Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO: How many of you would agree that leadership is necessary for the good of any society or group?

Yeah- we know it’s necessary and important.

We all want to have a good leader- a good president, a good teacher, a good boss, etc.

But Leadership can be scary.

Not many folks these days want to be a leader because along with leadership comes responsibility.

ILL: It’s kinda sad, but most of us can think of a time when we felt we needed to step up and lead in a situation, but were too scared to do it.

Either we felt unqualified or we didn’t want to put in the work.

As a result, often the person who ends up leading is not really the best choice and all the folks who allowed them to lead just sit around and criticize their poor leadership.

Truly what we want and what we need are Godly leaders.

Godly leaders don’t lead like those who are worldly.

Actually, Jesus made a statement to His disciples sharing that their leadership would be upside-down from the secular.

In our text this morning, we see the Apostle Paul responding to some who challenged his leadership.

Let me remind you of the context:

Paul has corrected this young church - rebuking them for sinful behaviors, holding them accountable to Christian values, and pushing them to be authentic and faithful.

In the last couple chapters, we’ve looked specifically at the financial stewardship of the church.

No doubt, some of these messages have been challenging.

After all, when we talk about our finances, things tend to get rather personal.

And so, naturally, the response to Paul’s messages which called for generous living, sincerity in giving, and investing in the future - likely struck a chord.

So what we find is an attack upon Paul’s character by some in Corinth.

You see, Paul was pretty bold in his writings- he did not want his recipients to walk away wondering what he meant.

His letters were clear and straight-forward.

However, Paul was not exactly the picture of strength in person.

He was meek.

I imagine that he spent a good deal of time listening and observing - he was kind and patient with these folks.

He probably didn’t go around yelling at them or beating them into shape with a whip.

So, was this an indication that Paul was not really serious about his leadership?

No, of course not!

Paul explains in v. 1 that he was imitating Christ- He who washed the feet of His disciples, sat at the table with sinners and graciously extended forgiveness and life to those who were far from Godly.

And in the paragraphs to follow, Paul defends his character and role.

But as he does, he lays out 3 distinguishing marks of a Godly leader.

These certainly pertain to the role of pastor, but I believe we can broaden that focus to each of us.

Why?

Because in some respects, we are all called to be Godly leaders and to subject ourselves to Godly leadership.

Remember Jesus telling of the parable of talents?

Some of us may be given only a few leadership roles- perhaps in our homes as spouses, parents, older siblings… maybe within our friend groups or even on social media.

Others are given leadership roles that include overseeing employees, teaching a SS class, leading a ministry program, or being a deacon, and others still are called to pastor or lead in another positional role.

So, as we walk through these marks of a Godly leader, my hope is that we will aspire to have our lives marked by these things.

If you picked up a bulletin, I invite you to make use of the sermon guide and discussion questions.

Let’s jump in together and learn the “Distinguishing Marks of a Godly Leader”.

We begin by observing

Godly Leaders are Defended in their Calling (3-6)

This might sound odd, so bear with me as we read verses 3-6 again (READ)

Paul is explaining that those whom God has placed in leadership are there for God’s purpose.

They are not there for their own egos or some worldly agenda.

And, when that person gives instruction, he gives it in accordance to God’s holiness.

Thus, to ignore or reject their leadership is to ignore or reject God.

And when we ignore or reject God, we place ourselves as enemies of the Most High.

Paul basically says, “I know I’m human, but I don’t have to fight like man does.

Why?

Because God fights my battles for me.”

You’ve heard of heavy artillery, here we see Paul telling us that Godly leaders have heavenly artillery!

Godly leaders are leaning on Jesus- and Scripture reminds us that there is nothing too difficult for Him!!

Some of Paul’s critics were being swayed by those who claimed to have a special knowledge- gnostics.

Paul states that these speculations and attacks will not stand, but will instead be destroyed.

(5) Paul was not going to fall into their trap- as the writer of Proverbs reminds us

Let me give you a few Biblical examples where God took action against those who rebelled against Godly leaders:

In Numbers 16, we read of a fellow named Korah who tried to lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron.

Moses tried to reason with Him, but Korah was insistent- he did not want to be under Moses’ rule.

Long story made short- God causes the ground to open up underneath Korah and all his clan and they were swallowed by the earth.

In Acts 5, a couple sold some property and lied to Peter about what they had done, being greedy.

He lied and he died.

Then his wife came in a few hours later telling the same story, and she dropped dead herself.

What we see here is the principle which the wise Pharisee Gamaliel stated in

Here’s the point:

The Godly leader has subjected himself to God (5), taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and will stand with divine reinforcements calling those under his care to obedience.

(6)

Now, as we think about how this applies, I doubt any of you are plotting a rebellion in the church… if so, I pray these verses cause you to rethink that, but instead I want to encourage you in your striving to be a Godly leader.

It will be hard to stand upon God’s principles in an ever-secularizing world.

There will be days and perhaps even years of hardship and persecution but listen - GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!!

His word will never fail!

His promises are sure!

The war has already been won, so stand tall, knowing that:

Discuss: How does God fight for us?

Godly Leaders are defended in their calling.

Next, we see that:

Godly Leaders Are Confident in their Calling (7-11)

Let’s read verses 7-11 again.

(READ)

Paul’s critics were using worldly values in order to push against Paul’s instruction.

They thought, “Paul looks weak physically, therefore he is probably weak spiritually.”

Oh, but let me remind you of King David.

When Samuel came to anoint the man God would have be the king, it was not physical stature that was considered, but the heart of David which God regarded.

Paul tells the Corinthians, “Hey guys, I’m confident in God’s call on my life and the authority that He entrusted to me.”

Paul could be bold in His letters and in his teaching because it was God’s authority on which he stood!

The Lord called him; gave him authority, and so long as He proclaimed God’s Word, there was no reason not to be confident.

The authority granted a godly leader is given in order to build up the church, not for dividing or destroying it.

- That’s true for me and for you, friends.

Paul’s letters were not intended to scare people into obedience.

They were meant to point them to the holiness of God and our biblical response to Him.

That is my aim as well.

I don’t preach in order to beat you up or intimidate you.

But I am confident that God has called me to proclaim His Word and to point you to the holiness of our Lord.

Are you confident in God’s call on your life?

Let us start with what we know.

Jesus, speaking in Mat.

28:18-20, issued what we know as the Great Commission.

This is a call for God’s people to take God’s message and lead others to be closer to Jesus!

Mark Dever of 9 Marks said, that - We must realize that one of our main roles as a Christian is to help others grow in their faith.

That is making disciples; that is godly leadership!

(Discipleship is leadership)

You don’t have to wonder about that!