Conclusion: God’s Image Reflected in His People


(Click here for an audio version.  The intro and conclusion are from 'Godpleaser' by Petra.)

This concludes a series on Biblical Eldership.  So far we have covered:

·      Biblical Eldership: An Introduction
·      God’s Purposes in the Gospel
·      God’s Design for His Church
·      God’s Purpose for His People


Today we conclude by reflecting on the heart of God and an exhortation to personal reflection of your own heart, life, and church.

"Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.’ (Jeremiah 3:15)  

There is a very Trinitarian aspect of leadership that I trust you have seen in our study so far.  From the very heart of God:
·      The Father from eternity past has designed Redemption through the Gospel
·      The Son has redeemed and shepherds His people
·      The Spirit has birthed and empowers His people

Again, this is a massive theme that I encourage us all to explore further!

We note that in both structure and nature,
leadership in God’s kingdom is distinctly different
from that of the world.

Personal Testimony

In summary, my leadership journey these past nearly 30 years has had 4 phases:
·      Not biblically qualified
·      Biblically qualified, but not equipping
·      Biblically qualified, equipping, plurality
·      Plurality abandoned, equipping abandoned

What Obedience Means
For many of us, however clearly we see biblical leadership prescribed and described in Scripture, this collides with the reality of our experience and can create confusion.  This has certainly been the case for me.

This is a severe test of faith.  How can you and I reconcile clear biblical teaching with our experience?

Biblical spiritual leadership can seem like a unicorn, but in reality it is more like an albino deer.  It does exist, but it is also rare!

What steps of faith would God have for us to take Him at His word?  I commend the following questions for reflection and resources for your encouragement.


Questions for Reflection
·      See Nehemiah 8:1-8.  What do you observe regarding the pattern of teaching among leaders?  (Notice also the similarity with Exodus 18)
·      See Acts 6:1-6, Acts 15:22-35.  What do you observe about elder selection and decision making?
·      See the article ‘Southern Baptists Take Action to Address Church Sexual Abuse’.  Look for biblical references and the impact of church eldership.  How might the principles of biblical eldership apply here?  How has the SBC sought to respond to this grave and tragic situation with God’s design for His church?

Recommended Resources
·      Spiritual Leadership, Sanders, 1983 edition (newer editions are posthumous and not entirely written by Sanders)
·      Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch
·      While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, Tim Laniak
·      Shepherds After My Own Heart, Tim Laniak
·      The Shepherd Leader, Tim Witmer
·      Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically, John MacArthur, particularly Chapter 16 on Modeling by George Zemek
·      Upside Down, Stacy Rinehardt
·      The Jesus Style, Gayle Erwin
·      Leadership as an Identity, Crawford Loritts
·      Kingdom Disciples, Tony Evans


We began with God’s promise to provide shepherds after His own heart who will feed His people on knowledge and understanding.  We conclude with Jesus’ blessing on those ‘so doing’ when He returns:

""Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes."  (Matthew 24:45-46, NASB)

Rich blessings to you as you seek His heart and His ways for His Church!

In His Grip,

Mark


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