OceanSide church of Christ

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LEADERSHIP IS…

Victor M. Eskew

INTRODUCTION

A.             Leaders are absolutely essential in all aspects of life.

B.              God knows this and His Word speaks of leadership in many places:  the church, the home, society.

C.              Many people are leaders, and they do not fully comprehend that fact.

1.                Parents.

2.                Teachers of children.

3.                The elderly.

4.                Members of the church whose personality and knowledge and compassion for others enables them to have an influence.

D.             Not all leaders, both professed and unprofessed, fulfill the essentials of leadership.

E.              In this lesson, we want to remind us of these essentials.  We’ve entitled the lesson, “Leadership Is…”

I.        LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF COMMITMENT.

A.             A leader is one who pledges and obligates himself to a group of people and to a course of action.

1.                The group can be small or large.

2.                The course of action, however, is almost always great (See Heb. 13:17).

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:  for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account…

B.              Most rational, humble people feel overwhelmed by the task (Moses, Exo. 3:10-11).

Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children ofIsrael out of Egypt.  And Moses said unto God, Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

C.              Leaders choose to obligate themselves to their followers and they accept the obligations and responsibilities of their position.  True leaders “man up.”

II.      LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF AUTHENTICITY.

A.             Yes, character is very important for a leader.

B.              A leader must be genuine, real, authentic, and bonafide.

1.                Note:  We are not talking about perfection.

2.                We are talking about talking the talk and walking the walk.

C.              Some want the position, but they do not want the post.

Some want the title, but they do not want the toil.

Some want the office, but they do not want the obligations.

D.             The contrast between Saul and David.

1.                Saul ceased to be little in his own eyes.

2.                David remained a man after God’s own heart.

E.              Paul’s leadership was authentic.  He could always call upon his followers to testify to his genuineness (I Thess. 2:10-12).

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:  as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

III.     LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF SERVICE.

A.             Every leader is called to a task, a work (I Tim. 3:1).

This is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

B.              Basically, the work involves service to others.  Jesus taught this to His apostles in the upper room when He washed their feet (John 13:14-15).

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1.                Jesus’ act was a common, useful service for those in His day.  Wearing only sandals, the feet would often get dirty from walking.

2.                We are not being called to literally wash feet.  Leaders are being called to render common, useful acts of service to their followers.

IV.     LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF RELATIONSHIPS.

A.             The leader has individuals behind him who are following.

1.                Each one of these individuals is different.

2.                Each one has different needs.

B.              To truly serve them, the leader must get to know them.  He must have close relationships with them.

C.              In John 10, Jesus describes His relationship with His people.  He describes it with the figure of a shepherd and a sheepfold.

1.         In John 10:11, He states:  I am the good shepherd.

2.         He was the leader.  As the shepherd, He knew each one of His sheep.

            a.         He is able to call them by name (John 10:2-3).

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice:  and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

                                    b.         In verse 14, He states that He knows His sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

D.             A good leader will get close to his followers.  He will talk to them, visit with them, help them, and teach them.

V.       LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF EXAMPLE.

A.             The eyes of the followers are always on the leader.  They watch him because they believe that he knows what he is doing and where he is going.

B.              Leaders do not just point to the way; they show the way by the kind of life they live.  The quickest way for a leader to lose his influence is by failing to lead by example.

C.              Examples.

1.                We have already seen Jesus leading by example.  He specifically said:  I have given you an example (John 13:15).

2.                Paul offered himself up as an example to his followers.

a.         I Corinthians 11:1.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

                                    b.         Philippians 4:9.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received and heard, and seen in me, do:  and the God of peace shall be with you.

3.                Paul also exhorted Timothy to be an example of the believers (I Tim. 4:12).

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

VI.     LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF EQUITY.

A.             A leader deals with a fair hand to every person.

1.                He is not influenced by any ties, including blood-kin.

2.                He is not one who can be diverted from justice by money and power.

B.              James 2:9.

Be if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

C.              There are several areas where this can be difficult.

1.                When one needs to be confronted about low performance.

2.                When one needs to be disciplined due to sin.

3.                When one must render assistance to another.

4.                When one is being considered for a certain position.

D.             Paul sets the standard for us when he wrote to Timothy in I Timothy 5:19-20.

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

1.                The preacher-elder relationship should be a close relationship (See Acts 20:17-38).

2.                It is also a relationship that impacts the preacher’s employment.

3.                Yet, when elders sin and that sin is confirmed by two or three witnesses, they much be rebuked.

4.                This must be observed without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

CONCLUSION

A.             Every leadership position comes with a title.  Leadership, however, is not about a title.  To call a man something does not make him that thing.

B.              Leadership is about how one acts and how one is perceived by those he leads.

1.         It is a matter of commitment.         2.         It is a matter of authenticity.

3.         It is a matter of service.                  4.         It is a matter of relationships.

5.         It is a matter of example.                6.         It is a matter of equity.

LEADERSHIP IS…

Victor M. Eskew

INTRODUCTION

A.             Leadership is ___________ is all aspects of life.

B.              Many people are leaders in the church and do not _________ it.

C.              Some do not fulfill the ____________ of leadership.

I.        LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF ____________________

A.             Definition:________________________________________

B.              Most rational leaders will be ___________ by the task (Exo. 3:10-11).

II.      LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF _____________________

A.             ____________ does matter.

B.              Definition:  _______________________________________

C.              The Bible contrasts king ____________ and king ___________.

D.             I Thessalonians 2:10-12.

III.     LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF ______________________

A.             Every leader has a __________ that must be done (I Tim. 3:1).

B.              Jesus taught His disciples ___________ when He washed their feet (John 13:14-15).

IV.     LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF ______________________

A.             Every leader has _____________ behind him.

B.              To serve them, the leaders must get to __________ them.

C.              Jesus taught this in John 10 in the figure of a _________ and his __________.

V.       LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF ______________________

A.             The _________ of the followers are on the leader.

B.              Leaders do not just ________ the way; they _______ the way.

C.              Three leaders who were examples.

1.                ____________ (John 13:15).

2.                ____________ (I Cor. 11:1; Phil. 4:9).

3.                ____________ (I Tim. 4:12).

VI.     LEADERSHIP IS A MATTER OF _____________________

A.             A leader is __________ to every person.

B.              James 2:_______.

C.              Paul set them standard for equity when he wrote to _________ (I Tim. 5:19-20).

CONCLUSION

A.             Leadership positions come with a _________, but it is not important.

B.              Leadership is about how one _________ as a leader.