Followership Church Orientation & Recruitment of Elders

Composition of the Church.

Problem of Leadership:

God Speak to Leaders but He also wants to speak to Followers

Addressed to Followers: HEB 13:7 ; EPH 4:11 ; 1TI 5:17 ; 1TH 5:12-13

The Pastor's Responsibility To God

1. Pastors are the watchers of your soul.

• Watch for your souls," (watch,"- to be sleepless, i.e. keep awake, watch. )
• Just as the task of a watchman was to warn the city against impending danger, the Pastor is to warn his people of spiritual dangers. Acts 20:28-32

2. Pastors are accountable to God.
• "They that must give account," (must give, deliver, perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward, sell, yield.)
• This is in the Future Tense; indicating that they be held accountable in the future (i.e., at the judgment seat of Christ; 2 Cor.5:10-13; Rom.14:10-12; Eph.6:8)
• Pastors will some day stand before the Lord and give an account of not only what they did, but what their flock did or didn't do for the Lord.
James 3:1, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." Note the word "masters," is referring to teachers of God's Word.

BIBLICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FOLLOWERS and LEADERS

HOW TO TREAT YOUR LEADERS

1. Know them - To be aware; to respect them, to look and consider, to acknowledge.

• Recognize that God has appointed the leader, and that is where his authority comes from. "Them that have the rule over you..." Present Tense; i.e., those who are presently ruling over you, or those who are presently your pastor. This would preclude people from following after a former pastor; i.e., they have a new pastor but continue to go to a prior pastor for advise, instruction, etc...
• Consider with Respect the Work that they are doing. They worked hard among you. They are over you in the Lord. They admonish you (mode of instruction with inspiration - to correct in love).
• Get acquainted with them,> their vision, dreams, values, and passion. Know them not only as your leader but also as your friend. Know that they too are people with feelings, with feet of clay.
• Remember Them - To be Mindful, keep them in memory, to think well of them and to feel good about them. To make mention of them.

2. Esteem Them - To consider them valuable as a leader, treat with the highest possible respect.
• Very highly - to pour out abundantly, to regard them beyond measure. Do not worship them but value them as God’s voice and hands to nurture you, to feed you.
• No slander.Observation: People hesitate to speak bad about their doctors or their lawyers, but quick to find fault with pastors.
• Do not destroy their reputation, image and credibility. Do not embarrass or dishonor them. Do not poison the minds of others about them.
• Pray for them / Intercede. Join them in their burdens and sorrow. Stand along with them against the enemy. Build a Prayer Shield for your leaders.

3. Imitate them This is the basis of Discipleship and training.
• God warned against Blind Leaders, and hypocrites. He denounced their unspiritual management of people’s lives. But encouraged us to obey godly leaders and imitate them.
• Consider the outcome of their lives. The fruitfulness. Character / values / behavior
• Imitate their Faith - the way they follow and obey God.
• Be one with your leader, of the same mind. Do not live in contradiction with your leader’s godly example and values.

4. Submit to them. Means, “To yield to the authority, action, control, power of your leader.
• "Submit," to surrender, submit self. Webster's defines "submit": To defer to another's judgment or decision. This is something revolting to the rebellious spirit of the age, and the reactionary policy of church people (reacting from previous history of leaders/dictators’ abuses).
• This is a command and not an option. (Notice that this Greek word is in the Imperative Mood with the Present Tense; in other words, they were commanded to "submit now! And keep on submitting!" )
• Submit to Leaders who are in submission to God. By obeying and submitting yourself to a godly Pastor, reveals your faith in God. When we fail to do these things we are really saying by our actions that God doesn't know what is best for us. We then elevate ourselves to a position higher than God.
• Governing Principles:
  • Conditioned by Scripture Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you..." Hebrews 13:7
  • Limited by Conscience But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men’." Acts 5:29
  • Secured by Prayer Therefore, I exhort... that prayers... be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life..." I Timothy 2:1

5. Obey Them From Trust and Humility – obedience is born of submission
• To obey means doing according to instructions or commands. Spontaneous action of those who follow, to the expectations of those who lead. If the church members adopt a servant attitude to the Lord, it will not be difficult to obey.(The Greek, implies more than just blindly obeying, but also having confidence and trust in his leadership. "Obey," to assent to evidence or authority, to rely by inward certainty, agree, assure, believe, have confidence, trust, yield).
• Leaders are accountable to God - Awesome and Difficult. To disobey a godly Pastor who is following God's Word, is to disobey God because God has placed them there to fulfill His purposes.
• Leaders keep watch over your souls Listen to them, help them, and work with them. WHY?
• That they may work with Joy - not with grief/tears, heartaches. Not a burden. Is your pastor doing the ministry with delight? Or with despair and discouragement? (GRIEF: Sighing, Murmuring, Groaning, Sighing, bringing forth grudges, and even affecting His prayer life. This is in the Active Voice indicating that this grief is "on-going," it doesn't let up! This is more than just having a bad day, but is continual.)
  How would you feel on judgment day when the Lord begins to inquire to your Pastor whether he/she is happy ministering to the church people or not? How would you wish him to answer?
  Are you a source of joy or a source of grief to your pastor?
• That they may work to your own profit. It is risky to be pastored by an unhappy leader, his unhappiness being the result of people’s disobedience or resistance to his authority and function.
  But it is a blessing to be led by a joyful leader, his joy being the result of his followers’ submission and obedience. Leaders with a happy disposition bring about happy results.

6. Honor them Give honor to whom honor is due.Honorarium, compensate them. . .
• Those who direct the affairs of the Church -Plus Preaching and Teaching are worthy… they deserve their support. 1CO 9:9-14 says that those who preached the gospel is entitled (have the right) for support. GAL 6:6
• Do not muzzle the ox. Give due honor - Give honor to whom honor is due...Worthy of double honor: 1TI 5:17-18
• Support them. Team up with them.