The Right Guy
Notes
Transcript
The Right Guy
The Right Guy
Who is the right guy?
Often times, young women think, if I just marry the right guy he will solve all my problems. Life will be perfect then.
Of course, what most of us know by now is there is no such thing as that guy. In fact, once you’re married or in a significant relationship guys cause more problems than they solve.
The key is to pick a guy who will create fewer problems for you.
I had conversations recently w/ a single guy. We were talking about a relationship he is in. And, about the woman who was interested in him.
As he talked about her and the relationship, as well as my own observations about them together, I have my concerns.
I told him, “You need a woman who is pursuing Jesus, not pursuing a guy who is pursuing Jesus.”
Once she gets her guy, she is still not pursuing Jesus and her guy, who is a pretty good guy, will not be what she has built him up to be.
The Right Guy. Nobody is that!
We guys understand this principle from a little different perspective.
The AZ D-Backs signed Madison Bumgarner believing he would be the savior of their pitching staff and the right guy to lead them to the series.
But, the guy they signed to a 5-yr contract is not the same pitcher as the one that led the SF Giants to the series a few years ago.
You think you’ve got the Right Guy. But, he turns out to not be all that you expected.
Here’s another name for you guys; Josh Rosen. The Cardinals drafted him out of college the Right Guy to lead them to the SB. Ooops.
But now, now, the have the right guy! Kyler Murray. He’s the guy who’s going to lead them to the PL.
Except KM doesn’t play defense or kick field goals.
They might need a little more that just him.
Speaking of the Right Guy to lead us out of trouble and into prosperity, solve all our problems; there’s an election in Nov.
2 prominent candidates, and a few lesser ones.
Who’s the right guy, or gal?
Which one will lead us into prosperity and which will lead us into trouble?
Who is the Savior of this country?
Who is The Right Guy?
Jesus.
We’ve all been in conversations, seen conversations, where one candidate or the other is considered the only who who can save this nation from the virus, riots, and racism.
And the other one will only lead us down the rat hole.
Here’s the deal. There is only One Savior. He’s not running for president this year.
He’s got a title, a few in fact. One title is Chief Shepherd.
And he is going to lead us to the best place possible regardless of who wins the election, who the Cardinal’s QB is, who’s in the D-Backs rotation and who your granddaughter chooses to marry.
Ps. 23 says that Jesus will lead us thru the valley of the shadow of death.
Valleys w/ shadows are scary places.
Death is scary.
This virus causes death in some ppl. and it’s scary
Police brutality is scary. Friends who are scared of the police.
Riots are scary.
The social isolation, loss of income, and stress at home b/c nobody can leave is causing ppl to consider death as a bad, but better condition than the one they are in.
That’s troubling.
In this valley, some threats are real, but some are just shadows.
We need a leader who will protect us from the real threats and expose the shadows for what they really are.
But, He’s not here right now. So what do we do?
That’s okay. His rep’s are.
Filled w/ the HS, men and women who have godly wisdom and profound courage to make good decisions and act on them.
We need lifestyle leaders who will lead...
The church
Your family
This community
Our country
We need lifestyle leaders who will follow the Chief Shepherd and lead the rest of us out of this mess.
What’s your role in this?
Selecting leaders?
Being a leader?
Following the Chief Shepherd!
Some of us select our leaders. Some of us are leaders.
Regardless of whatever else we do we all have to follow the Chief Shepherd if we’re going to get out of this mess and be standing strong, Rock Steady, after this storm.
This is what a lifestyle leader looks like. We lead ppl by following the Chief Shepherd.
Peter was writing to a group of ppl who were starting over. They fled their homes, businesses, schools, and church for their lives.
Where they land may have had a small, village church or they had to start one from scratch.
Who was going to lead them? What does a leader look like? What should they look for in a leader?
Peter helped them answer these questions and he’s helping us.
To begin w/, those who follow Jesus and lead others have t/b humbly qualified to do so.
Humbly Qualified
Humbly Qualified
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
In the Greek, there is a word that is not translated in the NIV.
The word is usually translated, “Therefore” or “So”
It connects the preceding to this verse.
The end of ch. 4 Peter wrote:
Judgment has begun for believers. We are being held accountable for our actions.
It’s hard for the righteous t/b saved. Faith is easy. But surrendering you life is near impossible.
Xians need t/b committed to the Creator. 100%. All in.
So, evaluated, held accountable, fully surrendered and committed. That describes everyone.
But, it especially needs to describe the leaders among us.
Peter qualified himself to be instructing us.
An apostle. Taught personally by Jesus. Of all the things we read Jesus said and did, there was so much more that didn’t get written of their 3 years together.
He was a witness to Jesus’ suffering. Luke and Mark wrote about it but didn’t see it. Matthew and John were there w/ Peter.
None of them quit. When it got hot in the kitchen, they stayed. Not w/out a few fairly significant blunders.
In spite of the blunders and the suffering Peter was confident he was going to share in the glory w/ Jesus.
He was there as a witness to the transfig. Elijah and Moses had been gone for 100s of years.
Peter was confident he’d be alive, somewhere else, in the year 2020.
And, speaking of blunders, referencing Jesus’ suffering he draws our attention to the biggest blunder of his life.
He didn’t shy away from it.
You’d think if he was trying to impress upon us his qualification t/b a leader he would avoid his biggest mistake.
He denied knowing Jesus right after he had vowed to either prevent Jesus from dying or die w/ Him.
Think of the resume’ padders he could have referred to.
Primary preacher of Pentecost, walked on water, #1 among the disciples, 1 of the inside 3 w/ Jesus.
But, b/c of his willingness to not shy away from the mistake he made, other leaders who make mistakes can ID w/ him.
He appreciated more than most grace and restoration to leadership.
Peter was authentic. This is less about Jesus and more about his experience w/ Jesus to encourage the next gen of leadership in these fledgling organizations that perfection is not a qualification to lead.
Honest repentance, restoration, complete surrender, and humility are.
Peter was humbly qualified. And, anyone called to lead any group of ppl must meet similar qualifications.
Once we do, now what?
Peter could have encouraged them in any number of ways. He chose 3.
He exhorted them, encouraged them to lead w/ the right attitude, motivation and behavior.
3 Encouragements
3 Encouragements
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
He’s writing specifically to the people who would be chosen to be elders in their respective churches.
But, you don’t qualify yourself after you’ve been chosen. And, just b/c you are not chosen to be an elder does not mean you’re not a leader in another environment needing to be encouraged in these 3 ways.
There are churches I have been on staff w/ who chose men to be elders who were good business leaders.
I can tell you that there are plenty of good bsns leaders who don’t make good elders.
There are also plenty of men who have never owned a bsns, managed a bsns or dept., or had any leadership outside the church but make terrific elders.
Some do both very well.
While there is some overlap and similarity. There are distinct differences between leading in bsns and leading in a church.
These 3 encouragements are applicable to both.
So, the right ppl to lead the church and the right ppl to lead whatever group needs it have these 3 right characteristics.
1st. The Right Attitude
Lead b/c you’re willing, you want to, not b/c you feel obligated.
God will give you a desire to do what He calls you to do. It’s okay to want to be a leader. This is one of the important characteristics of a leader. It’s not the only one, but it’s an important one.
My wife needs to know I want to be her husband. I want to do everything Sara wants her husband to do.
If she feels like I’m just doing b/c “somebody has to do it” she is not going to feel loved nor want follow any direction I offer.
Church is the same way. If you got the sense that I was just doing this b/c I felt I had to, not b/c I wanted to, you’d find a different pastor to follow.
You’d find different elders to follow if this were there situ as well.
It’s a calling from God. And, if God given you a calling, then He’s also given you the ‘want to’ to do it.
2nd. The Right Leaders need to have the Right motivation.
We do it b/c we are eager to serve the ppl God led into our sphere of influence. (whatever that sphere may be).
Jesus took the role of the lowest of the servants to wash the nastiness off the feet of his disciples when they came in to eat w/ him.
That’s the model. The lowest of the low.
The wrong motivation is to do it for the money. Big $ in this, right.
Especially for elders. How much to you guys get paid to do this? Exactly!
But, it’s not just money. Recognition, status, accolades.
When church is going well there are lots of compliments to go around.
We have t/b careful about taking credit for what God is doing.
But, when things are not going so well the church should provide helmets and kevlar vests for the elders and pastors.
When a church has pastors who have affairs the elders have to keep their heads down when they arrive on Sunday. Come late, leave early w/out being seen. Targets.
Honest gain is okay. Earn the living. Do the work. Receive the compliments for what you are responsible for (Which may be much less than you think).
But, there is an appropriate amount.
3rd, the right leaders lead with the right behavior.
The wrong behavior is to be domineering, forceful.
Authoritarian leadership has no place in the church. There are places in society where it works, like in the military.
But, churches, families, communities, and most businesses require a different style of behavior from their leaders.
We don’t need a lot of rules. Therefore, we don’t need a lot of rule enforcement.
The right behavior for the right kind of leadership is t/b relational, firm but gentle.
There is a little irony here. Peter is giving commands. There is no leeway in these characteristics.
There are times when shepherds have t/b firm w/ their sheep for their own good and the good of the flock.
A gentle, relational shepherd sometimes has t/b forceful.
Those most concerned with the health, growth, and well-being of the members make the best leaders and best examples to follow.
Leaders, live a life worthy that others can imitate.
This is not an option, but a req. for every leadership position on every level in a church.
But, beyond that. Think about what would characterize the entire community if everyone acted like you?
What would characterize the strengths and weaknesses of you family if everyone followed your example?
We have the perfect example of the right kind of behavior for the right leaders in our Chief Shepherd.
We are shepherds not ranchers.
We lead sheep. We don’t drive cattle.
We have to see ourselves as appointed by God t/b shepherds of the ppl he put in our sphere of influence.
To be the right leaders in whatever group we’re in, t/b the best leaders, we have t/b the best followers of the Chief Shepherd.
Jesus called us to it and modeled it for us as our Chief Shepherd.
The Chief Shepherd
The Chief Shepherd
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Jesus is the One in Charge.
He leads the leaders. And leaders and followers alike have His example to imitate in our lives.
Since Jesus isn’t here, he called specific individuals to serve in His place. We don’t replace, we are stewards of His ppl.
A steward is someone who is responsible managing someone else’s possessions and assets.
A difficult task. One that has not earthly reward promised. Some of us receive a salary. But, nowhere is it assured that those who shepherd God’s flock will receive a salary.
But, we are promised a special heavenly crown.
Everyone who gets to heaven gets a crown. But the crown reserved for those who lead part of God’s flock get a special crown. It’s a special honor.
But, to get the special honor we have to follow well.
When God chose the illustration of sheep to describe us and Jesus as our Shepherd it had special significance.
Sheep require more work and care than any other livestock. And, it’s a special relationship between shepherd and sheep.
Sheep are more than assets. Sheep are almost family.
Shepherds mark their sheep. Kind of like a brand. But a shepherd would take a sharp knife and cut a notch in the ear of each sheep so everyone would know whose sheep was whose.
It was painful. But it was part of what protected them.
Jesus put the mark of the cross on us. Painful in that daily we must pick up our cross to follow him.
Remember, this is what is hard about being saved. The surrender of everything to the One who owns us but takes great care of us.
A Shepherd owns his sheep. And willingly pays the price to buy them and provide for them no matter how costly.
My daughter has a dog and she had to buy health insurance b/c the dog is accident prone.
She loves that dog. But he is expensive!
Shepherds self-insure.
Shepherds know their sheep by name and personality.
Jesus knows you. But He also owns you. He has paid a dear price to protect and provide for you. You’re his.
We don’t own each other, but we serve as the under-shepherds of Jesus’ flock.
We didn’t pay the price Jesus paid, we can’t provide the way He provides.
Our job is to be good stewards of Jesus’ flock and lead each other closer to our shepherd.
B/C Jesus is the only one who can make us lie down in a green pasture.
Sheep won’t lie down if they are stressed or pestered by anything, at all.
He’s the only one who can provide still water.
Sheep won’t drink moving water from a stream and will die of thirst before they attempt it.
A shepherd never gives up on a sheep. If the sheep is a trouble-maker and wanderer he will take steps to confine it. But, will never get rid of it or let it go.
That would be cruel b/c a sheep has no defense in a world full of predators.
If it is required, for whatever reason that a sheep’s life must be taken, the shepherd will be the only one who will do it.
Sheep need to keep moving. If they stay in one place too long they will die. They will eat what nourishes them till it’s gone and can’t grow back.
The shepherd prepares new table mesas of good grass.
He leads them on paths that take them past predators and to their new table mesas.
His rod and staff are weapons to protect them.
I can’t do all this stuff for you as your pastor.
Our elders can’t.
You can’t be all this for your family.
We can’t do this for our community.
And, there is no one on the ballot in November who can do this for our country.
But, we know the One Who can.
And our job, as under-shepherds, is to lead whomever is in our charge closer to the Chief Shepherd who is the one who can.
There is no Right Guy in this election but there are a lot of right ppl who are called and capable of leading everyone we know closer to the One who is the Right Guy to save this country, including you and me and all the ppl we care about.
We’re going to get out of this mess and Jesus is going to lead us. And He’s going to use some ppl who are here, filled up, and ready to follow close.
Let’s go.
Applications
Applications
Role
Role
What’s your role and in who’s life?
Think of all the ppl you have at least a little influence over.
Are you leading them closer to Jesus or farther away?
There is no status quo w/ Jesus. One way or the other.
Where have you been called to lead?
Is it time to step up where you never have before?
Encouragements
Encouragements
There are 3 characteristics we need to exhibit to lead ppl closer to Jesus.
Attitude: Eager and willing.
Not just b/c someone has to do it.
What are you eager and willing to do?
Motivation: Humble service
Not for the money, recognition, or accolades.
Are you willing to serve anonymously?
Behavior: Relational, gentle but firm.
Not domineering. Not too many rules. Not too much rule-enforcement.
Do you need to lighten up on ppl?
Humility
Humility
A qualified leader is never afraid to admit faults and mistakes from the past.
We don’t take responsibility nor admit to things we are not responsible for.
But we have to own our imperfections and work hard at improving them.
Do you need to admit a fault to someone? Confess something? Do something differently from now on?
We need a leader who will protect us from the real threats and expose the shadows for what they really are.
But, He’s not here right now. So what do we do?
That’s okay. His rep’s are.
Filled w/ the HS, men and women who have godly wisdom and profound courage to make good decisions and act on them.
We need lifestyle leaders who will lead...
The church
Your family
This community
Our country
We need lifestyle leaders who will follow the Chief Shepherd and lead the rest of us out of this mess.
What’s your role in this?
Selecting leaders?
Being a leader?
Following the Chief Shepherd!
Some of us select our leaders. Some of us are leaders.
Regardless of whatever else we do we all have to follow the Chief Shepherd if we’re going to get out of this mess and be standing strong, Rock Steady, after this storm.
This is what a lifestyle leader looks like. We lead ppl by following the Chief Shepherd.