Unifying Leadership

INTRODUCTION

Quote from Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM

“One of the most important things for any leader is to never let anyone else define who you are. And you define who you are. I never think of myself as being a woman CEO of this company. I think of myself as a steward of a great institution.” – Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM

She gets it right with this quote on leadership. Ginni fails to recognize that there is only one who can correctly define us when it comes to leadership, the Lord. However, it is highly important that we do not allow others to define who we are to be for Christ’s sake. We must pursue Christ with all of who we are, lest we forget our purpose as children of God.

We are all called to be leaders as we mature in our faith.

However, we would be foolish to think that other people’s opinions are worthless. They can alter and change the effectiveness of a leader.

Warren Buffett is clear on this matter when he said,

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett, investor

Guard your testimony. Because if you do fall to temptation’s snare, it will take time to rebuild the trust of those around you.

I am not talking about forgiveness, that is immediate, no I’m speaking of one’s effectiveness for ministry work.

I would like to speak to you about Unifying Leadership from 1 Corinthians 4.

Great leadership is something we all desire to either have over us, or aspire to attain.

KEY TAKE AWAY:

Leadership when focused on Christ and imitating Christ will speak into the lives of the people and unify them in Christ.

While Spirit filled leadership will cause initial division and even some will leave, the ministry will be stronger long term because of the grounding in Christ alone.

Read the passage:

1 Corinthians 4 ESV

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

1. Leaders of the church are to be…Servants of Christ (1)

What exactly does servanthood look like?

Servanthood is being selfless, putting everyone else’s needs above your own. It is aiding the sick, loving on the poor, and ultimately sharing Jesus with every person whose life you have touched.

How do we live lives as servants?

We have to look for opportunities to serve others. Think about Christ:

Christ met the physical needs of others through healing, friendship, and spiritual truth.

Christ lived sacrificially including dying for the sake of other people.

Christ walked with his Father praising him and praying with him.

Who can be a servant of Christ?

Romans 10:13 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Everyone who is saved is a servant of Christ.

2. Leaders of the church are to be…Stewards of the mysteries of God (1)

What are the mysteries of God?

Scripture Verse:

Ephesians 3:1–18 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

Why does Paul say he is a steward of them, because he is a messenger of the gospel message.

We too are all messengers of God to those who are not children of God. The purpose of us remaining here on earth is not that we can continue to do what we want, no it is to accomplish the will of God, which is for us to take the gospel to all people explaining the mysteries of the good news of Christ crucified for our sins and his resurrection defeating death.

What is a steward?

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

As we see, the good stewards were wise with the money their master gave them. They used their talents to make more talents. We too have been entrusted with different kinds of resources we need to be using to reach more people with the Gospel.

Who is a steward?

We are all stewards of the things we have in our lives. Nothing we have belongs to us, if we are a child of God. Everything, our talents, electronics, education, dreams, money, hopes, all belong to Christ. We are to use everything we have to give God glory and praise.

3. Leaders of the church are to be…Found faithful (2)

What does faithfulness look like?

They remain true to the Lord and his work.

How are we to be faithful?

Who is capable of being faithful?

All who have placed their trust in Jesu Christ.

4. Leaders of the church are to be...Unconcerned of other people’s judgments. (3)

Why are we not concerned with other people’s judgments?

Christ alone is our ultimate Judge; therefore, we do not fear the judgement of people because we must be held accountable to Christ alone for our actions.

Did you know that we will be held accountable for every thought we have? Every word we utter? Every action we have taken?

Yet, when those things are displayed by the Satan, Jesus stands in and says I paid for that mistake with my blood on the cross!

How amazing is that!

5. Leaders of the church are to be...Concerned with God’s judgements. (4)

God will disclose every person’s heart (5)

God will give every person his judgement (5)

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The believer will be spared because of Jesus’ defense of his children. It is because of the blood of Christ we will be found without sin even though all our sin will be on display for all to see.

6. Leaders of the church are to be...Scripturally grounded (6)

What does it mean to be Scripturally grounded?

It means everything we teach and practice is found to be taught in Scripture. We do not take away from the Bible or add to the Bible.

Election Voting Day was yesterday. Every American citizen had a right to vote as long as they met the criteria needed to be eligible.

Believe it or not, there were Christians who voted for Biden yesterday, or leading up to yesterday.

Just because they voted for Biden doesn’t make them not a Christian. Yet, many believers call they faith into question because of their political alliance.

No where in Scripture does it say that you must vote for Trump or Biden or any other candidate.

However, let me be clear, I think it was unwise for believers to support Biden because of his stance on Abortion, not to mention any other subject. Legalized murder is against God’s word, which is why I could not and would not ever vote for any candidate that supports abortion.

Who can become grounded in Scripture?

All of us through time in prayer and reading Scripture.

How does one become grounded in Scripture?

7. Leaders of the church are to be...Totally humble (6-7)

Why is humility required?

We cannot be prideful. We are incapable of even extending our own lives a minute longer than what God desires. We are helpless apart from God and we cannot save ourselves. We can only be saved through Christ alone!

Does this mean a person is timid?

Absolutely not, Paul was not a timid man. He was often quick to call out sin. He often stood before rulers declaring Christ Crucified.

What purpose does humility serve?

It gives us the ear of others and allows us to grow spiritual while also impacting the people around us.

8. Leaders of the church are to be...Completely committed (8-13)

What does it mean to be completely committed?

It means there is nothing more important to you than being a faithful follower of Christ. Your greatest longing is to give God glory and praise in every aspect of your life and to reach people with the Gospel.

Why does Paul say they have already achieved all spiritual gain while he is homeless and “fools for Christ’s sake.”

Paul is being sarcastic, snarky even. Reality is that Paul knows the church is spiritually bankrupt and in desperate need for revival.

How can we be completely committed to Christ today?

9. Leaders of the church are to be...A reliable teacher (14)

How can one be a reliable teacher?

Love for the people.

Properly prepared and equipped.

Christ focused.

Passionate about reaching others.

Remains grounded in Scriptural Truth.

10. Leaders of the church are to be...Worthy of imitation (15-16)

What is Paul talking about?

Paul is talking about how he was living for Christ and as a spiritually mature believer, they, the less mature, could observe how Paul was living and imitate him.

Who is worthy of imitating?

Our spiritual mentors and leaders should be individuals who are worthy of following spiritually.

Those who are not holding on to the things of Christ, who are living lives against scripture are not worthy of imitation and should not be imitated.

Why would we imitate leaders?

It helps us grow in our own faith because they are imitating Christ.

Are we striving to imitate faithful spiritual leaders?

11. Leaders of the church are to be...Aware of other people’s needs (17-21)

What purpose does it serve?

How are we able to know other people’s needs?

Why is this awareness necessary?