Loving Leadership and Faithful Followership

Theme: The nature of the relationship between leadership and laity in the church is marked by humble authority and willing submission.

1 Timothy 5:17 

The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

We’re all under authority, it’s a part of God’s orderly design.

Ezekiel 34:2-4 

"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? 3 "You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat [sheep] without feeding the flock. 4 "Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.

Faithful church leadership…

• Function as shepherds (“undershepherds”)

• Look to Christ for leadership

• Are “VOLS?”

• Provide order

• Cling to sound doctrine

• Don’t look for fights but are willing to have them

• Wield a servant-hearted authority

Some considerations for faithful followership:

• There is a weight of responsibility in leadership.

Hebrews 13:17 

Obey your leaders and submit [to them,] for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account…

2 Corinthians 11:28-29 

Apart from [such] external things, there is the daily pressure on me [of] concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?

Some considerations for faithful followership:

• There is an appropriate submission among church laity, and it’s for your own good!

Hebrews 13:17-18

Obey your leaders and submit [to them,] for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.

“A preacher should have the mind of a scholar, the heart of a child, and the hide of a rhinoceros. His biggest problem is how to toughen his hide without hardening his heart.” - Vance Havner

Some considerations for faithful followership:

• If you never find the “right” church, ask the hard question. Who’s the common denominator?

1 Corinthians 4:3-5

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by [any] human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, [but wait] until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of [men's] hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

Some considerations for faithful followership: Why should you leave a church?

o Lack of sound doctrine/heresy

o Domineering leadership

o Lack of character in leadership

o A state of disorder

o Public leadership doesn’t match private leadership

o Abuse of finances

o When you can no longer be “willingly persuaded” to follow leadership

Theme: The nature of the relationship between leadership and laity in the church is marked by humble authority and willing submission. It is a picture and reminder of our relationship with Christ.

Ephesians 1:22-23

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.