships.
b. Then making these friendships the hub or center of Christian formation. Friends sharing the Word in life and growing together. We know this is necessary and we are ready to do it!
Do The Work (v. 25)
Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people
1. Moses moved quickly to carry out the plan. Probably took a lot of work to accomplish: select, interview, appoint leaders; develop some kind of training (what God had shown Moses, "how to's", etc.); finding willing leaders; connecting leaders to the people.
a. I tend to think they started with smaller groups getting the tens arranged first, then 5 small groups would be a 50, two 50's would be a 100, then ten 100's would be a 1000. In this set up, most of the day to day, powerful, effective ministry in at the ten level! The implication in verse 26 is that this worked well!
2. Last Wednesday we started a pilot Life Group that will move us toward the change we need. About 12-14 potential leaders are coming together to set up the nuts and bolts of a sermon-based Life Group system that we believe can be a structure for ongoing fellowship, connection with life long friends, and bible study and application. In a few weeks we will introduce the leaders and give you an opportunity to connect, make some friends, and get on a path to real growth.
a. We know this is not going to be easy nor take off and bring real results overnight but we believe it is essential for you and all of us to become more Christ-like by growing in love for God and others.
b. We are prepared to go all out in this direction. We think this will help people to move from being a guest to being a friend to being part of the family.
Conclusion. This is a new step but please don't see it as an added step. We're committed to simplifying our structures so it gives all of us the maximum potential to grow. In fact if everyone in the church would simply do three things I am certain everyone will grow and it will impact the entire church and the community. Here it is:
Love God – Consistently gather to worship together as one body.
Love Others – Join and participate in a sermon based Life Group.
Serve the World – Join and serve on a ministry team.
That's our purpose, our goal, and we can do it together! Let's pray!
