What It Means To Be A Committed Leader

What It Means to be a Committed Leader

I Corinthians 3:5-6

This past week I received the following “Christian One Liners” in an e-mail.

Don’t let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited

until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn’t create anything

without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there.

People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:

1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given.

This morning we are showing our appreciation for the teaching staff of our Christian School. We are also saying “thank you” to all who serve in any volunteer capacity in the various ministries of the Willow Vale Community Church. You are greatly appreciated. All who actively serve others are involved in ministry.

I Corinthians 3:5-6, (TEV)“We are simply God’s servants…Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow.” We when we faithfully do our best in serving the Lord the Lord blesses and gives the increase.

Ephesians 2:10 (LB) “It is God himself who has made us what we are and gives us new lives from Christ Jesus’ and long ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.” God created each of us what His purpose in mind. His purpose is that we serve the Lord.

We are not saved by the services we provide, we are saved to serve. We don’t serve God out of guilt or try to work out our salvation,; we serve out of joy and gratitude for all that Jesus has done for us.

Everyone who makes themselves available to serve is a committed leader.

I Corinthians 1:10 (Message) “Because of God’s great mercy…offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service.” The Bible teaches that every person who is following Jesus is called to be a minister. We are saved to serve and not just sit around waiting for heaven.

Pastor Rick Warren writes in the best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, “If I have no love for others, no desire to serve others, I should questions whether Christ is really in my life.”

There are no insignificant ministries in the church. Every person serving in the church makes up a network of volunteers for Jesus. Each person is dependent on others in the network doing their job. Some of the ministry jobs are visible but most are hidden and behind the scenes. All are important to the health and vitality of the local church.

The committed leaders following Jesus stops asking, “Who’s going to meet my needs?” and starts asking, “Whose need can I meet?”

The Bible teaches that a day is coming when we will all give an account: How much time and energy we spend on ourselves compared with what we invest in serving others? God is more interested in how you live not how long you live.

God uses imperfect people to fulfill His purposes on earth. Throughout history God has used imperfect people.

Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was not attractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was from a poor family, Sampson was codependent, David had all kinds of family problems, Elijah was deeply depressed, Jonah was reluctant, John the Baptist was eccentric, Martha was a perfectionist and worried a lot, Peter was impulsive and hot tempered. Paul was sickly, and Timothy was timid. Regardless of their imperfections God used each of them in His service. God can use you also.

Romans 12:1, (Message) “So here’s what I want you to do. God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life --- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life---and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”

The most important thing in finding a place of service is finding a ministry job that best fits you. There are many spiritual gift tests and inventories. I personally like the guidance that Pastor Rick Warren gives in the Purpose Driven Life. He uses the word SHAPE to guide you in finding your place to serve.