Followers Make Good Leaders And Followers Series

Followers Make Good…

Lesson 01 Leaders and Followers

Grady (Doc) Henley

January 2004

Key Verse:

1 Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:

1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Key Thought:

Lead by example.

INTRODUCTION:

The church of God is the pillar and ground of Truth. If the lost world is to hear and know the Truth, it is the responsibility of the church to ensure that Truth is not compromised.

The church, as the pillar, supports the truth, just as a pillar and the ground supports a building. Some buildings are built on concrete foundations while others are built on pillars, especially around the seashore. Regardless, each has a foundation. The building is only as secure as its foundation. It is therefore, the responsibility of the local church, the pillar and ground of Truth to stand for the Truth, John 17:17.

The building Paul referenced, 1 Timothy 3:15, represents two things. The first is the local church. The second is our individual lives. We must have truth for our foundation where upon we build our lives and testimony. The church supports the foundation and the foundation supports the church, so that both the building and the foundation support each other. The pillar of Truth is secured into the ground and the and the ground rest upon the pillar, 1 Cor 3:11. 2 Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. * (see comments on last page)

This sounds like circular reasoning and it is for the bible says that God is all in all, 1 Cor 12:6, 15:28, Eph 1:23. In order for the local church to stand for the Truth, two very important types of people are needed: leaders and followers.

Some one once said: “There are two kinds of people in the world: leaders and followers. Each person must decide which one they are and get busy following or leading.” Another wise soul said: “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!”

Those making up the church, the pillar and ground of Truth, occupy a double role in that we are followers and leaders. We follow the Lord, John 12:26, and in so doing we lead others to Him. If we are ineffective at following, we will not be effective at leading. It is imperative we do well at both.

‘Follow me’ occurs 25 times in 24 verses in the King James Bible. The phrase occurs 18 times in the Gospels. One would think that after being admonished eighteen times to follow Him, we ought not find self in some situation and then look around and inquire, “Lord, where did you go? Or “How did I end up here?” Each of us must remember that the command given two thousand years ago to follow the Lord is just as valid today as then.

How we behave in the house of God determines whether we are leaders, followers, or just taking up space. While there is nothing wrong with being a leader or a follower, for both have great rewards, there is something wrong with someone who considers themselves a leader, when in reality they are not even a follower, they merely take up space. Those that are taking up space are not standing for anything, James 1:22. They deceive themselves.

There is much to learn from that old saying: “There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians around here.” If the Indians (church members) would rally around their chief (their pastors) and support him as he follows the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then everyone will occupy a double role and do their assigned task in a manner pleasing and acceptable unto God.

As we enter this study of leaders and followers it is imperative we learn from the start that we begin our discipleship by following Him. As we grow, we ought to mature into Christian leaders.

This series of studies is taken from various situations and scriptures. By studying the situation that such men of God found themselves in, and what the scriptures said about their situation and how each reacted, we ought to be able to put into practice, 1 Cor 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Furthermore, we should learn when to follow and when to lead.

The fact that you are alive and reading this reveals several things. One such thing is God is not through with you yet. You are either in His will or out of His will and in your own. The revelation that your local church is still a visible body reveals much of what God told the nation of Israel, in Malachi. He is the Great I AM and He changes not. Because of His infinite nature, they would not be consumed, Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Because His word to Israel is steadfast, the nation of Israel remains even to this day, surrounded by enemies and yet He keeps them.