Most Likely To... Week 4

Great leaders follow God’s lead.

[INTRODUCTION]

Welcome to our final week of Most Likely To . . . , through which we have been discovering ways to become great leaders.

As you dream of being a leader, you have so many possibilities, which is exciting. At the same time, moving forward can bring up a lot of uncertainty.

You may feel this immense pressure to know what you're doing with your life, but what if you still feel like you're figuring it out? What if, as you transition into whatever is next, you need help?

I imagine a lot of us have been there before.

Have you ever been in a new situation and needed someone to show you around? What was it like to follow?

Have you ever been the person showing someone around or teaching them something new? What was that like?

[TRANSITION]

There is a letter written to a community of people in the Early Church who were also in transition.

They knew they were supposed to lead but that they needed help.

Let's take a look and see how they navigated their transition.

[TRANSITION]

When the church began, people were starting to follow Jesus for the first time, which was changing not only what they believed but also the places where they found community and how they interacted with their friends and family.

For early followers of Jesus, almost everything felt like it was changing. The ground was shifting beneath their feet, and they didn't understand what was next for them.

In addition, the people in power were making it hard for this community by using pretty harsh tactics to discourage people from following Jesus.

Paul, the church leader we talked about last week and one of the founders of the Early Church, wrote a few letters to a small church in modern-day Greece to encourage people through all of the changes and challenges.

1 Thessalonians 1:2–9 (CSB)

2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. 3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit, 6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. 7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

Paul started his letter by thanking these people for being such inspirational leaders.

He reminded them of something he saw them doing well.

Even though things were hard for them, this community was an example and led the surrounding cities in what it meant to follow God.

Paul helped them remember that even though they were following Jesus, at some point, they used to worship false idols.

He did this to remind them of the Holy Spirit's impact on their lives.

Because of this, they made a difference in those around them, causing people in neighboring cities to follow Jesus as well.

They did this all as they were being persecuted for their faith.

Their faith grew deeply amid this transition and hardship and showed them how to be leaders and follow God's lead at the same time.

[TRANSITION]

Learning to follow wasn't a new idea to the Early Church, as it goes way back.

We see it in Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible.

Many people at this time, including the Early Church communities, would have looked to it for inspiration on how to be people who not only lead others but also who learn how to follow God's lead.

As you read, circle or underline words that stick out to you. Think about the things that stuck out to you. Pay attention to action words such as "delight," "meditate," or "declare".

Psalm 119:9–18 (CSB)

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping your word.

10 I have sought you with all my heart;

don’t let me wander from your commands.

11 I have treasured your word in my heart

so that I may not sin against you.

12 Lord, may you be blessed;

teach me your statutes.

13 With my lips I proclaim

all the judgments from your mouth.

14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees

as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on your precepts

and think about your ways.

16 I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

17 Deal generously with your servant

so that I might live;

then I will keep your word.

18 Open my eyes so that I may contemplate

wondrous things from your instruction.

What did you circle?

When I think about the idea of following, I often think it is a passive experience.

But following God is different.

What you all circled helped me see that following doesn't mean I'm just along for the ride.

Scripture shows us that following God is an active experience.

We are invited to see where God is leading and faithfully follow along. As we read this poem, we see that great leaders follow God's lead.

[TRANSITION]

We asked you to wear things today that show what you are passionate about.

Maybe it's your student government, theater, or a local non-profit.

God has you in each of these areas for a reason. Your next step is to pay attention to how God leads in the places you find yourself. You can do that in three ways:

DISCOVER HOW GOD MADE YOU: God created you with gifts and passions. When you pursue them, you're already following God's lead. Cultivate those passions and gifts in the very clubs and organizations that you're representing.

LEAD WHEREVER YOU ARE: God has opened unique doors for you and given you an incredible opportunity to lead in areas where there may not be any other followers of Jesus. Like the Early Church, you may follow God's lead in unexpected places. Ask God's Spirit to remind you how to lead well and that you are not alone.

LOOK FOR GOD AT WORK: As you are in class, clubs, organizations, or with your family, know God is already at work. Instead of thinking you have to figure out something new to do in those spaces, what would it look like to practice the things we saw in Psalm 119? Ask God to open your eyes and meditate on what God is already doing. God can teach you about how the Holy Spirit is already moving there, so get curious about ways to get involved.

I want to conclude by reading a Psalm.

Psalm 25:4–5 (CSB)

4 Make your ways known to me, Lord;

teach me your paths.

5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

I wait for you all day long.