SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP: PROPHETS, PRIESTS & KINGS Sam Batterman 7/20/2014

1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-18 For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

ACTS 6:1-3 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

THE BIBLE SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT 3 ROLES FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF VARIOUS ACTIVITIES CRITICAL TO THE CHURCH Prophets - ideas Priests - people Kings - things

WHAT’S MORE IMPORTANT? BiblicalLovingEffective

JESUS IS THE PRACTICAL AND PERFECT MODEL OF A PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING As a Prophet. He preaches & teaches, rebukes, corrects heresy and protects us from wolves As a Priest. He loves and prays for us. He intercedes, is patient and longsuffering with us and he comforts us in sorrow. As a King. He distributes leadership and gifts and talents. He stewards dollars and resources. He talks about stewardship, He cares about how we use what he has given us. He holds us accountable.

MOST PROPHETS AND PRIESTS GO INTO MINISTRY Most pastors have combinations and degrees of both roles. Mutually exclusive talents in either create dysfunction Too much love, no penalty for sin Too much law, no attention to people Pastors (and people in ministry) may have kingly characteristics, but traditionally it’s rare. Overall – for all sized churches – ministries struggle with the things that kings are uniquely gifted and stewarded.

KINGS GO INTO BUSINESS (USUALLY) Kings care about things Concepts & Trends Management of People Strategies & Tactics Security & Safety for Children Real Estate Process Long term planning Finance Legality Systems, Technology, Infrastructure

KINGS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS UNDERGOING MASSIVE CHANGES Family Changes – blended, broken families are the norm Barna and Inverse Barna – Satan wants our kids and especially our boys! Demographic Changes – in ten years nearly every church will have some sort of Hispanic outreach/church Communication Changes – 24x7 everyone is connected …and the church is sending (a dying communication) Church Activity Changes – people get their theology and share care and thoughts through networks. Average church attendance is 2x a month. Guests instead of Visitors. Measurement of engagement instead of attendance Legal challenges are on the way!

THEN AND NOW – CHANGES TO THE AMERICAN FAMILY Households consisting of a married couple and their children 40%19% Adults who are married 72%51% Americans living in multi-generational households 12%17% Births to unmarried women 5%41%

BARNA IS REAL – WE’RE MEASURING IT. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP IT?!

DISCUSSION