THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SERVANTHOOD AND LEADERSHIP
1 Timothy 3:1 (NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
1 Timothy 3:1 (AMP) THE SAYING is true and irrefutable: If any man [eagerly] seeks the office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work).
Mark 10:42-44 (NIV) Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
I THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IS DESIRABLE
A Our Chief Ambition
1 Effective servants for the Lord
a Effective service has a DIRECTOR
b Effective service has a PASSION
c Effective Service has an URGENCY
2 Realize God¡¦s highest potential for us
a God¡¦s highest potential for us is not determined by us
b God¡¦s highest potential for us is not accomplished by us
c ¡§I can do all things through Christ, ¡K¡¨ Phillip 4:13
B The Danger In Leadership
1 I want the position without paying the price
2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2 They think criticism is leadership
a If you know what is the right thing to do and you do not do it ¡V it is sin
b If you hide your talent and refuse to use it ¡V it is sin
c If you fracture the unity of the church ¡V it is sin
Galatians 5:15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Jesus says, and James reiterates:
Matthew 5:37 Simply let your ’Yes’ be ’Yes,’ and your ’No,’ ’No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.
- Truthfulness was to be the norm for believers
- So, oaths, vows, etc. were not needed
- A believer was bound by his word
- What happens is that believers give one impression to some and another impression to others
- Leadership is not telling one person one thing and then telling other people something else! Let your yes be yes and your no be no, not yes to some and no to others!
II THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IS FOUND IN SERVICE
Mark 10:42-44 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
A Jesus and Ambition
1 Jesus does not teach against ambition
2 Jesus does teach towards obedience
3 Jesus changes the meaning of ambitious leadership
a True leaders are servant leaders
b True leaders are focused on service, not coaxed into service
B Leadership and Service
1 In the mind of Christ ¡V the greatest leader is the greatest servant
2 Everyone is a leader BECAUSE everyone can serve!
III THE SEARCH FOR SERVANT/LEADERS
1 Samuel 13:14 (NIV)
14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command."
A God Is Looking For Leaders
1 Leaders are needed for longevity
2 Leaders are needed because God thinks they are necessary
3 Leaders are needed to follow the Lord¡¦s Command
B God Will Appoints Leaders
Acts 22:21 (NIV)
21 "Then the Lord said to me, ’Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’"
1 Leadership does not come through education (though education is important)
2 Leadership is not attaining an office
3 Leadership is not filling a slot
4 Leadership is by the Lord¡¦s appointment
5 Leadership is for the Lord¡¦s direction
C A Heart For God Is A Servant/Leaders Heart
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."
1 An SL Heart is a Committed Heart
2 God Strengthens Hearts Committed To Him
DO WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP CRISIS? YES
„Ï Because God is looking for leaders (if we had them He would have seen them)
„Ï This means that God is looking for servants
„Ï If God is not seeing servant/leaders, then:
o He is not seeing those who desire His highest potential for them
o He is not seeing people who want to serve Him
o He is not seeing a future for the church
o He is not seeing an obedient church
o He is not seeing a committed church
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE EXPECT GOD TO BLESS WHAT HE DOES NOT SEE!
