Wrong Model Of Leadership

Title: Inadequate Models for Leadership

Purpose: To motivate the church to abandon worldly models of leadership

Intro: 1. Most common metaphor use of Biblical leaders is that of the shepherd

a. Many people adopt versions of distorted wordly models for leadership

b. Many are not even aware of them

2. We will look at several distorted models for leadership:

I. Hired Hand

A. Jesus talks about this distorted model in John 10:12-13

B. Motivation of the Hired Hand is all wrong - Doesn’t have heart of a shepherd

1. He has no sense of personal responsibility

a. They are not HIS sheep

b. When the days work is done, he collects what he came for & leaves

c. In the church, he will not go out of his way to care for them

2. He cares for himself more than he does the sheep

a. To him, the sheep are a means to an end. (Paycheck)

b. It is not worth it for him to put himself at any personal risk for them

c. In the church he will not stick his neck out for the sheep

- Will not deal with hurts

- Will not deal with conflict

- Will not face up to those harassing the flock

3. Doesn’t really know the sheep

a. Why should he? They are not his

b. As long as he gets what he came for - his pay

c. He sees only a flock, not individual sheep

d. His service is marginal at best, or it may stink

C. ILL: Speaking of service

1. Have you noticed that service at stores and restaurants not what used to be

2. Go to a store

- People act like they don’t care

- “May I help you?” now an exception rather than the rule

- If you have a question or complaint - “I don’t know, I just work here”

3. So it is with the Hired Hand - "I just work here"

4. He is not there for the sheep but for some other reason

D. A hired hand is not a shepherd

1. He may do okay work, but he is still a hired hand and will run when danger comes

2. “Pastor” moves in (We call them preachers in our fellowship, but often it

is the same thing with a different name)

a. Not chosen from “among” the flock, is a stranger, a "hireling"

b. He may bail on you when things get rough

3. The Biblical example is a shepherd shepherding the sheep among you

He knows his sheep intimately.

II. The Cowboy

A. People all over the world fascinated with the cowboy

1. Tough as nails, wild and free

2. When I little, I had boots and western shirt. Went to a Dude ranch

3. Fort Worth Stockyards popular. People dress up and go to Billy Bobs

B. Even with all the fascination, it is not a Biblical model for leadership

1. Some think cowboy and shepherd similar, but they used to hate each other

2. Fundamental difference between a cowboy and shepherd

a. Cowboys drive cattle --- Shepherds lead their sheep

b. Cows run from voice of cowboy --- Sheep follow voice of shepherds

c. Cowboys brand their cattle --- Shepherd knows his sheep by sight

d. Cowboys crack a whip & wear spurs --- Shepherds gently care for

e. Cowboys use a prod -- Shepherds use their voice

f. Cowboys rope their cattle --- A shepherd carries his sheep

g. Cowboys concerned about herd --- Shepherd cares for each sheep

3. May be easier to keep people in line with cowboy method, but it falls short

4. But compare to Psalm 23 - Does not say “the Lord is my cattleman”

C. History: Constantine to Theodosius - "Enforced" Christianity

1. Beginning of corruption in the church

2. Half converted pagans

3. Commander would march entire armies through the river

4. Never truly following Christ

5. That’s the cowboy way --- but that is not God’s way

D. Success in leadership is knowing the difference between cornering people, and getting them into your corner

1. Jesus is the Good Shepherd - Never FORCED anyone to follow him

2. People were drawn to him and he led them by example

III. Sheriff

A. Use to watch the Western, could always tell who sheriff was - Had a badge

B. That’s the substance of this distorted model

1. The sheriff flashes a badge and carries a gun

a. He is an enforcer of the law

b. He don’t take nothing from nobody!!

c. He’s the law, what he says goes

d. He doesn’t ask if you like it, just demands that you do what he says

2. Even with all the apparent strengths of this model, it is still inadequate