Part 4: Church Members Submit and Pray for Their Leaders
What Is a Church Member? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction: Vid Bumper
Introduction: Vid Bumper
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
1. Who are Your Church Leaders?
1. Who are Your Church Leaders?
The Elders (Acts 14:21-23; 15:4-6; 20:17, 28-31)
The Elders (Acts 14:21-23; 15:4-6; 20:17, 28-31)
Paul and Barnabas at churches of Galatia:
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Council at Jerusalem:
When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
Paul and the Elders at Ephesus:
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
Elder = “older man, shepherd, pastor”
Qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:7; Titus 1:5-9
The Deacons (Acts 6:1-6)
The Deacons (Acts 6:1-6)
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
Deacon = “servant, minister”
Qualifications found in 1 Timothy 2:8-13
List of Elders and Pastors/Ministers Illustration - Please make for me
Ministers/Pastors: Alex Aleman, Dwayne Wylds, Peter Rasor, Jennifer Rasor, Schyler Umberger
Elders: Jim Gurr, William Renshaw, Ken Akins, Wally Curtis, Jeff Stephens
Deacons: ? (We’re working on this)
2. Submit to Your Church Leaders
2. Submit to Your Church Leaders
Obey and Submit? (Heb. 13:17a)
Obey and Submit? (Heb. 13:17a)
Hebrews 13:17a (ESV)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. . . .
“Obey” & “Submit” - we do not like this
Authority structures:
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Why submit to leaders? = they keep watch over your souls; they are like shepherds caring for sheep
Submit Through Respect and Prayer (1 Thess. 5:12-13)
Submit Through Respect and Prayer (1 Thess. 5:12-13)
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
“Respect,” “Esteem”
Note: “labor,” “admonish/warn,” “work”
“Be at peace” = disrespect, disobedience, not submitting willingly and joyfully leads to turmoil
Submit so It’s a Joy for the Leaders (Heb. 13:17b)
Submit so It’s a Joy for the Leaders (Heb. 13:17b)
Hebrews 13:17b (ESV)
. . . Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
3. Pray for Your Church Leaders (Heb. 13:18)
3. Pray for Your Church Leaders (Heb. 13:18)
So They can Lead Honorably
So They can Lead Honorably
Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
In the January 2022 Gallup survey, 36% of Americans say they rate the honesty and ethical standards of clergy or pastors high or very high. In 2013, the Gallup survey indicated that 47% of Americans rated pastor’s honesty high or very high.
This is a decrease of 11% in about 10 years.
We ministers know this. And it weighs heavily on our psyche.
So They can Proclaim Truth with Boldness
So They can Proclaim Truth with Boldness
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
Pray for Their Strength, Protection, and Families
Pray for Their Strength, Protection, and Families
Elders and Pastors/Ministers
Elders and Pastors/Ministers
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
Deacons/Ministry Leaders
Deacons/Ministry Leaders
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Illustration of Pastor/Minister Burn Out from Barna 1-4
The Power of Prayer
The Power of Prayer
James 5:16b (ESV)
. . . The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.