The Bible and Jesus!
Thesis: The Story of God as revealed in the Bible points to Jesus as the main character of the story of the Bible and the hero of the world. Yes, Jesus is the main hero (Savior) of the Bible! If you learn to see Jesus from Genesis thru Revelation, then you will understand many teachings and lessons for living an abundant life. to be learned. Jesus is Love personified and He is the power source for a redeeming love to change and set us free and for this lost world.
See handout of Jesus in the books of the Bible!
Scripture Text:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV): “16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man (Woman) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CEV): 16Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.
17The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.
John 5:39: Jesus said this about the OT to the teachers of it, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me”
Introduction:
Jesus is the central theme and main story of the Bible. Jesus is not just found in the Gospels but in every book of the Bible. The entire story of the Bible points to Jesus.
Your Whole Bible Is About Jesus from The Gospel Coalition APRIL 22, 2021, MATT SMETHURST see https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/bible-about-jesus/
If we ever hope to properly handle the stories in the Bible, we must first grasp the story of the Bible. Jesus is the central figure of the Bible both OT and NT!
In Luke 24, shortly after his resurrection, Jesus appears incognito to two of his followers on a road. Bewildered and breathless, they relay the buzz surrounding the inexplicably empty tomb. It’s the inexplicably part that prompts Jesus, still unrecognized, to speak: Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25–27)
After revealing himself to his eleven disciples shortly thereafter, Jesus reiterates the same point: He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44–45)
It wasn’t only after Jesus’ resurrection that Jesus spoke this way, however. For example, before his death he had explained to the Pharisees—the Jewish religious establishment, the “Bible experts” of the day—his central place in their great story: You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. . . If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. (John 5:39–40, 46)
Jesus was and is Love personified in the flesh or another way to perceive this truth is God came to earth in human for being 100% human and 100% divine. To understand this you can read John chapter 1 which makes the clear connection to who Jesus is, was and will be, and His connection to God.
John 1 (NIV)
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
This chapter revels that Jesus pre-existed prior to His birth in Bethlehem – Jesus – The Holy Spirit and God the Father were together as one at Creation!
The Bible does make it clear that Jesus was there at Creation let’s look at Genesis 1:26-31: “26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Notice: Genesis speaking as the voice of God said, “Let us make mankind in our image!” – the word here is plural – We see in Scripture and in the many stories of the Old Testament the nature, character and work of Jesus Christ. Time and time again, God sets the stage for the sending of the Son to fulfill His eternal plan to save us from our sins.
T.S. – So let’s be clear! The Bible is not just about Jesus in the New Testament because He is seen and revealed all the way back to the Beginning of Creation and throughout the books of the Bible.
I. The Bible and Jesus
a. Quote from Zondervan: “The Bible is best understood when it’s viewed as one story in six acts (with the main character or hero being Jesus!)” According to The Jesus Bible page 8,9.
i. Beginnings – Every story has a beginning - God the Father/Jesus and The Holy Spirit are there at Creation! (Genesis 1-2):
1. The triune God (Father/Son/Holy Spirit) also called The Trinity has been together from the beginning, God said “Let us make mankind in our image” so we are created in the image of God, and we consist of 3 parts too (Our Soul, Body and Spirit). In the story of the Bible God works through the Son to bring about the creation of everything according to the Bible and in the writings of the Apostle Paul. “For in him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Col 1:16).
2. So, the Bible makes it clear Jesus has always been and Creation centers around His involvement in it!
3. The World was created by God to reveal His glory – that glory was and is seen in Jesus Christ – who is the glory of the grace of God being displayed in His death and bestowing on those who believe – grace to enter into a relationship with God Himself.
ii. Revolt - Every story has a problem. The problem for humanity is sin. The Story of Adam and Eve reveal this human problem. When people revolted, God had already set in motion a plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. (Zondervan,. The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition, Leathersoft, Brown (p. 32). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.) (Genesis 3-11):
1. Genesis 3:14-15: 14So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
iii. People - Every story has participants—those who are going to be impacted by the unfolding drama. (Genesis 12-Malachi):
1. Through Abraham, God commissioned a people to be his—a special chosen people who would be a witness on earth of his faithfulness. God showered them in blessing, yet they constantly reverted to sinful ways. Time and time again the people rejected God, their decisions ultimately leading them to oppression and loss. Invariably, they called out to the God they had forgotten, and God, in turn, always showed mercy. At each turn of this vicious cycle of death and destruction, God would announce through a prophet about The Redeemer.
a. Zondervan,. The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition, Leathersoft, Brown (p. 33). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
iv. Savior – “Every story has a hero. In this story his name is Jesus.” (Matthew -Acts 1)
1. The Bible says that in the fullness of time, God’s promised Savior was born in a stable. Jesus did what no other person could do, by bringing an end to the system of sacrifice and ritual. Once and for all, Jesus appeased God’s wrath through his death on the cross, opening the way for rebels to come home to a peace-making Father. A star led the shepherds to the place of Christ’s birth, but history has been pointing to Jesus since time began. Jesus is God’s appointed and God’s anointed. He is the way, the truth and the life. All come to the Father through him (Jn 14:6).
a. There is no other way! According to the Bible!
b. Zondervan,. The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition, Leathersoft, Brown (p. 33). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
2. Jesus – Savior has been promised from the time of the Fall of mankind. But His time comes to fruitation at God’s appointed time – Jesus is born as God intended and sets in motion the completion of what God promised in the Garden to the Serpent.
v. Church – “Every story has an effect” or impact on the world which for this known world is the church (Acts 2-Revelation 20).
1. The church is made up of a people who have been redeemed by Jesus and have been formed to live on mission with him. Once Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to give birth to his Church. See the book of Acts.
a. While churches come in all shapes and sizes, the true Church of Jesus is comprised of all who have confessed him as Savior and Lord. A living organism, his body, the church, serves to extend his grace and truth on earth. Powered by that same Spirit, the church exists to proclaim Jesus’ glory to all people.
b. Zondervan,. The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition, Leathersoft, Brown (p. 33-34). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
vi. Forever – “Every story has a resolution.” (Revelation 21-22)
1. At a time only the Father knows, everything in heaven and earth will be put right once and for all. Those opposed to Jesus will get what they have asked for—an eternity without his goodness and his glory. The redeemed will gather in his presence from every race and nation, singing the song of Jesus who rescued them from death and brought them into unending life.
a. God will be praised for his grace – for His glory – through what Jesus has done for mankind!
b. Zondervan,. The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition, Leathersoft, Brown (p. 34). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
2. Eternity Is the promise of God / Jesus opens the door to eternity / The Holy Spirit teaches us how to stay on the road to eternity – the Bible speaks of those who believe and follow Jesus receiving eternal life – forever.
a. It’s all because of Grace – because of the grace provided for us through Jesus!
b. Quote: “As we take a quick look at each act, we see traces of Jesus at every turn.” Zondervan,. The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition, Leathersoft, Brown (p. 31). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
i. EXCAVATING THE EVIDENCE FOR JESUS- in Kennedy’s book he opens with these facts about Jesus:
1. Jesus of Nazareth is widely acknowledged as the most important and most famous figure in history!
2. Since the dawn of civilization until the present, no other person has had a more significant impact on the world.
3. A Stony Brook University study ranks Jesus as being in the number one position of the most famous person in history, also the one with the most information about in history and the number one person who is the most talked about person on the internet and throughout history. They also say he is the most influential person to have ever lived.
4. Typing “Jesus” into internet search engines can yield approximately 665 billion results – and it is climbing every year!
5. The entire calendar year or date system still used today throughout much of the world is even based around the birth and life of Jesus.
6. Archaeology over the last 150 years has not only contributed to our understanding of the historical context of Jesus, the Gospels, and the 1st century world, but many discoveries have directly confirmed the accuracy of the Gospel accounts about his life and historical existence – and new discoveries continue to be uncovered and mysteries untangled about the Bible.
7. The teaching and preaching of Jesus had spread to over 2.3 billion people in today’s world. It’s the world’s largest religion. How many since the time of Jesus? It’s impossible to calculate but best guess is around 7-10 billion?
8. There are 2.7 million conversions to Christianity every year in the world according to Pew Research. Some sites say since 1960 over 10 million Muslims have converted to Christianity. Some Muslim sites claim 3-6 million are converting to Christianity per year. The most common reason for conversion having a personal revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
c. I find it interesting today many in Western Culture want Jesus but not the teachings of the Bible or even the church He established and is led by The Holy Spirit. They want parts of Jesus but not all of Jesus! They want parts of the Bible but not all of the Bible truths! They want to pick and choose what to keep and what to throw away in our Western World.
i. But Christianity is growing fastest in China, Africa, Central America and the middle east.
ii. I discovered this article this week from Fox News: Published June 19th 2022 from Danielle Wallace: Here is the article about what is happening in Western Culture specifically in the USA.
1. It was Voltaire who said that if God did not exist it would be necessary to invent him. Well, according to a new Gallup poll, that need may arise sooner rather than later. Belief in God among Americans has fallen to its lowest level ever. It is still a robust 81 percent, but the number has fallen six points since just 2017. So is a more atheist nation inevitable? American history suggests not. Our nation’s past is marked with Great Awakenings, or religious revivals, the first in the mid 18th century, the latest lasting roughly from 1960-1980 (The Jesus Movement). While we tend to think of large church gatherings and powerful leaders when looking at the history of these periods, what they did more than anything else was put a spotlight on religion and God in the public square. By the mid 1980s America had spent decades removing religious symbolism and imagery from public life. This came in a state form with bans on prayer in school, or the Ten Commandments in the courtroom; it also came in corporate form as brands veered away from explicit religious ideas in their ads. They became all Easter Bunny, no Jesus. (It became Santa Claus no Jesus) So maybe it is no surprise that the youngest Americans, those born after 1990, have the lowest belief rate (In Jesus) at 68 percent and also suffered the most severe recent drop of 10 percent. Even a person just 10 years older was exposed to much more public religion as a child, nativity scenes outside of state houses and invocations before sports tournaments were the norm, not the exception. But a case the Supreme Court is set to decide on may swing the door back open to more public displays of religion and faith. A high school football coach in Washington sued for being placed on leave when he prayed on the field before games. The court sounded sympathetic in oral arguments and should he win, it will be a new day for prayer in public schools. And God will operate a bit more openly. Another reason for optimism that God may not be on his way out, is just how impressive it is that 4 out of 5 Americans still do have a belief in Him. In some European countries that number is in the low 50s. With the exception of liberals and young adults, the numbers are well over 70 percent for every other demographic group in our country. Even after all of the scandals of the past decades and the declining church attendance, the number is pretty stubborn and suggests an America willing to stick with faith. Without God we are free to decide what a man or a woman is, even if the result of our effort is a spreadsheet of 47 sets of ever shifting pronouns. Without God we determine what is most moral, saving the climate or bringing people out of poverty with fossil fuels. Without God, a minute's long ride down a birth canal determines if we can decide whether to kill a baby or not. But don’t underestimate God. He’s been here before, seen His people wander and stray for thousands of years. Sometimes, rationally, it seems inevitable that atheism must prevail, that science or AI will finally put the nail in the coffin of Divine Providence. But there are questions only God can answer – about our souls, about death, about our meaning. Americans are still asking those questions, and I suspect they will be for a long, long time.
a. God is brining back another Great Awakening to truth and Jesus – you seeing it recently in our culture but more is going to come – this is why evil is fighting back so hard – they don’t want to loose their recent gains in this government and in people’s lives.
b. How about Roe vs Wade being overturned? That’s a miracle in my view and more is coming!
iii. But a recent Gallup Poll shows how much we need a revival: The percentage of Americans who say they believe in God has dipped to the lowest number in the past nearly 80 years, according to a new Gallup poll published Friday (June 17, 2022). The Values and Belief poll, conducted from May 2 to 22, showed 81% of people answered that they believe in God. That is down six percentage points from the 87% of respondents who said they believed in God in the 2017 poll. This year is the lowest percentage in Gallup’s trend since the public opinion polling company first asked the question in 1944. This year’s poll found 17% of Americans said they do not believe in God. When asking the question first in 1944, again in 1947, and twice each in the 1950s and 1960s, a consistent 98% of respondents said they believed in God. When Gallup asked the question nearly five decades later, in 2011, 92% of Americans said they believed in God. A subsequent survey in 2013 found belief in God dipping below 90% to 87%, roughly where it stood in three subsequent updates between 2014 and 2017 before this year's drop to 81%. The poll found that the belief in God has plummeted the most in recent years among young adults and people on the left of the political spectrum, namely liberals and Democrats. Gallup said those groups show drops of 10 or more percentage points comparing the 2022 figures to an average of the 2013-2017 polls. Most other key subgroups have experienced at least a modest decline, although conservatives and married adults have had essentially no change, according to the polling company. The poll found the groups with the largest declines are also the groups that are currently least likely to believe in God, including liberals (62%), young adults (68%) and Democrats (72%). Belief in God is highest among political conservatives (94%) and Republicans (92%), which Gallup said reflects "that religiosity is a major determinant of political divisions in the U.S."
1. See handout which party do you side with? And what does your party believe?
2. Also see voting records to go vote in the primary’s this coming Tuesday!
iv. According to the study, 75% of Americans identified as Christian in 2011—in 2021 in the US@, that number shrunk to 63%, a 12% decrease. Ten years ago, roughly 18% of Americans were not affiliated with any religion, identifying as agnostic, atheist or “nothing in particular”—that number grew to 29% in 2021, an 11% increase from Forbes.com.
d. But the Bible tells of many times a nation has fallen away from God – the nation in the midst of bondage and insanity wakes up repents of its sin and God brings in a sweeping revival to return to Him.
i. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
T.S. - If you seek to see and learn from the Bible and from the life and message of Jesus you will discover Him addressing and modeling many principals and skill set’s we should be developing to live the abundant life: One such topic is leadership! Today in the United States we have a lack of leadership from our government and from many in leadership positions – But Jesus is portrayed as the greatest leader to have ever led. So, we should look at His life and ministry and learn how we should be leading.
II. Jesus’ leadership style – “Servant Leadership”
a. Servant Leadership - Jesus specifically instructed his disciples in Matthew 20:25-28 on how they should lead the church and the new movement of Christianity.
i. The situation which provoked Jesus to teach on proper leadership – is found for us in Mother’s Request in Matthew 20:
1. 20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2. Jesus’ also role modeled this concept of “Servant Leadership” for us and the disciples in John 13:1-17:
a. Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. 12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
i. Jesus got up at the Passover meal to wash his disciple’s feet – a task associated to servants-slaves never a leader and then told his future leaders to lead like this.
1. Do you want to be a great leader “Wash each other’s feet!”
3. Servant Leadership – see comparison chart as handout at information desk - taken from: The Father Heart of God, by Floyd McClung, Jr.
a. My own journey in learning to be a servant leader:
i. Seeing others lead as dictators
ii. Reading the book “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make” by Hans Finzel
iii. The Pecking order with the chickens we raised.
iv. The pastor conferences.
ii. Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges present Jesus as a servant leader, from their book Lead Like Jesus: (Quotes and thoughts from the book below)
1. The Heart of a Servant Leader – deals with motivation and intent for being a leader.
a. A self-centered heart looks at others thinking “give a little, take a lot.” People especially leaders who are self-centered put their own agenda, own plans, own safety, own perks and gratification above everyone else around them.
b. The struggle here is rooted in the fallen nature of self-centeredness that we are the center of the universe. The ego problem is nothing new to mankind and when our ego controls then we always Edge – God –Out of our lives and it causes all the destruction and dysfunction we see around us today.
c. Blanchard and Hodges ask every leader this question: “Am I a servant leader or a self-serving leader?”
i. Blanchard: The term leader is mentioned only six times in the King James Version of the Bible, while the term servant is mentioned more than nine hundred times. That fact highlights the third distinction between a self-serving leader and a servant leader: who leads and who follows? Self-serving leaders think they should lead and others should follow. Servant leaders, on the other hand, seek to respect the wishes of those who have entrusted them with a season of influence and responsibility. Throughout His life and leadership, Jesus affirmed that God is not looking for leaders but for servants who will let Him be the Leader and who will focus first on the kingdom of God (Page 47).
d. Jesus’ role modeled from John 13 a servant leader and He tells us to follow His lead in leading others and being this type of leader in this world.
2. The Head of a Servant Leader – this dimension is a leader’s belief system and their perspective and role as a leader.
a. The head of a servant leader understands that they are not trying to please everyone. They are not going to allow the inmates to run the prison. Jesus did not try to please everyone, nor did he allow the inmates to dictate and run his ministry.
b. Jesus knew that he was to completely focus on pleasing the Father and He was His audience of One.
c. There are 2 parts to being a Servant Leader according to Blanchard:
i. A visionary role-setting the course and the destination.
1. This is leading by setting course and direction.
2. Ties into value 1 from Matthew 22:36-40
a. Love God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is how and where you get the vision for what you are doing.
ii. An implementation role-doing the things right with a focus on serving.
1. This is serving which empowers and supports others in implementing the steps needed to reach the vision.
2. Ties in the second part of Matthew 22:36-40:
a. Love your neighbor as yourself. This means you train equip and empower others to love others and in turn this fulfills the vision for doing ministry.
d. Life and leadership are all about choices. Choices are made based on your core values, whether you admit that or not. You are a monument to the choices you make over the course of your life.
3. The Hands of a Servant Leader
a. They need to be coaching, mentoring and discipling others in their spiritual growth process.
4. The Habits of a Servant Leader
a. Prayer
b. Solitude
c. Reading the Word
d. Study of the Word
e. Embracing Community
f. Loving others
g. Accountability partners
b. Leadership lessons from Jesus – From Leadership Lessons of Jesus – authors Briner and Pritchard, publisher Gramercy, Random House.
i. Temptation is a part of leadership
1. Mark 1:12 – At once the Spirit sent him in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.
2. Martin Luther stated, “There are three things necessary to create a successful minister of God: prayer, meditation and temptation” (Briner and Pritchard page 12)
3. The truth as leaders will be on the frontline of temptation and the more effective you are as a leader the more powerful the temptations will be.
4. Temptation may lead to sin, but temptation is not sin and we need to realize that it will come – so be ready.
5. Billy Graham’s example
a. Protect and take the necessary precautions not to fall prey to sin:
i. Lust – never be alone with anyone of the opposite sex except his wife.
ii. Wealth – His directors always set his salary.
1. Jim Baker made this mistake.
iii. Power – Have an accountability group of friends who hold you accountable.
iv. Pride – tells us to look good more than doing good and once accountability partners is the best antidote.
ii. Leaders call followers
1. Happy told the Vineyard pastors that they need to ask and seek out potential leaders.
a. We need to be doing the same in our church and Fellowship.
2. Mark 1:7 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.”
3. He asked some of His followers and future leaders to come with him, he did not expect to walk by them and they just follow Him. He made the personal contact and the big ask.
iii. Leadership requires discipline
1. Mark 1:35: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
2. A leader must be disciplined, it’s what gain them respect and in their lives and draws others to do the same. It has to be modeled!
a. Hollis said, “Pray is our job not to be done to move God.”
3. You must find the time and make sure you use your time and resources in a God like stewardship way.
a. Discipline of the following a must:
i. Time
ii. Prayer
iii. Solitude
iv. Bible reading
v. Bible study
iv. Leadership and timing
1. Mark 1:43: “Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.”
2. Pritchard notes, “Time and timing were central to His methods and His message. Everything He did was timed to perfection; the Scripture says that he came in the ‘fullness of time’ – that is, perfect time.
3. Solomon the wisest man ever to live said, timing is everything – there is a time for everything in life.
4. As leader we must learn that timing can make or break a vision or a plan.
a. Premature decision and public statements can be devastating when they are done to earlier or in the wrong framework.
b. Timing is crucial!
v. Leaders are teachers
1. Mark 2:3: “A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them.”
a. Leaders are teachers who no matter what the situation become teachers. It could be in the family unit, the school setting, the church setting, business setting or crisis situation.
b. Jesus was addressed as “Rabbi” or teacher more often than by any other title.
vi. Unwarranted attacks-be ready!
1. Mark 3:6: “Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodian’s how they might kill Jesus.”
2. A seasoned and mature leader knows that no matter how pure, sincere or effective a decision is made there will be those who will oppose his or her decisions and leadership.
a. Every leader is opposed, and people will seek to pick a part your heart, your motives and even your decisions.
3. Pritchard states: “A leader should not be surprised or debilitated by opposition because it will come. Those who are not ready for it are often so stunned that they abdicate or resign their leadership positions.”
4. We will be attacked for doing good, for following the leading of the Holy Spirit just like Jesus was.
vii. You win some and lose some
1. Mark 4:8: “Still other seed fell on good soil.”
2. We all would like to win in everything we do but this is not the case.
3. Old baseball cliché: “You win some and lose some, and some get rained out.”
4. Life is filled with times of sowing and times of reaping.
5. The overall harvest is brought in – in God’s time all we can do is be faithful and not quit at our seeming failures.
T.S. – Studying the life of Jesus in the Bible and His character will help us to become the type of Leader Jesus desires in His Church. But it should also be implemented in the business realm of life to because it is the best method of leadership ever. But if you study the life of Jesus, you will discover many gems on how to live life abundantly and how Live is a way that will bring joy and peace.
III. Jesus taught us many things about how to live life – Here are a few thoughts from: The Leadership Secrets of JESUS by Mike Murdock.
a. Jesus was a problem solver.
i. Romans 15:2: 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
1. Mike Murdock states, “Thousands were burdened with guilt because of their sins. Jesus offered forgiveness. Thousands were spiritually starved. He said, ”I am the Bread of life (John 6:35).” Hundreds had bodies riddled with sickness and disease. Jesus “…went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38) (page 11).
b. Jesus went were the people were.
i. Luke 9:6: 6So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.
1. The old saying you sometimes here in leadership circles is ministry would be great if it was not for the people. But the truth is the people are the business of leadership and ministry.
2. Leadership success involves people – you going to the people!
c. Jesus took time to rest.
i. Genesis 2:2: 2By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
1. God rested – so should you and I.
ii. Mark 6:31: 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
1. Jesus rested – so should you and I.
a. Murdock states, “Fatigue can be costly. One notable president of the Unites States knew this. He absolutely refused to make any major decisions after 4 in the afternoon. He knew that a tired mind rarely makes good decisions. On bad decision can create countless tragedies. Rest and recreation are not sin. Rest time is repair time. It is not a loss of productivity. It is time for renewing. It is receiving time. It helps release your potential.”
2. Jesus preached, discipled, taught, rebuked, forgave, healed and was very busy. But he always knew that he needed to rest and relax at times. He knew that ministry and work was important but so was time to separate and be revived.
d. Jesus took time to plan.
i. Proverbs 24:3, 4: 3By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; 4through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
ii. Luke 14:28-31: 28“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
1. Murdock states, ‘What is a plan? A plan is a written list of arranged actions necessary to achieve your desired goal.
a. Habakkuk 2:2: The Lord’s Answer
2Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
2. He adds, “Jesus planned your future. “In my Father’s house are many, mansions if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
3. God has scheduled everything that has happened. The birth death and resurrection of Jesus. The end times and a host of other events. Noah planned and built the Ark as did David and Solomon with the Temple for God. The Bible is God’s written plan for you your life and your state in eternity.
e. Jesus was concerned about people’s finances.
i. Phil 4:19: 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
ii. John 13:29: 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.
1. Murdock, “Money is very important. You cannot live in your home without it. You cannot provide for your family without it. Your automobile costs money. Your clothes cost money. Most marriage counselors observe that the number one cause of divorce is financial conflict.
a. Leaders must be able to manage their money – personally and corporately.
2. More than 20% of Jesus teaching and discussions were about money and finances. His number 2 subject.
a. The first was the Kingdom of Heaven.
f. Jesus was willing to go where he had never been before.
i. Isa 6:8: 8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
1. Jesus was constantly praying to the Father and moving from one location to another as the Father directed him.
a. He did not settle down and stay in comfort zone he moved as the Spirit led.
g. Jesus respected authority.
i. Ephesians 6:5, 6: 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
ii. Romans 13:1-2: 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
iii. Mark 12:17: 17Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
1. Murdock, “Authority creates order. Imagine a nation without a leader. A workplace without a boss. An army without a general. Authority creates order, the accurate arrangement of things…Respect those in authority over you. Your success is affected by it…Jesus understood this!
h. Jesus never discriminated.
i. Proverbs 24:23: 23These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good:
ii. Acts 10:27,28, 34: 27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean…34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
iii. Galatians 3: 26-29: 26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
iv. James 2:1-9: 1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
1. Murdock states, “He (Jesus) was comfortable in the presence of fisherman or the tax collectors of the day. He was at ease with men and women, the rich and the poor…Jesus knew that every person contains potential.”
2. Jesus talked to Samaritans and Roman’s and he never judged a person by their race, sex, appearance or even financial status.
i. Jesus never wasted time answering critics.
i. Proverbs 14:7: 7Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
ii. Proverbs 23:9: 9Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
iii. Matthew 26:63: 63But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
1. Mike Murdock notes, “Critics are spectators, not players. Critical people are usually disheartened people who have failed to reach a desired goal. Someone has said, ‘Criticism is the death gargle of a nonachiever. There has never been a monument built to a critic. Critical people are disappointed people. Disillusioned people. Unfocused people. They are hurting inside. They build their life trying to destroy others. Move away from them! ...Jesus ignored the critics!”
j. Jesus permitted others to correct their mistakes.
i. John Maxwell has a great book out called “Failing Forward.”
ii. Mike Murdock, “Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody…Jesus never disconnected from those who made mistakes with their lives. Peter was one of his favorite disciples. Peter denied him. Then he confessed his sin, and Jesus forgave him. He became one of the greatest apostles in the history of the church.”
k. Jesus finished what he started.
i. John 19:30: 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
1. Jesus did not quit on His mission or calling he persevered through rejection, criticism, abuse and persecution to achieve his goal. He was not a quitter he finished strong and it changed the world.
a. The Apostle Paul also finished strong - 2 Timothy 4:7: 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2. Quotes from Finish Strong by Richard Capen:
a. “We want to be thought of for the substance of what we do, for our accomplishments, for our love of families, for our concern about others. We want to make a difference, but we sometimes forget that we’re talking about a lifelong commitment, one that requires patience” (Page 8)
b. “But when you stop and think about it, there is nothing more important that you can leave for your loved ones than a rich legacy. A wholesome reputation. Values and beliefs that become gifts more priceless than trust funds or heirlooms. Wills of the material and legal variety can be contested, but your ethical will is indisputable. What are you leaving for those who follow you?” (page 34).
l. Jesus never felt he had to prove himself to anyone.
i. Matthew 7:6: 6“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
1. Mike Murdock states, “You are already important. You have nothing to prove to anyone. You are the offspring of a remarkable Creator. You have the mind of Christ. Your gifts and talents have been placed within you. Find what they are. Celebrate them. Find ways to use those gifts to improve others and help them achieve their dreams and goals. But never, never, never exhaust and waste your energies trying to prove something to somebody else.
Conclusion:
Quote: “If you approach the Bible with an open mind, I am confident you will be met by the Spirit of God who breathed these words into existence. He promises that “he will guide you into all the truth” (Jn 16:13). Ultimately, you will come face to face with the One who appears on each page and in every act. You will soon discover that it is Jesus whom the story is all about. And that’s the goal. For as precious and enduring as the Bible is, you were not made for information alone, but for a relationship with Jesus.” Zondervan,. The Jesus Bible, NIV Edition, Leathersoft, Brown (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: Jesus is the central figure of the Bible! He is God in the flesh which is God’s Love personified in the flesh.
Why do we need to know this truth?
Answer: Because Jesus is the most famous person in the history of the world and he offers all who are willing and opportunity to have a relationship with God Almighty. This relationship will change your life – like it has billions of others of the last 2,000 years.
What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to rediscover the Bible and read it, study it, memorize it and live it.
Why do they need to do this?
Answer: Because this is the way to eternal life, to grace, mercy, forgiveness, love. Because Jesus wants to set us free from sin and bondage.
