IF I LEAD WILL ANYONE FOLLOW? (6 OF 7)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Romans 12:1-8
This content is part of a series.
If I Lead Will Anyone Follow? (6 of 7)
Series: Vitamins (Gifts) that Make the Body Healthy
Jeff Strite
Romans 12:1-8
OPEN: I once talked with a friend of mine who told about the new preacher his congregation had hired. In the type of church my friend attends they have ''pastors'' who are placed in the position of running the church. And my friend was talking about the great respect he had for his church's new leader.
What had impressed him the most about this new ''Pastor'' was that he had taken charge almost immediately, and had shown the congregation he was in command... by changing all the locks in the church building.
Paul wrote: ''We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift… is to lead, do it diligently.'' Romans 12:6 & 8
In my friend's kind of church (where the ''Pastor'' changed all the locks) what do you think this ''Leader'' was communicating to his congregation? He was saying:
- He was in charge.
- He had the keys to everything… and they didn't.
- If they wanted anything at church they had to go thru him.
- HE WAS THE LEADER!
Now, in this congregation I'm lucky to know where all the keys are.
There are certain keys I don't even have!
In fact, I'm not even the ''Pastor'' here… I'm the preacher.
Do you know who the pastors are here?
That's right. The Elders are the pastors.
The Elders are the shepherds of the flock.
And the Elders and I work TOGETHER to help lead this congregation.
This church is structured this way for a couple of basic reasons.
1st - the Bible calls Elders ''pastors''… because that's their job.
Peter writes: ''To the ELDERS among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be SHEPHERDS (pastors) of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lordin ...
Series: Vitamins (Gifts) that Make the Body Healthy
Jeff Strite
Romans 12:1-8
OPEN: I once talked with a friend of mine who told about the new preacher his congregation had hired. In the type of church my friend attends they have ''pastors'' who are placed in the position of running the church. And my friend was talking about the great respect he had for his church's new leader.
What had impressed him the most about this new ''Pastor'' was that he had taken charge almost immediately, and had shown the congregation he was in command... by changing all the locks in the church building.
Paul wrote: ''We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift… is to lead, do it diligently.'' Romans 12:6 & 8
In my friend's kind of church (where the ''Pastor'' changed all the locks) what do you think this ''Leader'' was communicating to his congregation? He was saying:
- He was in charge.
- He had the keys to everything… and they didn't.
- If they wanted anything at church they had to go thru him.
- HE WAS THE LEADER!
Now, in this congregation I'm lucky to know where all the keys are.
There are certain keys I don't even have!
In fact, I'm not even the ''Pastor'' here… I'm the preacher.
Do you know who the pastors are here?
That's right. The Elders are the pastors.
The Elders are the shepherds of the flock.
And the Elders and I work TOGETHER to help lead this congregation.
This church is structured this way for a couple of basic reasons.
1st - the Bible calls Elders ''pastors''… because that's their job.
Peter writes: ''To the ELDERS among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be SHEPHERDS (pastors) of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lordin ...
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