Leadership - by Grant S. Sisson
2010-01-09
INTRO
We’ve had a great Sunday morning. It is not often that a church’s leadership structure so dramatically changes in such a brief time as ours has at Countryside. Years ago when the oil patch went belly up there was a mass migration out of this area, and because our organization rules require three elders and we no longer had three men qualified we went to the Board of Directors style of organization. As we have discussed before, we will still technically have a Board only because it is required by the current Louisiana State laws for all non-profit organizations, but it will no longer be the way that we conduct church affairs; we will look to our new eldership (Dick Hainey, George Boies, and Rick Turner,) and our new deacons (Bobby Addison, Charlie Harper, Don Crosslin and Ken Wilkes) for direction in matters of church leadership.
Since this is such a key milestone in the history of Countryside, I want to take a few moments this morning to discuss leadership. It would seem that leadership would be pretty simple to understand since all organizations have them and we are familiar with the concept in the world we live in, but in reality leadership is quite complex. It is easy to define but hard to describe; it is paradoxical in nature because leaders are expected both to be humble enough to put their heads down to do the down and dirty work, but also have enough of that “head in the clouds” mentality to cast a vision for the future that is the key to forward progress. They must be a part of the work force by example and in deed, but simultaneously be out in front of and far enough ahead that others can look to them for direction and guidance.
Jesus had much to say about leadership. He spent three years in the trenches with his followers doing the work, demonstrating who, what, how, when, and where he wanted things done, three years demonstrating to the Apostles the humility required to be truly effective leaders, three years teaching them how to teach and be leaders. He did that both by example and by his teaching. His example of leadership is awesome; he never asked his followers to do anything that he himself did not do (look at many leaders in our world today and that is very distinctly not an attribute); He never gave them the feeling that he was “above it,” and that they were somehow less than he, so they would have to do the dirty work. When they exhibited characteristics that would keep them from being good leaders, he gently instructed and demonstrated his way, so that when they did something “in Jesus’ name” they truly did it the way he would have done it. Let’s look at some characteristics of His leadership style.
I. Humility
a. Greatness in Jesus’ church is not demonstrated by what we might think of as power. The world sees the rich and powerful as high and mighty, as being “above it all,” not having to get their hands dirty. He sits on a great golden throne and throws his weight around simply by barking orders, which others obey out of fear.
b. The modern world is not the only time in history that people have thought of leadership in this way, nor the only time that the powerful have behaved in such a manner. In fact, Jesus’ disciples argued amongst themselves about who among them would be the greatest. Jesus’ response is revealing, it demonstrates the paradoxical nature of good leadership, and is as counter-intuitive as anything he ever taught. Listen to Mark 10:35- Then59 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 10:36 He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 10:37 They said to him, “Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” 10:38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?”60 10:39 They said to him, “We are able.”61 Then Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I experience, 10:40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared.”62 10:41 Now63 when the other ten64 heard this,65 they became angry with James and John. 10:42 Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. 10:43 But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant; 10:44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave66 of all. 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom67 for many.”
c. Not what we would think of as a great ruler? Can you imagine Donald Trump acting as Jesus suggests? Instead of bellering, “YOU’RE FIRED!!” with sadistic glee, can you see him spending time with the offending employee to help them improve their job performance rather than killing their career? Can you see someone with that kind of worldly power kneeling down to serve one of his employees? How much more fun it is to mindlessly holler and shout than to do something truly productive, like help someone to have a more satisfying life, and in the process wind up with a more productive, to say nothing of infinitely more loyal, employee!
d. But it takes a very difficult characteristic to be a good leader – humility. We here at Countryside are very fortunate to have leaders who lead by serving our needs.
II. Another characteristic of a good leader is that he is Knowledgeable.
a. If we see a person in a supervisory or management role in a company that doesn’t know how to do the things his employees are expected to do, we have a hard time respecting that person. And yet therein lies a trap.
b. St. Paul tells us that “Knowledge puffs up.” The more we know about something, the easier it is to feel like we are better than anyone else, all the minions who don’t know as much as we do. So the combination is extremely difficult to come by – competent in knowledge and humble in demeanor as well.
c. But we know when a person loves the Lord. We can see it in his life; we can see it in how much he studies the Bible. And Bible study will come out in a person’s life as the Word changes who we are, develops a different perspective on life within us, and transforms our way of relating to others. We can tell that the love of the Lord is in someone just by how they behave.
III. And probably the most unexpected of the leadership concepts that Jesus taught by his example was that a true leader is a good friend.
a. It touches my heart deeply when I stop and think about how much Jesus loves me. I take that VERY personally, and I hope that you do too. Because Jesus could have chosen to be above it all, to bark commandments that I would be compelled to obey out of fear, like a slave does what he is told or else. But he didn’t choose to act like that toward us. Listen to John 15:13-17. We have been studying the book of John in our Wednesday evening class, and I again encourage everyone to be here so that you can be blessed by studying the Word of God with us. John 15:13 No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life36 for his friends. 15:14 You are my friends37 if you do what I command you. 15:15 I no longer call you slaves,38 because the slave does not understand39 what his master is doing. But I have called you friends; because I have revealed to you everything40 I heard41 from my Father. 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you42 and appointed you to go and bear43 fruit, fruit that remains,44 so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 15:17 This45 I command you – to love one another.”
IV. And that brings us to the most important characteristic of a leader of Jesus’ church. Love. This is agape love, the kind of love that chooses to do good for others. The kind of love that chooses to love those who are unkind. The kind of love that chooses to love those who are not deserving of love. The kind of love that loves the world not because they deserve it any more than we deserve it, but because Jesus loved the world and gave his life for us all. The kind of love that will follow Jesus, even to picking up their cross and follow him, not because it is pleasant, or because it feels good, not because it’s what we want to do, but because that’s what Jesus did. Jesus led us to God the Father by giving his own life, and he said that we must pick up our crosses and follow him – remember, I said that he never asked us to do anything that He was not willing to do? He led us through the grave into new life, and it wasn’t pleasant, it didn’t make him feel all warm and fuzzy. He did it because he loved us with agape love.
a. Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is the foundation upon which the Church of Jesus Christ is built. Listen to 1 John 4:7-9: “4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because17 love is from God, and everyone who loves18 has been fathered19 by God and knows God. 4:8 The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.20 4:9 By this21 the love of God22 is revealed in us:23 that God has sent his one and only24 Son into the world so that we may live through him.”
b. Brothers and sisters, this is what we want in a leader – one who knows God, and can show us what it is to be a Christian by showing us love in his life. One who is willing to lead by serving in love.
c. To our new Deacons and to our Elders, I think I can speak for the entire church. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your desire and willingness to serve. We admire and respect you. We see how you have stepped up to this challenge, and your example challenges us to prepare ourselves to do likewise; for the church needs a continual supply of new, qualified leaders in order to grow down throughout the centuries, and nothing is more important in all of history than the advancement of the Lord’s Kingdom. By your dedication you become a part of the history of the church, and will be held in high esteem for all eternity. We know that there will be times when it will become your task to hold us accountable for our stewardship of the lives that God has given us, and we promise solemnly to make that part of your work as pleasant as we possibly can. Gentlemen, we thank you.
CONCLUSION
This year is going to be a good one. Our leadership is in place, we have work to do, and we have begun to cast a vision for what we want Countryside to look like. It is an exciting time.
And if you are looking for a church home, we are thrilled that you have chosen to consider Countryside. We are prepared to do a great work here, and we can use all the help that we can get. Perhaps the Lord has sent you here to be of service to Him at this place.
And here is the reason we exist – because Jesus came to save sinners just like us. Don’t come here thinking that you have found the perfect church. You will be disappointed. But we are working toward excellence; we are doing what the Lord has given us to do. And here is the primary and driving force, the Great Commission – as Jesus ascended back into heaven, he gave us his final marching orders. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus loves you. He gave his life for you. And he has tasked us with the responsibility of sharing that Good News with the rest of the world.
Do you know Jesus? Have you been baptized into his death, that you might live a new life? You have that opportunity this morning. Give your life to him, that you might enjoy the kind of life He has in mind for you. Come to the front now, as we stand and sing…
