(500) 「灵粮主题 TODAY’s Topic」：领袖应当是教会会众的楷模 Leaders Should Be Role Models for the Entire Congregation

「灵粮经节 TODAY’s Verses」：「史蒂文·J·科尔牧师 Rev. Steven J. Cole 曾宣讲 “教会领袖的责任 The Responsibilities of Church Leaders” 。 他注意到，许多圣经写作家可能都同意美国教会存在的领导危机，但他们对问题的解决方案并不一致。 许多人将美国商业原则引入当地教会，而不太考虑圣经对教会领导层的要求和责任的规定。 因此，许多现代牧师将传讲神的话语的责任降到最低，而专注于成为教会的首席执行官。 作为教会企业家，他们设想并实施增长计划。 他们将教会视为一种产品，将福音视为向消费者推销的商品。这些牧师兼首席执行官中的许多人都非常成功，建造了令人印象深刻的教堂校园，每周接待成千上万的 “顾客”。另一位圣经的写作家詹妮弗·德威尔, Jennifer DeWeil 也曾在她的福音分享里写了一篇， “圣经关于领导力的说法 What the Bible Says About Leadership” ，引用马太福音 20: 25-28 节，耶稣提醒事奉者，告诉祂的门徒，领袖不应该对人行使权柄。 相反的，谁想成为伟大的人，就必须降低自己成为仆人。 领导者意识到，为他人服务是以纯洁的心、没有骄傲，妒忌，和傲慢的态度，成了领导的唯一方法。所以，今日灵粮也所都引用同一处的经节，提醒耶稣吩咐事奉的教会领袖要有仆人式领导的精神，因为，“领袖应当是教会会众的楷模”， 说：“… 谁愿为首，就必作你们的仆人。正如人子 （耶稣） 来，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，并且要舍命，作多人的赎价。…”; Rev. Steven J. Cole once preached on “The Responsibilities of Church Leaders.” He noted that many biblical writers may agree that there is a leadership crisis in the American church, but they do not agree on solutions to the problem. Many are importing American business principles into local churches without paying much attention to what the Bible says about the requirements and responsibilities of church leadership. As a result, many modern pastors minimize their responsibility for preaching God’s Word and focus on being the CEO of their church. As church entrepreneurs, they envision and implement growth plans. They view the church as a product and the gospel as a commodity to be marketed to consumers. Many of these pastor-CEOs are extremely successful, building impressive church campuses that serve thousands of “customers” each week. Another Bible writer, Jennifer DeWeil, also wrote an article in her gospel sharing, "What the Bible Says About Leadership," reminding ministers that, in Matthew 20: 25-28, Jesus told His disciples that leaders should not exercise authority over people. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great must lower himself to become a servant. Leaders realize that serving others with a pure heart, free of pride, jealousy, and arrogance, becomes the only way to lead. Therefore, today’s spiritual food also quotes the same verse to remind Jesus’ command for church leaders who serve to have a spirit of servant leadership and that, “Leaders Should Be Role Models for the Church Congregation”, saying: “… and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many …” 」 (马太福音 Mathew 20: 27-28 节)

「灵粮分享 TODAY’s Sharing」： 今晨在「圣经日日行 We Devote」里，读到甘力克牧师 Rev. Nicky Gumbel，给了 “领袖生活面面观” 的分享。在他的结语释经评注里，特别分析到教会的领袖，像牧师传道和长老的监督职位等，以及他们助手执事职位的责任，当如何行事待人。牧者引用以提摩太前书 1 Timothy 3: 1-13 节，使徒保罗给提摩太教会的教导与提拔提摩太做仆人，描述教会领袖在任何时候、任何地点，以及生活的任何领域，拥有神的领导力恩赐都至关重要。什么才是领导力？ 领导力就是策略和品格的结合。世间真正重要的东西就是品格。任务最终的胜败取决于品格。甘力克牧师说，在教会中，我们习惯把那些 “正在加入的人”和 “肩负领袖职责的同工” 区分开来。但教会不是陈列完美男女的博物馆，教会是一所医院，是医治和复原的地方。所有受伤的、疼痛的、破碎的和有病的人都应该在这里寻得治愈。教会是罪人的集体。教会的大门应该很宽，任何人都可以进来 - 无论他们的生活方式有何等不同。但另一方面，我们却不应该将个人生活与新约教导相悖的人放在领袖位置。领袖不仅仅是职能上的，还肩负成为榜样的责任。这也就是「今日灵粮 Spiritual Food TODAY」主题所要分享的，“领袖应当是全体会众的楷模。” 当然，没有人是完美的。你不需要变得完美才能成为榜样。但是，我们应该确保教会领袖的生活方式与品格和新约里的教导相称与一致。

甘力克牧师在分享里给我们有详细的分析和解释说道：从某种角度上讲，每个基督徒都是领袖，影响力就是领导力。每天，我们每个人，在工作单位、家里，和社区中都可以发挥影响力。他引用提摩太前书 1 Timothy 3 章的经文，主要是针对教会领袖的。 第1节里提醒着说， “人若想要得监督的职分，就是羡慕善工。” 接着，在第2节里保罗列出了领袖所应具备的品格。领袖应该是 “思维缜密” 的。他们的个人生活应该是圣洁无可指摘。15 节说到教会是一个大家庭。教会是 “神的家” 。第 5 节说到领导教会就好比领导一个大家庭。保罗反问道，如果一个人连家都管理不好，如何管理教会呢？ 4 节和 12 节认为好领袖应该有能力管好自己的家，保罗用来形容 “教会” 的词与 “神的家” 。教会领袖应该能够依照智慧、爱心和忠诚来指引和培养自己的家人。

保罗之所以不让初信的人担任 “监督”，原因在于 4 – 6 节里说的， “怕他们自高自大，就落在魔鬼所受的刑罚里。” 魔鬼就是因为骄傲而堕落。陷入属灵骄傲是所有基督徒领袖都会面临的危险。检验执事的标准与检验监督的标准非常相似。执事的字面意思就是 “仆人” 。 最初，在使徒行传 Acts 6: 1-7 节里说到，执事是一群专门管理教会饭食的基督徒。耶稣在马可福音 Mark 10: 35-45 节里，给 “仆人领导模式” 做出了最佳诠释。阿尔伯特. 爱因斯坦 Albert Einstein 曾说， “一个服侍他人的生命才是最有价值的。” 如果你不屑于服侍人，那你根本不具备领袖的素质。总而言之，领袖应该具有敬虔的品格。其实，在所有对于领袖的要求中，唯有一条与品格无关，这就是2节里据要的，“善于教导”。因此，教会领袖既应该具有良好品格又要善于教导。大家星期五开心与周末愉快！

「灵粮祷告 TODAY’s Prayer」：「今日灵粮 Spiritual Food TODAY」也就引用彼得前书 1 Peter 4：8-9 节和大家在主的爱里相互勉励祷告。主啊，在今日的分享里，耶稣吩咐我们在事奉的岗位上，做个教会的领袖，要具有仆人式领导的精神，也意味着我们今日灵粮所要分享的主题，提醒大家，“领袖应当是教会会众的楷模”。所以，在今日灵粮结语所引用的经节里，使徒彼得也都在鼓励弟兄姊妹在教会的领导和事奉里，“最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。你们要互相款待，不发怨言。各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服事，作神百般恩赐的好管家。” 求神帮助我们在事奉里能学像耶稣的仆人式领导，做到无可指摘的行善待人。祷告奉主名求的，阿们！

This morning in "圣经日日行 We Devote ", I read Rev. Nicky Gumbel's sharing on " Aspects of a Leader's Life." In his concluding exegesis, he specifically analyzes how church leaders, pastors and elders’ supervisory positions, as well as the responsibilities of their assistant deacons, should behave and treat others. Pastor Gumbel quoted 1 Timothy 3: 1-13, the apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy ‘s church and the promotion of Timothy as a church servant, describing the role of church leaders at any time, in any place, and in any area of life, having God’s leadership gifts is critical. What is leadership? Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. The only thing that really matters in this world is character. The ultimate success or failure of the mission depends on character. Pastor Gumbel said that in the church, we are used to distinguishing those “who are joining” from “co-workers who shoulder leadership responsibilities.” But the church is not a museum displaying perfect men and women. The church is a hospital, a place of healing and restoration. This is where all the hurt, the pain, the broken, and the sick should find healing. The church is a community of sinners. The doors of the church should be wide enough for anyone to come in - no matter how different their lifestyles may be. On the other hand, we should not place people in leadership positions whose personal lives contradict to teachings in the New Testament. Leaders are not just functional; they also have the responsibility to be role models. This is what the theme of "今日灵粮 Spiritual Food TODAY " is about to share, "Leaders Should Be Role Models for the Entire Congregation." Of course, no one is perfect. You do not need to be perfect to be a role model. However, we should ensure that the lifestyle and character of church leaders are agreeing and consistent with the teachings in the New Testament.

Pastor Gumbel would like to give us a detailed analysis and explanation in his sharing: From a certain perspective, every Christian is a leader, and influence is leadership. Every day, each of us can make an impact at work, at home, and in our communities. He quoted from 1 Timothy chapter 3, mainly for church leaders. Verse 1 reminds us, “Anyone who desires the office of overseer must desire a good work.” Then, in verse 2, Paul lists the qualities a leader should possess. Leaders should be "thoughtful". Their personal lives should be holy and blameless. Verse 15 talks about the church being a big family. The church is the “family of God.” Verse 5 says that leading the church is like leading a big family. Paul asked rhetorically, if a person cannot manage his own home, how can he manage the church? Verses 4 and 12 argue that a good leader should be able to manage his or her own household. The word Paul uses to describe “church” is the same as “house of God.” Church leaders should be able to guide and nurture their families in wisdom, love, and faithfulness.

The reason why Paul does not allow new believers to serve as “overseers” is because it says in verses 4-6, “Lest they might become puffed up and fall into the punishment of the devil.” The devil fell because of pride. Falling into spiritual pride is a danger that all Christian leaders face. The standard for testing deacons is very similar to the standard for testing overseers. Deacon literally means “servant.” Originally, in Acts 6: 1-7, it is said that deacons are a group of Christians who specialize in managing church meals. Jesus gave the best explanation of the “servant leadership model” in Mark 10: 35-45. Albert Einstein once said, "A life that serves others is the most valuable." If you disdain serving others, then you simply do not have the qualities of a leader. In summary, leaders should have godly character. In fact, among all the requirements for leaders, only one has nothing to do with character, and this is what is required in verse 2, “being good at teaching.” Therefore, church leaders should be both of good character and good at teaching. Happy Friday and happy weekend everyone!

In conclusion, “今日灵粮 Spiritual Food TODAY” would like to quote 1 Peter 4: 8-9 and encourages everyone to pray for each other in the love of the Lord. In today’s sharing, Jesus commanded us to serve our church in our leadership positions must demonstrate to have the spirit of servant leadership. This also means that the theme of our spiritual food today reminds every one of us, “Leaders Should Be Role Models for the Entire Congregation.” Thus, in the verses quoted at the end of today’s spiritual food, the apostle Peter also reminds brothers and sisters of those in the leadership and service of the church that, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” May God help us learn to serve others like Jesus’ with his model of servant leadership in your positions and responsibilities, and be blameless, but kind and helpful to others. Pray in the name of the Lord, Amen!

(500) Whisper Dr.John 张皇卿博士 编写于 at 脸书网站：https://www.facebook.com/johnking9999 和 and 维克斯网站：Http://johnking9999.wixsite.com/website Edmonton, AB, Canada Friday 11. 03. 2023.