Preached at Laurel Church of Christ
On Sunday, November 10, 2002
Introduction:
I. The Laurel church is in the midst of a change of seasons.
A. Just as the four seasons pass from year to year. It is easy to miss the forest for the trees.
1. Today is a very significant day for the Lord’s church in Laurel.
2. On this day we proclaim to our community and neighbors that we are practicing biblical church leadership.
B. Joshua 1:1-5 "After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-- to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates-- all the Hittite country-- to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
1. Moses season as the leader of the Israelites had come to an end.
2. Joshua’s season as leader had entered.
C. We are ending a time without elders and beginning a time with shepherds over our souls.
II. Both the elders and the congregation have responsibility to each other.
A. Because of this new season, and the beginning of new era, we will look to God for instruction and direction.
B. Please follow me in your bibles with the following Scriptures.
Body:
I. God’s Challenge to the Congregation
A. 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other"
1. We are called:
a. To respect them
b. Submit to them
c. Hold them in the highest regard
d. Live in pease with each other
2. Because:
a. They are over us in the Lord
b. They will admonish us
c. Because of their work
3. It has been brought to my attention on several occasions when the ministry is not running as smoothly as possible here at Laurel
4. We have two men who have chosen by your recommendation to work as shepherds among us.
a. I think people make that statement, because in times past the local church has taken one step forward and then immediately taken two backwards.
b. You are the church. Do you want progress? Do you really want growth?
5. If that is all the case do as Paul says, respect your shepherds.
B. Hebrews 13:17-18a "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us…"
1. We are called:
a. Obey our leaders
b. Submit to their authority
c. Make their work a joy
d. Pray for our leaders
2. Because
a. They will give an account
b. It would not be an advantage to do otherwise
3. I challenge you to do these things, but not just I but Paul, the Hebrew writer and God challenge you also.
a. Choose this day what you will do.
b. You can make up your mind right now how you will treat these men, and if these men will have an enjoyable ministry of service.
4. "An Elder Is a Man" by Burton Coffman
a. An elder is a man, subject to errors of judgment. Yet he must go ahead with courage to make decisions, knowing he could be wrong. It is not possible to know 100% of all things before reaching a decision.
b. An elder is a man, enjoying the approval of those he leads. Yet, he must have the courage to make decisions based upon his spiritual and intellectual judgment, knowing it may cost him the favor of the church.
c. An elder is a husband, aware of the frailty of the human family. Yet, he must proceed with courage in leadership knowing his family will, by association, fall heir to some criticisms directed at him.
d. An elder is a man, a student of mankind and time. Yet, he cannot remain simply a student; he must be a teacher, knowing that the ultimate direction of the church and its growth in the future depends upon his reactions today.
e. An elder is a man conscious of his responsibility. Yet, he msut have the courage to trust others with responsibility – knowing they may fumble, they may quit, or they may ignore the assignment.
f. An elder is a man, awed by the power of God. Yet, his love for the souls of men causes him to accept the office of bishop, knowing that one day he will stand in God’s presence and give account of his own dealings with those he was to lead.
g. It is likely that no man on earth would accept the above challenge of leading as an elder, if God had not promised wisdom from above and inner strength of character that come from his eternal presence.
(Song to be sang between Challenges. "I Want to Be a Worker" (245))
(Prayer to be offered for the congregation)
II. A Challenge to the Eldership
A. Acts 20:17-32 "From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 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! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."
1. Paul can see the end of his ministry, and he calls the shepherds of Ephesus to give some final counsel.
a. Why does Paul see important to call them and tell them where he is going?
b. Why does Luke write it down?
c. Paul desires the elders to live like he does, "… However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me…"
2. Complete the Task
a. Keep watch over yourself and the flock
b. Be shepherds of the church
c. Be Prepared and on guard
d. Commit your life to God and his word
B. Ephesians 4:11-13 " 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."
1. Paul finds another moment before his death to pen a letter to the Ephesian church.
a. In it he gives instruction on the grace of God and works of service to the Ephesian church
b. Of course, this finds application for us today.
2. Elder’s Complete the Task
a. Prepare God’s people for works of service
b. Build of the Body
c. Strive for unity in faith and knowledge
3. Complete the Task
a. Mature the Body of Christ
4. Do you remember what Jesus tells Peter when he appears to him after the resurrection?
a. "Peter do you love me?" "Feed my sheep, take care of the sheep."
b. You are not masters of the sheep pen, but guards of the flock chosen by Jesus Christ himself.
c. The church is God’s flock entrusted to your care.
5. Jesus saw our need and filled it
a. Jesus saw our spiritual blindness & brought assistance
b. Jesus saw our confusion & brought direction
c. Jesus saw our affliction & brought peace
d. Jesus saw our aimless wanderings & brought us guidance
6. As a congregation we pray that you will direct us in the study of Scripture, while assisting, directing, peace giving, and guiding.
C. 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: 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."
1. Complete the task
a. Be shepherds of the flock of God
b. Serve as overseers
c. Serve because you are willing
d. Do not lord over the flock
e. Be examples to the flock
2. Joshua was called by God to lead the people of Israel and to begin a new season with God’s people. It is now your turn
a. The "Now then…" In Joshua 1:1-5 reminds us of three important factors
1.) It reminds us that God’s plans are not dependent on one person.
2.) It reminds us that we cannot live in the past and make progress into the future.
3.) It reminds us that we are not yet where God wants us to be.
b. We entrust you as elders to take us where God wants us to go.
(Prayer for the new elders)
(Sing "I want to be a worker" (245))
(Elders acceptance of the appointment)
Conclusion:
I. The Great Sheperd of our souls Jesus Christ came for one specific purpose.
A. To seek and to save that which is lost.
B. Are you sitting in this auditorium today without a close relationship with the risen Savior?
C. Christ wants you to come to him and he will lift the burden of guilt from your soul.
