Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 17 October 2021
What is a Godly Leader?
Scripture References: Titus 1:5-9, Acts 20:17-38, 1 Peter 2:21-25
Gathering Growing Going
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CloseOn the one hand, the church is God’s church – it is the body of his Son, Jesus. Gathered, and sent out, it is commanded to display the nature of God to the world. And to this end, it is led: it has leaders. Its chief leader is Christ. And he delegates this shepherding role to under-shepherds, for the good of leading God’s people to reflect him more fully. A leaderless church is not God’s design. On the other hand, as we see in Acts 19, the leaders of God’s people have a very particular role: they are to teach God’s people the truth of Jesus so that they grow in godliness. And this ‘knowledge of the truth … leads to godliness’ (Titus 1:1). Godliness does not stand only in public or hide in the bedroom – godliness is always, in every facet. So, the leaders that God appoints to lead his people must themselves display godliness at home as they lead the house of God. They must teach the truth in such a way that God’s people grow in godliness, in public and private. And all this so that the world knows God, through Jesus!
Scripture References: Titus 1:5-9, Acts 20:17-38, 1 Peter 2:21-25
Related Topics: Titus | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
Howard McFetridge
There are a number of sayings that I love, but one that I really use – ‘Pink in the morning, sailor’s/shepherd’s warning; Pink at night, sailor’s/shepherd’s delight’. It was actually confirmed as a true saying for me the other day, as I listened to an interview with a meteorologist! Sayings like this that are memorable and true – well, they provide terrific summaries that help us navigate life. And it is no different for God’s mob. In fact, within even a matter of years of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (and ascension), sayings were starting to be developed and used that summarised the essence of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus, and part of God’s mob. Those sayings are no less significant today – and one of them, from a letter from a bloke called Paul to a young fella called Timothy, summarises what we are on about here at Narrabri Anglican Church: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners’.
You eventually have to make a decision about the Gospel – in fact, the Gospel demands a decision. The slow build of the first five boxes of ‘Learn the Gospel’ has brought us to this binary moment. On the one hand, you can persist in the attitude and action that says, ‘I am God and God is not’, and the consequence is facing the judgement of God – the judgement of death – on your own merits. On the other hand, you can turn to Jesus (‘repent’), trust in what He has done (His life, death and resurrection) and submit to His right rule, and receive restoration with God, forgiveness of sins, and a completely new life. You eventually have to make a decision about the Gospel.
The resurrection of Jesus was not just another miracle of God but the definitive victory over sin and death! Yes, His death on the cross paid our debt of sin but His resurrection showed Him to be righteous, without fault and blameless before God, and highlighted His identity as truly God. The God-man who could restore our relationship with God. As such, Jesus is the ruler and judge over all the world, and to whom all will give an account. Jesus’s resurrection is the guarantee that those who place their faith in Him have present forgiveness of sins and are justified before God. We can be sure of the living hope that, as Jesus rose, so we too will rise to resurrected life and enjoy eternity with our Lord and Saviour together!
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