The worst piece of ministry advice I ever received had to do with how a leader demonstrates his authority to the led. “The most important thing you need to know as a pastor is that the people in the church are with you,” he said. “If they’re not, you’ve got to remind them periodically who’s in charge.”

I was something of a rookie in pastoral ministry, but that didn’t sound quite right—even to my inexperienced ears. If you have to constantly remind the people under your care that you’re the leader, are you in fact a leader? Peter’s exhortation in 1 Peter 5 comes to mind: “. . . shepherd the flock of God that is among you . . . not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples of the flock.”

Sadly, there are far too many church leaders who are living by the poor advice I received. Sometimes my own heart tempts me to drive God’s sheep instead of lead them. Sam Allberry helps us think through the vast difference between an elder abusing his authority versus an elder humbly leading out of sense of loving, divinely delegated authority: “[T]here is authority in the office of being an elder. There will be times when a pastor needs to call for that office to be respected and honored. But the people should be obedient to their leaders not because they’re terrified of them, but because they’re inspired and encouraged by them.” I encourage you to read Sam’s entire article carefully.