Introduction
The focus of our Services of Worship today are on leadership as we ordain and install new elders and deacons to lead and serve this congregation today. As a part of this occasion we’re going to be reading two passages from the Bible that talk about leadership.
The context of these readings comes from Israel’s wilderness wanderings in the book of Exodus. They may not seem to be about leadership, but let’s open ourselves to the Spirit of God and hear what He is saying to His church today…
Exodus 13:17-22 [NLTse]
17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”
20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
Exodus 33:7-11 [NLTse]
7 It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the Lord would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
8 Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. 9 As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. 11 Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
Sermon – Why? What? How? Now!
We Christians are quite serious in believing that when we gather together for worship and work that God is present and sovereign: That is, that the Lord our God is truly with us and absolutely master and in charge, there is no power or authority in Heaven or on the Earth that matches or even rivals Him, even though He allows human beings freedom of choice (and even to make horrible choices). God creates and guides, God saves and heals, God corrects and blesses, God calls and judges. With such all-inclusive and o-so-personal leadership from God, what is the place of human leadership?
Well, obviously, it has to be second place: Elders, deacons, ministry leaders, we must not elbow our way to the front; we must not bossily take over. Self-centered, ego-prominent leadership betrays the Lord and poorly serves the church that is His people and His body within which He dwells. The best leadership in Christian communities is inconspicuous, not calling attention to itself, and yet not sacrificing anything in the way of passion and commitment either.
You will hear such of such humility and passion and commitment being called for in the questions being asked of these men and women we will soon be ordaining and installing into leadership, these men and women whom the Lord has called through our voices and votes to be our servant-leaders in the Way, the Truth, and the Life that is Jesus Christ.
The message that greeted you on the screen when you first came in this morning said, “Wake up, sing up, pray up and pay up; but never give up or let up, or back up or shut up ’till the cause of Christ is built up in this world!” A friend from our old Lehigh Presbytery sent that to me this past week saying that he thought of our church when he read it.
We are all servant-leaders in Christ. No one else can fulfill the function in Christ’s body you were made to fulfill. That is, no one else can succeed in the ministry-work that the Holy Spirit has come upon you to succeed in. The Lord has not given us elders and deacons and pastors and others to keep us from our ministry, our work, our part of the Body. As we pray for and follow our servant-leaders, let each of us fulfill our calling in life. The Lord is our leader: He is with us and sovereign that we might do immensely more than we could ever ask or imagine!
Christ has died for this: To bring servant-leaders to God. Christ has overcome death for this: To bring a people to life – and through them – a light to the world. Christ lives in us for this: That we might destroy the works of the devil and make His – our Master’s – joy complete!
Are you committed to live your lives for Jesus Christ in this world?
Will you shine for Him, letting your words and deeds draw people’s attention to His goodness and grace?
When you fail or fall, will you ask Him and any whom you may have hurt forgiveness, and will you freely grant forgiveness to those who ask it of you?