#166 Leadership
Romans 12:8 (NLT) “If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.”
Acts 15:22 (NLT) “The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.”
1 Timothy 3:1 (NKJV) “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, {Overseer – Episkopos} he desires a good work.”
Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.”
Acts 14:23 “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
Philippians 1:1 (NLT) “I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.” Elders – (Episkopos) Overseers Deacons – (Diakonos) Attendant
“The government of the New Testament church was the most innovative and flexible system of authority ever devised. Those who have been able to resist adding or taking away from it have a perfect framework which the Spirit of God can use.” Rick Joyner
“Organization is the instinctive or conscious action and intelligent systematic method by which an organism can apply its skill and energy in the most effectual way at the point and for the pupose required.”
W. Rowe (One Lord One Faith)
“Every type of manifestation of life reveals its nature and characteristics by its organization or lack of it.”
“The Church of Jesus Christ is His body and therefore requires a Divine organization which is appropriate to its need,…” W. Rowe
“Should we not look to local Church government as being “invisible” government, where function is not a doorway to position or a licence to dominate, but an anointing to recognise others, to equip and release them into their call and giftings for the common good of the Church?” David Newby
Types Of Church Government: Congregational – The people Presbytery – The elders Episcopacy – The bishopric Autocracy – Self appointed Theocracy – Divine headship
1Samuel 8:6-7 “They have not rejected you, they have rejected me.”
Ephesians 1:22 (AMP) “He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],”
Ephesians 4:15 “…we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”
Colossians 1:16-18 “All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
Isn’t life more important than structure? What comes first, life or structure?
Creation very systematic and purposeful. God didn’t create man before He created the environment or container. Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Matthew 9:17 “But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Acts 2:1-4 “…they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…”
A people were already prepared and leadership was already established
Paul’s team in Thessalonica
1 Thessalonians 1:5 “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NLT) “…you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece … And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond.”
Paul’s leadership team had a remarkable influence on the city of Thessalonica.
Paul describes the character of his team in chapter two.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 “…our coming among you was not useless and fruitless.”
1. People Of Courage
“…yet in [the strength of] our God we summoned courage.” 2:2
Leaders want to move people from point A to point B. Any time you do that you face opposition.
2. People Of Purpose
“…approved by God to be entrusted with the glad tidings (the Gospel) …” 2:4
Leaders keep the main thing, the main thing. Mixture is what makes salt ineffective.
3. People Of Integrity
“…we never resorted either to words of flattery or to any cloak to conceal greedy motives.” 2:5
Integrity:– a rigid adherence to a code of behavior {Our Code – The WORD}
4. People Of Compassion
“…like a devoted mother nursing and cherishing her own children.” 2:7 Serving, Nurturing, Exerting Energy
5. People Of God
“…unworldly and upright and blameless was our behavior toward you…” 2:10
Absorbed in His will – unworldly
John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”
Transparent, honest – upright
Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.”
Beyond Criticism – Blameless
Psalm 101:6 “I will search for faithful people to be my companions. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.” (NLT)
Mark 3:14 “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.”
We are all leading. We are all being examples. We are all influencers.
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