Show us how it’s done, church leader!

“Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12).

In attempting something I’ve never seen done, I need to look over the shoulder of someone doing it.  I don’t learn how to do hard things just by reading plans.

The Air Force has instructor pilots.  They sit beside the student in the cockpit, showing how it’s done, then giving hands-on instruction when the pupil takes the stick.

The educational system has interns who sit in the classrooms of veterans and learn from them. Other occupations have apprentices, associates, and trainees.

Show me.

A word to the pastors and other church leaders among us:  Show us how it’s done. Be Exhibit A.

Give the young believers coming after you a pattern to follow, for some look in vain for instances of believers living what they are hearing.  Give the old crusty veterans a close example of one living out the Christ-life, for some have given up hope of ever seeing that.

Do you want us to go door to door, sharing the gospel or inviting neighbors to a church event?  Then, the week before, you get out there and knock on a hundred doors.  In doing so, not only will you be able to help your people later when instructing them, but it will free up your spirit more than ten hours of prayer.  Honestly. There is no substitute for just getting out there and doing it.

Are you urging your people to picket the abortion center?  During the week before the big day, go down there yourself and talk to the clinic workers.  Find out who they are and assure them of your love and good intentions.  You will then be able to stand before your people with just the right blend of confidence and humility (we call that Christlikeness!) to help them get this right.

You can do this, church leader.

Don’t be too easy on yourself. Do not let yourself off the hook with various escape clauses: “I’m weak.” “I’m just one person.” “Don’t look at me.”  “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”  “Confrontation is not my gift.”

Show them how.

There is no basis in Scripture for pastors and other church leaders preaching/teaching something they are not practicing.

There is no basis in the Scripture for executive leaders of the Lord’s flock who sit in offices and issue mandates for the congregation.

“The Son of Man did not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a random for many.”

1. Pastor, show us how to live by faith.

Can you persevere when the money is tight, your needs are overwhelming, your support is dwindling, and your closest friends are turning against you?  Can you be faithful when your health declines and your strength is gone?

You will teach more by your example of faithfulness in trials than by a hundred classroom sessions.

2. Church leader, show us how to persevere. 

Things have gotten tough for you?  Your business is in a crunch, your doctor has given you bad news, your best friend has turned against you?  Hang tough. Show us how to stand strong and “rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 4:4).

3. Show us how to rejoice in adversity.

You know and love the last three verses of Habakkuk. There is nothing else in Scripture like this declaration.  It’s so wonderful that many of us quote it often, and so easy to preach and teach when things are going well. But when the church is having major difficulty or you personally are going through a battle, now is your chance. See how Paul and Silas “prayed and sang hymns at midnight” in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:25) even while their backs were untreated from the beating they’d received earlier and they were locked into stocks.  Our Lord does not hesitate to allow His children to experience difficulty in order that we may show the world what try joy looks like.

Show us.

4. Show us how to get back up after being knocked down,and to keep on getting back up.

We all love how Paul said of himself, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed. We are perplexed, but not despairing.  We are persecuted but not forsaken.  Struck down but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).  That–let me say–is fun to read but hard to do!

Show us how it’s done, leader.

5. Show us how to live within our means and still have enough to share.

Paul says, “You will be enriched in everything for all liberality” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

Show us what that means, pastor and other ministers and all church leaders.

This is difficult. Money problems give families in the church more headaches than anything else. They need some role models, leaders who get this right and then will stand up and tell the rest of us how it’s done.

6. Show us how to disagree in love even when being attacked and harassed.

Anyone can demonstrate harmony in an atmosphere of sweet friendliness.  But when the church is coming apart at the seams due to the destructive work of a few members with terrible mental health or evil hearts, now, church leader, is the time to show the world the difference that Jesus makes.  You are human like everyone else, and you will have to fight the urge to “get in the flesh.”

7. Show us how to protect ourselves from evil people by doing right and walking wisely.

Paul told the Thessalonians, Pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did with you; and that we may  be delivered from perverse and evil man; for not all have faith” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).  They’re out there and, according to Acts 20:29-30, they will often show up in your church.  Be smart and wise (Matthew 10:16).

8. Show us how to balance all the areas needing our attention and loyalty: church, home, physical health, etc.

We all love that line about our Lord Jesus: “He increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).  Our Lord was balanced–mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.  Nothing out of line.

Show us how to do that.

9. Show us how to handle failure and setbacks.

In a conference in his church, Rick Warren told us, “We have many failures, because we try so many things. You only hear about our successes.”  — The best way to guarantee you never fail in anything is not to attempt anything.  But who wants that kind of life?  Let’s go, church leader. Do something!

Show us how.  And when someone goofs and forgets something essential and the meeting bombs, learn from it, give it to the Lord, and go forward.

10. Show us how to pray.

The disciples learned from Jesus.  “Lord, teach us  to pray,” they said (Luke 11:2). They added, “John taught his disciples to pray.  How about teaching us.”

Granted, in the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:26, “We do not know how to pray as we should.”  But that should not slow us down. We pray anyway, praying by faith, in ways we are taught in Scripture.

Few things frighten me more than people looking to me to see how the Christian life is lived.  But, I don’t have any choice in the matter. Even if I try that little cop-out “Do as I say, not as I do,” it does not work that way.”

Paul told the Corinthian church, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1).  We honestly cringe at telling people to “do as I am doing,” but like it or not and advise them to do it or don’t, this is how it happens.

It’s why the Lord made you and me leaders of His flock.

“Do not lord it over those alloted to your charge, but proving to be an example to the flock” (I Peter 5:3).

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