WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.779 Next Sunday, Lord willing, we will begin our study of the book of Daniel as our normal habit is verse by verse exposition. 00:00:08.779 --> 00:00:19.359 And I just wanted to let you be aware of that if you'd like to start reading through the book of Daniel, at very least the first six chapters and get yourself familiar with the content there. 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:26.820 Also, we've been doing this for a bit of time, but making available to you the ESV scripture journals for each of the books that we're preaching through. 00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:33.259 I think this has been a good help to many of you. These are available out there. There's 30 ish copies in the book nook. 00:00:33.740 --> 00:00:38.840 They're five dollars a piece, which is not terribly cheaper, but it is a bit cheaper than you can get them on Amazon. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:45.560 I think there's six bucks on Amazon. So if they run out out there and you want to grab one online, I encourage you to do that as well. 00:00:46.120 --> 00:00:50.880 They're handy. It's got the ESV text down the left hand side and the notes on the right hand side. 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:53.439 It's a good way to keep up with our preaching. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:59.000 And I also want you to know that and even encourage you, if you'd like to take one, you can owe the book nook. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:01.599 It's OK. You don't have to put an IOU in that little box. 00:01:01.659 --> 00:01:05.340 You can just at some point come back and drop five dollars in that box. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:09.620 And at some point we'll take care of accounting for all of that. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:14.299 So let me encourage you to do that. Hopefully, Lord willing, next Sunday we'll begin that Sunday. 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:25.120 So this Sunday, we're going to do a bit of catching up and an effort last year to not neglect the most important things as the pandemic came on. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:30.459 And we were concerned about what that would mean for us as individuals and for us as a church. 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:34.319 We did manage to neglect some important things. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:44.539 At the very beginning of the pandemic, we nominated and affirmed by a vote of the church to new elders, Caleb Waters and Reese Winkler. 00:01:44.619 --> 00:01:47.619 And they have been serving us faithfully for all that time. 00:01:47.699 --> 00:01:49.280 If you've been here, you saw it this morning. 00:01:49.339 --> 00:01:54.319 Even they were introduced to you as elders, which they are. 00:01:54.319 --> 00:01:59.559 But we have yet to install them so many months later. 00:01:59.559 --> 00:02:02.939 And it just struck me a couple of weeks ago that we hadn't done that yet. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:06.199 And so we planned for it just as soon as we could. 00:02:06.299 --> 00:02:11.180 So that's what we'll be doing this morning, but not without a sermon first. 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:24.180 First, we're going to look at a text together and our text today will help us to think both about the solemn duties of an elder of Jesus Church and our responsibilities to these men. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:35.120 Now, in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 17 through 19, the author gives instruction as how to relate to your leaders. 00:02:36.019 --> 00:02:39.979 And we do not know the specific men that our author is referring to, right? 00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:42.280 We don't know their names. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:48.719 I propose to you that he is referring to the elders or pastors of this little church. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:54.079 We will see that he also includes himself in that number and later on in that text. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:03:02.639 But I want you to know that I draw this conclusion because of a preceding verse, Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 7, which says, 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:11.939 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God, consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:14.299 These leaders taught this church. 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:15.539 They were there. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:16.900 They spoke the word to them. 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:17.439 They taught them. 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:20.960 They taught them sound doctrine and they lived among them. 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:26.300 Otherwise, how could the church consider and imitate their lives? 00:03:26.980 --> 00:03:37.700 I also draw this conclusion because this letter, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was not only pinned for its original audience, but also for us. 00:03:37.699 --> 00:03:44.139 And we are a church ordered by the Bible with elders giving leadership to it. 00:03:45.099 --> 00:03:49.539 Beloved, elders are a gift to the church. 00:03:49.839 --> 00:03:52.199 They're a great grace for us. 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:55.339 And hear me as an elder, include myself in that number. 00:03:56.239 --> 00:04:02.780 Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the great shepherd, has gifted the church with under shepherds. 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:06.419 Do you believe this to be true? 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:11.580 Do you think of church leadership as a gift to you? 00:04:12.539 --> 00:04:17.360 We live in a day when all positions of authority are under suspicion. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.319 Rightly so in many cases. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:29.279 We are a people who are slow to believe that anyone is seeking our good at great expense to themselves. 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:39.319 But I can attest to you that the elders of Christ Family Church share the sentiment expressed by Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 15. 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:46.639 Where Paul wrote, I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. 00:04:47.899 --> 00:04:53.419 Do you believe that God ordered authority is good for you? 00:04:53.420 --> 00:05:03.379 God has given to us governments, husbands, parents, and the church with its leaders to help order our lives. 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:09.720 And none of these authorities govern perfectly, but they are gifts. 00:05:10.580 --> 00:05:19.860 I am very grateful for the authority figures in my life, especially when they direct my steps under the perfect rule of our Heavenly Father. 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:24.160 I am grateful that our church presently has a congregation. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.139 You are part of this process. 00:05:26.860 --> 00:05:35.480 And that this congregation has five elders besides myself that help order my life in the way of God. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:38.500 They help me to pursue God. 00:05:39.340 --> 00:05:44.860 My prayer for this morning has been that each of you would feel the same and respond accordingly. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:45.860 Accordingly, right? 00:05:45.939 --> 00:05:51.900 There are good authorities given to us by God that we might follow him more faithfully. 00:05:52.840 --> 00:05:57.139 So our text for today, Hebrews chapter 13, verse 17 and 19. 00:05:57.280 --> 00:06:00.080 Before I read it, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:02.340 It was written for his glory and our good. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:07.819 And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:09.439 Beginning of verse 17. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:18.060 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account. 00:06:18.660 --> 00:06:24.680 Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:31.259 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience desiring to act honorably in all things. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:37.519 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:48.719 Now, my great difficulty in preparing to preach this text was to consider how to work out the negative implications of its commands without being condemning. 00:06:49.219 --> 00:06:51.879 I want to be very careful at this point. 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:57.180 All of your elders are glad to be of service to you. 00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:00.740 We enjoy what we get to do. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:06.159 We love what we get to do because we love Jesus Christ and we love his church. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:11.640 Additionally, you all are a generally pleasant group of people to serve. 00:07:11.900 --> 00:07:15.080 Most often, you're very pleasant to serve. 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:23.420 You should be encouraged this morning that there is very little groaning in our care for you and there is much joy. 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.320 So as we teach the negative implication, don't do these things. 00:07:26.540 --> 00:07:33.060 I just don't want you to feel condemned this morning, but I want you to know you should continue in the way you follow. 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:40.399 Now, that said, I have done a number of jobs in my life, both blue collar and white, paid and unpaid. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:41.839 I've volunteered for a lot of things. 00:07:41.980 --> 00:07:46.920 Never have I done a job as difficult as that of shepherding God's people. 00:07:47.340 --> 00:07:50.480 If you know me, you've heard my story about kind of backing into being a pastor. 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:52.680 It wasn't really a thing I set out to do. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:56.399 And quite frankly, the thing that drew me into it was my love of teaching God's word. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:03.719 I'm really glad I didn't know everything else that came with it then because I might have run, run far, far away from the task. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:06.539 It's a difficult task. 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:12.919 But it is a glorious work just as it's a laborious work. 00:08:14.019 --> 00:08:18.560 Generally speaking, broadly speaking, the pastors of our churches suffer much. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:23.620 We don't want this to be true of the pastors of this church, and it's not currently, but let's keep it that way. 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:32.139 A survey conducted by Lifeway Research in 2015 revealed that 84% of pastors say they're on call 24 hours a day. 00:08:33.580 --> 00:08:36.960 I put my phone in do not disturb, so there's some times you can't get me. 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:40.000 But 84% don't think they can do that. 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:44.320 80% expect conflict in their church. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.279 They're expecting it to happen. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:51.579 54% find the role of pastor frequently overwhelming. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:57.059 53% are often concerned about their family's financial security. 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:02.639 48% often feel the demands of ministry are more than they can handle. 00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:08.839 21% say their church has unrealistic expectations of them. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:15.559 The average tenure of a senior pastor at a Southern Baptist church is 3.6. 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:16.639 Years. 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:19.959 I can't speak very long about this this morning. 00:09:20.199 --> 00:09:23.279 In fact, I won't speak to it hardly at all because it's a complex issue. 00:09:23.579 --> 00:09:31.360 It includes pastoral unpreparedness, pressures of the church, the desire to be promoted and go to bigger churches. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:32.959 There's a lot of reasons that this is happening. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:39.000 But what I can say with confidence and will say this morning is that God does not work in his church in 3.6 year cycles. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:39.360 Right? 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:46.600 We should not think that God is consistently calling men to move positions every 3.6 years. 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:48.379 This is a tragedy. 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:51.100 And something is very wrong here. 00:09:51.100 --> 00:10:00.519 Kent Hughes, after co-authoring a book entitled Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, which has a terrible title but it's a very good book, 00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:10.100 was given opportunity to travel and speak and was astounded by the number of hurting pastors who would open up to him about the difficulty of their work. 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:13.439 He states in his commentary on today's verses, 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:19.700 Pastors as a group are one of the most hurting and abused segments of our society. 00:10:20.780 --> 00:10:22.920 And this happens, I think, for a number of reasons. 00:10:23.060 --> 00:10:25.200 I do promise we're going to look at the text this morning. 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:28.960 I just want to share a few of these reasons for you. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:31.460 And these are just some of the things for me that are kind of off the top. 00:10:31.520 --> 00:10:35.060 But why do I think that this tends to be the case? 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:35.960 Here's just a couple for you. 00:10:36.020 --> 00:10:37.760 Number one, media. 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:42.560 We have access to so much good teaching. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:49.539 We get to experience, and I would encourage you to do so, lots of wonderful, good teaching. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.619 We have celebrity pastors that just absolutely abound. 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:53.879 Let me give you one example. 00:10:54.279 --> 00:10:56.439 I love John Piper. 00:10:56.719 --> 00:11:06.119 In fact, if you ever hear me talk about him, I call him Pastor John because he's done some good shaping in my life as I've been able to listen to his teaching and take up his books. 00:11:06.459 --> 00:11:08.679 I've benefited greatly from him. 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:12.659 But he's not actually my pastor, is he? 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:14.479 He's not one of my elders. 00:11:14.739 --> 00:11:17.279 He will not show up when I am in turmoil. 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:18.539 I can't text him. 00:11:18.579 --> 00:11:19.719 I don't know his phone number. 00:11:20.079 --> 00:11:22.179 And if I did have it, he'd say, who is this? 00:11:22.319 --> 00:11:25.779 And why should I spend any time responding to you? 00:11:26.079 --> 00:11:30.219 He will not lovingly rebuke me when I err. 00:11:30.579 --> 00:11:34.339 John Piper is not my pastor. 00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:48.600 And I think sometimes people expect the level of preaching, the level of education of the highest guys and forget that those pastors have been pastoring for decades most often. 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:55.240 Many of the people that you may like to listen to have been at it for a very, very long time. 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:59.240 Also with media, we have an age of information overload. 00:11:59.980 --> 00:12:04.200 There are so many things to be talked about and considered. 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:09.860 And people can often expect their leaders to be experts on everything. 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:11.899 And no one is. 00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:16.360 No one can possibly keep up with what's happening in our culture. 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:23.360 Even people whose job it is to speak the culture typically pick a lane and they stay in it like economics, for example. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:27.379 And they don't try to know everything about everything. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:31.220 This is an unreasonable expectation put on pastors. 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:35.720 Secondly, we kind of have as a culture a big business mentality. 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:40.740 We've abandoned kind of the mom and pop for big businesses. 00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:43.399 Our expectations are so high. 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:47.039 Everything needs to run just perfectly, right? 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:52.039 How frustrating is it when you go into a big box store and they don't have the thing you want in stock? 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:59.919 This happens so rarely because they have these huge machines that are outputting data and they can predict the things that you're going to buy. 00:13:00.079 --> 00:13:04.779 And you step into a small hardware store and you can't find anything that you need because it's people. 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.299 Marking down on paper. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:11.120 The types of things that they need to be ordering. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:16.919 We have as a society a very high concern for felt needs. 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:20.820 We're less concerned about the real needs that actually exist for us. 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:24.620 Thirdly, individualism and therefore subjectivism. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:29.659 Everyone has an opinion and there's a platform to share it from, right? 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:34.240 Social media has taught us that your voice matters as much as any other voice in the world. 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:36.340 And quite frankly, it just doesn't, right? 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:39.000 And I'd put myself in that category as well. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:46.059 We can tend to believe that our way is the best way and that our perspective is the only perspective. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:49.480 And fourth, a love of authoritarianism. 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:54.820 Our last election cycle showed this to be the case. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:14:03.240 While we tend to be suspicious of leadership, our culture seems to love strong leadership, right? 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:10.100 Someone who will say the things that you want said at the volume that you want it said at. 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:15.779 A lot of people move from church to church to church looking for the pastor who just scratches their itch. 00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:17.639 Just right. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:24.360 Elders are first and foremost meant to be servants. 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:29.460 The analogy of shepherd is one who leads along gently. 00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:34.840 We're moving people to the good grass and the still water. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:37.279 So these things are happening broadly, right? 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:40.519 We do not want to be a part of this trend. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:46.480 And so our text will help us think about how not to do these kinds of things. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:49.000 And I just have the simplest of outlines for you this morning. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:49.620 Two points. 00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:51.980 Number one, obey your elders. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:55.460 And number two, pray for your elders. 00:14:55.920 --> 00:14:58.680 So number one, obey your elders. 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:03.759 Obey your leaders and submit to them for they are keeping watch over your souls. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:08.560 As those who have to give an account, let them do this with joy and not with groaning. 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:12.580 For that would be of no advantage to you. 00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:18.180 So again, the author of Hebrews has a specific group of men in mind here. 00:15:18.420 --> 00:15:21.920 And his readers are aware of who he is talking about. 00:15:22.060 --> 00:15:26.840 When they picked up this letter and read it, they knew exactly who he was referring to you. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:30.540 For you, who is he talking about? 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:33.960 This text says to you, obey your leaders. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.080 Do you have a clear mind for who your leaders are? 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:43.040 I often employ this verse to make the case for church membership. 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:46.280 How can you obey this if you don't have leaders? 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:46.680 Right. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:55.259 Somehow you need to formalize who your leaders are and your leaders need to know for whom we will give an account. 00:15:55.800 --> 00:16:03.920 I praise God for Hebrews 13, 17, because I think it means that I don't have to give an account for everyone that lives in this tri-county area. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:06.939 I'll give an account for the things I say and the way I teach. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:11.559 But for souls, I'm going to give an account for those who are members of our church. 00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:14.019 Many of you know that I do this often. 00:16:14.579 --> 00:16:17.240 These names on this list, right? 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:21.620 The formalized people that are on this list that have made a commitment here. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:25.579 And I've made a commitment to them as have our other elders. 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:34.060 So you need to know who your leaders are and they need to know who you are to give careful care to your soul. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:39.440 And you're to obey them and submit to them. 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:46.200 The Greek word here translated obey refers to hearing what they say and following their guidance. 00:16:46.540 --> 00:16:52.080 And the word here translated submit has to do with the office that they hold. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:57.800 This is not blind, unqualified obedience and submission. 00:16:57.940 --> 00:17:00.500 So you should not hear it that way. 00:17:00.800 --> 00:17:05.920 We are not asking for an authoritarian type of following. 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:13.319 The authority of church leaders is always subject to the authority of God's word. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.519 We are under shepherds. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:20.480 Note again the immediate context. 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:23.460 Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 7. 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.680 So I'm backing up in the chapter. 00:17:25.740 --> 00:17:27.960 Remember your leaders, those who did what? 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.720 Spoke to you the word of God. 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:35.299 Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:35.900 Verse 8. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.599 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:42.259 The beginning of verse 9. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:47.620 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings. 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:50.779 So notice his flow of thought. 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:55.099 They've taught this word of God to you and they're following this word of God. 00:17:55.459 --> 00:17:56.959 And Jesus is not changing. 00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:59.039 The way of Jesus is the same. 00:17:59.179 --> 00:18:01.819 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:06.119 So don't be led away by diverse and strange teachings. 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:12.139 Elders back in our text are those who have to give an account. 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:14.659 To whom and for what? 00:18:15.659 --> 00:18:25.199 To God for how faithfully they kept watch over your soul, your souls, by the authoritative, inerrant, sufficient word of God. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:32.340 How they have carefully applied this text to your life for your good and for the glory of God. 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:38.160 Elders as undershepherds are to be ministers of God's truth. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:44.799 He cares for your soul in part through the careful work of your leaders. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.519 And that's why you should obey and submit to them. 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.880 That shouldn't feel like a burden. 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.039 That should be a joy. 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.259 Praise the Lord. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:57.119 He's given to us good leadership that we can follow. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:00.180 So you should obey and submit to them. 00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:04.339 One, because they're keeping watch over your souls. 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:10.079 If they lead by God's word, then they do so for your good. 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:16.220 Whether you like it or not, if it's by God's word, it's good for you. 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:19.920 And secondly, because they will have to give an account. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:28.180 If they lead by God's word for your good, they do so with the weight that they will one day be judged for that leadership. 00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:28.519 Right? 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:35.000 One day I will stand before the Lord and I will give an account for your souls. 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:39.039 That is a weighty, weighty thing to consider. 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:42.680 Every elder, as an elder of our church, understands this. 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:45.860 They get that they've taken up that task together. 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:46.320 Right? 00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:48.539 It's the plurality that we have. 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:51.160 What a thing to have to do. 00:19:51.320 --> 00:19:54.320 What a task that's laid upon us. 00:19:54.340 --> 00:20:01.320 I am so grateful that I am merely an under-shepherd and that Christ is the great shepherd. 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:12.439 And so the author, aware of the weightiness of this task, instructs us to let them do this with joy and not with groaning. 00:20:12.899 --> 00:20:16.799 This is a big thing that we are being asked to do. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:22.039 And so don't be one who always critiques and always criticizes. 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:25.700 Whether face-to-face or behind the back. 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:29.119 But one who encourages and supports. 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.720 And you should definitely do the latter, face-to-face. 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:32.879 It's very helpful. 00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:37.759 You will not over-encourage the elders of your church. 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:40.839 One of our members told me one time that he always appreciates my preaching. 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:44.779 But he doesn't always tell me that because he doesn't want me to get a big head about my preaching. 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:48.399 And my response was, that will never happen. 00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:50.180 I mean, I am in shambles after preaching. 00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.539 I'm usually like, that was horrible. 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:54.920 I can't believe that I didn't spend another day preparing that. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:56.740 I don't know that it is any good for anybody. 00:20:56.879 --> 00:20:59.500 So just telling me that it was good is a huge, huge help. 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:03.359 If you were helped ever by anything I do, please tell me. 00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:05.680 I would be glad to hear it. 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:11.980 And here's a few more of my thoughts on how to mitigate groaning and maximize joy. 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.220 Again, just a few here. 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:20.460 Number one, don't assume the worst of your leader's actions and intentions. 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:25.460 That's said often where clarity is lacking, negative assumptions reign. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:28.940 We just tend to be that way as people. 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.839 We assume the worst. 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:34.379 If we don't know, we assume the worst instead of assuming the best. 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:37.799 And I think that societally, we've been conditioned that way. 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:42.119 We have so many leadership failures in our culture. 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:45.879 Don't assume that's what's happening in the life of your church. 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:49.760 Some of you bring church hurt to this church and you've had leadership failures. 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.520 Don't put that on us. 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:51.920 Right. 00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:54.440 Let us disappoint you. 00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:56.820 Not somebody else disappoints you on our behalf. 00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:57.520 Right. 00:21:58.040 --> 00:22:01.220 Get to know the hearts of your leaders. 00:22:01.520 --> 00:22:01.640 Right. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:03.060 Ask questions. 00:22:03.760 --> 00:22:04.820 Try to understand. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.320 Hey, why did you say it that way? 00:22:06.520 --> 00:22:07.860 Why are we doing this? 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.220 I don't understand. 00:22:09.560 --> 00:22:09.740 Right. 00:22:09.740 --> 00:22:12.620 We'd be glad to share with you. 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:17.359 Recognize that there is a larger picture at play. 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.960 We want to love you. 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.980 We want to serve you. 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.799 We want to do what's best for you. 00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:24.200 But we're doing that for a congregation. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:24.960 Right. 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:28.880 Who's made of individuals, but is a people together. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:35.160 Secondly, don't assume the best of their humanity. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:38.380 Your leaders are not superhuman. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:50.519 They are men who deal with sickness, who deal with exhaustion, who deal with stress, who experience spiritual drifting. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.120 Just like you do. 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:55.700 Sometimes you don't know exactly what's going on in your heart. 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.440 We deal with that, too. 00:22:57.540 --> 00:23:01.620 But we've got to get up the next week and keep pushing and keep pushing and keep pushing. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.160 Right. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:05.900 These things are realities of all people. 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:08.800 We ought to be excelling in following Christ. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:13.340 I don't want to mitigate that, but recognize that we are still just men. 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:13.840 Right. 00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:17.100 I still mow the grass at my house, just like you do. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:21.740 I have to fix cars and do things like that. 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:26.040 This kind of stuff doesn't come off my plate. 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:28.140 We may err. 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:29.960 We're going to make mistakes. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:32.720 It's just going to be times that we misspeak. 00:23:33.340 --> 00:23:34.680 We don't get it right. 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:38.620 We need you to love us back to the truth. 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:41.380 We're going to have bad weeks. 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.100 And praise the Lord. 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:45.380 We are not Jesus. 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.579 What a wonderful thing that is. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.279 Get that in your head. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.340 Your leaders are not Jesus. 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:51.960 Jesus will never fail. 00:23:52.360 --> 00:23:54.259 Don't look to us as if we are. 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:57.380 Don't assume the best of our humanity. 00:23:57.380 --> 00:24:02.660 Don't expect, number three, too much of their knowledge and skill sets. 00:24:03.540 --> 00:24:09.900 We will not always have all of the answers or answer your questions in a satisfactory way. 00:24:10.300 --> 00:24:10.400 Right. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:14.380 There are just two items on the job description of your elders. 00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:16.140 Number one, prayer. 00:24:16.780 --> 00:24:19.000 Number two, ministry of the word. 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:21.680 Those are the two things. 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.460 An example for you. 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:25.839 And if you ask this question, this is not, I'm not picking on you at all. 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.880 I don't even remember who this was. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:30.519 But we had a members meeting when our retaining wall was falling over. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:33.799 And I had a lot of questions asked of me about concrete. 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:35.660 And I just was like, I don't have a clue. 00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:37.240 I don't know anything about concrete. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:41.019 I have no idea how to answer that question. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:50.339 But, right, there's this bit of expectation because we're so organizationally minded as Americans that the CEO has to have answered every question. 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:52.339 And we just don't always. 00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:53.680 So we're working it out. 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:56.240 We're taking each little step. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:00.940 But what we're responsible for is prayer and for ministry of the word. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:04.700 So don't expect too much of your leader's knowledge and skill sets. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:11.140 Also, don't expect too little of your leader's knowledge and skill sets. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:13.720 We care about you as a whole person. 00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:17.059 We want to help you walk through life wisely. 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:19.940 We might not always know the answer, but often we do. 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:22.740 So, again, ask questions. 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:25.500 Seek counsel and wisdom. 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:29.140 We want to help you follow the Lord well. 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:31.120 So help us. 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:34.140 Continue to help us, I should say, to be joyful. 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.440 We're joyful leaders. 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:40.680 Because if we're groaning leaders, that would be of no advantage to you. 00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:44.180 I love that the motivation in this text is for your good. 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:48.600 Do this thing because it's going to be good for you to do this thing. 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:52.680 Unhappy leaders will struggle to lead. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:57.500 Seek your good by seeking the good of your elders. 00:25:57.500 --> 00:26:02.980 If you want your elders to shepherd you well, love them well. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:07.059 You should love us as we're loving you. 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:10.619 1 Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 7. 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:13.720 Not just the tail end of a text for weddings. 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:18.859 Says, love bears all things. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.940 So love is patient. 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:23.980 It believes all things. 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:27.320 It isn't hasty to see promises fulfilled. 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:31.460 So if your leadership says we're going to do a thing, it just doesn't happen on your timeline. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.820 Be patient. 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:34.340 We're not lying to you. 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:37.580 We do want to do the thing we've talked about doing. 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:44.240 It hopes all things, but assumes the very best of intentions. 00:26:44.699 --> 00:26:48.039 And it endures all things. 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:51.039 It's gracious toward failings. 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:58.199 Recognize that your elders do not ultimately lead for our gain, but for yours. 00:26:58.919 --> 00:27:01.619 Recognize that we carry a weight. 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:06.279 We resonate with Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 and verse 28. 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:13.759 Where after mentioning the many ways he had suffered for the gospel, including but not limited to imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, and other dangers. 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:15.819 He states the following. 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:20.099 And this seems to be the weightiest thing that he suffers. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:28.579 He says, and apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:32.579 We experience that for our church. 00:27:33.419 --> 00:27:35.379 We want to pastor you well. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.319 So obey your elders. 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:39.659 Secondly, pray for your elders. 00:27:40.199 --> 00:27:40.960 Verse 18 and 19. 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:46.179 It says, pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:51.099 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:59.559 Remember, the author is confident of their work toward this church because he is sure that we, they have a clear conscience. 00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:04.339 And he knows that their desire is to act honorably in all things. 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:04.519 Right. 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:07.139 So he's confident of the work that he has been doing. 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:11.959 And it is because of his clean conscience that he asks for their prayers. 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:18.259 He recognizes his need of the intervening, gracious work of God. 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:23.660 He knows that having begun by grace, he is being sustained by grace. 00:28:24.579 --> 00:28:29.140 He expresses the simple profundity of his faith in verse 19. 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:34.859 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:35.319 Right. 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:41.440 He believes that it is by the prayers of this church that God will see fit to return him to them. 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:46.180 So do you pray for your leaders? 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:48.799 Not just in sentiment, right? 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:50.320 Just, hey, I'm praying for you. 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:53.900 But in reality, do you actually pray for the leadership of this church? 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.080 Right. 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:54.900 Be for your good. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.860 Be for the good of others. 00:28:56.120 --> 00:28:58.420 That you pray for your leaders. 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:01.740 To dial it even in a little bit closer. 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:04.400 Have you prayed for us today? 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:10.660 Did you pray for our preparations this week and for the work of delivery this morning? 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:18.840 Charles Spurgeon, after delivering his sermon on May 27th, 1855, concluded with these words. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:26.200 Now, I don't know if you're a big fan of Charles Spurgeon, but I just can't imagine sitting in a congregation and hearing him say this after preaching a sermon. 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:31.480 He said, my people, shall I ever lose your prayers? 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:34.800 Will you ever cease your supplications? 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:37.659 Will you then ever cease to pray? 00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:43.180 I fear you have not uttered so many prayers this morning as you should have done. 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:48.319 I fear there has not been so much earnest devotion as might have been poured forth. 00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:49.740 Here's why. 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:56.099 He says, for my own part, I have not felt the wondrous power I sometimes experience. 00:29:56.099 --> 00:30:01.740 Spurgeon knew the power of the prayers of his church. 00:30:02.679 --> 00:30:11.919 And he didn't feel that in that morning, and he may or may not have been right, but he supposed that the church just hadn't prayed enough for him that day. 00:30:12.719 --> 00:30:18.879 And he longed, along with the author of Hebrews, to have them pray for him all the more. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:26.040 So, in closing, do you desire to seek the growth, your growth in the Lord? 00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:31.960 Do you desire the holiness of his church for the praise of his name? 00:30:32.300 --> 00:30:35.780 If you do, and I hope you do, I hope you would say, yes, yes, I do. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:41.460 Then, part of that is to obey your elders and to pray for your elders. 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.720 Let's pray together.