Text: Acts 27:23-44, Title: Leaders Needed II, Date/Place: NRBC, 9/13/09, PM
A. Opening illustration: Sing the song from Gilligan’s Island,
B. Background to passage: we are picking up this morning in the middle of a storm, literally. Paul and 275 other people are on a 3 hour tour that turned into fourteen days, now assured that they were all going to die. Last week we began looking at the leadership skills of Paul. My hope is that as we conclude this episode of Paul’s life, some will be challenged to be better leaders, and some will be affirmed in their leadership, and some will be encouraged to step out, take your part at New River, and advance the kingdom through ministry leadership here. Main thought: so, this week we will look at the next four qualities of good biblical leadership
A. Leaders are passionately optimistic (v. 23)
1. After Paul urged them to have confidence and take heart, he told them the reason for his never ending optimism—God. God sent an angel to tell Paul that he would stand trial before Caesar. And the God of Paul was/is willing, able, and faithful to do what He says. So somewhere between a week and two weeks into a storm, not knowing where they were, only knowing that they would all die, Paul stands up and tell them that he knows that they will live. And as we see later, people were attracted to that.
2. Pro 17:22,
3. Illustration: “Optimistic enthusiasm inspires followers. People will naturally follow a leader who arouses their hopes, and they will just as surely back away from someone who is perpetually pessimistic.” Tell about the pastor who was at a Christmas concert a few years ago, met a man who was not a member, was not a believer, but in sales, and came to get pumped up. I believe it is a sin to bore people with the bible, Fetch!" he commanded, as he tossed a stick out into a lake. The dog bounded after the stick, walked on the water, and retrieved it. "What do you think of that?" he asked, smiling. "Not much of a dog" she frowned. "Can’t even swim, can he?" the two shoe salesmen who went to India to see about selling shoes there.
4. Some people feel called to be the “cold water” upon the fire of real leaders. But that is what is so contagious about real leaders—their enthusiasm. That old George Strait song The Fireman. Nobody is inspired to follow Eeyore. The flipside is also true, it is physically draining to be around people who are negative about everything. If you are negative all the time, you make it difficult for everyone. If you have problems with enthusiasm or enthusiastic people, know that God is the most enthusiastic being in the whole universe. Ask him to help you inspire people with Him. Lead with passion and vigor for your God! Exercise great faith in times of crisis and people will follow. Dream big dreams, and present them with enthusiasm and confidence in your God and His will for you.
B. Leaders don’t compromise absolutes (v. 31)
1. The sailors realized that they were getting close to land. And so once they verified that, they anchored up until daylight. At daylight some men were going to put down the skiff under the pretence of anchoring the bow, but were really bugging out with the only means to get to land. But Paul, seized control and warned that unless they stayed with ship nobody would survive. And now the soldiers are listening to the prisoner, and cutting away the only means of getting to land. It is one thing to compromise matters of preference or personal agenda, and a person who never compromises is unwise, but to compromise on absolutes does not make for a good leader.
2. Gal 1:8, 2:11, 1 Tim 5:20, Jude 1:3,
3. Illustration: see below or other sheet
4. We must be discerning about which hills to die upon. And a big part of leadership is in light of ultimate goals, being able to decide what is absolutely necessary. And in spiritual leadership we must discern what is a biblical non-negotiable. And when we decide that there is a hill like that, we must be willing to stand firm in the strength of our God, refusing to budge on absolutes. Issues of preference, or gray areas, should be handled with conviction, but grace and liberty, but not on absolutes. And there is much discussion about what constitutes a matter of liberty, and we probably won’t all agree, but we must decide, and stand firm. Compromise is a tool for a leader’s wise use, but not on non-negotiable issues.
C. Leaders are goal-oriented (v. 33-34)
1. That brings up the next point. Not goal-oriented at the expense of people. But goal oriented in the sense that they focus more on the goal than on setbacks and obstacles. Any kingdom worthy, calculated risk endeavor will come with setbacks and problems. Satan doesn’t normally sit idly by and watch you invade his turf. But real leaders have the ability to keep people’s eyes focused on the “one thing” rather than being distracted. Paul knew that they hadn’t eaten in several days, and that they would need some strength to overcome the remainder of the trial, if they were all to be saved. So with confidence, he told them to “get some breakfast boys, you’re gonna need it.”
2. Philip 3:14, 2 Cor 4:17-18, 2 Tim 4:7-8,
3. Illustration: in wilderness first aid, he taught us not to be distracted by the painfully obvious, "Most of the [thousands of] parents we’ve interviewed in recent years have a survival-based philosophy rather than a goal-oriented philosophy" “if you don’t know where you are going, you certainly are not going to get there.”
4. This is true in crisis, or in many other life situations—child-rearing, marriage, finances, church, ministry, career, education, etc. You must know what your goal is and how to get there. Of course, Jesus Christ is the main goal, and the main goal-giver. As a leader at NR, my encouragement to you is to have some goals, and don’t let them be mediocre, status quo, maintenance mentality, small-visioned goals. Sit down somewhere and get a list going of things that you would like to see God do in your family, or in your ministry, or in your class. Have some goals that can only be reached if God is in it. Some of mine for the first couple of years were to move closer toward an accurate membership assessment, to begin work on a church plant, to help families be biblical, to begin work in an overseas area. Things that without God could not have happened at NRBC. Once you get those goals, keep laying it out, and casting the vision, and looking to the future as you minister. Guard against discouragement and fizzling, and press on toward the mark of the high calling in your education, in your family, in your retirement, in your marriage, min.
D. Leaders empower by example (v. 35-36)
1. It is one thing for a leader to instruct others to act in such a fashion, but something else to actually have them demonstrate it. But this is exactly what Paul did. In the middle of the storm, he told them to have confidence, God spoke to him, and eat. Then he took food, bowed and prayed (in a storm), and ate. It is the ultimate hypocrisy for one who leads not to practice what they preach. But it is a highlight of leadership when a leader consistently demonstrates in front of followers his instructions. And notice what the people did, they ate!
2. John 13:14-15, 1 Cor 11:1, 1 Pet 2:21
3. Illustration: tell about the pastor who tried to get SS teachers to sign a covenant because they were not coming to church with regularity, The most classic example of a modern servant leader was Sam Walton. He despised corporate fat cats. He could, and would, handle the cash register as well as stock the shelves in any of his Wal-Mart stores. He drove an old, rusty, dented pickup not to prove a point but because it still had plenty of good mileage left in it. He told his staff on more than one occasion that "if American management is going to say to their workers that we’re all in this together, they’re going to have to stop this foolishness of paying themselves $3 million and $4 million bonuses every year and riding around every where in limos and corporate jets like they’re so much better than everybody else." "I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day…” see below
4. It is high time to raise the bar of leadership to insure that they are an example. The standard is higher for leadership, and there is greater accountability. But those leaders that lead by example will not only receive a reward in heaven, but they will inspire and engender the hearts of their people. You should feel the weight of the calling and example of Jesus Christ. Realize that your example in your home, office, class, ministry will either short-circuit or empower people to achieve the goals that you want. Do you set the example? Practice what you preach? Can you say, “Imitate me for I imitate Christ?”
A. Closing illustration: verse 43, “But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose”
B. Remind them of all nine qualities of good biblical leadership—trustworthy, takes initiative, exercises good judgment, speaks with authority, and encourages others.
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
o Illustration: My friend wanted a boat more than anything. His wife kept refusing, but he bought one anyway. "I’ll tell you what," he told her, "In the spirit of compromise, why don’t you name the boat?" Being a good sport, she accepted. When her husband went to the dock for his maiden voyage, this is the name he saw painted on the side: "For Sale." “Jesus did not say discuss me; he said follow me.” We do not make terms with Christ; we surrender to Christ. We do not compromise with Christ; we submit to Christ. Christianity does not mean being interested in Jesus Christ; it means taking the same oath as princes take to a king or queen in a coronation ceremony and saying, “I am your liege man of life and limb, and faith and truth will I bear to you against all manner of folk. So help me God. William Barclay A compromise which results in a half-step toward evil is all wrong. Political Compromise: 6 out of 10 Americans feel elected officials possessing strongly held religious beliefs should compromise with fellow officials when voting on controversial topics such as abortion and homosexuality. Evangelical Christians are more likely to favor officials voting based on their views.
• "I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one would walk with me than merely show the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear; Fine counsel is confusing but example’s always clear. And the best of all the preachers are the ones who live their creeds, For to see good put in action is what everybody needs. I soon can learn to do it if you let me see it done. I can watch your hands in action but your tongue too fast may run. And the sermon you deliver may be very wise and true, But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do, For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give, But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live."
