Rethink Church - Follow the Leader

Follow the Leader

Leadership is defined - the action of leading a group of people or an organization.

Over 15,000 books in print

It takes more than a busy church, a friendly church, or even an evangelical church to impact a community for Christ. It must be a church ablaze, led by leaders who are ablaze for God.

- Wesley L. Duewel

Spiritual Leadership -

Rejecting - devastates the Church

Obeying ensures God’s blessing

Hebrews 13:7 CSB

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

Stephen’s sermon

Acts 7

The Jews Rejected

Abraham’s example

Acts 7:2–3 CSB

“Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, and said to him: Leave your country and relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.

Abraham set the example - but the Jews did not follow

Genesis 15:6 CSB

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Joseph’s Destiny

The brothers were jealous of Joseph - he would lead them

Acts 7:9 CSB

“The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt, but God was with him

“Your not the boss of me”

Think of the guilt and feeling of loss they had to live with

Moses’ Deliverance

Moses lead them from slavery

Acts 7:35 CSB

“This Moses, whom they rejected when they said, Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?—this one God sent as a ruler and a deliverer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

What was that cost - out of the original only 2 would see the promised land (Joshua & Caleb)

“We were better off in Egypt”

Jesus’ Redemption

Jesus came, lived, taught, and how did they respond

Acts 7:52 CSB

Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

They rejected Him

Think about this -Jesus fulfilled over 300 OT prophecies about the Messiah

Stephen’s Appeal

What about self leadership

Surely we can lead ourselves?

Acts 7:53 CSB

You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.”

Spiritual Leaders Lead

Who are spiritual leaders-

Not just pastor saying to listen to me

Children leaders, Small group leaders, Mothers, Fathers - anyone who has influence

Great leaders are great followers

John 10:27 CSB

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

How do we lead?

1 Peter 5:1–3 CSB

I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Willingly

It is something I not only want to do, but want to do well

Eagerly

not look ing to be rich and powerful - God gets the credit

By Example

Never ask what you wouldn’t do

Follow the Leader

We need to trust the leader and the God who put them there

We can all lead

We need to all lead

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

- John C. Maxwell

What way are you showing?