Commissioned to Serve: Integrity (Lesson 6)

Intro Text and Introduction

1 Cor 7:21-22 “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.”

NRSV - Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ.

2 Cor 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Last Wednesday we overviewed what Integrity is and that Servant Leadership requires:

that one be whole, undivided, and illuminate strong moral principles.

We touched first on Honesty.

1.) Honesty in who you are, which requires that your honest with yourself. This will make it easier for you to be truly authentic.

2.) Honest in your faith.

James 1:6-7 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

We must remain in faith for all things. Even when it gets tough and it seems like there’s no hope, Jesus is still there and we still have hope! While it may be a hope outside of this world.

Authenticity in Leadership - Authenticity in Fellowship

Let’s return to the thought of being honest with ourselves. We are not cookie cutter Christians.

C.S. Lewis in The Great Divorce describes how Christians become a more genuine version of themselves when they die out.

When we are filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost, we become more of who we are truly called to be. This means we keep our individuality and become a better individual at that.

Servant leadership does not mean that we must be miserable in order to love God, love people, and help build God’s Kingdom.

Will we have to sacrifice at times? Absolutely.

Does this mean you go around being miserable despising those who find happiness and joy, no.

For instance, when I walk into the Kingdom - I may enjoy something fun like basketball. I can find other people to play basketball with me within the church. That pleasure doesn’t have to be thrown out because basketball can be a simple thing in which I connect with others. In fact, it may open the door to witnessing within our community.

Extracurriculars can become a hinderance if we do not keep the flesh under subjection, but if enjoyed with temperance and moderation, they can be a great help in growing the Kingdom. Additionally, fellowship within the church is vital.

Often, we have face value fellowship and never bridge to meaningful conversations because we know people within the church at just that, face value. The Bible calls us to be Brothers and Sisters.

I can call Pastor Brother Noles because I truly know him as a Brother, but I, at the same time, recognize the authority he holds within my life as Pastor.

So the big take away here is having authentic fellowship. We should try to fellowship with all people, as we are to be missional. This may require one to do something that they don’t normally do such as fish or play tennis or go on a walk to win a soul. This does not, however, mean that you will automatically change your likes and dislikes.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE AUTHENTIC AND LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE DOING!

Authenticity in Leadership - Authenticity in Intelligence

Often, we identify intelligence with how well someone can recall information, understand complex material, or solve advanced problems. However, Academic studies have shown that there are four types of intelligence:

1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): this is the measure of your level of comprehension. You need IQ to solve mathematics, memorize things, and recall lessons.

2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): this is the measure of your ability to maintain peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, be honest, respect boundaries, be humble, genuine and considerate.

3. Social Quotient (SQ): this is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time.

4. The Adversity Quotient (AQ): The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life, and come out of it without losing your mind.

Schools typically focus on IQ and downplay EQ…this will not work in the church.

The Emotional Quotient is vital, as Jesus said in Matthew 5, “blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”.

If you call yourself a Christian, you ought to try and keep the peace. Too often, however, we are quick to anger.

Emotional Intelligence or more specifically empathy will help you to see how someone else feels. For instance, if I’m frustrated because know one shows up on time for my function as a ministry leader -

EI will enable me to think critically about why said people are late. I will be better equipped to handle the situation as I think through what may be keeping them from being on time:

kids

lack of transportation

ignorance

stubbornness - this may result in disciplinary action in order to adjust the behavior

While I do not claim to be a behavioral scientist, people get frustrated when they don’t get the results they’d like to see. They often do not think about the behavior they continually exhibit.

If you think the atmosphere set is caustic, what are you doing to change the atmosphere? Do you hold your tongue when necessary or do you lash out because you were agitated?

You may be saying this is all well and good, but you haven’t really talked about where the Bible talks of this other than Matthew 5. Let’s look at some scriptures:

Col 3:12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

Matt 7:12 “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

Empathy requires three main fruits - patience, longsuffering, and gentleness.

Gentleness (Gal 5:22) - χρηστότης - literally means to have the quality of being helpful, humane, or sympathetic.

Gentleness goes two ways (Leaders and Followers):

To the servant leader by having understanding of why volunteers fail. What you say or do needs to be helpful in growing the individual as a Christian.

Matt 12:36 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

The same Scripture can be flipped and used for the follower. Often, people get mad when conflict arises. There may be emotions that flare up because no one in this church is passionate about God or the things they do for God, right? Wrong!

From time to time we’re going to get upset with one another, but we’ve got to be willing to forgive. Further, we’ve got to avoid talking about one another for the sake of talking. Idol words don’t do the church much good but breed toxicity in the human spirit and open people up for the devils lies.

Authenticity in emotional intelligence requires that we learn how to listen and don’t jump to conclusions. In fact, it may mean letting something set for a while before responding. This is called wisdom because quick responses often lead to misconceptions and misunderstandings.

This is different for leaders, however, if they are trying to correct a behavior.

For instance, if I see people doing something during an Outreach Event that needs to be avoided, I’m going to correct that behavior quickly. The longer you allow a negative behavior to simmer, the more difficult it will be to correct said behavior.

Conclusion

Tonight we discussed being authentic in Fellowship and Emotional Intelligence. The Church needs more authentic Christians and less Christians trying to be someone they’re not. Additionally, we need leaders that empathize with people. Empathy will force you to grow in the fruit of love.

I would encourage you to read more on Authentic Leadership!

A few great books on this subject are:

Living and Leading in Ministry by Mark Jordan

(Not an Apostolic Author, but a good resource for authentic leadership)

Authentic Leadership - Dan Owolabi

Relational Authority: Authentic Leadership - Clay Nash

Next week, we will begin our lesson on Stewardship.