Leadership Lessons From Paul the Apostle

Introduction

Paul now is reunited with the author Luke as he continues to make his way towards Jerusalem. The travelers find themselves in Miletus from which Paul sends messengers to call the elders of the church at Ephesus.

Paul had become convinced that his time was short and that this would be the last opportunity that he would have to meet with them face to face. (Acts 20:25)

Paul begins the conversation by reminding them of the example that he had set before them, no doubt expecting them to follow the same pattern of ministry.

You and I may also learn a great deal about leadership from the example set for us by the Apostle Paul as he faithfully served the Lord. It is my hope that every member of High Plains Baptist Church has aspirations of being involved in the ministry and leading others.

As we serve the Lord we should strive to serve with the same care for those we minister to and the same commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul first reminded them of the:

Spirit of His Service (Vs. 19)

Paul served the Lord by ministering to the people in Asia and specifically to the people in Ephesus where there was now a thriving church.

The spirit of Paul’s service is important to note as we consider our own service to the Lord.

Paul served with a spirit of:

Humility- humbly serving without thought of reward or personal gain or glory. James 4:6 & I Peter 5:5- resisteth proud grace to humble.

I Corinthians 15:10- grace that enable Paul.

The moment we begin to allow pride to creep into our service to the Lord is the moment that we have lost the power of God to serve.

Genuine Concern- There was no questioning Paul’s sincerity for he had wept over the believers at Ephesus as he served them.

Our service to the Lord ought also to be marked by a genuine concern for those we minister to.

Acts 20:31/II Corinthians 2:4- Paul’s concern for the spiritual health of the believers apparently often moved him to tears. Think about your ministry and the people you minister to, are you so deeply concerned for their spiritual wellbeing?

When is the last time that you were brought to tears by concern for the spiritual condition of another.

Perseverance- Paul also speaks of the multitude trials that he faced as he ministered to them.

Our faith will surely be tried as we serve the Lord and minister to others, but like Paul, we must have a spirit of perseverance.

Paul was met with adversity and opposition at every turn and sometimes his closest companions even deserted him, yet Paul continued to faithfully serve the Lord.

Trials will come and we must be determined to persevere. There will be days of difficulty and frustration, of adversity and opposition, but we must continue to serve.

We ought to also take not of Paul’s:

Method of His Ministry (Vs. 20)

Paul gave his all and kept back nothing as he ministered to the people of Ephesus. We must make the same commitment to give our all and not to hold back anything that would profit those we minister to.

A half-hearted service will be of no benefit to anyone, God is worthy of our all- Ecclesiastes 9:10/ Colossians 3:23-24- do it heartily with all thy might.

Paul led by example shewing them the way they should live and serve.

We must remember that as we teach and as we minister we must also live in such a way as to provide a pattern for others to follow.

Those you minister to can learn much from you example as you live out your faith before them.

He led by public instruction- teaching them how to live and serve.

Paul was often found teaching and reteaching them the truths of the Word of God and how they applied to their everyday lives.

There is a time for public instruction- like we see in a Sunday school class setting. Our example alone is not enough, we must teach new believers the doctrines and practical principles contained in God’s Word.

Think of the value that public instruction in your own life and how much of your spiritual growth has been due to the faithful teaching of some servant of the Lord.

He led by personal interaction- he would take the time to go from house to house among them to invest in each of them at a personal level to do what he could to see to their success.

Setting a good example and teaching publicly are vital to the spiritual growth of those under our influence but we must also take the time for personal interaction.

We should seek to take the time to minister to those under our influence personally. We should be willing to take the time to answer their questions, to listen to their concerns and to deal with them one on one.

I am thankful that through the years there have been men of God in my life who have made a personal investment into my ministry. It is my desire to continue to make that same personal investment into the ministry of others.

Finally Paul reminds the elders of the:

Theme of His Testimony (Vs. 21)

Paul’s theme among the Jews and Gentiles alike was repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ.

Repentance- represents a turning, a changing of mind which results in a change in behavior. This is not the same as remorse- sorry for sin or sorry for the consequences we face because of our sin.

Even as Paul continued to teach and train others, he never stopped witnessing and seeking to lead people to Christ.

We must invest in the spiritual growth of those underneath our influence but we must also be always trying to reach others.

Whether you are teaching children, teens, or adults, you ought to always be striving to reach more of them.

No matter where he went or what ministry he was involved in, Paul was constantly encouraging others to turn to God and to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

This ought also to be the theme of our testimony. It is our duty to share the message of the gospel with others and to lead them to turn to God and to place their faith in Christ so that they may be saved.

We must never be content with what we have but always remembering there are many more to be reached. There are yet many, men, women, boys, and girls in our community who need to turn to God in repentance and who need to place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 9:16 & I Corinthians 9:19-23- The goal of Paul’s ministry was to bring others into a relationship with Christ and to then spur them towards spiritual growth.

Conclusion

The nature of Paul’s leadership as revealed to us here was what made his ministry such a great success. These same principals will help each of us to lead in a way that honors God and influences others.

Has our service to the Lord been in the spirit of humility, concern, and perseverance?

Have we lived so as to set a godly example, have we faithfully taught biblical truth, have we taken to time to interact personally with those under our influence?

Have we been faithful to constantly testify to all who would hear us of repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ?