Growing to Maturity Series

 

Tuesday, April 29

Growing to Maturity as a Leader

Part 1:  Being a Good Leader Begins with Being a Great Follower

Subtopic:  Stewardship in the Church/Body of Christ

 

Background Reading/Key Verses:                                                                                             

Romans 6:17; 1 Corinthians 11:1-3; Hebrews 13:7; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 5                                      

1 Thessalonians 5:12; Ephesians 5:1, 20-25, 28; Colossians 3:20

1 Peter 5:2, 5; Romans 13:1; Numbers 27:20; Joshua 1:16

Galatians 5:13

 

Devotional Reading:  Numbers 12:1-16; 1 Peter 2:11-3:17

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Key Terms:  submission, obedience, honor, stewardship

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Memory Verse/Key Scripture:

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17).

 

​Key Ideas/Lesson Objectives: 

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1.  Understand what it means to support leaders

2. Understand the impact of supporting yours Leaders in fulfilling the Great Commission

3.  To expose students to the Scriptural truth about authority
4. To help the students understand why authority should be respected
5. To give them practical insight into how to respect authority

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Introduction

Scripture teaches the accountability of leaders to lead well. They lead under God’s leadership and are ultimately accountable to Him. Scripture also teaches the responsibility of church members to obey and submit to their leaders. This is not blind obedience. As leaders teach in accordance with God’s Word, we are to “obey … submit to them.”

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The word obedient means dutifully complying with the commands, orders, or instructions of one in authority. Obedience is the act or practice of being obedient.

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Everyone is pleased when he/she gives instructions and they are timely carried out properly. Every parent desires that their children comply with this directives and such compliance is acknowledged appreciated, and sometimes attracts reward, which acts of disobedience are discountenanced and most times attract punishment. When parents instruct children on what to do, they are not happy  when they only obey a portion of the commands. Parents expect their children to obey all that we tell them.

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So also, God Almighty, whose image and likeness we are, demands absolute obedience from us. Our obedience to God should not be a forced one but should be  spontaneously offered. For every obedience, God is pleased and we are rewarded; and there is also a deep feeling satisfaction in the inner man that we have pleased God despite all odds. It is in our best interest to obey God. God wants us keep his commands , while reminding us that obeying His commands is reasonable and beneficial at all times.

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Obedience involves not mere knowledge, but the practical demonstration of our submission to God and other authorities. It should proceed from the heart  (Romans 6:17). 

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Discussion

“Why do I have to submit to my parents? I’m 18!” 

“My boss isn’t a Christian. I shouldn’t have to respect him.” 

“Just because I go to this church doesn’t mean the pastor gets to tell me what to do.” 

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Perhaps the loudest complaint heard among conservative Americans today is, “My government is corrupt. My president is corrupt. The Supreme Court hates the Bible. Why would I submit myself to the American government?” 

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The Greek word translated “submit” in the New Testament means to put oneself under someone’s authority. The literal meaning combines the words “underneath” and “command.” It is to put another person’s concerns and demands before our own agendas. 

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But then the Scripture tells us to submit:

• . . . to the government (Romans 13:1-7).

• . . . to our spouses (Ephesians 5:21-33).

• . . . to our parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).

• . . . to one another in the church (Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:3, 4).

• . . . to our employer (Ephesians 6:5-7).

• . . . to God (Ephesians 5:24; James 4:7)

• . . . to our Christian leaders (Hebrews 13:17)

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In every case this submission is based upon the authority of God who commands us to submit. But the command makes us squirm. We try to explain it away or simply ignore it, concentrating instead on commands easier to obey (or to tell someone else how to obey).

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But I believe most dissension in any local church grows from lack of respect for leaders, demonstrated in an unwillingness to submit to them. Admittedly, many Christians have been burned by leaders in the past who acted selfishly or foolishly, leaders who forgot their accountability to God. So I understand when church members are wary. But we can’t be happy with followers who won’t ultimately submit.

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Leadership is an act of guidance and providing direction to others. Church leadership isn’t any different; but in addition to providing guidance, it also encompasses how the leader behaves, communicates, and manages the church. Church leadership is about serving others following Christ’s interests so that they can see and accomplish God’s purpose for them in the world. A church leader needs qualities that influence and morally support the congregation, the volunteers, and the community. Such qualities include moral trustworthiness, social aptitude, empathy, pastoral care, and more (1 Thess. 5:12–13; 1 Tim. 5:17).

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As individuals and church congregants, we must cease to hold pastors and church leadership to a standard of virtuousness that we ourselves are unwilling to attain, but rather lift them up in prayer, word, generosity, and deed, quite literally loving them as we love ourselves. A church that understands its responsibility to mission, ministry, and the overarching command to love God and love people can do much to alleviate the demands upon pastoral leadership.

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Why is supporting leaders that are being used by God so important? Because they have to put themselves at risk. They are willing to be unpopular to do what is right. They understand the providence of God and are humbly trying to use their influence for God’s glory and His people’s protection (Est. 3:8-11). Leaders are often the object of criticism. If there is a legitimate matter that concerns a leader, it should be addressed to him personally; and if discipline is necessary, there are clear guidelines (1 Timothy 5:19-20). But criticism behind one’s back doesn’t help anybody, and neither does gossip. So don’t listen to gossip or slander about your pastor.

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Show respect to them by being positive - in how you think, what you say, and how you act. Show regard to them by being prayerful. Show resolve to be at peace with one another - so that the focus of the church, and the pastor, can be on God’s purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission (Math. 28:18:20). Encourage your church leaders to seek and secure the support they need. Ensure they have access to resources that bolster their spiritual and personal well-being, alongside enhancing their leadership capabilities.

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Conclusion

Three Simple Perspectives

“But what if I think their decision is wrong?”

Submission doesn’t forbid discussion. The mutual submission required by Scripture implies mutual respect, conversation, and consideration. But too often leaders encounter church members who attack them as if they were an irresponsible official or incompetent boss or immoral politician. Surely our dealings with each other should be different from interactions in the world among those who don’t know Christ.

To those who don’t agree with some Christian leader’s decision, I’d suggest a few simple perspectives.

• Give them the benefit of the doubt.

Unless you have proof that your leader is a charlatan or a crook, think twice before you assume bad motives from them. Look at the situation from the leader’s point of view. Assume that he or she has prayed about the decision and taken counsel from other leaders. Look for the good the leader hopes to accomplish.

• Check your own motive.

Is your objection really because some truth from God has been violated, or are you simply pressing for your own preference? If the latter, you have the choice to support the leader for the good of the church or leave that congregation for another with a leader who does things your way. But don’t be surprised when you someday dislike a decision from that leader, too. Few situations will continue to please you in every detail.

• Remember the leader’s responsibility.

He’s doing his job, and his job is not your job. He’s accountable to God for his ministry; you are not accountable to God for his ministry. You are, however, responsible to God to associate with the leader so his work “will be a joy, not a burden.” Does your leader take joy in his work because of how you relate to him or her? That is the question God is asking of you.

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Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

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