Hebrews #42: an exposition of Hebrews 13:17-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 15, 2015.
Intro:
Several years ago I was involved with a group of pastors who met on a regular basis for fellowship and encouragement. It was not a ministerial alliance. We were not organizing cooperative work in the community. In fact we were from a large geographical area. It wasn’t an associational or convention thing either, though I think all of us were Southern Baptist. It was just a group of us who had known each other for years and it was just about fellowship. We would meet for a meal, tell stories and laugh. Occasionally the conversation took on a more serious tone. It was a place where we could be honest. Share our frustrations, our fears, without having to worry about if it would “get out.” I remember one lunch when the mood turned serious. We talked about our backgrounds. Where and how we grew up and how that had shaped us as pastors. One of the men made a statement that broke my heart. He said, “I grew up in churches that hated their pastors with pastors who hated their churches.” I was stunned. That was not my experience at all. I’ve had wonderful experiences in the churches I’ve been a part of. Growing up, on staff and pastoring. As a pastor I spent my first two years in a context where I was a “fish out of water. But those folks loved me and my family. They put up with a huge learning curve and demonstrated great patience. I then spent 3 and a half years in Ponca City and again we still have wonderful relationships with the people there. For the past 24 years it has been my joy to be pastor of this church. I’m not going to say that there have never been difficulties or hurt feelings or disagreements. I’m certainly not naive enough to believe everyone has been happy with me or pleased with my decisions or my preaching. I’m not going to say I’ve never struggled or had my feeling hurt or that I’ve never wanted to quit. The church is about relationships and relationships are messy. But churches that hate their pastors and pastors who hate their churches?
According to studies that have been conducted by our convention and others, 23% of all pastors say they have been fired or run off at least once in their career. When congregations were surveyed 34% said they either fired or forced a resignation of a minister in their recent history. According to a survey conducted by Campus Crusade, 80% of seminary graduates left the ministry within 5 years of graduation. I have dear friends who have been brutalized by their churches. They crossed the wrong deacon and got run out of town. They touched some sacred cow and found themselves looking for another job. Now lest you think I believe it’s always the church’s fault. I’ve known plenty of people who have been brutalized by an authoritarian pastor. I’ve known pastor’s who’ve set of little theocracies and named themselves “Theo!” I’m saying, “It ought not be!” I’m saying the attitude expressed by my friend is a disgrace and far removed from the biblical path.
The little Hebrew church in Rome was fighting for its life. They needed to come together. They could not afford to be divided. As the writer comes to the end of his letter he reminds them of the need to love one another unconditionally (13:1). Of their need to demonstrate genuine hospitality and to care for those who are imprisoned and mistreated for the Gospel (13:2-3). He also pleaded with them to remember their leaders. To hold them in high regard and to follow their example (13:7). In our text this morning he comes back to those leaders and gives us some insight into how we are to live together as pastor and congregation. As leaders and family. Our text is found in Hebrews 13:17-19.
Text: Hebrews 13:17-19
I think this is often a neglected area within the church.
After all if the pastor spends much time on this it seems a bit self-serving.
“Let me straighten you people out on how you ought to treat me…”
I get a little tired of hearing preachers whine about how bad they have it.
It get that.
My job has its own quirks and inconveniences the same as anyone else’s.
I don’t think my job is any harder or easier than anyone else’s – it’s just different.
What I want to do is walk you though this passage and together we will look at what the Scripture has to say about our life together. As I have work through this passage I’m convinced the message from the inspired text is that…
Thesis: The biblical model for pastor and congregation demands a congregation inclined toward respectful submission and a pastor with a deep sense of indebtedness.
There are just two things I want to point out.
- Members of the congregation are called to submit to those in authority over them. (13:17)
- Pastors are called to a deep sense of indebtedness toward those whom they serve. (13:18-19)
Conclusion:
Are you beginning to see what this relationship is to be?
It is not one in which I am nothing more than the church’s employee.
Neither is it I’m the “man in charge” and you best toe the line.
Rather it is a loving, mutual relationship in which we each fulfill the role God has given to us.