HOW TO BE A LEADER IN THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION

Do you aspire to be a Leader?

Do you aspire to be an Elder, a Deacon, a Preacher, a Techer?

1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 list the qualifcations for Elders and Deacons.

Leaders that come to mind in the Old Testament are:

Moses

Joshua

Caleb

David

Paul

Peter

The Apostles

And others

Exodus 32:30-35

Tell us about Moses and is love for his brethren.

Why did Moses tell God to blot him out of His book too?

Romans 9:2-3

What about Paul

What is he saying?

He love his brethren, kinsmen

These two great leaders loved God and obeyed him, but they also had a deep love and concern for their brethren even to the point that they would take their place if were possible.

I. TO BE A LEADER, ONE MUST LOVE

A Christians life is love, from start to finish

Love makes us like God

1 John 4:16 - God discribes himself in His word as Love.

1 John 4: 19 - God has taught us to love by sending His son.

John 13:34-35 - God the Son taught us love, he gave His life & he commanded us to love each other.

Romans 5:5 - The Holy Spirit teaches us to love one another by pouring out God’s love in our hearts. This is through the revealed and confirmed word of God, that came through inspired men and now recorded in the written word, which teaches us of His love. What He did to save us from sin and give us hope.

Love is the most important theme in the Bible.

Matthew 22:37-40

The most important word in the Bible is love.

“Love of God and your neighbor” summarizes every command of God.

It is the foundation of Christianity.

God’s word tells us:

1 Cor. 14:1 This comes after the chapter that teaches what true love is and does.

Colossians 3:14 We are to put on Love.

1 Thess. 3:12; Phil. 1:9 Increase and abound in love.

2 Cor. 8:8 Be sincere in love.

Phil. 2:2 Be unified in love.

1 Peter 4:8 Be fervent in love.

Heb. 10:24 Provoke one another to love

1 Cor. 16:14 Everything a christian does should be done in love.

How does a Loving Leader lead? He Loves!

Leaders in the church always do what is in the best interest, eternal interst, of souls under their care.

This actually includes us all, because we are our brothers keeper.

II. TO BE A LEADER, ONE MUST SERVE.

A loving leader will assist those in need.

James 1:27 A loving leader will keep his eye on the fatherless and the Widows in their affliction.

Acts 6 - Stephen and other men were chosen to assit the Widows that were being neglected.

Matthew 25 Tells us that when we help the needy, we are helping Jesus.

III. TO BE A LEADER, ONE MUST RESIST ERROR

Jude 1:3 We must contend for the faith

2 Timothy 2:2 The word needs to be entrusted to faithful men

Rev. 22:18-19 We are not to add or take away from God’s word.

We are to stand for the truth.

IV. TO BE A LEADER, ONE MUST SEEK TO BRING BACK THE ERRING.

Luke 15:3-7 We must love those who loose their way and bring them back to safety.

James 5:19-20 Bring back the erroring can cover a multitude of sin.

We must love our brethren and strive to bring them back.

V. TO BE A LEADER, ONE MUST SHOW THE WAY TO THE LOST OF THIS WORLD.

A loving leader teaches those who are lost in sin.

Matt. 16:26 We must save souls

Luke 19:10 Just as Christ came to seek and save the lost, we must do the same.

CONCLUSION:

We all know the account of the Good Samaritan.

Even though he was not in the Leadership position of the Levite and Priest, he steped up and took the lead because he saw a need and he showed love by helping the man who had been robbed and beaten. He took charge of the situation. He took responsibility.

Love is the one thing that the world has the biggest shortage of.

And, of all the needs of the church perhaps - properly understood and practiced - is our greatest need.

I Have seen this love demonstrated very often here at Cookeville and I pray that we will all continue to grow in that, Because God is love, and we are His and therefore, we must love like God.

if we love our neighbor, our brethren, our family, we will step up and take the lead to help or to get them the help they need.