Series Seventeen: Church Leadership

In this session we will see how servants of Christ mature in a pattern. Our Christian walk includes a command in Scripture to mimic, or pattern, our lives after those around us who are more mature and sanctified. We will see that Paul commanded this of the Corinthians. We will also learn that our ultimate model is Christ.

The Command to Imitate Godly Examples

1. In 1 Corinthians 4 and Philippians 3 the apostle Paul admonished the Corinthians as children, co-heirs with Christ, and members of His church.
   1. Paul instructed them, saying, “be imitators of me” (1 Cor 4:16; cf. Heb 13:7).
      • The word group (mimētḗs) means to “mimic.”
   2. To the Philippians Paul wrote, “observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Phil 3:17). This is the concept of replication.
      1. The word group (túpos) means a “model, example, or type.”
      2. This is collective and corporate: “Brethren, join in following”—we don’t do it in an isolated fashion.
      3. You will never understand serving the church in leadership if you live the Christian life separate and alone on a metaphorical island.
      4. You will not grow unless you have someone pressing into your life.
   3. The implicit emphasis is on observing. We watch the mature to learn the pattern.
      1. We observe how they think.
      2. We observe how they apply the truth.
      3. We observe how they battle sin.
      4. We observe how they speak, listen, study, and learn.
      5. We observe the way they articulate the truth regarding the heart and the mind.
      6. This is not just a casual observation; it is a close study of the application of biblical principles which have formed lasting convictions in a person’s life.
         1. We observe the Christlike principles in a man’s life, and we aim to discover how he came to model Christ from the Scriptures.
         2. We examine carefully how those principles worked down so deep so that they firmly hold to their convictions.
         3. How did that passage, applied in that way, lead that man to be that kind of husband, father, shepherd, and man at work?
         4. If I can trace that man’s example and convictions back to Christ and His word, I am no longer blind. The light of the gospel as it pertains to that area in my life is available to me.
      7. Disciples should trace the pattern of a more mature believer’s life and follow it by placing themselves in that pattern.
2. When Paul says to mimic him, he doesn’t mean:
   1. to follow men’s practical choices or preferences (e.g., this is how to clean your garage).
   2. cloning in every area (e.g., food, clothing, interests, etc.).
   3. a mechanism for control.
3. When Paul says to mimic him, he does mean:
   1. to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Cor 11:1).
      1. He connects this mimicking to the wonderful redemption that we have in Christ.
      2. We imitate the divine in our salvation.
   2. to imitate anything in his life that is Christological, from God’s Word, or divine.
4. Stumbling blocks to imitation
   1. We don’t carefully observe other men.
      1. This work implies a lot more than just observing outward deeds.
      2. It requires a depth of friendship and discipleship that discusses true heart work.
   2. We converse only superficially.
      1. We must ask critical questions.
      2. We must converse about deep things, and why we do the things we do.
   3. We tend to avoid closeness with other men.
   4. Men are prone to put on airs, as if we don’t have much to learn.
      • The apostle Paul said that he longed to be with the Romans for mutual encouragement in the faith (Rom 1:12). We are encouraged and we learn from each other.
   5. We make assumptions about the way people live, and our prejudices get in the way.
      1. We are biased, not objective, and we don’t properly see the things we should imitate.
         1. They live that way because they ——— [an assumption on our part].
         2. I am not like them because “I’m different” [an assumption on our part].
         3. We make assumptions that our lives are more difficult or their spiritual lives are easier.
      2. Paul commands us to mimic the pattern (1 Cor 4:16) without making assumptions of the pattern observed.
      3. It requires getting past biases and not making assumptions based on biases.
   6. We are intimidated by the examples of others.
      1. When we press into others’ lives, we feel inadequate. Good! Embrace it!
         1. Our pride makes us feel uncomfortable.
         2. We don’t really want to imitate when we don’t want to be exposed as less spiritual or weak.
         3. We start to make excuses.
      2. But when we are intimidated, that is precisely when we are called by God to be challenged, to press in, observe the intimidating pattern, learn from it, and model it.
         1. We assume and think that we are okay where we are, and that things are not going to go poorly for us if we hold onto the status quo.
         2. We must be confronted for change and growth.
         3. We must be stretched outside of our comfort zone.
         4. We are either growing or falling backwards; there is no status quo because of the unredeemed flesh and Satan’s relentless pursuit to tear us down.
         5. If you are comfortable with the status quo, you will become systematically less mature and dull of hearing (Heb 5:11).
5. What does the structure of imitation look like?
   1. God calls the mature to be visible with tested patterns to follow.
      1. They are affirmed in character and skilled with applying the principles in God’s Word.
      2. They are named pastors, elders, deacons, etc. All are affirmed and tested.
      3. Before they are in leadership, they are serving as examples, and their example is well-known.
      4. The mature are not invincible or perfect; they are simply striving to be Christlike. We follow their humility and pliability.
   2. The principle of imitation affirms the calling of God to the offices of church leadership (1 Tim 3:1)
      1. He desires to lead as a model and have others follow his example.
      2. God has placed a burden on his heart to lead by example and for others to imitate him.
      3. He desires to be a shepherd and lead.
      4. He buckles down, disciplines himself for the purpose of godliness, and he learns.
      5. He is humble and contrite, doing the hard work on his own heart as he follows the mature examples above him.
      6. Then, after he is tested, he is affirmed as an overseer.
   3. As the congregation imitates the leaders, a pool of men is being developed. From this pool, God calls future leaders.
      1. Some may be called to full-time ministry. It works only because of the principle of imitation.
      2. Strong churches result as no one is left out of this command.
      3. Discipleship can be clunky and hindered if imitation is not practiced or the models to follow are not godly.
      4. The flock should be more like Christ as a result, or the shepherd must get out of that leadership role.
         1. We would protect the church better if men would not go into ministry until this principle has been imbedded in their souls.
         2. Men who realize they are not a man to be modeled after would get out of ministry.

Implications of Biblical Imitation in the Church

1. The practice of imitation is amazingly purifying for the one being mimicked.
   1. The example doesn’t begin and end with me.
   2. I don’t get to be comfortable just because I may be ten steps ahead in maturity; the benchmark is Christ!
   3. The mature fall short, so we are purified in that as others mimic us. We strive even more.
2. Ministries that implement imitation will be used by God for powerful gospel transformation.
   1. Growth is not a flash in the pan; instead it is slow and steady in maturing, and it cures in obedience.
   2. God is preparing people right now somewhere, so later they can be saved and discipled when they come into your life to follow your example.
   3. The hardest work in the church is modeling and following examples.
      1. This is our strategic plan for church growth.
      2. If the leadership is godly and the trickle-down effect is more godliness, then we know God will bring others to our ministry.