Frustrations Of Spiritual Leadership—part 1

FRUSTRATIONS OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS—Luke 9:37-45

Intro:

Call Matthew & Ellinor to front of church to explain what happened during trip...

Our trip back home from N.C./Matthew(14) & Ellinor(8) in back seat/Ellinor talking incessantly—Obnoxious/Matthew insults & pushes/Like response from Ellinor/Matthew pinches her till she cries/Daddy(me) pulls car over/Frustrated

Jesus’ frustration with unbelief was manifest in His healing of a demon possessed boy.

Spiritual Leaders face frustrations arising from unbelief.

Ministry produces frustrations for the minister.

Where do spiritual leaders encounter frustrations?

12 places where frustrations arise in spiritual leadership.

1—Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

DESCENT ENCOUNTERS(:37a)

—Explanation:(:37a)Exit/Entrance/Transition

:37—“And it came about on the next day, that when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met Him.”

“Come down from the mountain”—The mountaintop is for your benefit that others may be benefitted thru you!

From the Mountaintop—

Peter, Js. & Jn. now had this experience to add ot their repertoire to ponder in leaving the mountain.

The work begins upon descent! Decision to enter the battle & journey.

—Argumentation:

We don’t go up a mountain to find God/Jesus. He comes to us...

...Creation—Relationship—Revelation—Salvation

—Illustration:

On mountain peak get Big picture/BUT getting from Pt. A to Pt. B battle woods tree-by-tree/DESCENT ENCOUNTERS

Leaders attend conference/New ideas—Energy felt—Fresh wind/Return home church/Application in real world/DESCENT ENCOUNTERS can leave us frustrated

—Application:

?DESCENT ENCOUNTERS leave you frustrated?

?You willing to accept the frustrations of spiritual leadership?

2—Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS(:37b)

—Explanation:(:37b)

“And it came about on the next day, that when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met Him.”

“A great multitude met Him”—Mountaintop is short retreat to prepare us for active ministry, not to keep fpor self.

Leaders must engage their students—Each learns from the other.

“Multitude”—Vast # of needs & spiritual maturity runs the gamut!

—Argumentation:

PBC Purpose/Vision Statements—

Love, Reach & Nurture OTHERS for Christ.

Develop positive RELATIONSHIPS, Christian Involvement, & Christian Maturity

*These require intentional SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS!

Mat. 28:18-20—“And Jesus came up & spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven & on earth. “Go therefore & make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father & the Son & the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; & lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8—“but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; & you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, & in all Judea & Samaria, & even to the remotest part of the earth.””

Heb. 2:14-18—READ

—Illustration:

Basketball/UNC’s preparation to face #2ranked Kansas U./KU beaten 67-56!/Never happened apart from entering the court/SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS

PBC Outreach efforts/Training necessary but must enter the house!/SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS

—Application:

?SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS leave you frustrated?

?You willing to accept the frustrations of spiritual leadership?

3—Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

ANONYMOUS ENCOUNTERS(:38a)

—Explanation:(:38a) Unknown

:38—“And behold, a man from the multitude shouted out, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy,”

“a man from the multitude”—Nameless

The Gospels record some names while others nameless/ Problem & solution take precedence.

—Argumentation:

1Pet. 3:14-15—“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness & reverence;”

—Illustration:

PBC Outreach/Unknown people with unknown problems/ ANONYMOUS ENCOUNTERS—Rescue effort/

My counseling excapades/Always surprised, honored & thrilled/ when approached/

—Application:

?ANONYMOUS ENCOUNTERS leave you frustrated?

?You willing to accept the frustrations of spiritual leadership?

4—Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

FORCED ENCOUNTERS(:38)

—Explanation:(:38) Demanded/

:38—“And behold, a man from the multitude shouted out, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy,”

“Shouted out”—

“I beg you”—

Jesus’ spiritual gifts regognized & solutions sought out!

People don’t respond in same way or intensity!

—Argumentation:

Mat. 7:7-8—““Ask, & it shall be given to you; seek, & you shall find; knock, & it shall be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, & he who seeks finds, & to him who knocks it shall be opened.”

—Illustration:

Car problems/Seek out mechanic/Call ‘forced’ upon mechanic/ DEMANDED/FORCED ENCOUNTERS

Cleaners/Take suit/Cleaning Demanded/BUT Cleaners exists to help/FORCED ENCOUNTERS

—Application:

?DEMANDED/FORCED ENCOUNTERS leave you frustrated?

?You willing to accept the frustrations of spiritual leadership?

—CONCLUSION—

Action:

Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

DESCENT ENCOUNTERS(:37a)

SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS(:37b)

ANONYMOUS ENCOUNTERS(:38a)

FORCED ENCOUNTERS(:38)

Presented 12/01/02am to:

Providence Baptist Church

975 Providence Road

Whigham, GA 39897