Step to the Rear - Winona 7-27-08 PM

Step to the Rear

Luke 14:7-14 - Sunday, July 27, PM – FBC Winona

What if we were to have a banquet at the church

·         Everyone is dressed nicely, decorations are beautiful, food is prepared

·         Guest speaker comes in and is rude and assumes the place of authority

Luke 14:7-14

7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Jesus’ model of leadership is different than what we might typically think of as leadership

·         Not assuming authority or barking orders, but a life of service, of example

·         Gene Wilkes “Head tables have replaced the towel and wash basin as symbols of leadership among God’s people”.

·         Not assuming leadership empowers your leadership – establishes respect

·         Example – musical groups

·         Nobody likes arrogance – example verse 11

Example – washing the feet of the disciples

John 13:1-9, “1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

·         The concept of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples made them uncomfortable

·         However, it was empowering for the entire process – built a relationship

·         Showed Jesus’ love and concern for them

Christ-like leaders . . .

Must first be willing to be humble servants

·         Servant-hood teaches us respect for authority, teaches us the importance of servanthood, shows us how to work with people

·         A person who is not willing to be a servant is like that person described in text in verse 11

·         Jesus tells us that His first priority was to serve His Father

·         That is our example

·         We can find greatness in service

·         Example - Deacons

Will accept leadership to further the real cause, not their agenda

·         Jesus told Peter “unless I wash you, you have no part with me”

·         God’s leaders are called to further God’s agenda – to be servants while leading others

·         Example – Mike Ebert foot-washing

Will take risks on faith

·         Anyone who steps up and is the leader God has called them to be will be acting on faith

·         Sometimes leadership can be a lonely place and faith is all that you have

·         Sensing God’s leadership for something special and leading out in it is risky – but by faith

·         Jesus was a risk-taker – water into wine, healing the blind and lame, healing on Sabbath, cross

Build a team, not a line of succession

·         The greatest leaders in sports are the ones that can get their team to function the best

·         It’s not about who is trying to be the next coach

·         An effective leader builds the team so that it can function without him for a time

·         The leader has the responsibility to empower and equip the team for it’s function

·         The leader must be willing to share responsibility and authority to be most effective

What does FBC Winona need in regard to leadership?

·         People willing to step up and be humble servants

·         Servants who are willing to move from the back table to the head table when asked

·         People who find greatness in service not in authority

·         People who will seek God’s face and take risks on faith

·         People who will work for the benefit of the team, not their own agenda