How to Get the Most out of Your Leaders
1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
Intro: This is a rather strange passage for a pastor to preach to his congregation. It would seem more appropriate coming from some of you, or from a 3rd party. However, here we are. Let me just say that I am a very blessed pastor. God is leading us and we sense that our whole church really wants to reach out and make a difference in people’s lives. It is a privilege to serve here in Elgin!
-However, we can always grow and improve and become more effective in reaching our community with the good news about Jesus. And, the truth is, that somewhere down the road you will have different leaders who might go about things differently. While you certainly aren’t expected to agree with everything, I hope that you will hang on to some of the principles we find today from these verses. Because if you treat them the way Paul says, you will motivate them to be all they can be and do all they can do for the Lord and His church. And if you don’t follow Paul’s advice, you may find yourself working against everything the Lord is trying to accomplish in and through His church.
-Let me just say from the beginning that church leadership is not about being the boss or having the authority over everyone else. It is a position of servanthood and humility. Good leaders are good followers who are following the Lord’s call on their lives to reach a lost world through a thriving, healthy church! My plan today is to cover 5 of 11 dynamics that will maximize and bless the ministry of church leaders. Next week we will try to cover the rest of them. Let’s jump in! How can you get the most out of your church leaders?
1. Respect them (12)
-V.12 gives 3 identifying marks of church leaders. They work hard among God’s people, they are over God’s people as protectors (much like a shepherd watches over his sheep), and they admonish (warn or instruct) God’s people. So who is Paul talking about here? Ephesians 4:11-12 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
-Some scholars believe that acknowledging the leader is what best goes with this idea of respect. What would be the opposite of acknowledging someone? Simply ignoring what they say or do. Someone might say, “I’ll put up with that leader, but I don’t have to acknowledge them. I don’t have to do what they say. I don’t answer to them. I only answer to God.” I’m sure glad none of you do this, but you might be surprised how many people in other places have this kind of attitude toward leaders.
-We all have the need to be respected, but for men especially it is a felt need. Dr. Emerson Eggerich wrote a book called Love & Respect. It is geared primarily for married people, but the dynamics of love and respect also show up in other relationships. When there is a lack of love and respect it creates a vicious cycle of what feels like rejection. For example, if a pastor is seen as unloving and uncaring, then the people under his care might say something that would help reform him. And the pastor, being human, might not understand that they actually just want to feel loved and valued, and he interprets their reform efforts as a lack of respect. As a result, he might feel hurt, and might have even more trouble showing love and caring for those who seem to be opposing him.
-I really don’t think this is a stretch at all. In fact, I would venture to say that something similar has probably happened right here at CLC sometime in the past. Sometimes, a pastor will leave a church because he never seems to learn to speak the love language of the people, and he feels like he is not respected. So he looks for greener grass and the people look for a more loving pastor. Now I hope you know that I’m not addressing a problem here at CLC, but I think it is good for us to be aware of the dynamics of human relationships – even in our spiritual relationships. So, if you want to get the most out of your leaders, learn to speak the language of respect to them. And ladies, if you want to get your husband to turn away from the TV for a moment, just tell him how much you respect him. Be sincere though (don’t say it if you don’t really mean it and haven’t thought about why you respect him), because he will ask you reasons for the hope that is in you.
2. Love them wholeheartedly (13a)
-The reason to love your leaders, according to Paul is because of their work. What kind of work did they do? The work Paul referred to in v.12. Peter provides some insight into what kind of work a church leader does: 1 Peter 5:1-4 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: 2 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; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
-And back to Paul, he addressed the church leaders in Ephesus: Acts 20:28 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.
-Jesus had a lot to say about the heart of a shepherd as well. In John 10 He said that a real shepherd is willing to give his life for the sheep.
-So how can you get the most out of your church leaders? Respect them and Love them. And why should you love them? Because they are working hard on your behalf to protect you, to help you grow, to see that you are receiving the spiritual nourishment you need, to warn you when danger is near, and to be an example to you of how to follow the Chief Shepherd, Jesus.
-Now in the points that follow, Paul seems to be giving general instructions to the Thessalonians, but I’d like to look at them through the same lens we’ve been using in the first couple of points. These are ways you can help your leaders. These are ways you can help the whole church family.
3. Get along with one another (13b)
-If your leaders are spending their energies breaking up squabbles or trying to resolve people’s differences, they won’t have enough time or energy left to do what they are called to do – reaching people with the gospel and training others to do the same.
-Live at peace with one another. Unity is so important! If we cannot be at peace with one another, why would anyone think that we could help them find peace with God? If you’re not good at resolving conflict, then get some help with conflict management methods. Start by reading 1 Corinthians 13 and move on to Colossians 3:12-17 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
4. Help Share Some of the Ministry Load (14)
A. Warn those who are idle - 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
B. Encourage those who are timid (faint-hearted, maybe from persecution, hard
times, or confusion about Christ’s return)
C. Help those who are weak – Paul was giving the whole church community a sense of pastoral responsibility.
D. Be patient with everyone (including the leaders)
5. Model and Encourage Mercy and Kindness (15)
-This means giving up your right to get even or to get revenge. It may even mean giving up your right to be offended. There may be times when you cannot help but feel offended, but it is your choice whether or not you will stay offended.
-So when Paul says to make sure that nobody repays evil with evil, he is implying that we are all accountable to one another. If you see me moving in that direction, you should step in and get in my business! If you see another brother or sister moving in that direction, approach them with love and respect and remind them that vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to us.
Conclusion: Respect your leaders, Love them, Get along with them and with one another, Take responsibility for one another, and let mercy triumph over vengeance when someone wrongs you. Believe me when I say that this will help make your church leaders more effective in doing what God has called them to do.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
-Again, this is not about who’s the best or who’s the boss or who is the most powerful. Jesus squelched such petty concerns when He said, “I will build my church on the rock of who I am, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” We’re all in this together, folks! We need each other. Let’s make sure we are all pulling in the same direction so that God gets all the glory and so many people will see His glory and come to know Him.
Next week:
6. Be joyful and express it! (Be = true joy on the inside which finds expression on the outside)
7. Pray continually (Nothing happens except by prayer)
8. Be grateful in all things
9. Do not minimize how God uses others (HS, fire, prophecies- inspired speech)
10. Be discerning
11. Be holy
