6.2.38 8.27.2023 Ship Shape! Leadership Galatians 5.18-26 Romans 12.3-8 Titus 1.5-10

Start:

Entice: Every fall we appoint leaders for the next year. Our congregation is so richly blessed with qualified, capable leaders that we don’t spend a lot of time reflecting on the qualifications. It Just seems like overkill. However, since we are getting other parts of the Church “ship-shape” let’s spend some time considering what the NT says about church leaders.

Engage: One matter for consideration is the vast difference between what the world often means by good leadership and what the Bible teaches.

Business leaders are judged by profits.

Coaches are judged by victories.

Educators are judged by the development of their students.

Politicians are (or should be) judged by legislation passed.

These expectations are largely a matter of qualifications-is the person able to do the job well? Additionally, we expect leaders to exhibit certain character traits. We want all leaders to be basically honest and trustworthy.

Expand: When we discuss the NT expectations for leadership, we find a balance between qualities and qualifications. Leaders should be balanced people. They live a “ship-shape” life so that they can keep the Church “ship-shape.”

Excite: The Church works best when its leaders

consistently reflect Christ

and

demonstrate

the truthfulness

of the Gospel.

Explore:

Church leaders are Christians first, whose leadership displays God’s work in their lives.

Expand: Three basic questions we should ask of our leaders…

Body of Sermon:

1 Are they Fruitful?

Galatians 5:18–26 ESV

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

2 Are they Capable?

Romans 12:3–8 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

2.1 Have they identified their gift?

2.2 Are they using them appropriately to build the Church?

3 Are they Stable?

Titus 1:5–10 ESV

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.

3.1 Not a checklist.

3.2 Less a matter of “qualifications” than it is of “qualities”. Elders and deacons are persons who are stable in their approach to life. They don’t get too high and mighty, and they don’t “go low”.

Shut Down

Today I am blessed to be preaching a message that largely describes our own leaders. We are very fortunate! What of the future? How do we create a new generation of leaders? I have some suggestions.

We need to be fruit inspectors not critics, helping younger Christians to cultivate and harvest the fruit of the Spirit.

We need to help identify the Spiritual gifts bestowed on younger Christians for this congregation and the Church at large.

We need to help individuals to lead a stable life based upon the principles of the Gospel.

We are not given Spiritual gifts for ourselves, but for the Church. Like a boat the Church needs good officers and seamen to be Ship-shape. The best way to begin is for every one of us to follow the lead of Jesus, Captain of our salvation. In following Him we each become the best version of ourselves possible.