"FOLLOW THE LEADER"
I THESSALONIANS 2:1-12
THOMAS MONAGHAN IS FOUNDER , PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DOMINO’S PIZZA, INC. FROM 1970 - 1985, DOMINO’S GREW FROM A SMALL DEBT RIDDEN CHAIN TO THE SECOND LARGEST PIZZA COMPANY IN AMERICA, WITH SALES OVER A BILLION DOLLARS.
WHEN ASKED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE PHENOMENAL GROWTH OF THE COMPANY, MONAGHAN EXPLAINED, "I PROGRAMMED EVERYTHING FOR GROWTH." (AND HOW DID HE PLAN FOR GROWTH?) "EVERYDAY WE DEVELOP PEOPLE -- THE KEY TO GROWTH IS DEVELOPING PEOPLE. NOT SPECIAL CHEESE, NOT TASTY CRUST, NOT FAST DELIVERY, BUT PEOPLE! PEOPLE ARE THE KEY TO ALL EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP..."
HARRY TRUMAN ONCE COMMENTED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF POLLS TO LEADERSHIP, WITH THE FOLLOWING INSIGHT, "I WONDER HOW FAR MOSES WOULD HAVE GONE IF HE’D TAKEN A POLL IN EGYPT? WHAT WOULD JESUS CHRIST HAVE PREACHED IF HE TAKEN A POLL IN ISRAEL? WHERE WOULD THE REFORMATION HAVE GONE IF MARTIN LUTHER HAD TAKEN A POLL? IT ISN’T THE POLLS OR PUBLIC OPINION OF THE MOMENT THAT COUNTS. IT IS RIGHT AND WRONG AND LEADERSHIP -- MEN WITH FORTITUDE, HONESTY, AND A BELIEF IN THE RIGHT -- THAT MAKES EPOCHS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD..."
GENERAL EISENHOWER WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE ART OF LEADERSHIP WITH A PIECE OF SIMPLE STRING.. HE’D PUT IT ON THE TABLE AND SAY: "PULL IT AND IT WILL FOLLOW WHEREVER YOU WISH. PUSH IT AND IT WILL GO NOWHERE AT ALL. IT’S JUST THAT WAY WHEN IT COMES TO LEADING PEOPLE. THEY NEED TO FOLLOW A PERSON WHO IS LEADING BY EXAMPLE..."
If you haven’t figured it out yet, we are going to talk about leadership today.... My message is entitled “follow the leader.” The church in Thessalonica, as we said last week, was a model church -- Paul said that their faith, was a faith worth, talking about, he said that these Christians had it together.
And if we want a faith worth talking about, we need to follow their example.
The work they did in the church, was produced by faith in Christ...not by guilt or duty... they had ministries not jobs in the church...
And their labor, the struggle and effort, that they exerted for the work of the kingdom, was prompted by a love for Jesus and a love for others.
Their endurance, their stick-to-it-ness -- there willingness to endure pain for kingdom work, their ability to tread water just a little longer was inspired by their hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. They knew that someday they would have the life they always dreamed of.
And they were imitators of Jesus....They did what Jesus would do.
And they had turned from idols (from all God substitutes) in their lives, to serve the living and true God.
And finally, the Thessalonians were not, waiting their ship to come in, or for prince or princess charming to ride in on a white horses and carry them off into the sunset to live happily ever after -- NO, THEY WERE WAITING for Jesus Christ to come and take them home.... THEY WERE WAITING TO LIVE IN A BETTER PLACE, They were waiting to be where they belong.
Yes, the Christians in Thessalonica were and still are, a model for all believers...for us/me/you...
Question But how did they get that way? What was it that led to them having this kind of faith?
One important key was leadership... Paul, Silas and Timothy provided invaluable leadership for the church in Thessalonica. Theirs was a leadership worth following -- a leadership, that
made things happen, a leadership that changed and motivated people.
Our task, our mission this morning, is to discover the characteristics of Paul’s leadership; to see what it was, that made Paul’s leadership click and achieve such great results...
BUT Before we begin, let’s note something about the background of this letter. As we said last week, Paul’s visit to Thessalonica was a short one - His quick success angered a lot of people, people who then hired a mob that forced Paul and his friends to flee the city, under the cover of darkness...
Now, these very same people who hired the mob tired to take advantage of Paul’s sudden disappearance, by discrediting Paul, in an effort to undermine his authority and his gospel.
They launched an all out malicious smear campaign. As you read our text and the rest of chapters 2 and 3, and hear Paul’s defense of his ministry -- it is pretty easy to reconstruct the slander of his critics....
“He ran away, he took off,” they sneered. “Why do you think he left so quick? If he really cared about you - then he would have stayed, or at least said good bye instead of sneaking out in the middle of the night. I bet you haven’t even heard from him since he left town. I can’t believe you let this smooth talking guy - catch you hook line and sinker. We’ve seen his type before - just another phoney teacher - who rides in one day, throws out a few fancy words that con the naive, and then leaves the next day...”
When Paul wrote chapters 2 & 3, he was responding to what some of his critics were saying as they tried to undermine his ministry.....
Now, Paul didn’t set out, to teach a lesson or present doctrine on leadership ... But as Paul defended his leadership -- as he described the kind of leader that he was -- that is exactly what he did... He created a model into which all good leaders should submit.
You see, the people at the helm, those in charge are important, they are instrumental in victory. Whether it be the person at the helm of a full scale war, the coach of a football team, the CEO of a corporation, the president of a country, the manger of a store, the head of a family, or the leadership in the church. Leadership is important, leadership and leaders will either make or break the ones they are leading... They will either lead forward or backward.
Just as the Thessalonians Church was a model for all believers -- it is equally true that the Apostle Paul is a model for all leaders.
Now our study today will have obvious application to those who are in leadership roles in the church, BUT these same principles apply to any leadership role you may find yourself in, maybe you have people you are in charge of at work - if you are a parent to are definitely a leader.
I THESS 2:1-10
1) Good Leaders Are People Of Courage
Question WHY do leaders need to be people of courage?
Because a leader’s mission is to take people from point A to point B, to take them from where they are to where they need to be... And any time you do that there will be opposition.
To lead a football team down the field there will be opposition, to lead a company or to lead a family there will be opposition. Those who lead God’s church will certainly face opposition. To do what you know is the right thing - in the face of opposition takes courage. (Have you ever face opposition as you tried to be a leader? Did you have courage?)
What kind of opposition did Paul face?
Listen gain to verse 2, "WE DARED TO TELL YOU HIS GOSPEL IN SPITE OF STRONG OPPOSITION."
Now if anyone understood strong opposition it was the Apostle Paul. Just before Paul’s visit to Thessalonica -- he spent some time in Philippi, he says in 2:2 of our text, “we had previously suffered and been insulted in Phillpi.”
While in Phillipi Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl who was used by her owner to tell fortunes.... And when the owners realized that Paul had just ruined a great source of income -- they drug Paul & Silas before the city officials...
Paul and Silas were stripped naked... and beaten with rods in the public square... Then thrown in a dark -- cold -- damp -- prison cell, with their feet placed in wooden stocks on the floor...
Now that’s opposition, isn’t it? I don’t think any of us have encounter anything like that.
Good leaders, will stand up in spite of strong opposition, and good leaders in the church will speak the truth in spite of the opposition.
And there will always be, opposition to the truth; Jesus said, "THIS IS THE VERDICT LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, BUT MEN LOVED DARKNESS INSTEAD OF LIGHT (LIES INSTEAD OF TRUTH) BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.." -- JOHN 3:19
So you see, not everyone will want to hear the truth, Because they spoke the truth, The Hebrew writer in Hebrews chapter 11 says that God’s prophets in the Old Testament, "WERE TORTURED, SOME FACED JEERS AND FLOGGING, WHILE OTHERS WERE THROWN INTO PRISON... THEY WERE STONED; THEY WERE SAWED IN TWO; THEY WERE PUT TO DEATH BY THE SWORD... THEY WENT ABOUT IN SHEEPSKINS AND GOATSKINS, DESTITUTE, PERSECUTED AND MISTREATED -- THEY WANDERED IN DESERTS AND MOUNTAINS, CAVES AND HOLES IN THE GROUND..."
In other words they had courage and stood up to the opposition.
Listen to what the people told the prophet Amos “THE LAND CAN’T BEAR GOD’S WORDS.. GET OUT OF HERE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND SPEAK WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE TELLING US.." (AMOS 8:11-13)
AND The tendency when we feel opposition, is to not speak the truth, to water it down... But Good leaders will speak the truth in spite of opposition... they will as Paul charged Timothy;
"PREACH THE WORD; IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON (WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR AND WHEN THEY DON’T) THEY WILL CORRECT, REBUKE, AND ENCOURAGE WITH GREAT PATIENCE AND CAREFUL INSTRUCTION. -- 2 TIMOTHY 4:2
If you are going to be a good leader - it is going to take courage, because you WILL face opposition.
2) Good Leaders Are Driven By Purpose
Leaders have to keep sight of the main thing...
They need to stay focus, keep the main thing the main thing.
They can not allow themselves to be distracted from their goal.
{Taj Mahal story)
What was Paul’s main thing, what is the purpose that he and all church leaders are to be led by? “...We are not trying you please men but God who tests our hearts.” The main thing for the Christian is pleasing God.
Leaders in the church, like Paul have been entrusted with the gospel by God.. They are stewards: of the good news, of the truth. AND they are responsible to God, and must seek to please him and not please men.
(“Happy New Year - so glad you have a church to work with. Just don’t tri to please everyone but God, for it can’t be done, Love Harry”)
There is always a strong temptation for leaders to please people.... Why? to be popular, to not make enemies, to not seem hateful and unloving, so people won’t get mad at them, to keep the peace and to keep their job....
And when we run around trying to please people we become like the guy spinning plates at the circus....
Does this principle of being focused as a leader apply t leadership outside the church? It sure does, Leaders at home and at work can allow themselves to become distracted (face it their are a lot of things to distract us - and thereby loose sight of the main thing. They can also spend too much time trying to please people.
Good leaders fix their eyes on their purpose, the keep the main thing the main thing. They do not allow themselves to lose sight of their goal.
LIKE HARRY TRUMAN SAID, IT ISN’T POLLS OR PUBLIC OPINION THAT COUNTS -- IT IS RIGHT AND WRONG, AND LEADERSHIP; MEN WITH FORTITUDE, HONESTY AND BELIEF ENOUGH IN THE RIGHT, TO DO IT...
3) Good Leaders Are People Of Integrity
Ever had to write a reference for someone that you are not too high on? Here is how to do it without comprising your integrity. To describe a person who is extremely lazy. “In my opinion, you will be very fortunate to get this person to work for you.” To describe a person who is totally inept, “I most enthusiastically recommend this candidate with no qualifications whatsoever.” To describe an ex-employee who had problems getting along with fellow workers, “I am pleased to say that this candidate is a former colleague of mine.”
On opening day of hunting season in one state, game wardens put a sign on a certain highway that read as follows, “Check station 1,000 yards” At 500 yards, there was a convenient side road. Lawful hunters went straight ahead. Over the limit and doubtful hunters took the side road, The check station? It was 500 yards down the side road.
“Armstrong” the boss said, “I happen to know that the reason you didn’t come to work yesterday was that you were playing golf.” “That’s a rotten lie!” Armstrong protested and I have the fish to prove it.”
Good leaders are people of integrity.
Paul said in verse 3 that he did not use flattery or wear a mask... Paul was not trying to trick or fool anyone. Paul let people see who he was....you didn’t have to figure out; who he really was, what he really was saying, -or- what it was he really believed...
Paul was a man of integrity... You knew where he stood and you knew, who he was...
To me integrity and good character go hand in hand... And there is a definite integrity void in our society... (Our nations leaders are leading the way in this lack of integrity).
Lack of integrity causes people to:
. To lie
. To say one thing & mean another
. to break commitments to their spouse, family, children, friends and to the Lord and His church.
Without integrity you never really know if you can believe what a person is saying, or if what they say, they will really do. So their word begins to mean nothing...
Jesus said let your yes be yes and your no, no.
IT’S INTEGRITY, THAT PREVENTS SOMEONE FROM ENTERING INTO A SHADY BUSINESS DEAL... IT’S INTEGRITY, THAT CAUSES SOMEONE TO EXPRESS THEIR SEXUALITY ONLY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF MARRIAGE... IT’S INTEGRITY THAT CAUSES A PERSON TO TELL THE TRUTH EVEN WHEN IT WILL COST HIM. AND IT’S INTEGRITY, THAT MAKES SOMEONE DO THE RIGHT THING INSTEAD OF THE EASY THING.....
“I lost millions of dollars last year. I lost all my endorsements for telling the truth about homosexuality. But father has a lot more than they could ever pay me.”
Good leaders are people of integrity...
4) Great Leaders Are People Who Care
It may seem odd that Paul in describing himself, in defining for us true leadership he would use the term mother.
But he did -- and we can learn much about leadership from it, let’s look at those verses again..... and see what the characteristics of a mother teach us about leadership...
2:7-9
NURSING;
The word used in this verse for caring actually means nursing. Good leaders nurture and care for the ones they are leading.
They are like mothers, mothers amaze me, how they care more about their children then themselves.
Let’s note something in regards to nursing, when a mother nurses her baby -- it is important for her to eat well -- to make sure she has the proper nutrition. And why is that? because what she eats is what her baby will eat.
One the most pitiful sights I have ever seen -- is those clips on TV of women in famine stricken countries desperately trying to nurse their babies; No matter how hard she tries and desires to fed her child unless she has taken in any thing to her body she can’t fed her baby...
You can’t give what you don’t have - therefore in order to fed others we must first take care of ourselves..
{airplane O2 & children)
In like manner, in the church the members fed off the leaders... And what her leaders eat spiritually, whether good or bad -- is what the church eats... And if the leaders of the church are not eating spiritually, if they are not in tune with God and His Word... If they do not have a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ -- like those mothers in a famine stricken land, no matter how much they desire to nourish the people they can’t -- they have nothing to give, they are spiritually dried up. Leaders, how is you spiritual diet?
Leaders, we can’t lead to where we haven’t been.
(Scary thought - will not rise above leaders)
SHARING OF LIFE
"WE LOVED YOU SO MUCH THAT WE DELIGHTED TO SHARE WITH YOU NOT ONLY THE GOSPEL OF GOD BUT OUR LIVES AS WELL BECAUSE YOU HAVE BECOME SO DEAR TO US..."
A mother not only teaches her kids about how to walk, to look both ways when crossing the street, how to eat at the table -- she not only teaches children facts (she is not only concerned about providing her child’s physical needs), but equally as important.. A good mother shares her life as well... She pours her heart and soul into her children -- BECAUSE SHE LOVES THEM SO MUCH..... she is involved deeply in their lives...
Likewise leaders, must be more than just teachers of facts, they must be involved in the lives of their people... it takes time, effort and can many times lead to disappointment -- But like Paul, when we love them "so much" -- we are willing do it.
People don’t care how much you know UNTIL they know you care.
A 3RD CHARACTERISTICS OF A MOTHER IS SHE EXPENDS GREAT ENERGY
If you don’t want to expend energy day and night -- if you are not desirous of a 24 hour a day job -- if you care more about yourself and your own comfort -- don’t apply for the job of motherhood. The work that mothers can do is truly amazing.
And like wise, it takes work to be a good leader -- it takes a lot of time and energy to get people from where they are to where they need to be.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT GOOD LEADERS ARE CARING LIKE MOTHERS.
5 Great Leaders Are Right With God
"YOU ARE WITNESSES AND SO IS GOD, OF HOW HOLY, RIGHTEOUS AND BLAMELESS WE WERE AMONG YOU WHO BELIEVED..."
Leaders are to be holy, righteous and blameless -- we have heard those terms many times before but what do they mean in a practical way.
The term righteousness; refers to one’s relationships with others -- leaders are to have proper relationships with others.... They are to treat others as Christ would treat them.
And the term blameless; refers to one’s public reputation... Leaders are to be known as an honest, sincere, kind and trustworthy individuals, not only by those inside the church, BUT by those outside the church... people they work with, live near....etc.
The term holy, refers to one’s personal relationship with God; leaders need a good relationship with God. They are to be right with God.
Did you know that before a New King was placed on the throne in Israel, a ceremony took place where the word of God was held over their head, to underscore the fact that God is the ultimate leader.
Why is it important for a leader to be right with God...
One reason is because being a leader is tough and we need all the help we can get.
How was Paul able to face opposition with courage? Where did he get the help he needed?
“WITH THE HELP OF GOD, we dared to tell you the gospel in spite of strong opposition...”
