Leadership

LEADERSHIP 1

Introduction:  Leadership is a common theme in the Bible.  Words like “lead”, “leaders”, etc. appear over 350 times.  And ideas and teachings about leaders appear many more times.  These lessons will focus on men, though there have always been women leaders, too.

I. Spirituality

     A. Men may be great leaders in the community, in business, in the schools, but without a high level of spirituality they will not make good leaders in the church.

     B. God is never far from your thoughts

          1. I Thessalonians 5:17

              a. Prayer is a regular practice

              b. Prayer is a family activity

          2. Psalm 1:1-2

     C. When corrected, the proper response is repentance and apology

          1. II Samuel 12

          2. Psalm 51

          3. Leaders live in glass houses; people are going to see things they

              don’t like or think are sins, whether they are real or not; “I’m sorry, I

              did not mean to offend you; what can I do to make it right?”

     D. Faithfulness

          1. Reliable, dependable

          2. I Timothy 3:10; II Timothy 2:2

          3. Good attendance and involved in the work

II. Ability to cooperate

     A. I Corinthians 3:9

          1. συν-εργός: working together, joining or helping in work;  fellow-workman, helpmate, coadjutor, accomplice

          2. We all belong to God whether the metaphor is a field, building, or

              servants 

     B. Philippians 1:3-5

          1. Partnership, fellowship, cooperation, sharing       

          2. They sent money, Paul did the preaching     

          3. Cooperation does not mean everyone gets equal glory from people

     C. I Corinthians 12:12-27  The body

          1. Everyone has a job/function

          2. We support each other, not criticize each other

              a. Ephesians 6:19-20

              b. Colossians 4:2-4

          3. We don’t even have to agree about everything to work together

     D. The goal is more important than the role - see the big picture

     E. When Satan attacks, it is more important to stick together.                                       Ecclesiastes 4:12

     F. To cooperate we have to be going the same direction

          1. We get our general direction from God / Scripture

          2. Focus may come from the preacher or from the whole group of

              leaders

     G. Cooperation means working with changes, not fighting them.  Adjustments have to be made

     H. Cooperation requires keeping everyone informed

III. Men of integrity

     A. Strength, character, honesty

     B. 1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values; 2. an unimpaired condition; 3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided.  Synonym:  honesty

     C. 1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.  2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.  3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

     D. Titus 1:5-9

     E. If we don’t practice what people know Christianity to be, then they will never acknowledge our leadership.

Conclusion:  Churches cannot grow without good leadership. God is calling you to be a leader or help develop a leader. Satan is going to try to stop you because he knows about good leaders and how they help the church.  You men will make the difference!