Follow the Leader

5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

6 Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.

7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

8 You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.

9 Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.

10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.

11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.

12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

15 For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.

16 So I urge you to imitate me.

17 That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again.

19 But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power.

20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

21 Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?

INTRODUCTION:

I- LEADERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. (1 Corinthians 4:1-7)

1 Corinthians 4:1–7 (NLT)

1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.

2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.

4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

A- Leaders are accountable for specific tasks that they are assigned. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (NLT)

1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries.

2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.

4:1 Οὕτως ἡμᾶς λογιζέσθω ἄνθρωπος ὡς ὑπηρέτας Χριστοῦ καὶ οἰκονόμους μυστηρίων θεοῦ.

2 ὧδε λοιπὸν ζητεῖται ἐν τοῖς οἰκονόμοις ἵνα πιστός τις εὑρεθῇ.

1- Called to be servants (v. 1a)

a- People should see them as servants of Christ, where servants is not the word used in 3:5 (διάκονοs), but ὑπηρέτας (which Paul uses only here). It meant originally an ‘underrower’, i.e. one who rowed in the lower part of a large ship. From this it came to signify service in general, though generally service of a lowly kind (‘subordinates’, neb), and subject to direction.

The New Testament presents the idea that we should all be servants of God and others.

Jesus set the example when he washed the disciples’ feet. (John 13:1-15)

John 13:1–15 (NLT)

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.

2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.

4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,

5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”

11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?

13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.

14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

Jesus set the example for serving. (Mark 10:45)

Mark 10:45 (NLT)

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

2- Put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries-

(The preachers are also those entrusted with the secret things of God. Those entrusted with translates οἰκονόμους, a term which refers to the person who supervised a large estate.

(Romans 14:12-13)

Romans 14:12–13 (NLT)

12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

3- The standard is faithfulness.

Greek πιστός = faithful, trustworthy

B- Leaders are accountable to God for carrying out their assigned tasks. (1 Corinthians 4:3-7)

1 Corinthians 4:3–7 (NLT)

3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.

4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

1- The God-called leader is not to focus on pleasing people. (1 Corinthians 4:3a)

1 Corinthians 4:3 (NLT)

As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.

a- Paul was not concerned with the Corinthians' evaluation of him.

ἀνακριθῶ= Strictly it means not final judgment, but the critical preliminary examination that leads up to that judgment (Moffatt, ‘cross-question’). Paul is not interested in any preliminary human sifting; he prefers to await the Judge.

2- The God-called leader is not to focus on pleasing self. (1 Corinthians 4:3b-4a)

1 Corinthians 4:3b–4 (NLT)

My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

(Romans 2:15)

Romans 2:15 (NLT)

15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

(1 Timothy 4:1-2)

1 Timothy 4:1–2 (NLT)

1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

3- The God-called leader is to focus on his accountability to God. (1 Corinthians 4:4b-7)

1 Corinthians 4:4b–7 (NLT)

7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

II- LEADERS LIVE UNDER THE SCRUTINY OF THE WORLD. (1 Corinthians 4:8-13)

1 Corinthians 4:8–13 (NLT)

10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.

11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.

12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.

A- Leaders are many times under appreciated and unjustly criticized. (1 Corinthians 4:8)

1 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT)

You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.

1- The temptation toward spiritual pride is a dangerous path to follow.

a- Notice the spiritual pride of the Corinthians believers:

(1) “You think you already have everything you need”

κορεννυμι= to satiate, to satisfy

Like the Israelites

(Deut. 31:20)

For I will bring them into the land I swore to give their ancestors—a land flowing with milk and honey. There they will become prosperous, eat all the food they want, and become fat. But they will begin to worship other gods; they will despise me and break my covenant.

(Deut. 32:15)

“But Israel soon became fat and unruly;

the people grew heavy, plump, and stuffed!

Then they abandoned the God who had made them;

they made light of the Rock of their salvation.

(2) “You think you are already rich.”

(3) “You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us!”

Like the Laodicean Church

(Revelation 3:17)

You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

b- Notice the reality:

(1) I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.”

Implied in the text is “but you are not!”

2- Scriptures warn us to reject the path of spiritual pride.

(Proverbs 16:18)

Pride goes before destruction,

and haughtiness before a fall.

(Romans 12:3)

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

3- Scriptures warn us to humbly submit to the biblical teaching of Godly leaders.

(Hebrews 13:7)

Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

B- Leaders are set-up as spectacles to the lost world. (1 Corinthians 4:9)

Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.

1- Leaders are under the scrutiny of the world.

a- Paul confessed that he felt that God had put the apostles (leaders) on open display, like prisoners of war that were paraded in a victor’s parade before execution.

2- Leaders don’t need the criticism of Christians, but their encouragement.

a- The scriptures instruct us to encourage Godly leaders.

(Hebrews 13:17)

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

C- Leaders are sometimes mistreated while responding in a Christlike spirit. (1 Corinthians 4:10-13)

10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.

11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.

12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash —right up to the present moment.

1- Notice the contrast between the Corinthians and the apostles (leaders):

a- The apostles (leaders)- because of their dedication to Christ:

Considered fools

Considered weak

Ridiculed

b- The Corinthians considered themselves

Wise

powerful

honored

2- In order to fulfill God’s call to proclaim the Gospel, leaders sometimes endure:

Lack of basic necessities (1 Corinthians 4:11)

1 Corinthians 4:11 (NLT)

Even now we go hungry (πεινωμεν) and thirsty (διψωμεν), and we don’t have enough clothes (γυμνιτευομεν) to keep warm. We are often beaten (κολαφιζομεθα) and have no home (ἀστατουμεν).

Extensive labor (1 Corinthians 4:12a)

1 Corinthians 4:12a (NLT)

We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living.

(Acts 20:34)

Acts 20:34 (NLT)

You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.

Mistreatment in spite of expressing Godly attitudes. (1 Corinthians 4:12b-13)

1 Corinthians 4:12b–13 (NLT)

12b We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage , like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.

III- LEADERS ARE SENT BY CHRIST TO LEAD THE CHURCH. (1 Corinthians 4:14-16)

1 Corinthians 4:14–16 (NLT)

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.

15 For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.

16 So I urge you to imitate me.

A- Leaders are sent by Christ to lead through instruction as a father does his children. (1 Corinthians 4:14-15)

1 Corinthians 4:14–15 (NLT)

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children (τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ).

15 For even if you had ten thousand (μυρίους) others (παιδαγωγοὺς ) to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father (πατέρας). For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.

14 Οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς γράφω ταῦτα, ἀλλʼ ὡς τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶν·

15 ἐὰν γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν Χριστῷ, ἀλλʼ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας, ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα.

1- Godly leaders put their hearts and lives on the line to care for the church.

a- Doing God’s work sometimes involves difficult situations.

(2 Timothy 4:2-3)

2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

b- Investing in the lives of others mandates that the leader open his heart in love to his people.

(2 Corinthians 6:11)

Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.

(1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

1 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (NLT)

7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.

8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

B- Leaders are sent by Christ to lead through living an imitatable example for those he leads. (1 Corinthians 4:16)

1 Corinthians 4:16 (NLT)

So I urge you to imitate me.

1- Leaders are to live lives worthy or emulation.

2- Christians should choose the right examples to follow.

IV- LEADERS ARE TO OPERATE IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (1 Corinthians 4:17-21)

1 Corinthians 4:17–21 (NLT)

17 That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again.

19 But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power.

20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

21 Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?

A- Leaders who operate in the power of the Holy Spirit follow Christ and teach others to do so. (1Corinthians 4:17)

1 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)

That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

1- It is interesting what Paul says Timothy is going to remind them.

a. He is going to remind them how Paul follows Christ.

b. He is going to remind them that Paul lives what he teaches in the churches.

2- The primary test of any leader is this: Do they follow Christ?

a. When you look at their lives, are they seeking to follow Jesus in every area of life.

b. When you look at their lives, are they seeking to influence and teach others to follow Christ and are they seeking to live out what they preach and teach?

c. Are these leaders seeking to get people to follow them or follow Jesus?

Paul is a positive example of this principle.

Paul’s warning about bad leaders (Acts 20:28-30)

Acts 20:28–30 (NLT)

28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.

29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.

30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.

B- Leaders who operate in the power of the Holy Spirit are readily recognised. (1 Corinthians 4:18-21)

1 Corinthians 4:18–21 (NLT)

18 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again.

19 But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power.

20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

21 Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?

1- Genuine godly leaders work in the power of the Holy Spirit.

2- It is easy to claim to be God’s spokesman.

3- We must always put claims to the test.

a. Paul gives us some pointers to help us:

Do they follow Christ or promote self?

Do they teach people to follow Jesus or follow them?

Do their words and their deeds line up?

Is there evidence that they operate in the power of the Holy Spirit or are they operating in the flesh?

(see Galatians 5:16-26)

Galatians 5:16–26 (NLT)

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,

21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

CONCLUSION:

Hymn : “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go”

By B.B. McKinney

Take up thy cross and follow me I heard my Master say "I gave my life to ransom thee Surrender your all today"

Wherever He leads, I'll go Wherever He leads, I'll go I'll follow my Christ who loves me so Wherever He leads, I'll go

He drew me closer to His side I sought His will to know And in that will, I now abide Wherever He leads, I'll go

Wherever He leads, I'll go Wherever He leads, I'll go I'll follow my Christ who loves me so Wherever He leads, I'll go

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