Building God's Dream Team

Opening illustration: Do you read other people’s letters? Most of the Bible are letters written to people, nations or a community. None of the letters are written directly to us, and we are just reading other people’s letters and applying that to our lives.

Introduction: I pause to ask a question. Who are your friends? Suppose a man from the moon watched you for two weeks, how would he answer that question? Your friends are important because all of us tend to become like the people we associate with. If you hang around complainers, pretty soon you’ll start to complain. If your friends are selfish, their attitude will rub off on you. However, if your friends are noble, their nobility will make you noble too.

Howard Hendricks says that a Christian man needs three men in his life—a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy. Paul represents your spiritual mentor, Barnabas a close personal friend, and Timothy a disciple who looks to you for leadership. We need mentors, friends, and disciples to be well-rounded Christians.

One last question, if you please. Who are your heroes, the people you look to as role models? Tell me, your heroes and I’ll tell you your values. When a visitor comes to America, he or she soon discovers that this nation reveres George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Come to Oak Park and you hear people talking about Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright. Heroes teach us history—and they impart values to the next generation.

This text is going to lay down the principles we must follow as a Christian disciple and then eventually shape you into a leader.

What leadership principles should we follow?

1. People before Profits (vs. 19-21)

Over time, Paul came to trust Timothy so completely that he became a kind of stand-in for the apostle, his right-hand man who represented Paul when he himself couldn’t go to a certain city or church. One writer says that Timothy was FAT—Faithful, Available, and Teachable! Paul seems to imply something like that in verse 20 when he says that he has no one “like him.” The Greek word literally means “same-souled.”

Timothy stood out in Paul’s mind as a man who cared more for others than he did for himself. He illustrates the principle Paul laid down a few verses earlier when he spoke of having the mind of Christ and “in humility consider others better than yourselves” (2:3-5).

A people minded leader is focused on the success of the people entrusted to him:

• Leaders serve their people - Learn to identify areas of growth.

• Leaders protect their people - Learn to see on coming danger.

• Leaders provide for their people - Learn to meet the need of the hour.

Profit minded leader is focused on his own selfish gain:

• These serve their 'bank accounts.’

• They protect their 'bank accounts.’

• They provide and grow their 'bank accounts.'

Illustration: On election night 2016, New York, magazine already planned and printed copies to be release the day-after elections. The cover showed a photo of Trump and wrote in large letters was the word LOSER. “Who was the loser that week—Hillary or Trump?” Is that not a revelation of the spirit of this age? After all those months of verbal conflicts, all people wanted to know, who won and who lost? Who cares who is telling the truth? Truth, what’s that?!

When we get to heaven, we aren’t going to be asked if we were winners or losers on the earth. Forget about your won-lost record. The one thing we will want to hear Jesus say is, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

2. Character before Conformity (vs. 22-24)

Paul said that after many months (and perhaps years) of apprenticeship, Timothy had “proved himself.” The word means to be approved by passing a test. It has the idea of demonstrating under pressure that you have the “right stuff.” How did Timothy prove himself? By sticking with Paul through thick and thin. By volunteering to tackle the hard jobs. By refusing to cut and run under fire. By doing the menial tasks, the “dirty work” so that Paul was freed up to do what he did best.

Note that this kind of “proving” doesn’t happen overnight. Too many people want “instant” spirituality and overnight maturity. God doesn’t work that way. Producing Christian character takes time and effort. Here’s a simple equation: T + D = G. T = Time, D = Discipline and G = Growth. This formula works in every area of life, whether it be weight lifting, piano playing, Scripture memory, or learning to speak Ibo. Nothing worthwhile can be conquered in one evening. You can’t “blitz” your way to spiritual leadership. You’ve got to do what Timothy did—put yourself under a good leader and then pay the price over time.