The Letters to Timothy and Titus Part 3
Profiting from Spiritual Leaders

Adapted for this series by Mark Bair from an outline by Gary DeLashmutt

Introduction

For the last two weeks, we have been studying the Letters to Timothy and Titus—young leaders who Paul trained and in placed in situations that were, humanly speaking, “over their heads.” We saw how God is the one who selects true spiritual leaders and the criteria He gave us to recognize them. This week we will look at how to profit from spiritual leaders by being good followers.

Timothy as an Intern

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also

2 Timothy 3:10, 11, 14  But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me…   14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them…

Philippians 2:22 But you know of his [Timothy’s] proven worth that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.

 

The Key to Being a Good Leader is being a Good Follower

First to JC as your shepherd, then to His delegated “undershephereds”

Gospel:  JN 10 Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Self-willed and autonomous people make ineffective (but sometimes dangerous) leaders.

 

Delegated Authority

While God makes his leadership available to us directly through the Bible and the Holy Spirit, he also provides much of his direction for our lives through human leaders. Although He alone is the ultimate authority, he has chosen to delegate his authority to people who play different leadership roles in our lives: parents, governing authorities, employers, husbands - and church leaders. Throughout the New Testament, Christians are called to distinguish themselves by the way they relate to these delegated authorities (1 Thess. 5:12,13; 1 Cor. 16:15, 16).[1]

This teaching will focus on Hebrews 13:7, 17

13:7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith… 17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

The Bible has much to say about what characterizes good leadership in the church: their qualifications, their responsibilities, the scope of their authority, etc. But it also has much to say about good followership in the church. This is the emphasis of these two verses. Evidently, the author's audience were having problems in this area. So he provides them (and us) with three important aspects of good followership . . . 

 

Three Important Aspects of Good Followership

#1.  Choose Your Spiritual Leaders Carefully

Notice that the command in vs. 7 ("imitate their faith") is modified by the phrase "considering the outcome of their way of life." In other words, before you follow someone's spiritual leadership, make sure they are genuine spiritual leaders. Good followership involves choosing your spiritual leaders carefully!

This is important because their are many false and unworthy spiritual leaders. Jesus warned us to beware counterfeit leaders (Mt. 7:15-20).

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16 “You will know them by their fruits.[which here can’t mean numerical results because  the whole point is that people will follow them; must be Gal 5 fruit] Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

LOOK at following context:[2]

Jesus predicted that during the entire period between his first and second comings, many false leaders would lead God's people astray[3].

Virtually every letter in the New Testament says something about this problem.[4]

God provides us with two questions we should ask before we commit ourselves to follow a spiritual leader - and they are not "Do you have a seminary degree and ordination by a denomination?"

Does their teaching agree with God's Word? The primary function of spiritual leaders is to help people find and follow God. And since God has revealed himself through the Bible, this test is obviously critical. That's why Paul told Titus that the spiritual leaders he appointed for the Christians in Crete must "hold fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict" (Titus 1:9).
This is one reason why we want you to bring a Bible - so you can ascertain that we are following what the Bible says and not twisting it to suit our own opinions. This is why we have a "Statement of Faith" - so you can know what we believe and whether it agrees with the Bible. Before you follow the leadership of this church, we want you to be assured you can trust our doctrinal integrity. What does it mean if a leader is offended that you ask him searching questions in this area? He should be glad!

Does their way of life reflect godly character? Since spiritual leaders help people to follow God, their own lives must reflect God's character. That's why Paul says leaders must be "above reproach, (sexually faithful, good parents), not accused of dissipation or rebellion . . . not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled . . . " (Titus 1:6-8). While no person does this perfectly except Jesus, spiritual leaders should be committed to integrity and be able to inspire others to godliness by their own example.

Beware of this tendency:

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.”

So many of the popular teachers and “life strategists” do just this—tell you what we want to hear. Is this how we choose our leaders? What do we do when a teacher offends our sensibilities or differs with our preconceptions?

My experience with my most valued mentors is that they often did not tell me what I wanted to hear—but saved me from foolish choices.

See also historical and contemporary mentors (Luther, Edwards, John Wesley, Spurgeon, Watchman Nee, Francis and Edith Schaeffer; J.O. Sanders, Guinness, Peterson)

>> God wants us to follow spiritual leaders, but we are responsible for who we choose to follow.  He has given us the resources to make a wise choice here, so we can never say, "I just did what I was told - therefore I am not responsible."

2.  Imitate Your Leaders' Faith

Good followership also involves knowing how to benefit from good leadership. And the author says we can do this by imitating their faith. This doesn't mean we try to copy their personality or unique spiritual gifts - God makes us different in these areas. Rather, it means we should observe how they follow Christ in their own lives, and imitate what is worthy.

It is a well-known fact that imitation of models is one of the most effective methods of learning.

I can read a textbook or listen to a lecture about how to catch small mouth bass, and this will help me. But it is far better to go fishing with someone who is a good bass fisherman, watch how they catch bass, ask them questions and imitate them in the ways they effectively follow Christ.

In the same way, you can listen to teachings about how to follow Christ, and this will help you to some extent. But this will never be as helpful as spending time around someone who is a spiritual leader, observing how they pray, use the Bible, share their faith, serve other Christians, handle money and possessions, respond to suffering and disappointment, relate to their spouses and children, make important decisions, respond to authority - and asking them questions about what you observe.

This is how Jesus taught his disciples to follow God - not merely by teaching them, but also by sharing his life with them on this level.

I feel like I have been very privileged in this area in my Christian life. God has provided me with many models for many areas of the Christian life.  And though I am far from a perfect model, I feel I have a responsibility to do my part in allowing others to learn this from me. This is why I do HOME GROUP work . . . 

>> Are you in close enough contact with spiritual leaders that you can observe how they follow Christ? This is a big reason why we have home groups, ministry teams, etc. These groups are led by people whose faith is worthy of imitation, and they are small enough that you can do this. Take advantage of this tremendous resource!

Obey & Submit To Your Leaders

The job of leaders is to lead. By definition, they must set direction for the church. Good leaders initiate (See Sanders, Spiritual Leadership pp. 126,127).

“To initiate is an important function of a leader. Some have more of a gift for conserving gains than for initiating new ventures; more gift for achieving order than generating ardor. The true leader must have venturesomeness as well as vision. Her must be an initiator rather than a mere conserver. Most of us prefer to play it safe, but Paul did not play it safe. He constantly took prayerfully calculated risks… More failure comes from excess caution than from bold experiments with new ideas.”

God gives spiritual leaders the responsibility to discern how he wants them to do this, and he gives them the authority to lead the church in that direction (as noted in the letters to Timothy and Titus: Titus 2:15; 3:8; 1:5; 1 Timothy 4:11-16). Hebrews 13:17 says that good followership involves obeying and submitting to their leaders.

The meaning of these two terms is crystal clear. "Obey" means "to assent to their direction." "Submit" means "yielding one's contrary opinions in favor of theirs." Sometimes, these terms were used in a military context. Similar terms are used in the Bible to describe how we should respond to governing authorities, how employees should respond to their employers, and how wives should respond to their husbands. It means we are to voluntarily place ourselves under their legitimate direction and actively choose to execute their directives - unless, of course, they call on us to disobey God's Word.

The scope in which this should be practiced is important. Just as governing authorities have no rightful authority over your spiritual beliefs, and just as employers have no rightful authority over what you do during off-hours, spiritual leaders do not have authority to direct your life in areas outside the ministry of the church. For example, spiritual leaders have no authority over what job you choose, or which house you buy, or who you marry, etc. One of the marks of a cult is when spiritual leaders exceed their proper scope of authority.

On the other hand, they do have legitimate decision-making authority over matters which pertain to the operation of the church. They have authority to decide what structures the church will employ, what the requirements are for different positions in the church, what ministries to start and stop, what courses can be taught, how resources like money and man-power are deployed, etc. Although the Bible provides us with principles and priorities in these matters, most of these decisions are judgment calls. Who should make these decisions? The leaders should - and the others should be willing to abide by these decisions.

Does this mean you can never disagree with the direction of spiritual leaders, or attempt to persuade them to your point of view? Not at all! Since many of their leadership decisions are matters of judgment, you may often disagree. And you are free to try to persuade them (and they may decide you are correct). But when the time comes for the decision to be made, they are the ones who must make it. And then you need to accept their decision and follow it, as vs. 17 says. This is what submission and obedience is all about: deferring to someone else's way when we would have done it another way.

If you feel the decision is so wrong that you cannot follow it, or if your trust in the leaders' judgment is fundamentally eroded, then it may be time to go to a church whose leadership you can follow.

In other words, good followers do not have the attitude, "Unless you can prove to me beyond reasonable doubt that your leadership decisions are correct, I reserve the right to do it my own way." Although this is the prevailing attitude toward authority in our culture, God calls this attitude rebellion, self-will, lawlessness - and he condemns it. This attitude will greatly hinder the leaders' ability to do their job, which in turn results in spiritual impoverishment for the ones they are trying to lead (vs. 17b). Good followers have the attitude, "Unless I can demonstrate from scripture that you are wrong, I will defer my own preference, get behind your leadership and help you to succeed." This is the attitude that enables a leader to lead with joy, and which results in great profit for those who follow.

>> Our culture mocks this distinctive. Personal rights are emphasized to such an extent that personal responsibilities have faded from view. Submission and obedience are viewed at best as a necessary evil to be endured only when necessary; at worst as a terrible sign of mindlessness and weakness.

But God has a different view (Titus 3:1-6). He calls on us to repent of this attitude and to willingly place ourselves under his loving authority - first by receiving Christ and following him, and also by cultivating this attitude in our relations with the government, at home, on the job, and in the church. Do you want to become a good follower?

Back to Recent Teachings


[1] 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

1 Corinthians 16:15-16 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),16 that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

[2] 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.

[3] Mt 24:4,5, 11  “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many...  11 “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.

Mt. 24:24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

[4] Romans 16:17, 18 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

2 Tim. 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Titus 1:10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain.

2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.

1 John 4:1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Jude 1:3,4 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.