Leadership
“Leaders are not born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” That is a quote from one of the greatest coaches football has ever seen…Vince Lombardi. Whether you’re a Bears fan, Packers fan or Miami Dolphins fan, everyone agrees that Vince was one of the best. But the quote is right. Great leaders aren’t born. They’re made.
In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.” How true! A question meant for mockery brought forth a very profound answer! No one is born instantly great. Growth takes time, and even spiritual leadership must be developed and earned.
It is my contention that everyone has the potential to lead. I have the same potential that anyone else in this room today has. But leadership isn’t just inherited. It is earned. It is learned.
Today we are going to talk about what is involved in leadership. We are going to look at 1 Peter 5:1-6. Then, we won’t read the whole thing, but we’ll read a portion of John 13:1-17 a little later. If you would, follow along with me, 1 Peter 5:1-6.
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
We see Peter here writing to people in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. This area is now known as modern day Northern Turkey. In our particular verse, he’s addressing both the elders and young men. Peter starts off his instruction by staking his claim to the authority given to him to do so. Verse 2 is where he starts to dive into this instruction. He’s telling them be shepherds of the flock, to serve as overseers. This next section, Peter says a key thing when it comes to leadership. “not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.”
When it comes to being a leader, if we lead because we have to, things go wrong. Mistakes happen, people get fussy, grumpy, edgy, bitter…you get the picture. God wants people to want to lead. Peter then follows it up with guidelines on how to do it. “Not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” What exactly does ‘lording it over them’ mean? Well, the best examples I can come up with are guys like Muammar Gaddafi, Hosni Mubarak, Fidel Castro, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and so on. These men dominate their countries and their countrymen have to choice but to follow or die in most cases. However, what about a little closer to home…have you ever had a boss who was constantly…well, bossy? When they tell you to do something, they’re a little harsh, mean and all around not nice? Someone this past week was telling me about their boss. She works for a guy and he’s a great doctor. Unfortunately, as a leader, he somewhat, well, stinks. She was rooming a patient this week and found out that they went to the same high school, grew up in the same town and yet, were 2000 miles from that location. Naturally, they chatted about home and all, but when she went out of the room, the doctor asked her what she was doing. “Well,” she replied, “I roomed her and it turns out we were from the town and went to the same school.” The doctor chewed her out saying, “You’re not here to make friends! Do your job and be done!” Well, that is an example of lording it over someone. He’s the boss, everyone is gonna know it, whether or not what you’re doing is right or wrong.
Another instance of lording our leadership over someone is my personal favorite line to my kids, “Because I said so!!” That is another great example of ‘lording it over people’.
In addition to this, Peter also calls on the young men to be submissive to the older leaders. A lot of times the young guns can’t wait to get their hands on the leadership roles. However, we ‘younguns’ need to put on our humility toward the older generation. Too many times we are split by generations because the older want to do it the traditional way and the young want to do it their new way. What we don’t realize is that instead of dividing, we can accomplish so much more in cooperation with each other than we ever would imagine otherwise. Young guys, I want to also put in that submission on behalf of the older generation is a necessity too. We should work together because in leadership, burnout is way too common. Leaders need breaks, and rightly, it needs to rotate appropriately.
So, now the question is, what does a true leader do? If you didn’t pick up on it in 1 Peter today, let me restate verse 2 again. “2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;” Did you catch it? It’s the word serve…twice in the same verse. My dear friends, leaders are servers. Good leaders, serve. We shouldn’t be in leadership because we have to, we need to lead because we want to. And whether or not we like it, we all, male or female, young or old, are leaders in one way or another. Simply by being Christian, we are leaders. We lead the world to Christ…it’s our duty. Not because we have to, but because we want to.
I want to read an excerpt out of John 13 right now. Starting in verse 12.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Washing feet was regarded as the lowest job on the totem pole. they did not have shoes or cars, so when they went anywhere, they walked. Sand and dirt get everywhere and when a traveler came in, the servants washed their feet. As the leader, Jesus is calling us to ‘wash the feet of others’…not because we have to, but because we want to.
With leadership comes great responsibility, my friends, that is why we must be willing. Leaders are called and willing…as I said a few weeks ago, the ‘warm body syndrome’ will not work for leadership.
So, what do leaders do? Well, with the minister (who by the way is nothing more than a lead elder), the elders do visits, teach, hold prayer meetings, guide the church in the direction they should go, should meet monthly at least. The deacons are usually assisting the elders. Leadership comes with great responsibility. The minister should not be the lone ranger, things must be done in teamwork. It’s what Jesus himself guided us to do. Luke 10:1 and 19:29 are just two examples of Jesus sending out people in groups of two to accomplish a task. It is not good for a man to do things alone. If we group ourselves in pairs or team up, we are more likely to accomplish more. Remember what I said last week about every human lacking something? Pairing up in ministry helps us be whole. When we team up, we should team up with strengths and weaknesses in mind.
This shouldn’t just apply to the minister, elders and deacons either. Children’s directors, VBS leaders, Bible Studies, small groups, camp, plays, event coordinators…my friends, leadership applies to us all.
Has anyone heard the story of the most recent Congressional Medal of Honor winner? His name is Salvatore Giunta. It’s kind of a long story, but to shorten it quite a bit, they were in Afghanistan at night on a mission. They were ambushed by militants at super close range. Two soldiers were hit, and Salvatore charged into enemy fire to bring back the two soldiers who were in danger of being captured and killed by the enemy. President Obama, when giving this address, said this about Salvatore, “…he is a low-key guy, a humble guy, and he doesn’t seek the limelight. And he’ll tell you that he didn’t do anything special; that he was just doing his job; that any of his brothers in the unit would do the same thing. In fact, he just lived up to what his team leader instructed him to do years before: ‘You do everything you can.’”
Salvatore was willing to do whatever it took to bring them back. That is the quality of a leader if I ever saw it. The Big Idea today? We, as leaders in the body of Christ, serve not because we have to, but because we are willing.
There was someone else who was willing to take a servants role as a leader. His name is Jesus Christ. He was willing to take the punishment we deserved so that we can live. The very least we can do, is serve others in a similar manner. Have you accepted the Savior’s service? If you haven’t, accept his sacrifice today. He died for your sin so that you have the opportunity to live in paradise with him. All you have to do is accept him. Confess, Repent and Baptize. Then, live a life of service dedicated to the advancement of the Kingdom. Devote your life to him today.
In The Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.” How true! A question meant for mockery brought forth a very profound answer! No one is born instantly great. Growth takes time, and even spiritual leadership must be developed and earned.
It is my contention that everyone has the potential to lead. I have the same potential that anyone else in this room today has. But leadership isn’t just inherited. It is earned. It is learned.
Today we are going to talk about what is involved in leadership. We are going to look at 1 Peter 5:1-6. Then, we won’t read the whole thing, but we’ll read a portion of John 13:1-17 a little later. If you would, follow along with me, 1 Peter 5:1-6.
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
We see Peter here writing to people in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. This area is now known as modern day Northern Turkey. In our particular verse, he’s addressing both the elders and young men. Peter starts off his instruction by staking his claim to the authority given to him to do so. Verse 2 is where he starts to dive into this instruction. He’s telling them be shepherds of the flock, to serve as overseers. This next section, Peter says a key thing when it comes to leadership. “not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.”
When it comes to being a leader, if we lead because we have to, things go wrong. Mistakes happen, people get fussy, grumpy, edgy, bitter…you get the picture. God wants people to want to lead. Peter then follows it up with guidelines on how to do it. “Not greedy for money, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” What exactly does ‘lording it over them’ mean? Well, the best examples I can come up with are guys like Muammar Gaddafi, Hosni Mubarak, Fidel Castro, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and so on. These men dominate their countries and their countrymen have to choice but to follow or die in most cases. However, what about a little closer to home…have you ever had a boss who was constantly…well, bossy? When they tell you to do something, they’re a little harsh, mean and all around not nice? Someone this past week was telling me about their boss. She works for a guy and he’s a great doctor. Unfortunately, as a leader, he somewhat, well, stinks. She was rooming a patient this week and found out that they went to the same high school, grew up in the same town and yet, were 2000 miles from that location. Naturally, they chatted about home and all, but when she went out of the room, the doctor asked her what she was doing. “Well,” she replied, “I roomed her and it turns out we were from the town and went to the same school.” The doctor chewed her out saying, “You’re not here to make friends! Do your job and be done!” Well, that is an example of lording it over someone. He’s the boss, everyone is gonna know it, whether or not what you’re doing is right or wrong.
Another instance of lording our leadership over someone is my personal favorite line to my kids, “Because I said so!!” That is another great example of ‘lording it over people’.
In addition to this, Peter also calls on the young men to be submissive to the older leaders. A lot of times the young guns can’t wait to get their hands on the leadership roles. However, we ‘younguns’ need to put on our humility toward the older generation. Too many times we are split by generations because the older want to do it the traditional way and the young want to do it their new way. What we don’t realize is that instead of dividing, we can accomplish so much more in cooperation with each other than we ever would imagine otherwise. Young guys, I want to also put in that submission on behalf of the older generation is a necessity too. We should work together because in leadership, burnout is way too common. Leaders need breaks, and rightly, it needs to rotate appropriately.
So, now the question is, what does a true leader do? If you didn’t pick up on it in 1 Peter today, let me restate verse 2 again. “2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;” Did you catch it? It’s the word serve…twice in the same verse. My dear friends, leaders are servers. Good leaders, serve. We shouldn’t be in leadership because we have to, we need to lead because we want to. And whether or not we like it, we all, male or female, young or old, are leaders in one way or another. Simply by being Christian, we are leaders. We lead the world to Christ…it’s our duty. Not because we have to, but because we want to.
I want to read an excerpt out of John 13 right now. Starting in verse 12.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Washing feet was regarded as the lowest job on the totem pole. they did not have shoes or cars, so when they went anywhere, they walked. Sand and dirt get everywhere and when a traveler came in, the servants washed their feet. As the leader, Jesus is calling us to ‘wash the feet of others’…not because we have to, but because we want to.
With leadership comes great responsibility, my friends, that is why we must be willing. Leaders are called and willing…as I said a few weeks ago, the ‘warm body syndrome’ will not work for leadership.
So, what do leaders do? Well, with the minister (who by the way is nothing more than a lead elder), the elders do visits, teach, hold prayer meetings, guide the church in the direction they should go, should meet monthly at least. The deacons are usually assisting the elders. Leadership comes with great responsibility. The minister should not be the lone ranger, things must be done in teamwork. It’s what Jesus himself guided us to do. Luke 10:1 and 19:29 are just two examples of Jesus sending out people in groups of two to accomplish a task. It is not good for a man to do things alone. If we group ourselves in pairs or team up, we are more likely to accomplish more. Remember what I said last week about every human lacking something? Pairing up in ministry helps us be whole. When we team up, we should team up with strengths and weaknesses in mind.
This shouldn’t just apply to the minister, elders and deacons either. Children’s directors, VBS leaders, Bible Studies, small groups, camp, plays, event coordinators…my friends, leadership applies to us all.
Has anyone heard the story of the most recent Congressional Medal of Honor winner? His name is Salvatore Giunta. It’s kind of a long story, but to shorten it quite a bit, they were in Afghanistan at night on a mission. They were ambushed by militants at super close range. Two soldiers were hit, and Salvatore charged into enemy fire to bring back the two soldiers who were in danger of being captured and killed by the enemy. President Obama, when giving this address, said this about Salvatore, “…he is a low-key guy, a humble guy, and he doesn’t seek the limelight. And he’ll tell you that he didn’t do anything special; that he was just doing his job; that any of his brothers in the unit would do the same thing. In fact, he just lived up to what his team leader instructed him to do years before: ‘You do everything you can.’”
Salvatore was willing to do whatever it took to bring them back. That is the quality of a leader if I ever saw it. The Big Idea today? We, as leaders in the body of Christ, serve not because we have to, but because we are willing.
There was someone else who was willing to take a servants role as a leader. His name is Jesus Christ. He was willing to take the punishment we deserved so that we can live. The very least we can do, is serve others in a similar manner. Have you accepted the Savior’s service? If you haven’t, accept his sacrifice today. He died for your sin so that you have the opportunity to live in paradise with him. All you have to do is accept him. Confess, Repent and Baptize. Then, live a life of service dedicated to the advancement of the Kingdom. Devote your life to him today.
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