Leadership as an Identity

Session 1 | On Assignment from God

-“Absolutely nothing of lasting value or significance will ever happen in life apart from leadership.:” “Nothing is sustained or passed on from one generation to the next apart from leadership.” “Gods cause and purposes in human history is advanced through faithful, focused leadership.” (What do you think of these statements?)

This class is to the person whom God trusts with leadership-the person He trusts to implement and fulfill His assignments.

God has a sense of humor about the kind of person to whom He chooses to entrust His assignments.

Leaders in the Bible do not share common credentials-There is incredible diversity in educational experience, family background, and position in society. There is no particular personality type that God singles out for leadership; the personalities are all over the map.

4 Character Qualities of people God Chooses to Use: Or 4 Traits of those who wield lasting influence:

1. Brokenness-(Tokos)

2. Uncommon Communion- (abide in Christ)

3. Servanthood as Identity-

4. Radical, Immediate Obedience

5 Fundamental Perspectives Concerning Distinctively Christian Leadership

We must fight the encroaching secularization both of Christianity in general and Christian leadership in particular. (What does this mean to you?)

The word secular coms from the Latin, meaning non sacred. To be secular means that you don’t believe God is foundational-he is not at the center. It does not mean you are atheist but that in your worldview God is pushed out to the edges of consideration.

The influence of our culture is so pervasive that few of us take the time to question just how modern ways of thinking cloud our minds and warp our view of true biblical leadership.

James 4:4

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Romans 8:5-8

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

We must learn to recognize worldviews and approaches that are human centered rather than God centered. (especially in church ecclesiology, governance, leadership)

As a result of adopting human centered values, we have made too much of leadership.

The one who leads is no more important that the person who faithfully serves in obscurity. In our culture we have pumped up the idea of position so much that we risk sending a message that a person hasn’t maximized his life unless he is moving up the corporate ladder or is recognized as a leader in our church or community.

Mark 10:42-45

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

We need to stop making idols out of our leaders and stop idolizing the position of leadership. As followers of Christ, we should not parrot a culture that celebrates image, stature, and position, nor should we tout leadership as the pathway to recognition and fame.

We must avoid preferring competence over character. (have you witnessed this?)

The statement of a wrong thinking leader on this point -

“Do we really want to risk all that he’s doing for us by confronting him about sin? So for the sake of results and competence, we give the leader a pass, rationalize and put favorable spin on the issues or situation, and for the time being we declare life is good. “

The growing competence and admiration are no substitute for the consistent nurture of your soul and the commitment to overcoming sin and pursuing Christlikeness as the focused theme of our lives.

We ultimately live and therefore lead before an audience of one. (Let that sink in)

Our motivation should be for the glory of God. We should love Him more than anything, and all we do should be an expression of that love relationship.

When we as leaders downplay the prominence of our walk with and relationship with God, and underemphasize godly character, the word of God, and prayer in relationship to his call for our lives, we shouldn’t be surprised when we get leaders who’s resumes are crammed with accomplishments but have impoverished souls.

1 Peter 4:11

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Distinctive Christian leadership must be defined by the assignments given to us by God.

Good definition of a worldly view of leadership- “Leadership is the art of getting other people to do what I want.” Christian leadership by its nature is very different.

God looks at the human heart and is in the business of drawing people to Him. God gives us assignments and gives us the responsibility of leading others to implement that work. To be a leader is a sacred trust.

Here’s the key; God’s priorities are so different, so supernatural, that only He can fulfill them...and He works predominantly through leaders who remember that truth.

God will make known His will to the believer who follows him and He will use that believer to accomplish some amazing things. What we easily forget is that these assignments are impossible for us to fulfill in our own power, because they are spiritual in nature.

Have you ever considered that you don't have the power to make even one disciple, let alone in all the nations?

Only God has the power to change lives.

God’s assignments involve changing your life as a leader just as much as they involve changing the people you want to reach. God is constantly at work in building your character-making you more like Christ.

God’s assignments are to ultimately bring Him glory.

Accolades may come but the motivation for accomplishment is rooted in self-sacrifice and the faithful execution of the mission.

Group Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss some leadership characteristics that you have seen in your experience that go against biblical truth? What are the negative implications of these leadership types? (dominance, just giving orders but not doing?)

2. What are some biblical leadership characteristics that you have witnessed in action? What fruits do you see from this type of leadership compared to non-biblical styles?

3. Are there any other “takeaways” from tonight’s content that you would like to discuss?