HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — Friday morning worship at the 33rd General Assembly meeting of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church is the time when the outgoing moderator offers a word to the church and communion is celebrated. The message was thus offered by Ken Roberts, moderator of the 32nd GA.
The text for the day was drawn from Luke 1.
Roberts noted that the Bible describes Zechariah and Elizabeth as “upright in the sight of God.” He said, “That’s impressive. It’s one thing to be upright in your community or upright in your church, but to be upright in the sight of God, that’s amazing.”
After describing what the moment of intrusion by the angel into the holy of holies might have been like, Roberts noted that we know from the text that “Zechariah was startled and gripped with fear. But that wasn’t the worst part of his response. After Gabriel explained what was in store for Elizabeth and him, Zechariah didn’t really believe him.”
Likening the sending of the Archangel Gabriel to the way the President of the United States might send the vice president, cabinet secretary or ambassador in his absence but with his authority, Roberts said, “God sent a very high ranking official” and Zechariah’s “reaction was saturated with doubt and unbelief.”
And Gabriel didn’t have to return to the Father for further instructions. He was empowered to respond, Roberts said for Gabriel, “You give me doubt. I give you dumb.”
Transitioning, Roberts noted that Mary’s reaction was different. “After the angel explained what was in store for her, she simply asked ‘How can this be?’ She knew how babies came about and she knew that she and Joseph had not been together in that way. Her clarifying question was reasonable” but her faith in God was demonstrable.
Mary didn’t doubt that it would happen but she did wonder “how” it would happen. Her answer held reservation, no hesitation, no fear of risk or losses or the interruption of her own plans, Roberts said. “She showed no qualms in answering Gabriel — her response revealed an unconditional giving up of herself.”
Her attitude was one of total service evidenced by her response: “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me according to your Word.”
Utilizing the occasion of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus and his subsequent ministry as another illustration, Roberts noted that Mary and Paul “didn’t just act like servants, they were servants.”
Reading from Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1 and Titus 1:1 Roberts established the servant spirit of Paul and then asked, “But was he a leader? Can you be both?”
The question is answered by one name: Jesus.
Roberts said, “Jesus is our example here. He is God but He came as a servant. Jesus was the best example of His own teaching on servant leadership.”
Roberts offered a litany of examples from the life and teaching of Jesus quoting stories from John 20, Matthew 18 and Mark 9 to make his point. “His whole life was devoted to pleasing His Father on behalf of others. He frequently used the slave/master comparison.”
Then, reading the foot washing scene from John 13, Roberts noted that “the full extent of His love was revealed in an act of service.”
He then provocatively asked the question from the text, “Do you understand what I have done for you?”
Roberts then came to what he acknowledged was the point of the message, “There’s a strong correlation between being an effective leader and having the heart of a servant.”
He said “I know that my conclusion is old news and that others have been saying this for years.” He then supported that statement with quotes from Robert Greenleaf, John Maxwell, Leighton Ford and Jesus. Asking, “So, what’s the value of talking about something that everyone already agrees on?”
Because in reality, there’s often a disconnect between the value or belief and our behavior.
Roberts asked, “Do you think that sometimes there’s a disconnect between being a leader and being a servant?” Acknowledging his answer to that question is yes, he observed that “we live in a culture that says leaders give orders and servants take orders. So if we’re all supposed to be servants, how do we ever have a leader? And if we have a leader, then does that person give up his identity as a servant?”
Roberts then concluded the message with a challenge and encouragement, noting that “It’s ‘how’ a person takes charge that sets apart good leaders. Good leaders resolve to serve the servant-Lord.”
The EPC GA is being held this week at Cherry Hills Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.