Marks Of A Good Leader

INTRO.- ILL.- Someone asked: How do you know when a politician is telling the truth? When he pulls his ear, he is telling the truth. When he rubs his nose, he is telling the truth, but when he opens his mouth, he is lying. I’m sure that’s how many people feel about most politicians.

ILL.- They say that when Columbus started out he didn’t know where he was going. When he got there, he didn’t know where he was. When he got back, he didn’t know where he had been. And he did it all on other people’s money. Someone remarked, "What a politician Columbus would have been."

ILL.- William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American comedian, humorist, commentator, vaudeville performer, and actor. Known as Oklahoma’s favorite son, Rogers was born to a prominent Indian Territory family and learned to ride horses and use a lariat so well that he was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing three ropes at once—one around the neck of a horse, another around the horse’s rider, and a third around all four legs of the horse. He ultimately traveled around the world three times, made 71 movies (50 silent films and 21 "talkies"), wrote more than 4,000 nationally-syndicated newspaper columns, and became a world-famous figure.

Rogers once said, "People’s minds are changed through observation and not through argument."

He was right and I think he was the kind of guy who would have made a good President. He had lots of humor but also lots of good common sense. And it seems to me that many politicians lack common sense. I don’t think Will Rogers would ever have run for President even if he had lived longer, but I would have voted for him! He only lived to be 55 years old and died in 1935. I guess I wouldn’t have voted for him. I wasn’t born yet.

When we think about leadership we often think of politicians; perhaps not highly, but we do think of them. We all would like to see the best of the best in all leadership positions in the good old USA!

Let’s play follow the leader. Who wants to be a leader? Believe it or not, we’re all leaders whether we realize it or not.

ILL.- Call my son on the phone and tell me that he’s not me! Walk behind him and see if he doesn’t walk just like his daddy. Now obviously, there are some ways that we are not alike, but in some things we are very similar.

Someone takes after you if you’re a parent. If you have a child he or she is going to be like either mom and dad. It may be the walk, the talk, the habits, the actions, the attitude, etc. But there will be something that will distinguish your child as belonging to you, be it good or bad.

Being a parent makes you a leader. But we’re all leaders in some form or another. Someone is watching you and learning from you. It could be good and it could be bad but they are learning.

Some people have such a strong personality or perhaps a strong charisma that they influence others in an uncanny way.

ILL.- My one time preacher/professor Don DeWelt of Ozark Christian College was that kind of man. He was such a powerful preacher that he greatly influenced many college boys to preach and often, to preach just like him. He was so good that it seemed natural to imitate him.

ILL.- Look at the many Elvis impersonators. Elvis had such a charm and a tremendous voice that many people want to be just like him.

II Pet. 2:21 "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

We should follow in the steps of Jesus. We should follow Him in the way that He served and in the spirit that He served others. Jesus lived for others! He came to seek and save the lost. He came not to be served, but to serve! And we all need to follow His leading in life.

Barnabas was a leader in the early church. His name actually meant "Son of encouragement." (Acts 4:36)

PROP.- Let’s consider from the life of Barnabas some marks of a good leader and how we can apply them to our lives.

1- Looks for God at work

2- Encourages others

3- Influences others for Christ

I. A GOOD LEADER LOOKS FOR GOD AT WORK

22News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.