Leading The Way

"And He spoke a parable to them: Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? (Luke 6:39)

 As Christians, what kind of examples are we setting? And if we are in Christian leadership, what kind of an example are we setting for those who are under our care?

The world can rub off on us so easily if we let it. Pride, arrogance, jealousy, and selfishness, can show their ugly heads so strongly.

To be a Christian is to be like Christ. To take on His character, and His compassion for people. I have heard other Christian leaders say: "You cannot lead someone to a place, you have never been." You are one who is blind leading those who are blind.

The world needs to see Christ. If they are not seeing Him in us, what are they seeing? I would be most bold to say, that they are seeing the world, and all of it's deceitful and destructive ways. In the church we try to show a spirit of prominence and prestige. We look for opportunities to promote ourselves, and we neglect the needs of others. Let the lime light shine on us, while others sit in the darkness of despair.

To help those who are headed towards the ditches of this world, is to have a sturdy hand on the truth of God's Word; and a humble hand of outreach, stretched forward to those who are blind in this world.

Others are looking at our lives, and our attitudes. If we are not the beacons God wants us to be, where will people end up for eternity?
He is counting on us to shine for His Son Jesus Christ. This is where the truth is, and this is where the hope is, for today, and for all eternity. GP

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The Test Of A Christian Leader

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28)

Christian leadership always demands self-examination. As the saying goes:
"You cannot lead someone to a place you have never been." 

To be a strong Christian leader of the Church, one must always, examine his/her heart and life, to see just where they are, in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Because it starts there. The more we know the Lord Jesus Christ, and the closer we get to Him, the more we will be like Him, in character, and wisdom. The more we are like Jesus Christ, the better we will be, in leading people to Him, and helping them to maintain a strong relationship with Him.

When we look at how the Lord Jesus works in us, and through us, we see how we are to deal with those who are under our care. Too often we deal with people in our own wisdom, and in our own interests. Jesus looked at people with a heart of humility, and compassion. He tried to look through the eyes of those He was ministering to.

To answer the questions: What are the needs of this person? How can I be a help to this person spiritually and physically? How can I (Like the Lord) make a difference in that person's life? Too me, this is the test of a Christian leader. And we are to test ourselves first, before we take the shepherd's test.

Our desire should be,to be the best that we can be, so that we will provide the best care for those who are looking to us, for their spiritual growth. GP

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The Affect Of Leadership

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;" 
(Ephesians 4:11-12)

 Too often, because church leadership does not have a grip on their purpose, the church will not have a grip on it's purpose.

The Lord gave some the abilities to provide spiritual leadership (mentioned in our text) for the two-fold purpose of: To equip the saints for the work of evangelism, and secondly: to build up the body of Christ.

In order to accomplish this, there are two negative attitudes that must be done away with. The first is pride, and the other is selfishness.
These two attitudes are the devil's greatest tools for division and destruction of The Lord's church.

 Church leaders today, must have an attitude of humility, and the desire to minister to others. Their roles are not positions of power and pristige, but that of ministry. If it is true that a church will not grow beyond the affect, and workings of leadership, than it is vital that church leadership, always have the interests of the congregation be the main focus of their efforts.

The main concern of the Shepherd, is the care of his sheep! GP

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The Church Board Meeting

"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) 

What happens at church board meetings?

 In the 41 years I have been in the pastoral ministry, I figured that I have (on the average) attended 600 church board meetings.
Some have been very productive, and some very disturbing.

Too often what board members focus on during church board meetings, is the up-keep, and maintenance of the church building, along with other small issues. I am not saying that these things should not be brought to the table.
But I feel that the Apostle Paul in our text, gives us what should be the priority matter at church board meetings.

We are to concern ourselves with the flock of God. To answer these questions: How are we as a church doing spiritually? How can we do a better job as elders and deacons, along with the pastor, to minister to the needs of the congregation? Are their certain members of the congregation, who are struggling, and need our attention?  After all that is the responsibility that the Lord gave us as spiritual leaders.

As Paul said, Jesus bought the church with His own blood. With this understanding, how can we as spiritual leaders, put aside the work of caring for the Lord's church, by always focusing on the miner matters at hand? GP

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Take Heed To Yourselves

"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20: 28) 

This verse is apart of the Apostle Paul's final words to the elders at Ephesus. In his talk with them, he gives them instruction and encouragement.

Spiritual leaders (such as elders, deacons, teachers, pastors, counselors etc.) must always take heed to themselves, because they are setting an example for the church to follow.

In 1 Timothy 3:1-16, the Apostle Paul lays out the qualifications of for an elder, a deacon, and their wives. These spiritual leaders have a responsibility to desire the work they are called to, and to be faithful in being. and doing, what God expects of them.. As the saying goes: "You cannot lead someone to a place you have never been." Leaders must lead in the path to, and in, Jesus Christ. They must be examples of Christ-like character, and lifestyle.

Children imitate their parents. In the Church, these people who are in spiritual leadership, are our spiritual parents, in Christ. We are to look up to them, and imitate their example in Christ.  Spiritual leadership is not to be a place, of prominence, prestige, or power. It is a place of service. They are to take heed to themselves, because they are overseers of the souls, of those who are apart of the family of God, who Jesus gave His life for. GP

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Leadership That Love

"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) 

These are just part of the words of encouragement that the Apostle Paul gave the elders of the church in Ephesus. When you read vv. 17-38 you can feel the love that Paul had for these men.

He encouraged them as shepherds of the flock in Ephesus to pay attention to themselves. To be careful not to exhibit dominating or dictatorial attitudes and actions towards the church, (in which Jesus loved, and gave His life for). They are to be loving overseers of the church.

Today, we find those in spiritual leadership, (such as pastors, elders, deacons, teachers), using people as a platform to promote themselves. They get very impatient, and up in arms, when the people do not comply with their every direction.

It is one thing to be authoritative, and another, to be dictatorial.
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was a "Servant Leader" He stated that His purpose for coming into this world, was to serve mankind.

When leadership loves, like Jesus, what a difference it will make in the Church! GP

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