Never Will I Leave You (Part 5)

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

The following is adapted from a sermon by Dennis Johnson on Hebrews 13:5-14 that deals with change and I thought it would be appropriate for us to consider as we transition from Phil (who was with us for 28 years) to a new Lead Pastor. 

So far we've taken a look at incorrect ways to respond to change based on Hebrews.Today we'll conclude with our last point from Hebrews. (You can read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 here.)

When your faith is firmly fixed in Jesus, you can grow when human leaders change.

The bottom line is found in Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Let's be honest: when our new pastor comes in July, he won't be exactly like Phil, whom we came to love and trust over the course of 28 years. He'll have different strengths and different vision. But check out what God's Word says we are to remember about our leaders: they "spoke the word of God to you" and "by faith they lived the word they spoke."

1. Remember the real source of your past leader's effectiveness: the Word of God.

God didn't use your previous leaders because of their humor or their good looks or the fact that they rooted for the Tarheels. God used them because they brought you the good news of Jesus Christ, the Gospel.

2. Reproduce their faith-formed example. "Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

"As we remember our pastor, who has spoken the Word of God to us, and as we await our next under-shepherd that Jesus the Great Shepherd has prepared for us, our memories of the care we've been given should trigger in our hearts a longing to grow in faith."

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.