Following Faithful Leaders
Following Faithful Leaders
Remember
No one comes to faith alone. Someone taught you, prayed for you, and walked beside you. Thank God for them.
Examine
Watch the fruit, not the gifts. Character sustains ministry; talent only attracts a crowd.
Imitate
Follow their faith, not their fame, personality, or position. Faithful leaders point you to Christ.
A Ruler...
- Demands
- Protects a position
- Seeks authority
- Stands above people
A Shepherd...
- Serves
- Protects people
- Earns influence
- Walks among people
This Week: 4 Ways to Honor Faithful Leadership
- Thank one leader, by name, who shaped your faith.
- Watch fruit, not gifts.
- Imitate faith, not fame.
- Keep Christ — not tradition or personality — at the center.
Following Faithful Leaders: How the Faith Gets Passed Down
Barry's Bureau | Inspired by Dr. Richard Price's sermon at Schrader Lane Church of Christ
Every generation has to answer the same question: will the faith merely survive, or will it be faithfully passed down? Dr. Richard Price walks through Hebrews 13 to show why faithful leaders matter — not as rulers to be obeyed, but as shepherds worth imitating.
The Question Every Generation Must Answer
Who first taught you to pray? Who opened God's Word in front of you before you ever opened it yourself? Maybe it was a Sunday school teacher who never missed a Sunday, a deacon who showed up at your door with a casserole, or a parent who whispered "there'll be days like this" when the bottom fell out. Somebody carried the faith to you before you carried it yourself.
That's the question sitting underneath Hebrews 13:7–17: how does the gospel move from one generation to the next without losing its center? How do God's people stay anchored when culture, leadership, and circumstances keep shifting around them?
The Core Scripture
The writer of Hebrews answers with three commands wrapped around one central truth. Hebrews 13:7 says, "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." And Hebrews 13:17 adds, "Obey them that have the rule over you… for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account." Sitting right in the middle of that passage, in Hebrews 13:8, is the anchor for it all: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Leaders come and go. Christ never changes. That's the whole argument.
Remember Who Taught You the Faith
Notice what the writer says first. Not "obey" — though obedience matters. The first command is remember. And underneath that command is a truth that steadies every believer: no one comes to faith alone. Somebody prayed for you. Somebody taught you. Somebody walked beside you before you ever walked on your own. Paul says it plainly in Romans 10:14, asking how anyone can call on Christ without believing, or believe without hearing, or hear without a preacher.
Every one of us is standing on somebody else's shoulders. As Dr. Price reminded the church, we remember faithful leaders "not because they were perfect, but because God used imperfect people to introduce us to a perfect Savior." That's an important correction for anyone who thinks a leader must be flawless to be worth honoring. Scripture never asks for a perfect leader — it asks for one who points, imperfectly but faithfully, to Jesus. Before there was a building, a testimony, or a ministry, there were faithful people whose confidence rested in God. The Hebrew writer is calling us to remember what we started with, and to thank God for the people who carried us when we couldn't carry ourselves.
Examine Before You Imitate: The Shepherd, Not the Ruler
Remembering isn't blind loyalty, though. The text also says, "whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation" — in other words, examine their life before you imitate their faith. Notice what the writer does not say. He doesn't say follow their personality, their popularity, or their position. He says follow their faith. The word translated "conversation" means conduct, manner of life — watch whether their walk matches their words, because the greatest sermon a leader ever preaches is the one they live.
That word "rule" trips a lot of people up. Some hear it and think domination, even spiritual abuse. But the Greek word actually means "those who go before you" — those who lead the way, who guide. The picture isn't a ruler on a throne; it's a shepherd walking the path first. Jesus makes the same contrast in Matthew 20:25–28: the world says exercise authority, but Jesus says serve. A ruler demands; a shepherd serves. A ruler protects a position; a shepherd protects people. A ruler seeks authority; a shepherd earns influence. That's the leadership Hebrews is describing — not intimidation, but discipleship.
Leadership Is Stewardship, Not Status
Dr. Price illustrated this with a viral video of a former NFL player disciplining his son at two in the morning, then posting it online. The internet argued over whether he was too hard. But the harder question is the one Hebrews actually asks: not "did they obey," but "who are they becoming?" Every one of us is leading somebody — a child, a grandchild, a coworker, a friend. So the question lands close to home: when people finish following your life, do they walk away more impressed with you, or more committed to Jesus?
That's why Hebrews 13:17 says leaders "watch for your souls" and "must give account." Leadership was never a privilege to be enjoyed; it's a stewardship to be carried. Faithful leaders don't try to become indispensable — they spend their lives pointing people to the One who already is.
"Faithful leaders are remembered because they faithfully point people to the unchanging Christ."
4 Ways to Honor Faithful Leadership This Week
- Remember — Thank one person, by name, who first taught you to pray or trust God.
- Examine — Watch fruit, not gifts. Character sustains ministry; talent only attracts a crowd.
- Imitate faith, not fame — Follow the walk, not the platform, personality, or popularity.
- Guard the gospel — Don't let tradition, trend, or personality compete with Christ at the center.
Listen / Watch / Learn More: Hear the full message, "Following Faithful Leaders," from Dr. Richard Price at Schrader Lane Church of Christ: Watch on YouTube. Then test what you've learned with the interactive quiz and study game below.
Living This Out
Here's the honest question Hebrews leaves us with: when people finish following your life, do they come away more impressed with you, or more deeply committed to Christ? Faithful leaders never become the destination — they become the signpost. This week, ask God to show you who He placed in your path, and ask Him to make your own life a signpost that points somebody else to Jesus. Join us for worship at Schrader Lane Church of Christ, or visit BarrysBureau.org for more resources. We'd love to hear from you — who first taught you the faith? Share your story in the comments.
Following Faithful Leaders — Test Your Knowledge
Seven questions from Dr. Richard Price's message at Schrader Lane Church of Christ. See how well you followed along, then share your score!