Leadership Training 01 - Intro & Definition of Christian Leadership

1. Why we are having this class:

a) Military - ROTC, Officer Training School, West Point, Air Force
Academy, Naval Academy, and other military schools which train
leaders.
b) Business - many large and small corporations have leadership
training to teach employees how to lead.
c) What do we do in the Church?

Goal: We want to give you some basics on leadership to help you

foster and grow this quality in your life. To help equip you to
become a leader in whatever way God has planned for you.

Q. Leader is someone who leads, so what is the definition of

"lead" to you:
be in charge or command of
head, command, govern, rule, be in charge of, be in command of, be in
control of, run, control, direct, be at the helm of

the initiative in an action; an example for others to follow .

first position, forefront, primacy, dominance, superiority, ascendancy;

I am going to put it to you that these are not the definitions of

how Christ wants us to be leaders in the Church. We are going to
see what Christian leadership is NOT. The book I am using divides
this up into the "natural" leader vs the "spiritual" leader.
Luke 22:24-27
24
And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of
them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, The
kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have

authority over them are called Benefactors. 26 But it is not this

way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must
become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27 For
who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who
serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am
among you as the one who serves.

I've always found this interesting: this is during the Lord's Supper.
First off they are supposed to be partaking of the Passover meal;
remembering how God rescued them from slavery. At the same
time Jesus is trying to prepare them for his crucifixion. This should
be a very holy, worshipful scene. Instead what are the apostles
doing?
Jockeying for political power!
A. Christian Leadership is not a political power play.
Leadership is neither obtained nor maintained through political
means.
1. "Dispute" is from the Greek philoneika, literally rivalry. It
indicates campaigning for office. Think of a typical campaign
for a federal office such as President or Congress. The
mudslinging, dirty tricks, wheeling and dealing, and so on. That
is what this philoneika means.
2. This is not the only time this sort of thing happened.
Matthew 20:20-21
Then the mother of Zebedees sons came to Jesus with her
sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
20

21

What is it you want? he asked.

She said, Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at
your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.
3. When we choose leaders in the church we are not to engage
in politicking, either for our own benefit or others.

B. Leadership is Not an Authoritarian Attitude (reread vs 2526). Control is the key thought here. Leaders are not to control
but lead and be an example in humility and service.
1. Gentile rulers - exercise authority, lord it over their subjects
and wear titles like "benefactor" (good ruler). The ones who do
this are good rulers, not tyrants.
2. Spiritual leaders: a US president must be 35 to be elected.
Youngest: Teddie Roosevelt at 42 (VP, president after
McKinnely's assasination). Youngest elected: JFK at 43.
Average: 54 years & 11 months.
Why don't we pick 18 year olds? How do we generally tell the
young to act around the older?
Jesus says in vs 46: but the one who is the greatest among you
must become like the youngest
So if you want to be the greatest spiritually you must humble
yourself like the youngest.

Who is greater: the king or the person who cleans the palace;
mops the floors, scrubs the toilets, washes the windows, etc. But
Jesus says 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table
or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table?
But I am among you as the one who serves.
John 13:12-17 right before the Last Supper... & the dispute over
greatness
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his
clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I
have done for you? he asked them. 13 You call me Teacher
and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I,
your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should
wash one anothers feet. 15 I have set you an example that you
should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no
servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater
than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things,
you will be blessed if you do them.
12

Leaders in the Church; elders, deacons, ministry leaders, etc,

have a prime directive to serve, not to order and control others.
The natural leader is motivated by his own needs. The spiritual
leader is motivated by a love for God and a love for others.

C. Leadership is not Cultic Control

Cult leaders often control their followers in unthinkable ways. Jim
Jones and 909 of his followers drank the cyanide laced grape koolaide in Jamestown in 1978. David Koresh was marrying 13 year

old girls to adult males, and eventually he and 79 others died at

Waco, TX.
1. The Cult leader is in complete control over his sheep - and
often uses manipulation and coercion to get his way.
2. The Spiritual leader is to be among the people serving
(diakonos - servant, is the Greek word). His leadership function
is serving and meeting the needs of others.
3. Interesting thought - no where are we commanded to lead.
That is not a talent that God has given everyone. But all are
commanded to serve. And the leaders are those who serve. So
in the Church, we are all supposed to be leading. Who are we
all leading?
4. Spiritual leaders are those who carry out the wishes of Jesus,
who is the master. Jesus, the master, served.

Contrast between Natural and Spiritual Leaders:

1. Natural leader is self-confident. He knows what he wants
and he goes for it. If he has doubts he does not show them.
Often loud and sure of himself. He knows that he is the man for
the job and can get the job done.
The spiritual leader has confidence not in his own abilities but
in Christ. Admits that he doesn't know the way, and prays for
guidance, help, and strength continually. Admits that he is not
the way, and doesn't have the strength to accomplish the task.
Instead he looks to Christ as the way and to God for strength.
2. The Natural Leader knows man, and how people act. He
knows how to use and manipulate people to get his job done.
The Spiritual Leader knows God and man. His knowledge goes
beyond people and encompasses an all knowing God.
3. The Natural Leader is ambitious. He uses his leadership
abilities to further his own ends. They often talk about
themselves, about what their goals are, and how what they are
doing is going to achieve the goals.
The Spiritual Leader is self-effacing. He does not build himself
up, but emphasizes his complete dependence on God.
4. The Natural Leader makes his own decisions. He makes his
decisions based on his own desires, values, and wisdom.
The Spiritual Leader seeks to know God's will. He is a student of
God's word, and seeks to know God's desires, values, and
wisdom.

5. The Natural Leader enjoys command. He loves to direct

people and does it well. People follow him because his
commands make sense.
The Spiritual Leader enjoys following God's command. He
delights in getting others to submit to God's will as well,
following his life pattern of submission.
6. The Natural Leader is motivated by self needs. Often fulfills
these needs to the detriment of others.
The Spiritual Leader is motivated by love for God and others.

Examples of Leadership in the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 2

A. A Mother's Nurture (vs 7-8)

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for
you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to
share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
1. Paul is an apostle, a man of authority given to him by Christ.
Yet look at how he came to the Thessalonians not as a
Charismatic or Authoritarian leader, but as a mother, Gentle,
Loving, Caring. A mother makes sacrifices for her children. A
Spiritual Leader must be prepared to sacrifice for those he
leads.
2. Paul is Sharing with Thessalonians. Not just the gospel, but
his entire life. A Spiritual leader is not distant; he shares his
own life with those he leads, and shares in their lives as well.
B. A Brother's Example (vs 1-6, 9-10)

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not
without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated
outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our
God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong
opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error
or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the
contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted
with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God,
who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did
we put on a mask to cover up greedGod is our witness. 6 We
were not looking for praise from people, not from you or
anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have
asserted our authority.
Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and
hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden
to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You
are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and
blameless we were among you who believed.
9

1.Paul did not use flattery, hypocrisy, greed, or desire praise.

Instead he toiled, endured hardship, and had constant labor.
2. He didn't command the Thessalonians; instead he worked
among them and just like them.
He worked the way brothers worked; together. Yet he was an
apostle, their leader.

C. A Father's Love (vs 11-12)

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals
with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging
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you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom
and glory.
The Greek word translated encouraging here means "to call to
one's side, to encourage". Paul isn't lording it over the
Thessalonians, instead he is encouraging, comforting, and
urging.
He says he does this like a Father. He wants the Thessalonians
to do better, and is doing this out of love.
Combine this with the other ways, and it shows how Paul lead.
In a loving, gentle, caring way.

Final words - this should give you some idea of what we are
going to be studying. If you want to learn how to be a
successful worldly then this isn't the class to be in. We all want
to be the servant leader that Jesus describes, and hopefully this
is what we will learn together.