This passage does deal specifically with the charge for leaders in the church. The Bible’s exhortation in Acts 20 helps us to know how we might pray more effectively for our spiritual leaders. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. The writer of Hebrews continues in Verse 18, NIV,ġ8 Pray for us. The fourth reason why this message is relevant to you is: God calls every Christian to pray for their spiritual leaders. It also helps us to act rightly when church leaders disqualify themselves from their position and we learn to act biblically in such a case. Knowing God’s priorities for church leaders helps us to choose wisely whom we submit to under God. You have a responsibility as a member of this church to hold your leaders accountable to the standards that God sets in the Scriptures. Here at Bethany Baptist Church you have a choice and every member is a part of the process of installing leaders into church offices. You have a choice as to the church you join. The Bible is very clear that we don’t have a biblical choice in that matter, but we do have a biblical choice concerning which spiritual leaders we submit to. We do not have a biblical choice as to whether we submit to spiritual authorities. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.
Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says to us (Hebrews 13:17, NIV),ġ7 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. The church is also a place where we find spiritual accountability and spiritual authority to help us move forward in the faith. The church cannot just be a fun place where we meet friends, where we socialize, where we sing some songs, and we learn a little bit about the Bible. The third reason why this message may be relevant to you: God commands you to submit to spiritual leaders in the church. If you are a CEO of a company, or if you are the coach of a team, or if you are a general in the Army, or wherever you might exercise leadership, leadership is always spiritual in nature if you are a Christian, so it is vital that you understand the principles behind spiritual leadership. Leadership in the Christian always is spiritual in nature. For instance, moms and dads benefit from such a message as they apply it in their leadership over their children. The second reason why this message is relevant to you: the same principles that govern spiritual leadership in the church carry over into other areas of your life. Such a message as the one here may be the spark that ignites a passion in your soul to pursue the qualifications of spiritual leadership. God may awaken you yet to this design for you. Perhaps, in your own personal life you have never thought about being a church leader so you never considered the steps necessary to prepare your life for that work. This verse is telling us that it is a good thing to have a godly ambition in life not the ambition of lording it over other people, but the ambition of being a servant of God laboring to help others to grow in grace. Paul would say to Timothy (1Timothy 3:1, NIV),ġ Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer (a church leader) he desires a noble task. Reason Number One: God may call you someday to be a spiritual leader in the church. Let me offer four reasons why this message is relevant to your life. I am not a leader in the church so what does this sermon have to do with me?” While this message possesses special relevance to church leaders, I believe that it is applicable to everyone. Some of you may be thinking, at the outset, “Why should I be interested in a sermon addressing church leaders. These men are now given the sacred duty of leading the flock of God and leading the church, so Paul gives them one last charge as they consider their responsibilities before God. Paul has enjoyed a deep friendship with these men as he lived among them for years loving them through his service, his sacrifice, and his teaching. Paul gives counsel and encouragement to the elders at the church in Ephesus on this last retreat that he will ever have with them.
This is the audience that Paul addresses in Acts 20. The message I bring to you specifically focuses on church leaders.
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