Tonight I want to talk to you about a very important subject – Leadership
What is a leader?
You are the next leaders of this church – and if we will grow into the church God wants us to be we must approach leadership according to God’s pattern
I was going to use some books I read in
God needs leaders in His Church. While the Pastor is the senior Shepherd – God never intended for him to do all the leading and do all the work.
In the OT Moses was trying to lead the Children of Israel to the Promised land but he kept getting distracted because the people were getting into disputes and disagreements. Moses’ father in-law gave Moses the idea of splitting the camp into teams.
God needs people who can step up to the plate and lead.
Leadership is about influence not position – never chase a title or power. If that’s what you want then you are too spiritually immature to lead.
Many of the prophets of the OT were not from the formal ministry (priestly line) but were called by God to speak for Him.
Ie: Samuel was a little boy, Elisha was a farmer
God calls people to lead before he ever gives them a title.
Influence defined
1.the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others:
2 Tim 2:24-26
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
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Influence is about becoming a positive impact on their life
Discipleship
Building people through positive affirmation
How can I influence people in my youth group
Example – remember somebody is always watching you
o Worship with all your heart even when you don’t feel like it
o Pray and seek God to show others how they should do the same
o Live a life that brings glory to God
Positive Affirmation
o Find someone and invest time into their life
o Call them on the phone
o Pray with them at youth
o Pray with them
o If they aren’t in the altar on Sun find them and bring them to the front
Leadership is about service not power
Jesus is our perfect example
Jesus was the perfect servant leader
John 13:3-5
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
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John 13:12-17
12 So when He had washed their feet , taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet , you also ought to wash one another's feet . 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
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Jesus was the King of Kings and yet He washed feet!
Jesus’ was motivated by a desire to SERVE. He didn’t speak with authority and rebuke just because He could - He did it for the betterment of those He was serving.
What did a servant look like in the Bible?
A servant is nice word for slave.
A person could become a servant if they were in debt to their master
We are indebted to Jesus – we serve Him b/c he paid the penalty of sin for us
Find a place of service and do it with all of your heart.
Four keys to servant leadership
- A servant takes responsibility
Matt 25: 14-19, 26-30
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents , to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents . 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents .
29'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Be responsible for your place of service
- A servant is owned by someone
1 Cor
And you are Christ's , and Christ is God's. Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God
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Remember: You are doing this for Jesus not for yourself
- A servant is submissive
Heb 13:17
17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
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Remember: Submit to God and His undershepherd – your pastor
- A servant isn’t in it for himself/herself
Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross , despising the shame…
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Remember: Jesus didn’t die because he thought it would be enjoyable. He died for us so that we could be saved. We serve people not b/c of what we get but b/c it helps others
If you will commit to becoming the leader God wants you to be – he will bless your life!
Matt 25:23
23 His lord said to him,'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
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Next Time…“The Character of a Leader”
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