Delegating: Can You Let Go? Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• We are in the 3rd message in our series of messages entitled, LEARNING TO LEAD.

• We are all or at some point we will all be leaders of some sort.

• When we are faced with being in situations that call us to lead, it would behoove us to know what we are doing and why we are doing it.

• The principles of this series will help you in the home, in the church, in school, as well as in the business world.

• Here is something we probably all realize, yet struggle with doing.

• Whether you are leading your family, leading in the church, or leading in your job, there comes a point where one should come to the realization that they cannot do it all alone.

• I have heard it said that it is like juggling and you know that you are juggling so many tasks (balls) that you know at some point one of them is going to hit the floor.

• Many of us will drive ourselves to the point of exhaustion or to the brink of crazy trying to do everything. Why do we do do it to ourselves? How can we get into the habit of employing the art of delegation? What is the payoff?

• This where ministers get in trouble when people leave or move on, we can think, it is just easier to do it myself. That is ok for a couple of things, but over time one ends up doing everything and then bad things happen.

• Today we are going to examine an awesome passage that gives us an example of the struggles and potential pain caused by a lack of delegation as well as a solid plan to follow that will help one successfully delegate as well as some blessings that comes with learning and employing the art of delegation in one’s life.

• Today we will be in the book of Exodus.

• SLIDE 2

• Chapter 18 of Exodus is a turning point where the focus shifts from the past, to the future and the need for the new nation to be organized as well as learning to conduct themselves in a proper manner.

• The events take place after the Israelites cross the Red Sea and before The giving of the 10 Commandments.

• SLIDE #3

• One day Moses is taking care of business when his father-in-law Jethro sends word that he is coming to visit Moses (Exodus 18:6). Then the fun begins!

• Let’s begin by looking at Exodus 18:13-16 together!

• SLIDE #4

• Exodus 18:13–16 (HCSB) — 13 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”

• SLIDE #5

SERMON

I. The drive behind Mr. Do It All.

• How many of you have had your Father-In-Law question what you are doing?

• Jethro comes to see Moses and he watches Moses all day judge the people’s problems big and small!

• This was probably Moses daily routine.

• Think about this one for a moment, Moses was THE leader since Egypt. In Exodus 12:37 we are told there were 600,00 soldiers PLUS their families, so we can easily see upwards of 1 million plus people that Moses was dealing with.

• What a GRIND! Yet here was Moses, day after day listening to all the important conflicts and petty squabbles. LIVING THE DREAM!

• Jethro is watching this mess and in verse 14 he simply asks, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHAT IS THIS THING YOU ARE DOING FOR THE PEOPLE?

• I BET no one had ever asked Moses what he was doing?

• His response is simple, 15 “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”

• TO INQUIRE OF GOD, was a technical term used to denote asking God for an answer to a specific problem through a priest of prophet.

• Moses was settling disputes according to what he understood to be God’s will.

• They come to me and NO ONE ELSE is qualified is the message MOSES OFFERS.