1 Timothy 5:17-19, 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Titus 2:15, Hebrews 13:17
Church Leadership

I. The People of the Lie
1. Pseudocyesis is false pregnancy, the condition that you are expecting a baby when you really are not.
2. When it becomes clear to me that someone is deeply troubled then they leave.
3. One of the symptoms of a psychological or spiritual disease is not wanting it dealt with.
4. Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck wrote People of the Lie. “The evil hate the light.”
5. Since the evil want disguise, “evil people are most likely to be found … within the church.”
6. That assume that the church is a good place to hide sin; that people will be enabled to stay in their sin.
7. One of the pillars of a Biblical church is that the pastor preaches the Word to the needs of the people.
II. 1 Timothy 5:17-19
1. What does a “pastor” do? He labors in preaching and teaching, not just giving lectures.
2. The word for “work” means to toil, to work hard, strenuous labor that results in weariness and fatigue.
3. Someone said that the pastor should not preach something that anyone might not agree with.
4. The person thought the pastor should confirm you as you already are; enable you.
5. The opposite of a leader is an enabler. A Biblical leader helps people follow Christ.
6. An enabler helps people stay comfortable in their sins, to stay as they are, unexposed, unchallenged.
7. “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (1 Tm. 5:19.)
8. The Apostle Paul wrote that elders should be protected from rumors and unfounded accusations.
9. You all need the maturity to go along with things that are uncomfortable, to be supportive, followship.
10. In English, we don’t even have a word for the art of following. It would logically be “followship.”
11. We don’t respect following. But leaders need followers.
III. 2 Timothy 4:1-2
1. Paul begins 2 Timothy 4, extremely seriously, calling God and the Lord Jesus to witness this.
2. John Calvin, “the government of the church is conducted under the eye of God and His angels”.
3. In 2 Timothy 4:2, the pastor does three things: “(1) reprove, (2) rebuke, and (3) exhort”:
a. “reprove” is to correct. Like, don’t try to serve God and money; you can’t do it.
b. rebuke is the opposite of enabling; it is a sharper form of correction.
c. “exhort” is more positive and encouraging; it’s to come alongside someone to help.
4. You should be glad for correction in church because you want to be a better Christian.
5. In our culture where churches are havens for evil people, some are going to be offended by the Word.
IV. Titus 2:15
1. Here we zero in on what church leadership is about. What exactly does a spiritual leader do?
2. “Declare” is an authoritative word. Some ministry can be delegated. The pastor doesn’t have to do it all.
3. “With all authority,” literally “by command,” with authority because Titus, the pastor, has authority.
4. “Let no one disregard you.” The pastor is not to be ignored, considered the punching bag.
5. It is worldly to tell the pastor he must take every accusation (from members). It’s unbiblical.
6. “Servant leader” sounds spiritual but is usually code for, ‘You’ll do what we say.’
V. Hebrews 13:17
1. “Obey your leaders and submit to them.” Some assume that they can treat the pastor rudely.
2. Because, “they are keeping watch over your souls.” Leaders have a responsibility, before God.
3. The spiritual leader is called to be popular, in the end, with only One Person.
4. Your leaders are those who are keeping (present tense, right now) watch over your soul.
5. Let them do this with joy. So listen, be someone who wants to grow and wants to hear the Word.
6. This is the key to understand the role of women in ministry. They can speak under authority.
VI. Invitation
2. It’s God’s design that churches have pastors. Pastors are imperfect men, sinners like anyone else. Through them the Word of God is preached, taught, applied, sometimes, even used to rebuke, correct, expose our embarrassing sins.
3. We’re tempted to hide from it’s light, to ask to be lied to; to hide, to be told that I’m okay as I am. We’re tempted to love enabling, positive, encouraging words and not the Word.
4. The Word became flesh and lived among us. And without God’s grace, we loved darkness rather than light. So we shouldn’t be surprised when His Word, through us, brings the same response He got. People love darkness more than light. But He is still the Word and it’s through the Word that we have the power to become the sons and daughters of God. Preach the Word because Jesus is the Word, the shepherd, the pastor. Love Him rather than darkness.