THE SHEPHERDING OF THE CHURCH (4 OF 44)
Scripture: Acts 20:17-38
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The Shepherding of the Church (4 of 44)
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
Acts 20:17-38
Introduction
One of the most awkward moments I've ever had in the pulpit came when preaching through the book of Hebrews when I arrived at chapter 13, verse 17: ''Obey your leaders and submit to them.'' I mean it just feels a little self-serving, a little condescending to stand before a congregation and say, ''Listen, folks this is how you should treat me.'' I mean Paul says we shouldn't be ashamed of the Scriptures, but still, I was a little uncomfortable.
We have somewhat a similar scenario this morning, though on first glance Acts 20 is not a challenge to you but to me instead. Rather that discuss your responsibilities, we look at mine. And so some of the awkwardness comes then not in me telling you how to treat me, but in us devoting an entire morning to simply study in the Scriptures my job description. So of what benefit is it to you the congregation to study and understand the responsibilities and duties of your spiritual leaders?
I'd imagine our first answer might be: for the purpose of accountability. Right? You need to know what your leaders are supposed to be doing so that you can biblically hold them to that. Moreover, you need to know what the Bible calls them to so that you can have the right expectations for your leaders. I mean I've pastored long enough to have encountered on more than one occasion someone upset with me because I wasn't spending my time or doing the things they thought I should be doing. I've heard just once or twice before the phrase, ''Well this is what the pastor is supposed to do.'' Sometimes the person making that statement is right, sometimes they're somewhat right, and sometimes they're just wrong. How do we know what a pastor or elder really is supposed to do? Well Scriptures such as Acts 20 tell us.
But there's a whole lot more benefit to us this ...
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
Acts 20:17-38
Introduction
One of the most awkward moments I've ever had in the pulpit came when preaching through the book of Hebrews when I arrived at chapter 13, verse 17: ''Obey your leaders and submit to them.'' I mean it just feels a little self-serving, a little condescending to stand before a congregation and say, ''Listen, folks this is how you should treat me.'' I mean Paul says we shouldn't be ashamed of the Scriptures, but still, I was a little uncomfortable.
We have somewhat a similar scenario this morning, though on first glance Acts 20 is not a challenge to you but to me instead. Rather that discuss your responsibilities, we look at mine. And so some of the awkwardness comes then not in me telling you how to treat me, but in us devoting an entire morning to simply study in the Scriptures my job description. So of what benefit is it to you the congregation to study and understand the responsibilities and duties of your spiritual leaders?
I'd imagine our first answer might be: for the purpose of accountability. Right? You need to know what your leaders are supposed to be doing so that you can biblically hold them to that. Moreover, you need to know what the Bible calls them to so that you can have the right expectations for your leaders. I mean I've pastored long enough to have encountered on more than one occasion someone upset with me because I wasn't spending my time or doing the things they thought I should be doing. I've heard just once or twice before the phrase, ''Well this is what the pastor is supposed to do.'' Sometimes the person making that statement is right, sometimes they're somewhat right, and sometimes they're just wrong. How do we know what a pastor or elder really is supposed to do? Well Scriptures such as Acts 20 tell us.
But there's a whole lot more benefit to us this ...
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