Keys of The Kingdom 15 - An Exhortation to Elders

As we come to 1 Peter today, we encounter a passage that deals with leadership and how we are to lead and live in the church and for the Lord. So, open to 1 Peter chapter 5 and follow along with us as we learn some of the qualities and qualifications of being a leader in the church.

Amen. Good morning. Could you be seated for just a moment? I'm going to make you stand again in a minute when we open up the Scriptures, but I wanted to begin this morning by saying, it seems a little bit odd to say it, but Happy Memorial Day. Just the nature of what Memorial Day is makes it feel a little strange to say Happy Memorial Day, but we wanted to give honor where honor is due this morning.

If you are a veteran who served in the armed forces here in the United States of America, would you stand? We want to honor and recognize anyone in our congregation this morning. The Scriptures do say in Romans chapter 13, verse 7, to give honor where honor is due, and you most certainly are worthy of honor. We appreciate your service, and we know that most of you who are standing have those whom you remember this weekend—those who served alongside you and paid the ultimate price by giving their lives in service to our country.

So, we are thankful for your service, and we certainly want to honor theirs. Thank you this morning. You can be seated. Thank you very much.

Now, would you stand with me and open your Bibles to the book of 1 Peter? If you don't have a Bible, you can raise your hand, and one of our ushers will bring you one. 1 Peter chapter 5 is right near the very end of your Bible. Turn to the very last book, Revelation, and turn to the left, past Jude and 1, 2, and 3 John, 2 Peter, and finally to 1 Peter.

1 Peter chapter 5 has only five chapters, and it feels like we've spent five years in these five chapters. Let's look at chapter 5, verse 1: "The elders who are among you I exhort. I, who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed, shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly."

Being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Father, speak to us today. Give us wisdom and insight. Lord, as you have placed many in this room in positions of leadership and authority, whether in business, the community, or even in the church, you have a word for us this morning. I pray, God, that we would receive it and learn from you how we are to lead. So teach us, we pray. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all those who agreed said, Amen. You can be seated.

Peter changes gears here in chapter five and now focuses on those who are leaders within the church. He says, "To the elders who are among you, I exhort." Who are these individuals? That's a simple first question. Peter refers to them as elders, and though in our vernacular, in the English language today, "elder" means older, it does not necessarily mean older in this context or in this passage.

In fact, when you do a word study on this word that is used or translated as elder in the English language, you find that it speaks to anybody in the church who is serving as an overseer, as one who is leading or directing the work of the church. It is those who preside over the assembly, the local congregation of the church. In our context, this primarily addresses pastors, but it is not only for pastors. This really speaks to anybody in the church who is in any leadership role, overseeing a team in ministry, whether as an usher, a greeter, in hospitality, on an outreach team, in children's ministry, or as a worship leader. Any position within the church where you have authority or lead other people, this message, this passage, is for you; it is for us.

Here, Peter directs his attention to those people. It is interesting to note the things we learn even just at the outset in these opening words: "The elders who are among you, I exhort." Some of the things we learn about leadership, eldership, or that position of an overseer are significant. First, we notice that leaders are to be among the people. Peter says, "The elders who are among you." Leaders, elders, are not to be over.

The people are not to rule with dominion over others, to be out of sight, or to be inaccessible. They are not a higher class of Christian, and it's important to understand this. There are several things we will see as we go through this passage that point to this truth.

I can tell you from my own experiences growing up in this church. My family started attending here when I was 11 years old. Of course, it wasn't at this location at that time; it was on the east end of Escondido, behind a donut store on East Valley Parkway. We lovingly called it the donut church. Was anybody a part of the donut church? If you're here, you can raise your hand. A few people, just very few.

At that church, one of the things I observed as a kid was that the leadership, the pastors and elders, were accessible. They were not at a distance from the people. This is not normal, though, when you look at the world in general and how leadership structures are set up. In the church, the elders and leaders are to be among the people. They are to be accessible; they are not exalted in some privileged position.

It's amazing to think that the word "minister," which literally means "servant," has come to be applied to someone who is separate from the people. This was never the case in the Scriptures. Peter says, "to the elders who are among you." Secondly, he says, "I exhort." This clues us into the fact that these leaders, who are to be among the people and not over or away from them, are not beyond counsel or exhortation. They are to be in a place where they are still learners.

There is a saying that has circulated, not just in the church but in leadership in general, for many years: "Leaders are readers." They are always gleaning new information. I don't necessarily like that phrase. I prefer a more recent one: "Leaders are learners." Those in positions of leadership, whether in the church or outside of it, need to maintain the position of always seeking to be under counsel and always seeking to learn. You have not arrived if you're a leader.

Yet, in certain areas of society, when someone reaches a position of management or leadership, it often seems as if that person has arrived and is untouchable. They outrank you, and so you can't talk with them. That should not be the case within the church. The leaders and elders within the body of Christ should be accessible, but they should also be subject to counsel. They should be receiving exhortation. Throughout my time serving in ministry, even though I find myself in a leadership position...

Positioned within the church overseeing this local congregation, I still seek out counsel and exhortation. I have pastor friends who I look to as mentors, who challenge and encourage me. They challenge me to be a better leader, a better father, and a better husband. I'm not always good at those things, and so I need other people to speak into my life and challenge me.

One of the dangers of leadership is that we can come to a place where we are inaccessible and unteachable. Peter clues us into the fact that this is not how it should be within the church. He says, "The elders who are among you, I exhort," not above exhortation. They are not to be leaders who think they have arrived. We are all, whether in a key leadership role or just starting out in serving the church, in process in Christ Jesus. He is still working on every single one of us. None of us have arrived.

I love that the Apostle Paul, someone I look up to and probably many of you do as well, wrote much of what is now the New Testament. Near the end of his life, he writes to a church and says, "I have not arrived nor have I attained." What a perfect picture of what it means to be in this position. It is a privileged position, but it is one where you remain teachable and accessible to the people.

So, point number one on your outline, sermon guide, is in your bulletin: Leaders are not lords. Leaders are not lords, at least in the conception of leadership that the Scriptures promote. Listen to how Jesus expresses this in the Gospel of Matthew. You can turn there if you'd like; it's to the left of First Peter, quite a few books. In Matthew chapter 20, Jesus is speaking to His disciples, who would become the leaders of the church, referred to as apostles—a pretty heady title.

In fact, the author of the book of First Peter that we are studying was in this group when Jesus said these words. In Matthew chapter 20, verse 25, Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles, that is, those who rule or lead in the world, lord it over those who are under them, and those who are great..."

Exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you. Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many. What an awesome picture of servant leadership that Jesus, God incarnate, the Son of Man, came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.

He says this is the litmus test for great leadership in the Kingdom of God: to follow the pattern of Jesus, to serve and not be served. If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God, it is not a bad thing to desire greatness. In fact, Jesus's disciples constantly argued with each other over who would be great in the Kingdom. You might assume that as they argued quietly in the corner about who would be great in the Kingdom of God, Jesus would condemn them and rebuke them for this. But instead, He says this is how you become great. The path to greatness in the Kingdom of God, the path to a position of leadership with authority, is to serve.

That is not the way the world we live in promotes leadership, is it? Yet throughout the Scriptures, the teaching of Jesus, and the teaching of the apostles in the New Testament is this concept of servant leadership. Leaders are not lords. We even see this in Peter's discussion about leadership and what he says about himself.

Back to 1 Peter chapter five, look at verse one. He says, "The elders who are among you, I exhort." Notice this: "I, who am a fellow elder." Peter was an apostle. Not only that, he says here in verse one of chapter five that he was a witness of the sufferings of Christ. Think about that. Not too many people could say that. He was an apostle and he was there when Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified. There is a very small group of people in the world who could say those words. He was an apostle and an eyewitness of the sufferings of Jesus.

Not only that, he says here in verse one that he is a partaker of the future glory of God. These are some awesomely praiseworthy things that are attached to Peter's life. Yet his view of himself was that he was a fellow elder. He is speaking to leaders, overseers within the church, the church at large, throughout.

The world at that time, 2000 years ago, was witnessing the beginning of the church's expansion. There were leaders within the body of Christ who had been raised up, but very few of them were witnesses of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Peter, however, was one of those witnesses. He says, "I'm just like you; I am a fellow elder." This statement clues us into another very important point, which is point number two on your outline: leaders must maintain humility.

Leaders are not lords, and they must maintain humility. The first step in maintaining humility is recognizing that you are not a lord. You are not in a privileged position above and over the people, having dominion over them because you are something special. No, we are what we are by the grace of God.

The Apostle Paul, whom I look up to as a hero in the Scriptures, speaks about the ministry of apostleship in 1 Corinthians 15:9. He says, "For I am the least of the apostles." This is the same man who carried the gospel throughout the known world of his day and who was almost killed on many occasions for his proclamation of the truth of God. He is the author of Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Timothy, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Titus, and Philemon—all these great passages of Scripture. Yet, he humbly states, "I am not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church."

Paul then shares an important truth for us to hold on to: "But by the grace of God, I am what I am." Whatever position of leadership you may find yourself in, I guarantee the Lord wants to work in your life and in mine to make us more effective leaders and to give us more influence than we currently have. He desires to do this in our lives.

Regardless of your position, you must always maintain this proper Pauline view, understanding that "I am what I am by the grace of God." It is not because of your pedigree, your education, your amazing gifts, or your good looks. You are what you are by the grace of God. Therefore, leaders are not lords; they must maintain humility in the positions they hold, or else they will not be effective.

In that position very long. The Lord will remove them from that position. How do I know? Well, if you just look a little bit further down in First Peter chapter five, it says this at the end of verse five: God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. I am what I am by the grace of God, and His grace toward me was not in vain. I labored more abundantly than they all; yet, not I, but the grace of God that was within me.

Paul acknowledges in First Corinthians chapter 15 that all the amazing things attached to his name—church planter, missionary, martyr, author of Scripture, inspired by God—were all by the grace of God. Everything was because of God's grace, and that's the right perspective.

As we come back to First Peter chapter five and look at the several exhortations that Peter gives to leaders and elders within the body of Christ, we need to understand that even if you feel you are not a leader within the church or never want to be one, this message is still for you. Wherever you are—whether you're serving in leadership in business, government, the community, or in your home—if you're a dad or a mom, you're a leader. If you're a teacher in a classroom, you're a leader. If you are a manager in a corporate entity, you're a leader. If you're a foreman on a job site, you're a leader.

If you're a Christian and you're a leader, then you need to be a Christ-honoring leader. Let me tell you something: if you follow the pattern that Peter speaks of here for leadership, you will succeed in leadership. You will be honored by the Lord in that leadership, and you will be honoring to the Lord in that leadership. So, though you may not feel yourself to be a leader in a church context, this passage is still for you.

Notice what Peter says in verse two: the exhortation to leaders is to shepherd the flock of God, which is among you, serving as overseers. We just saw this same idea presented by Jesus in Matthew chapter 20. There, He says that it shall not be so among you to lead like the rest of the world does. If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, then you need to serve. Here, Peter says it as well: shepherd the flock of God, which is among you. You're a part of the same flock, a part of the same group, but for some reason you've...

You have been given a position of authority, responsibility, and oversight. In that position, you need to shepherd those people and serve. You serve as an overseer. If you desire to become a great leader, whether in the church, within business, or just in the world, then the concept of servant leadership is essential.

Point number three: the greatest leaders are great servants. Let me tell you something. To serve within the church at the beginning sounds like a really fun and great thing until someone treats you like a servant. The true test of servanthood is how you respond when someone treats you like a servant. None of us like to be treated like a servant, which should inform us that we should not treat those who serve us as less than ourselves.

If someone cleans your house, does your yard work, or serves you at a restaurant, you need to ensure, as a Christian, that you don't belittle them or treat them as less than you. Understand that they are serving you. That is an awesome thing they are doing for you and on your behalf. It is an amazing privilege. If you want to be treated well as a servant, then make sure you treat servants well from the start. Take very good care of those who serve you, and they will serve you well.

If you end up not being a very nice person to servants, there will come a day when you need someone to treat you and take care of you, and that reputation will follow you. So, make sure that you treat them well. Here, we understand that the greatest leaders are great servants. If you look throughout history, you see this truth constantly. The greatest leaders, those who are honored, loved, and looked up to, are those who served those under them.

Peter also uses the word "shepherd" here. He says to shepherd the flock of God, which is among you. Throughout the New Testament, on a number of occasions, the church, the people of God, are referred to as the flock of God. The term "flock" brings to mind the picture of sheep. It is not the greatest picture. If you are a follower of Jesus today, you are called a sheep. Sheep are not particularly intelligent animals. We would love to be called the lions of God, but we are not. We are the sheep, and sheep are not known for their brilliance.

I shared it with the church a number of years ago when I came across it. I think it was about 2005 or 2006 when a story showed up in USA Today. It was about a group of herdsmen in Turkey who were overseeing a large flock of sheep. One of the sheep took off and ran off a cliff, and the rest of them followed. Many of them died, but thankfully, so many of them went over the cliff and made a nice big pad of pillow wool that the rest of them, who came over the top, survived. This is a good thing, but sheep are stupid.

It's hard for us to acknowledge that sometimes we are just not very intelligent when it comes to following the Lord. We are called the flock of God, and He is called the Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd. In John chapter 10, He talks about this, but He has also called some people within the flock to be overseers, to be under-shepherds. Here, Peter says to shepherd the flock of God, which is among you.

The word "shepherd" is the Greek word "poimano," and the word "pastor" is the Greek word "poimen." So, the work of the poimen (pastor) is to poimano (to shepherd). What exactly does that mean? It means to care for; it means to tend to. Peter had a very interesting understanding of this because Jesus had a conversation with him after Jesus had risen from the dead. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He had breakfast with Peter one day and asked him a series of questions. These questions are recorded in John chapter 21, verse 15.

When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, whose given name was Simon, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter replied, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." He asked him a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Tend my sheep."

Jesus asked him a third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

There are some things in this three-verse story in John chapter 21 that are obscured by our English language. Primarily, when Jesus has this exchange, it seems redundant in our language. However, it is not redundant in the original Greek because there are multiple words for the word "love." Jesus says to him, "Peter, do you"—using the Greek word "agape"—"me?"

Now, the word "agape" is a kind of love that's described in First Corinthians, chapter 13. It is a self-sacrificing, devotional love where you are wholly and completely devoted to an individual. Jesus asks Peter, "Are you devoted to me completely, wholly?" Peter responds, "Yes, Lord, you know I phileo you." The Greek word "phileo" means brotherly love.

Jesus then asks Peter again if he is fully devoted to Him, using the word "agape." Peter replies, "I love you, man. I love you like a brother." A third time, Jesus changes His approach and asks, "Peter, do you phileo me?" He is essentially asking Peter if he truly loves Him in that way. Peter is grieved that Jesus has asked him this question and responds, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Notice that every time Jesus asked Peter this question and received an answer, His response was the same: "Tend my sheep, feed my lambs, tend my lambs." Jesus is calling Peter to shepherd God's people, and this shepherding is based on love for Jesus. If you love me, take care of mine. If you love me, serve me by tending to my people, caring for them, feeding them, and addressing all the things they go through.

The basis of this pastoring work, the basis of this leadership role within the body of Christ, should always be motivated by love for God. That love for God should ultimately push us to love others. By nature, we do not love others, but one of the identifying characteristics of a Christian is that Jesus said, "They will know that you are my disciples by your love one for another."

If you love Christ and begin to seek and follow Him, your love for Christ will compel you to love others. Point number four on your outline is that love is the greatest leadership qualification and quality. This may not be what you generally hear in the world in which we live.

In the world in which we live, we hear that the greatest leadership quality and qualification can be a myriad of different things. For some, it may be an MBA; for others, it might be the ability to manage the affairs of other people effectively. Some may believe that being productive is the key. Yet, when we turn to the Scriptures, we find that love is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, leadership qualities and qualifications.

What kind of love? It is the love that Jesus asked Peter about when He said, "Do you agape me?" This love is patient, kind, humble, honoring of others, selfless, and mild. It means not being quick-tempered and being forgiving. This is what 1 Corinthians chapter 13 describes as this kind of love.

Now, for those of you who are under leadership in your workplace, I challenge you to find leaders above you who exhibit these characteristics: patience, kindness, humility, honoring of others, selflessness, mildness, and forgiveness. These are not the traits that the world suggests you should have to succeed in leadership. However, if you aspire to be a Christ-honoring, Christ-like leader, these are the qualities you need to apply in your life. You will go far, both in the church and in the world, if you lead with patience, kindness, humility, and a genuine honor for others.

Listen, if you are a loving leader, you will be a loved leader. That is absolutely certain. Whether in your home, workplace, or church, if you lead with love, patience, humility, and kindness, you will succeed and be a Christ-honoring and loved leader.

Peter also addresses the elders among us, stating that we should serve, not by compulsion, but willingly. Serving Christ is not compulsory service. What does that mean? It means you will not receive a card from Cross Connection Church that says, "Listen, number 27593, you are now being drafted into service. Show up at the church at seven o'clock on Sunday morning, and we will place you in a..."

The position of service, whether it's a good position for you or not, is not something you are drafted into. You show up willingly, or else we are coming after you. Serving Christ is not compulsory; it should not be done by compulsion, but willingly.

So, how do you motivate people to serve if it is not to be by compulsion? I would suggest that the best way to motivate people to serve is to lift up and show off how much God has loved us. As we proclaim and declare the greatness of God's love for us, we remember that Christ demonstrated His love towards us. While we were yet sinners, He died for us. When we see the greatness of the love of Christ for us, it will compel us to serve Him willingly.

We might say, "Lord, I want to serve You." Why? Because You are serving me. It is because of all that You have done for me. Paul said it like this in Second Corinthians, chapter five, verse fourteen: "For the love of Christ compels us." Yet Peter here says not by compulsion, but willingly. When you get a clear picture or understanding of the greatness of the love of God for you, you will not be able to stop serving Him and following Him.

To the extent that you grasp or understand the great love of God for you, it will be the extent to which you are compelled to serve Him willingly.

Point number five on your outline: Leaders are compelled by love to serve willingly. While Peter continues in verse two, he states that leaders are to serve not by compulsion, but willingly. They are also not to serve for dishonest gain, but eagerly. I love the way the King James Version phrases it: "not for filthy lucre." What in the world is filthy lucre?

Well, the word "lucre" is the root of the word "lucrative." Therefore, coming to serve Christ and His people in a leadership position should never be about seeking a lucrative position. If you want to serve Christ because you think it is a lucrative endeavor, I have some news for you: it is not a lucrative endeavor. I know there are some who are lifted up in the news from time to time who are apparently...

Serving Christ may seem like a very lucrative endeavor. Recently, a pastor stood before a congregation in our nation and claimed that God had spoken to him, saying he needed a better private jet. He asked for $60 million to help him acquire it. I'm not kidding you; you may have seen this in the news. At first glance, it might appear to be a lucrative opportunity, and one might consider getting involved in such a venture. However, let me tell you, it's not.

There are individuals from time to time who seem to be receiving financial gain, but this really gets to the heart of the matter: the motivation for why we serve. If your motivation is to gain something from those you are serving, it is the wrong motivation. You need to check your heart. I won't make a judgment about the pastor who wanted that private jet or believed God told him he needed it; that's between him and Jesus. However, if your eagerness to serve stems from the honor, privilege, or financial gain you might receive, it is misguided. The right motivation comes from being compelled by the love of God.

For every single one of us, it is essential to examine our hearts in Christ regarding why we do the things we do. Is our motivation correct? Are we compelled by love to serve willingly, or are we seeking some lucrative opportunity?

I recently read an article about a study conducted in 2013 by a group within the church in America. They found that the average pastor in the United States makes a salary of $28,000 a year. This is not a lucrative endeavor. I am blessed and greatly appreciate my salary, which is higher than $28,000, but I can assure you, this is not a lucrative endeavor. This is not Silicon Valley, and it is not like a cool startup.

We need to be careful about how we enter into these things. Peter continues in verse three, stating, "nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." I have already pointed this out in point one: leaders are not lords. Now, Peter explicitly states, "not as being lords." Instead of focusing on the lordship mindset of leaders, I want to emphasize the phrase "entrusted to you." Look again at verse three: "not as being lords over those entrusted to you."

Leadership is not lordship. Point number six: leadership is a stewardship. Peter says these individuals over which you are overseeing have been entrusted to you. This is God's flock; therefore, this is God's church. If you're serving within God's church, whether it's over kids in the children's ministry or over adults who are on the parking team, those are God's people. You have been given a management, a stewardship of His things, to which I, you, and we will one day give an account to Him as to how we oversaw that stewardship.

The Scriptures say in First Corinthians that it is required of stewards that one be found faithful. What is God looking for over those who are stewarding, managing, and overseeing His affairs, His church? He is looking for faithfulness, and leadership is a stewardship. One of the quickest ways to lose a leadership position, an oversight position within the ministry, is to begin to think that this is your ministry. As soon as you become possessive—thinking, "This is my thing, these are my people"—you cross into that area of possessiveness and not management and stewardship. You're in a dangerous place.

I will tell you that myself, along with the other leaders at this church, have from time to time had to remove people from leadership because they became possessive of their ministry, of their place. As soon as I see any sort of hint of possessiveness, we start to scale those people back. Sometimes we will take away responsibility and authority because this is not the way that a steward of the Kingdom of God is to steward the Kingdom of God.

Now, I have been called the senior pastor of this church, but I really believe Jesus is the senior pastor. My business card says lead pastor; I'm just a lead pastor. He is the senior pastor. I have to remind myself constantly, "This is Your church." In fact, when things are not going the way I think they should go, I constantly tell Him, "This is Your church; You have to deal with this." So, You better do something because Your church is kind of... come on now, do something. Lord, this is Your church.

Leadership is a stewardship. If you have any position of leadership in business, in government, in the church, or wherever you are, understand that it is by the grace of God that you are what you are.

He has given this to you by His grace to manage well, to steward for His glory. Those who lead and serve with this stewardship mindset will be good examples to the flock, not as lords over those entrusted to them, but as good examples.

Why? Well, verse four of First Peter five states, "And when the chief shepherd appears, He's coming back one day. When the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."

Point number seven: it is rare that I have a seventh point, but faithful stewards will be rewarded. Our motivation for ministry should not be what we can get from the ministry. Yet, there is a promise of a crown of glory that is eternal and does not fade away. Whatever you might receive from the ministry fades away, but faithful stewards will receive a crown of glory that does not fade away.

What is a crown of glory? I have no clue, but I am looking forward to it. I want to hear Him say one day, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord." That is a good objective to run towards—hearing Him say that. These words are both encouraging and challenging.

In the moments we have remaining, we have a good practical illustration or outworking of this. Today, we want to present before you the Church at Cross Connection, one of the newest pastors that we ordained here at this church. Unfortunately, we ordained him as the board of elders almost a year to the day, on May 31, 2015. Sometimes we are a little slow on the uptake, but this text leads us to this point in such an important way.

We have not presented him before the body to pray over him before you, the church. I want to invite Nick Burt up this morning because our board, on May 31, 2015, affirmed the call and work of God in Nick's life.

Ordination is not something that the church does; we merely ratify what God has been doing in and through Nick's life. For many years, he began serving at our church when he was in high school. He started on staff at our church in 2006, so he has been on staff with us for ten years, serving in all kinds of different areas, mostly with facilities, doing hard things like unclogging toilets and all those lovely sorts of tasks.

One of the key things we have seen in Nick over the years is his faithfulness. That faithfulness is something that God has worked in him. As he has been faithful, we are simply acknowledging the work that God has done in him today by recognizing that he is a pastor—not because the church says so, but because he has served faithfully as a pastor here at the church.

I want to invite our elders and pastors who are available here today to come up. I see his lovely wife, Kayla, in the back. I’m going to embarrass you; would you come up here as well? We want to lay hands on Nick and on both of them and commit them to the Lord. Would you stand and pray with us?

Praise the Lord. Father, thank you so much for this life that you’ve spoken into. We know that the ministry is not a sprint, but it is a marathon. Thank you this morning as we recognize Nick and all that you have been doing in his life over the years. What a blessing it is to be in the church where he has grown up, experiencing so many lessons, trials, and moments where you have worked with him. He has shown himself, as Miles says, to be faithful.

Lord, you are faithful. As we see that in Nick, may he walk with you all of his days. May he have a long ministry. Father, we pray that he would continue to grow in favor with both you and with men. I ask that you would increase his borders, that your Holy Spirit would be evident to all who meet him and work with him. May your Holy Spirit, using him and flowing through him, be visible to all. Lord, bless him and his family. Thank you so much for bringing Nick into a place where he can serve you.

And walk with you. Above all, Lord, may this be a demonstration of willingness and faithfulness to serve you. Father, I thank you for the example of faithfulness that Nick has been to this church. I pray for the ministry that you have committed to him, not just with the youth, especially with the junior hires, but also as you have taken him from here to serve on campuses around this area and beyond. He has served faithfully with the pastors at funerals and weddings, and has been available for hospital visitations and many other things. I know that you will continue to open many effective doors before him.

I pray, God, that you would give him and his wife your grace. As Paul said, with great and effective doors, there are many adversaries. We pray, God, as he experiences the spiritual warfare that confronts those who are ordained as ministers, that you would give him an extra measure of your mercy and grace. I don't think it's odd or strange that you inspired Paul to write to Timothy and Titus, pastors, that he gave not only grace and peace, but also grace, mercy, and peace.

I pray for your mercy in his life, that he may be a servant who serves mercifully and gives graciously. Lord, would you bless both him and Kayla, along with their two beautiful little babies? We commit them into your hands and thank you so much for the work you are doing in and through their lives. Would you increase it? We ask this in Jesus' name, and all those who agreed said, "Amen." God is good.

I would ask, as I did in the first service, that you also commit your pastors, myself, the other pastors, and the elders of our church to prayer. Please pray with and for us, and pray for our families. It may sound selfish, but I want to give you our prayer request. You give us your prayer requests every week, and I want to share ours. Would you pray for us as we are called to this task of shepherding? Pray that God would open greater doors for our church and that we would continue to grow in our mission.

To be good examples, I ask that God would strengthen us in this work. So, let us contend together in this effort. Let's worship together.