The Gift of Leadership in the Church

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Hebrews 13:7-19
• Sermon
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Gift of Leadership in the Church

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7-17

I. Introduction: The Gift of Leadership

A. Context: Hebrews 12–13 addresses how we shall live in light of Christ's priestly ministry

• Chapters 12–13 move from love for God (worship) to love for neighbor
• Chapter 13:1–6 addresses hospitality and holiness
• Verses 7–17 focus on brotherly love expressed through right relationship with church leaders

B. Christ gives leaders as a gift to the church — Ephesians 4:7-13

1. At his ascension, Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers
2. Purpose: to equip the saints, build up the body, and bring believers to maturity
3. Leaders are Christ's hands and feet to his people — called, qualified, and gifted

C. Two distinct exhortations frame the passage

1. Verse 7: Remember your leaders — referring to leaders who have died
2. Verse 17: Obey your leaders — referring to leaders currently serving

II. Remember Your Leaders — Hebrews 13:7-16

A. The call to remember dead leaders

1. These are those who spoke the word of God at some point in the past
2. First-generation ministers and possibly apostles who preached to these early believers
3. Application: godly men who have left a personal impression — pastors, teachers, mentors

B. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith

1. Their completed lives show whether they finished the race and held fast
2. The whole of Hebrews calls believers to hold fast the confession
3. Application includes reading biographies of faithful ministers and preachers

C. Hebrews 13:8 — Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever

1. In context: the ground for imitating dead leaders' faith
2. The same Christ they preached is still alive and ministering as our great high priest
3. Encouragement to keep holding fast to this Christ

D. Application of the legacy of faithful ministry — verses 9–16

1. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings — Hebrews 13:9
2. Specific danger: Jewish Christians tempted to return to ceremonial practices and food laws
3. The heart is strengthened by grace, not by foods or works
4. The altar and the Day of Atonement — allusion to Leviticus 16
   • Bodies of sacrificial animals burned outside the camp
   • Jesus suffered outside the gate to sanctify his people through his own blood — Hebrews 13:12
5. Therefore: go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured — Hebrews 13:13
6. We seek the city that is to come — Hebrews 13:14
7. Continually offer a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name — Hebrews 13:15
8. Do not neglect to do good and to share — love for neighbor flows from holding fast to Christ — Hebrews 13:16

III. Obey Your Living Leaders — Hebrews 13:17

A. The nature of the obedience called for

1. Obedience and submission to leaders currently serving
2. Not absolute obedience — only insofar as their instruction agrees with the mind and will of God revealed in his word
3. Matthew Henry: it is real obedience and submission to the ministerial office, which is of God
4. Parallel to the fifth commandment: honor those in authority — Ephesians 6:1-4
5. Leaders are those who are over you in the Lord — 1 Thessalonians 5

B. The high calling and accountability of leaders

1. Leaders keep watch over souls as those who will give an account to Christ
2. Leaders are watchmen — standing guard against danger to the flock
3. High calling requires: willing service, eagerness, and being examples — 1 Peter 5:1-4
4. Leaders are under-shepherds beneath the chief shepherd

C. The goal: joyful obedience

1. Let leaders do their work with joy and not with groaning
2. Groaning would be of no advantage to the congregation
3. Right relationship between leaders and people is an expression of brotherly love

D. Pray for your leaders — Hebrews 13:18-19

1. The writer asks for prayer, desiring to act honorably in all things
2. Pray for their godliness, purity, and humility
3. Prayer for leaders is a recurring call throughout Scripture