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Change Without Compromise: Leadership

Change without Compromise
Leadership

The price someone is willing to pay for an object reveals its value. When I was in high school, I was willing to pay a lot of money to wear the best clothes. The other week I overheard some young adults talking about buying a $250 pair of jeans. The price you are willing to pay reveals the value you place on the thing. We buy cars for $3,000 and $30,000; we buy homes for $100,000 and $500,000. The price you are willing to pay reveals the item’s value. We are very familiar with buying items and selling items, but today I want you to realize that you were purchased for a price. God redeemed us; that means he bought us out of slavery to sin. What did he pay for you? What did he pay to purchase this group of people, this church? God bought you for the price of God’s one and only Son. The son suffered and died for you – for this group of people. God could not have paid a higher price for us. The price God was willing to pay reveals our worth. This church has unspeakable value. Through God’s eyes – what was it worth to have a relationship with you – the Father did not negotiate, he did not barter, instead God paid the highest price imaginable for a relationship with this group of believers. From this point forward, begin to realize your value is not determined by your job nor is your value determined by how other people praise you. Through God’s eyes – you are priceless.

That is an incredible realization, but it also is a frightening one too. Consider my problem: I was hired to lead and pastor a group of people who have unspeakable value. I was hired to develop a strategic vision to grow and equip his valuable loved ones to reach others he has already paid that inestimable price. This gives me great hesitation. In my reading, I came across this quote: Richard Baxter a famous puritan preacher stated, “Can you not hear [Christ] saying, ‘Did I die for these people and will you then refuse to look after them? Were they worth My blood, and are they not worth your labor?” Another author said, “I am convinced that one of the key reasons elders neglect the congregation and many men lack the desire to be elders is that they fail to comprehend the inestimable value of the church of God and fail to appreciate the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. When men grasp the eternal value of God’s flock and the nearly unimaginable price paid for our salvation, they should be inspired to commit their lives wholeheartedly to caring for the church of God.”

We have many excellent programs and ministries, yet there is one thing that is more important than any of our ministries, more important than our finances, and more important than our missions. The most essential piece to church life is church leadership. The leadership structure matters because it determines how people think and act. The leadership structure determines how things are done in the local church. We care about the leadership structure of US government because it matters and impacts each one of us. Even more important than our earthly citizenship and civic life is how our spiritual leadership structure impacts us at the central point of our existence – our relationship with God.

Preeminence of Jesus: In the first century, no Christian would have dared take the title of sole ruler, or overseer, or even pastor of the church. The NT does not talk of a singular pastor over a church. There is only one flock – the entire body of Christ – and there is only one pastor and shepherd – Jesus Christ. (John 10:16); there is one body and one Head (Col. 1:18), one holy priesthood and one High Priest (Heb. 4:14), one brotherhood and one Elder Brother (Rom. 8:29), one Mediator, one Lord. Jesus Christ alone is the Senior Pastor of every local church. Jesus said, “do not be called leaders; for One is your leader, that is, Christ.” (Matt. 23:10). Jesus was commanding them not to pursue being exalted in the church…that is, stop wanting to be the top dog in the church. Instead, God divinely appointed a group or plurality of elders to prevent any one person from ultimate leadership…there was no exalting one man over all people. The plurality of elders avoids exalting men above men and giving them the preeminence that belongs only to Christ. Plurality is necessary because no one person has all the spiritual gifts necessary to lead a church. Group leadership most clearly evidences the leadership of Christ over the church. Biblical eldership guards and promotes the preeminence and position of Christ over the local church.

NT Church Leadership: To ensure the preeminence of Christ, we see Paul establish a consistent pattern of plurality of leadership that existed among the first Christian churches. Elders are found in the churches of Judea and the surrounding area (Acts 11:30; James 5:14-15). Elders governed the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15). Among the Pauline churches, leadership by the plurality of elders was established in the churches of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (Acts 14:23); also in the church of Ephesus (Acts 20:17; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 5:17-25); Philippi (Phil. 1:1); and in the churches on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5). According to 1 Peter, elders existed in churches throughout northwestern Asia Minor: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1;5:1). There is also strong evidence for elders in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:12) and in Rome (Heb. 13:17). NT churches used plurality of biblical eldership, it was a highly spiritually qualified group who jointly led the local churches.

History of Elders At the very beginning of the early church, the 12 apostles were the official overseers of the Christian community. Soon after, a group of elders was appointed and these elders were fully recognized by the congregation and 12 apostles as leaders of the community. The first churches purposefully chose not to follow the Jewish synagogue structure. In the synagogue, the chief, presiding official was called “the ruler of the synagogue.” The Christian churches did not follow this, instead they were led by a plurality of elders not a chief ruler. Our series is titled – Change without Compromise – because the leaders want to make some changes that will not compromise biblical truth but instead the changes will uphold God’s truth. For example, the provision of the current constitution describing my position is quite interesting. Let me read it to you…xxxx…as you can see if I am the man, if I am the singular leader then we are out of step with plurality of elders and my position as described gives me concern that the description steals the preeminence from Jesus.

Leadership by a council of men called elders predates the synagogue and was familiar even back into the OT. The council of elders was one of Israel’s oldest and most important institutions. The elders are mentioned 100 times in the OT. Israel’s elders were the people’s official representatives. In Exodus 19:7 and Judges 21:16, they are called the elders of the people or congregation. The elders were the eyes, ears, and voice of the people. To speak to Israel’s elders was to speak to the people. The elders were not merely figureheads. They served a vital role in the community of God’s people displayed by their active involvement in every crucial event in Israel’s history. Government by elders was particularly well-suited to a patriarchal, family-oriented society. When Israel settled in the Promised Land, each city, each tribe and the nation as a while had a council of elders. As community leaders, the elders were to protect the people, exercise discipline, enforce the law of God and administer justice. These were men of excellent counsel and wisdom.

NT Eldership When it came to choosing the leadership structure for the NT churches, God chose the plurality of elders rather than the synagogue structure of a singular person in charge. Acts chapters 13 and 14 record the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas around 49 ad. Here we saw God through Paul plant four churches. Before returning to his home church, Paul returned to these newly formed churches and appointed elders in every church. Acts 14:23 “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” This records the first appearance of Christian elders among Gentile believing churches. Many scholars agree that Paul instituted elders to run every church he planted. They believe this appointment of elders to be the prototype for all other churches. The two key passages on eldership are Acts 14:23 and Acts 20.

The role of elders. The most spiritually qualified and gifted men were selected to be elders of the local church. Together as a collective group they led the gathering of people. They governed, they guided the church, they taught God’s Word, and protected the people from dangers that threaten the church. Together they pastored the church.

•    Elders are the household stewards, leaders, instructors, and teachers of the local church (Titus 1:7; 1 Thess. 5:12; Titus 1:9).
•    Elders are to pastor and oversee the congregation. (1 Peter 5:1-2)
•    Elders are to pray for the sick. (James 5:14);
•    Elders are to guard the church from false teachers and protect the doctrine of the church (Acts 20:28-29).
•    Elders are to work hard, help the needy, and be generous. Elders are to live at peace with the congregation. To give counsel (Acts 21:23); and to oversee the distribution of money (Acts 11:30)

Of all the responsibilities, the primary responsibility of elders is to protect the people from false teachers. Acts 20:29-31 “I [Paul] know that after I leave, savage wolves [false teachers] 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!” These wolves or false teachers devour Christians leading them astray or confuse the gospel. To guard the flock, elders must keep their minds on the church. We must be watchful and observant. We must be attentive at all times to the spiritual well being of the people. The bible says that this is so important that the church should financially provide for elders to have the time necessary to protect the purity of God’s Word inside the church. This is why people like me are hired. To be one of a plurality of elders, yet my primary spiritual gifts are leadership, teaching and keeping guard over the purity of God’s word in this church. I would like to personally thank all of you who give to the church. Part of your financial giving enables me to use my spiritual gifts for this church. It is interesting that when you become a true spiritual elder, God gives you a gift that you don’t know if you really want. It is the gift of 24-7; I am on guard for this church spiritually, physically, and emotionally all of the time. I love you, and I love this place and what God will do with us to reach this city. So, thank you for giving because it enables our church to obey God’s call to biblical eldership.

In addition to me, we have five men who have the qualifications and spiritual giftedness for eldership. We also have two other full time pastoral staff who have the qualifications and spiritual giftedness. If you look inside your leadership booklet, you will see photos of the men who have been given the spiritual qualifications and gifts to lead Jesus’ church. The men are Rick Lennox, George Fisher, Sam Avramov, Dan Murfey, Richard Cumming, myself, Adam McLane and Jimmy Savage. These are incredible men of God who have a heart for you, for what this church stands for, and how this church will grow you into the unity of faith and move you towards spiritual works to reach the lost and unchurched. I would like to give you a peek behind the scenes, so you know how the process works. So, take a look in the middle of the booklet at the Leadership Flowchart.

God tells us to be developing and looking for spiritually qualified and gifted men who would embrace this great call for their life. You might be wondering – why would anyone take on such a responsibility? Paul’s letter to Timothy tells us the motivation for being an elder, “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task…Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 3:1,13) And, Peter tells us that elders will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:4) If you believe God is nudging you toward this great calling, feel free to let one of us know. We would be happy to talk with you.

Our responsibility toward elders With all leadership, we as a church have certain responsibilities toward our elders. Let’s look at what our responsibilities are toward them:

1.    Allow them to lead and follow them (Heb. 13:17)
2.    Respect them (1 thess. 5:13; 1 tim. 5:1)
3.    protect them from unfounded charges (1 tim. 5:9)
4.    remember them and imitate their spiritual life (Heb. 13:7)
5.    we are to provide financially for them to do their calling (1 tim. 5:17-18)
6.    we are to recognize them (1 thess 5:12; 1 Cor. 16:15-18)

A word to the wives and children of our elders. Please recognize that it was not I nor this church who gifted your husband for this high calling of eldership, but it was God who empowered him through the HS with the supernatural gift of leadership of a local church. These men must take time to protect their daily walk with God; please continue to bless them with the time they need in the bible, in prayer and study. Your spiritual role as their wife or children is to encourage your elder-husband or elder-father to do all that God calls them. Leadership meetings may be inconvenient and time consuming, but may we never resort to limiting this divinely important role to a certain number of meetings each month or year; may we never limit the meetings to a certain number of hours. This calling is massively important to Jesus’ church, and the calling on your life as their family is to encourage rather than discourage; respect the spiritual gift God has placed on them and develop your relationship to allow them to serve this divine appointment. Likewise, the church in general should encourage these men in this very important role to lead our church.

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