Leadership for Christ

Ephesians 4:11-16

Introduction

1.      The Bible is the greatest book on leadership ever written

2.      Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Paul are some of the greatest leaders this world has ever seen

3.      Churches follow where their leaders take them – thus the importance of Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus; his remarks the Ephesian elders in Acts 20  

Discussion

1.      Every leader for Christ must first of all be a committed follower of Christ

a.       You cannot lead where you will not go – note the consistency of Jesus’ command in the great commission and his life while on earth

b.      You lead by doing, not by talking – It is not what you are “going to do” that counts, but what you are doing

c.       You lead when you commit your time

d.      You lead when you commit your money

e.       You lead when you commit yourself  

2.      Every leader must be humble

a.       Humility is forgetting self – Matt 5; Eph 4:1-2; Col 3:12

b.      Leading is not about what you receive, but what you give

c.       Leading is not about looking out for oneself, but about a concern for others

d.      Bad examples from the apostles:  Calling down fire on the Samaritans; seeking positions in the

coming kingdom, fleeing when Jesus was arrested  

3.      Every leader must be a student

a.       Inherent in the word “disciple”

b.      The Bible is worn, scriptures are committed to memory, answers have been found to the problems of the times

c.       Knowledge is gained through reading and interaction with others

d.      There books, magazines and other appropriate literature to be read

e.       There is an ongoing effort to keep abreast of current trends, exciting stories of growth and an effort to weed out the good from the bad  

4.      Every leader must be a self-starter

a.       Those who have to be told what to do will never lead until they change  

b.      Leaders have ideas and no how to move from ideas to implementation  

Conclusion

1.       We need mothers and fathers who will lead their families in spiritual matters

2.      We need young people who will lead their friends to Christ

3.      We need Christians who will lead this church in evangelism, in caring for one another, in teaching, in sacrificing

4.      We need Christians who will count the cost and step up to pay it – Luke 14:25-35