Flock Builders Care for God’s Flock

I keep saying that leadership in God’s Church is not about power, position, or politics.  It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.  That’s because everyone in God’s Church already has access to the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit.  James and John showed us that even Jesus would not select who would be seated at the positions of his right and his left.  Plus, leaders in God’s church are not elected.  They are called, they follow, they are selected, and they are recognized for their roles in Christ’s Body.  This is all because of their responsibility.  Their responsibility is not to gather people who will follow them.  Their responsibility is to care for God’s Flock.

Be shepherds 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 lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:2-4 NIV)

Shepherds normally care for their own sheep.  Shepherds in God’s Church care for God’s Sheep.  Shepherds usually train their sheep to recognize their own voice.  Shepherds in God’s Church are called to help the sheep recognize God’s voice.  Shepherds in God’s Church are always working themselves out of a job as they help people learn to walk by the Spirit.  When they do, they are listening to the Chief Shepherd.  Who is this Chief Shepherd?  Jesus.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (John 10:11-18 NIV)

How about you?  Do you recognize the Chief Shepherd’s voice?  Who taught you to recognize it?  Have you thanked them? Do you follow it?  Are you a part of God’s Flock?

Flock Builders Plant

Remember what the apostles said when they first faced a problem with the food distribution program?

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:3-4 NIV)

The first deacons were set apart to wait on tables, so the apostles could focus on their primary responsibilities: prayer and ministry of the word.  Yesterday, we talked about prayer.  Today we get to focus on ministry of the word.

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23 NIV)

When God speaks, we should listen.  God’s words describe God’s desire and design for our lives.  God explains what will happen when we go against our design, provides us a way back to God when we have strayed, and empowers us to walk with God in this life while we look forward to the next.  There is no greater responsibility than to pass along God’s words from one person to another and one generation to another.  This is why we find it at the heart of leadership.

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. (Acts 20:28-31 NIV)

The only real tool Satan has to use against us is the power of the lie.  When we believe a lie, we live as though it is true.  Our enemy knows this.  That is why leaders need to know the truth, share the truth, and protect people with the truth.  Leadership is not about power, position, or politics.  It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:6-8 NIV)

How about you?  Do you know the word of God?  Do you share the word of God?  Does your leadership include the ministry of the word of God?

Flock Builders Pray

Last week, when we began looking at leadership, we read about the first deacons who were appointed to manage a food program.  The apostles gave the instructions.

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:3-4 NIV)

Notice what the apostles were going to make their priority.  It was prayer and ministry of the word.  That’s because these are the primary tools used by church leaders to help people walk together with God.  That is why elders were known for their prayer.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:13-16 NIV)

This passage can be confusing, but not if we look at what James is saying here.  People were getting sick from spiritual problems.  The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth regarding the same type of problem.

For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30 NIV)

You may be thinking to yourself, “That was before we had modern medicine.  Spiritual problems don’t really cause physical health problems.”  Well, let me try to explain it this way.  Let’s say you are struggling with anxiety.  The worry keeps you up at night.  Your stomach is always in knots.  Not only that, you go to the doctor and are told that you are developing an ulcer.  Now, the problems you are facing are spiritual, because God has given us a solution to anxiety.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

But the manifestation of this spiritual problem is definitely physical.  Now, you can take the pill your doctor gives you, but it won’t get rid of the reasons you are anxious.  When you call an elder over to pray for you, however, you will be meeting someone who not only knows these scriptures, but who knows how to apply them to real life and experience peace.  The elder’s time of prayer with you brings about healing.

So, how about you?  Do you pray?  Do your prayers bring about healing for yourself?  For others?  Are you a flock builder?

Flock Builders Walk With God

Last week, we looked at the kind of fruit of the Spirit that we would see in a true Team Builder (deacon).  The list seemed a bit strange when compared to the qualifications for a similar job (table waiter) in the world.  Nevertheless, Paul (the apostle) wrote a letter to Timothy (a young pastor) about what to look for in these servant-type leaders.  Today, we look at a similar list that Paul (the apostle) wrote to Titus (another pastor) about elders.

To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. (Titus 1:4-5 NIV)

The first thing that strikes me is this:  Elders and deacons were not elected.  They were not selected by a congregational vote of 51%.  They were not even elected for a term.  All of these servant-leaders were recognized by the pastors of their churches using Spirit-inspired criteria sent to them by an apostle.  In other words, we turn to the people we trust in the Lord to point to other people we can trust in the Lord.  This way, we end up with leaders throughout God’s Church that we can trust.

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. (Titus 1:6-8 NIV)

There is another thing that strikes me about these lists.  Leaders in God’s Church back then understood that rebelling against God meant automatic removal from leadership in God’s Church.  In other words, an elder who starts stealing would no longer be considered an elder in the God’s Church.  The whole community would be told this.  Holiness was non-negotiable.

But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. (1 Timothy 5:20-21 NIV)

When they rebelled against God in one of these “big” ways, the rebellious leader was pointed to again by the other leaders.  This time not as an example to be followed, but as an example of what happens when we rebel against God.  This was so important because of the purpose of leadership in God’s Church.  Remember, in God’s Church leadership is not about power, position, or politics. It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.  When leaders show they do not know how to walk with God, they are also showing that they do not know how to help others do the same.

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:9 NIV)

One of the primary purposes of a leader at the eldership level is teaching.  It is their responsibility to point people to God in all circumstances.  They start by living it.  Then they can give it to others.

For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain. (Titus 1:10-11 NIV)

This also doesn’t make much sense without a little context as well.  Church in the New Testament times included the handling of lots of money.  Anyone today would say, “What?  There’s no money in church work.”  So, let me try to explain a little bit here.

Let’s say that Life Bridge Christian Church of Valparaiso has 100 families that consider this their church home.  (There’s actually more, but 100 makes the math easy.)  Let’s also say that the average household income in our area is $50,000 per year.  (Even with 10% at or near the poverty level within a 5-mile radius of the building, the average income is still $73,696.82.  But we will use $50,000 for easy math.)  In the Old Covenant system, the families of Life Bridge would bring in %10 percent of their income to support ten families at Life Bridge (the Levites and priests) who would care for the building, grounds, and perform the religious duties like animal sacrifices.  That’s $500,000 that would come in to support ten families.  In the New Testament Church, we find statements like the following:

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Acts 2:44-45 NIV)

In the New Testament, people were putting the equivalent of $5,000,000 on the table to be used for whatever would further the mission.  The apostles made sure that people were fed and cared for and that those who could work, did.  The apostles were also paid out of these proceeds, because the Old Covenant Levites and priests were no longer needed (since Jesus is the final sacrifice and our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit) and the New Covenant had new workers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and elders).

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NIV)

Since there was big money involved ($5,000,000) and elder/teachers were paid for their teaching, other people tried to be teachers to get a slice of the pie.  After all, teaching is just grabbing the microphone, getting up there, and talking, right?  (This isn’t a problem right now at Life Bridge since the income in 2015 was $130,816 – not even close to the Old Covenant standard, much less the New).  Nevertheless, in the New Testament this created a real problem.  People wanted to teach for the money, not because of the calling from God.  As a result, it became very important to be able to recognize and refute the imposters who were in it for the money.  Valid elders were paid for their work on equal footing with other workers not in the church.  This was considered honest gain or valid work for true elders.

Big money was involved. False teachers were trying to get rich or at least in on the action.  True teachers needed to be recognizable.  So they were expected to live it before they give it.  You would recognize a true elder by their spirit-fruit.  The pastors of the churches pointed them out to you, so you could recognize them.  Then, you would listen to their teaching and compare it to their lives.  This is why it was so important that the elders would walk with God.

How about you?  Are you an elder?  Do you know what an elder in God’s church looks like?  Would you recognize an elder if you met one?

Flock Builder

Last week, we reminded ourselves that leadership in God’s Church is not the same as the leadership we find in the world.  Leadership in God’s Church is not about power, position, or politics.  It’s about walking with God and helping others do the same.  Last week, we looked at entry-level leadership: table waiters.  You may know them as the more commonly used term: deacons.  These people lead by serving. 

This week we will look at another stage of leadership: flock builder.  You may know them as the more commonly used term: elder.

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: (1 Peter 5:1 NIV)

We are using the term “flock builder” instead of the term “elder” here because eldership means so many different things to different people with different church backgrounds.  Elders in one context may just be referring to someone who is older.  In another context, an elder is a part of an elder-deacon board who vote on everything the church does.  In yet another scenario, an elder is a part of a shepherding group who also makes all the financial decisions for the church.  When we say, “elder,” it carries with it the meaning from each of our backgrounds.  When we say “flock builder” though, it gives us a blank page for discussion.

Be shepherds 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 lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3 NIV)

Flock builders, you see, are people who build rather than control.  Flock builders act as shepherds who care for their sheep.  They feel responsibility for their flock.  They protect their flock.  They lead the flock to places where they can eat, where they can drink, and where they can rest.  Flock builders walk together with God, so people listen to their voice.  Flock builders are not hired hands.  They are called by the Chief Shepherd, so they are faithful to their calling.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:4 NIV)

How about you?  Do you know any flock builders?  Are you one?