Life in the Father's House                                                                           Memorial OPC, Fall 2008

Lesson #4, "Relating to Church Leadership"                                                          Pastor Matthew Judd

1. Name some of the most prominent and faithful leaders in the Bible.

2. How well did the people follow them?

Leadership Responsibilities

Terminology used for Leaders (fill in next to the → what that makes you):

Overseer →                              Minister/servant →                                          Teacher →

Elder →                                   Slave →                                                   Messenger →

Pastor/shepherd →                           Watchman →                                           Leader →

Steward →                               Preacher/herald →                                           Example →

 

Acts 20:28-31 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made

you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.29 "For I know this, that

after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.30 "Also from among yourselves

men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.31 "Therefore watch, and

remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

Take heed                                Shepherd (feed)

Oversee                                   Watch (protect and warn)

 

Ephesians 4:7,8,11-16 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.8

Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high. He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men..." " And He

Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  for the

equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the

unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the

fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of

doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may

grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ -  16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by

what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of

the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Equip                                                      Mature                                                    Provide/encourage

Edify (faith, knowledge)                 Protect

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over

you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace

among yourselves.

Labor                                                      Over                                                        Admonish (warn, instruct)

 

1 Peter 5:l-5a The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of

Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,

serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords 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 does not fade away.5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.

Shepherd (feed)                                      Oversee

 

Hebrews 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those

who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Watch                                                          Give an account 

                

                         -^

Membership Responsibilities

Ephesians 4:7-16

Recognize they are                                     Grow via them                                Flourish under them

Christ's gifts to you

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Know them                                                Esteem them                                   Be at peace with them

Recognize their position                             Love them

 

1 Peter 5:5a

Submit to them                                          (Be fed by them)                             (Open your life to them)

 

Hebrews 13:17

Obey them                                                 Submit to them                                Be a joy to them

 

1. In what two ways can lawful and legitimate authority get off track?

2. Without in any way minimizing the need for faithful, exemplary, inspiring leaders, why is it

necessary for there to be faithful followers?

3. Evaluate the following quote from Leon Morris:

"It is a matter of fact that we are often slow to realize to this day that effective leadership in

the church of Christ demands effective following. If we are continually critical of them that

are set over us, small wonder if they are unable to perform the miracles that we demand of

them."

4. How can you bring joy to the leaders in your Church? In what ways can you bring grief to

them? (see pages 86-92)