Leadership Looks Like Jesus

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Start with Application Testimony

[Give people an opportunity to share a testimony from last week’s exhortation]

Last week’s exhortation: Reexamine the way you use whatever authority or influence God has given you - it it to serve others or your own interests?

INTRO

We are going verse-by-verse, in a topical study through I & II Corinthians

Current Topic: Leadership - What it looks like to have authority under Christ

In the last lesson we began to talk about leadership, and the fact that all of us are given some measure of leadership and authority in life, and God gives us authority and influence so we can benefit others - not so we can serve own interests.

In today’s lesson, we are going to see that the real test to godly leadership is how closely it resembles the example set by Jesus.

In 2 Corinthians 11 we will see Paul further prove that the so-called “super-apostles” taking advantage of the Corinthians’ wealth, were actually false apostles because their character and conduct looked nothing like Jesus.

Note that while Paul has already been sarcastic several times in his letters, in today’s passage we will see him using a lot of sarcasm to emphasize his point and shock the Corinthians into seeing how ridiculous their attitude has been.

READ

2 Corinthians 11 CSB

1 I wish you would put up with a little foolishness from me. Yes, do put up with me! 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly! 5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything. 7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. 9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, since the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do! 12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works. 16 I repeat: Let no one consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool so that I can also boast a little. 17 What I am saying in this matter of boasting, I don’t speak as the Lord would, but as it were, foolishly. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will also boast. 19 For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools! 20 In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face. 21 I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that! But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare: 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death. 24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. 32 In Damascus, a ruler under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to arrest me. 33 So I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.

EXAMINE

#1 | A godly leader lowers themselves to lift up others

2 Corinthians 11:6–9, 12-13 “Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge... 7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted... 9 When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone... 12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals... 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”

The proof that some other apostles were false, ungodly leaders was that they elevated themselves at the expense of the people they were claiming to lead. (2 Cor 11:20-21)

When a leader elevates themselves and seeks their own glory, this is one of the clearest red flags that they are not following Christ. (John 8:50)

Unlike those so-called “super apostles” (2 Cor 11:5) Paul proved himself to be a godly leader by following Jesus’ example of prioritizing the needs and interests of others. (Mark 10:45; Phil 2:5-8)

Lowering oneself is not just an occasional action, but a whole way of living and thinking about what matters.

#2 | A godly leader willingly sacrifices and suffers for the people they lead

2 Corinthians 11:23, 28-29 “Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death... 28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?”

Not only was Paul willing to continue in ministry - no matter how much he suffered - his heart also stayed closely tied and empathetic to the people he served.

This demonstrated what he was willing to sacrifice and suffer for their sake - again following the example of Christ. (1 Peter 2:21)

The false apostles that were working their way into the Corinthian church were commending themselves on their speaking skill and charisma, rather than their willingness to join in the suffering of Jesus. (Col 1:24)

A common error is to think of leadership as something that elevates you above the mess and exempts you from things, but to lead as Christ did means to voluntarily take on greater difficulty and hardship. (1 John 2:6)

#3 | A godly leader is honest and doesn’t create a false appearance

2 Corinthians 11:30 “If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.”

Paul was essentially saying that if they wanted him to compete with the false apostles in a bragging contest, then the only thing he would brag about was that he had nothing to brag about.

Anything good in Paul was only there because of Christ (Gal 2:20) - so Jesus should get all the attention, not Paul.

2 Corinthians 11:2–3 “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Honesty and transparency is the mark of a godly leader because it shows that they value the truth (1 John 1:5-6) and aren’t trying to get you to see perfection in them - rather they are trying to get you to see the perfection in Jesus. (1 Cor 3:5-7)

REFLECT

Let’s take a moment to pray

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide our attention and lead our conversation, helping us see and understand what He wants us to apply in our lives.

APPLY

Process the passage together with these questions:

[Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want people to feel the liberty to explore the topics of the passage that stand out to them. Select the questions from below that you think are right for the conversation, or add your own. Questions should be focused, yet open-ended. Wherever the conversation goes, help your group “land the plane” on the core idea of the lesson when you wrap up.]

What "other Jesus" or "different gospel" (v. 4) might the false apostles have been preaching?

How does Paul’s deep empathy (v. 29) show he was a godly leader?

Why is honesty about our own flaws (Point 3) essential for pointing people to a perfect Christ?

Where we want to “land the plane”

The true test of godly leadership is whether it looks like the leadership of Jesus. While the false apostles boasted in their own charisma and status, Paul revealed that true spiritual authority is exemplified in humility, sacrifice, and honesty. God doesn't give us influence so we can elevate ourselves, but so we can serve others. We must stop measuring good leadership by worldly standards of strength and success, and instead start measuring it by how closely it resembles the life of Jesus.

Exhortation for the Week

Reexamine the people you follow, and why you follow them, in light of 2 Corinthians 11.

FOOTNOTES

The Super False Apostles. The Corinthians vacillated in their devotion to the Lord because of the threefold appeal of the false apostles. First, these false teachers apparently associated themselves and their mission with the original apostles. The designation “super-apostles” was used by the false apostles of themselves, or was Paul’s ironical portrayal of their adulation of the Twelve (or of Peter, James, and John; Gal. 2:9). The false apostles hoped to derive authority by claiming to be associated with the Twelve. Without demeaning the Twelve, Paul affirmed his own status as an apostle of similar rank: I am not in the least inferior (cf. 2 Cor. 12:11). His basis for this claim would follow shortly (11:22–12:10). Second, the false apostles appealed to the Corinthians’ desires for superiority in rhetorical excellence. Paul admitted he was not an accomplished rhetorician, a trained speaker (cf. 10:10). (However, if he were, he was choosing not to use his rhetorical abilities; cf. 1 Cor. 2:1–5). His apostleship was not a matter of show but of substance. What Paul said was more important than how he said it. The Corinthians could not deny the content of his message and its transforming consequences (cf. 1 Cor. 4:15; 9:1–2). A third way the false apostles appealed to the Corinthians was in their method of supporting themselves. When Jesus sent out disciples on missionary tours, He directed them to derive shelter and sustenance from those to whom they ministered (Luke 9:3–4; 10:4–7). This apparently became the usual practice for Christian missionaries (1 Cor. 9:4–6; cf. Didache 11:4–6), and it was followed by the false apostles in Corinth. However, Paul and those associated with him (e.g., Barnabas, 1 Cor. 9:6) differed by supporting themselves as best they could without ministerial remuneration (cf. 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Thes. 2:9; 2 Thes. 3:8). Occasionally Paul accepted unsolicited support from churches to whom he had ministered (e.g., the Philippian church in Macedonia; Phil. 4:15–16). But he did so uneasily (cf. Phil. 4:10–13), calling it “robbery” (2 Cor. 11:8) to take from poor people. He did not want to be a burden to them. David K. Lowery, “2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 578–579.

“Accept me as a fool so I can boast”??? Following the advice of Proverbs 26:5, Paul again answered the foolish Corinthians according to their folly... He did so not by choice but by necessity because they had tolerated and welcomed the false apostles. The Corinthians received those false teachers because of the latter’s external qualifications and self-aggrandizement. This is like valuing a gem on the basis of its size rather than its quality. Paul’s challenge to the believers was a “contest of folly,” entered into in order to win the Corinthians. The word fool (vv. 16–17, 19, 21; 12:6, 11) is from the adjective aphrōn, meaning “ignorant,” not mōros, which means “stupid.” In 2 Corinthians Paul frequently spoke of boasting, not in a haughty way but in an effort to affirm his claim as an apostle. In his boasting he was not talking as the Lord would, as the Lord never defended Himself in this way, but Paul chose to, though reluctantly. David K. Lowery, “2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 579–580.