HoHum:
Have children come up front and do children’s minute with them.
Do you have a role model? "What's a role model?" you might be asking? Well, a role model is a person that you respect, admire, and want to be like in some way. It might be a famous person such as a great athlete or a movie star. It might be someone you know personally like your favorite teacher. It might be a church leader. It could even be your mom, dad, or a brother or sister. Whether we realize it or not, we all have role models.
I am going to show you some pictures of people that most of you will probably recognize and you can tell me if you think that person would be a good role model. (Show the pictures and give the children the opportunity to talk about them.) It is important that we choose our role models carefully, isn't it? If we choose someone as our role model just because he or she is rich and famous, we will very likely be disappointed.
Who are some good role models from the Bible?
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV. Paul is gone. We can find some things from the Bible about him but it is good to have a living role model. Jesus Christ is the best role model and we can find a lot about Him in the Bible but He has gone into heaven. Need to have some good role models. Look out into this crowd. Some good role models out here. Let’s pray. (Adapted from http://www.sermons4kids.com/role_model.htm)
WBTU:
Last time we talked about the church, God’s community, as the body of Christ. Each member has a duty to perform their function for the good of the body. We are all dependent upon each other because everyone lacks in some way. Each member of the body is important, and no member is more important than any other member.
From this some might conclude that we do not need leaders in the body. Christ is the our leader, our head, so human leadership is not needed. There is something to this. “For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11, NIV. In this sense we are all followers of Jesus Christ, centered upon Christ, built upon Christ. Cannot have 2 or more heads in the body.
On another angle, those who advocate no leaders in the church miss the mark in 2 ways:
1. This goes against human nature.
Paraphrasing Luke Timothy Johnson, Common sense and sociology tell us that humans beings need human leaders. Analyses of communities have show that they cannot survive much beyond a few years without strong boundaries, mechanisms for decision making and social control. Leadership provides boundaries, decision making, and control.
Take for instance why we have the government. Romans 13 tells us why we have governing authorities. Vs. 3 to commend those who do right, vs. 4 to punish those who do wrong. Without government, it would be the law of the jungle, might makes right. No, we have government to keep order, to make decisions, and enforce the laws.
Even with the body idea for the church, we find that God has gifted people with leadership. “if it is leadership, let him govern diligently” Romans 12:8, NIV. If we are to have no human leaders, then why...? Some lead and some follow, happens in every group
2. Ignores numerous NT references to leaders and leadership structures
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” Ephesians 4:11, 12, NIV.
“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:17, NIV.
The many references to elders. “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Acts 14:23, NIV. Not long after these churches were establish they appointed elders. Why? So that the church would have recognized leaders. Same reason why Paul told Titus- “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” Titus 1:5, NIV. Talk about elders specifically next week, talked about deacons when Steve Bailey was set apart as a deacon.
“I am scared of leaders in the church because I’ve seen so many leaders abuse their position and commit corruption in many different ways.” I appreciate the honesty, but the church cannot be in a state of anarchy so we need leaders.
Thesis: What kind of church leaders do we need?
For instances:
Leaders of integrity
The 2 most extensive discussions of church leaders in the NT- 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1- focus not on their gifts or abilities, but on their character. We would do well to take note of this. Too often, we place people into leadership positions solely because of their abilities (“Jim is a good businessman”), because of their longevity (“Jim has gone to this church a long time”), or because of their potential (“If we make Jim a leader, maybe he’ll get more involved). Instead, we must look first to a person’s character. Does “Jim” display Christlike integrity? Does he display the fruit of the Spirit in his life? Do people look to him as a godly example?
1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 give moral characteristics that should mark those as leaders in the church. No one person, other than Christ himself, could reach perfections in every characteristic. But these traits should describe the Christian leader. In reality, these traits should characterize every Christian. But the leader should set the pace in these areas.
Leaders, by definition, lead. Christian leaders guide people toward Christlikeness. If leaders have not, themselves, grown into Christlikeness, how could they lead others in that direction?
David Wheeler tells of a funeral procession that illustrates a leader’s influence. David officiated at a funeral. In accordance with custom, after the funeral, the attenders filed out of the funeral home and into their waiting cars to form a processional to the cemetery. The hearse led the processional, followed immediately by David the preacher, then all the deceased’s family and friends. During the drive to the cemetery David needed to stop at a restroom. He could not wait much longer, and, even if he did try to wait, few cemeteries have public restrooms available. So, as the processional came upon an old, abandoned roadside picnic area that included an outhouse, David veered into the picnic area to use the outhouse. He assumed the remainder of the processional would follow the hearse to the cemetery, then he would catch up. He assumed incorrectly. When he emerged from the outhouse, he discovered the long line of cars patiently waiting!
People follow leaders. Churches must ask before placing people into leadership, where will this person lead others? Do we want people following where this person’s life will take them? Churches with Christlike integrity have leaders with Christlike integrity. We must choose leaders carefully, and based primarily on their character.
Leaders Imitating Christ’s Character
“Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Philippians 3:17, NIV.
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV.
Norman Jean Douglas- Germans have a saying, “Ware was du bist” (Become what you are). The meaning was difficult for me until a minister gave me the following analogy. When a reigning monarch has a child there appears to be no difference between that child and any other child. Both are fussy, have dirty diapers, throw temper tantrums, etc. But through years of patient training, exposure to “kingly” ways, role models and mentors, eventually there is a person who exhibits kingly attributes. We are children of the King but it takes time, effort, patience, and good role models before we become persons exhibiting kingly attributes. We have to “become what we are”- children of the King.
In India there was a Christian doctor, a good doctor, but also effective in evangelism. An Indian was being baptized, a rare event in that difficult place, and he was answering questions to test his knowledge of the gospel. On one answer he began, “I believe in God Almighty, and in the Lord Jesus,” but then he stopped and turning to the doctor he said, “and sahib, I believe in you.” We have a mentoring crisis in this country. Mentors are people who are elders- older, more experienced, stronger members of the group to whom the younger look to.
Leaders serving
Like Christ, we need leaders who do not seek their own glory. We do not need leaders who operate through the effort of domineering, coercive power. Instead, we need leaders who lead in a sacrificial, loving, and generous manner. "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Mark 10:42-45, NIV.
Graduates from Lincoln Christian University during commencement receive a diploma and a towel. The diploma marks the completion of an educational milestone; the towel signifies a lifetime of service to which graduates commit. The education the diploma signifies equips the graduates to lead. The towel, however, represents an even more important qualification for biblical leadership. Without Christlike humility no one can lead in a biblical manner.
