Sunday, November 30, 2008
Session 67: Church Leadership
This week I have asked Bro. Wesley to take the lead on the blog. Wesley will post on the first comment either later tonight or sometime tomorrow. You will need to check the blog because this will be the only email you will receive. I hope everyone can post this week by Wednesday. I know everyone has been busy with Thanksgiving but please don't forget to go on the blog each week. This will let me know that you are on top of this week's lesson. Why by Wednesday? Well, the earlier in the week you get started on preparing the lesson the better you will teach on Sunday. WOW! When I think about the awesome responsibility we have been given as teachers it makes me want to dig more to be sure I know that I am teaching the TRUTH. Don't forget to let me know about Conclave. I encourage you to go if at all possible. So... check back later. Bro Wesley has the ball.
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11 comments:
After serving 22 years in the military I have found that Leadership is a unique beast that is very hard to tame. Most leaders in the world fall into one of two catagories; their leadership is displayed during the calm before the storm or their leadership is displayed during the storm. But throughout the earthly life of Christ he gave us, yes us teachers, preachers, deacons, muscians, ushers, etc... the example of a leader that serves before, during, and after the storm. Yes serve! Leadership is getting others to follow you enthusiastically through any circumstance. They will do this by following the example set by someone above them. Jesus constantly gave examples of leadership through servanthood. Take the feeding of the 5000. Jesus could have easily avoided the storm by just telling the people to leave. Instead He ensured that one of the basic human needs were met, feeding them. It's hard not to follow someone that demonstrates such compassion and love and never holds it over your head. After feeding them Jesus didn't say "now since I've taken care of you here's what I want you to do for Me". Then at the end of His earthly ministry He surrendered all for us. Giving us an example of what He wants us to give, our all. So many times we praise our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines for giving the ultimate sacrifice, but we seldom give so much praise to the One whom gave even more for us.
This weeks lesson though really focuses our attention towards what we are responsible for. This weeks memory verse Hebrews 13:17 couldn't make our responsibility any clearer. ((Instead of giving it to you I'd really like everyone to start their blog off with that verse.)) If we want our SS classes to do their homework, study for the next lesson, then we must set the example and "EXPLORING THE BIBLE DAILY". I put these worksheets out and the following Sunday I ask openly who studied their lesson. But at the same time I ensure that they see I filled out my worksheet. I don't brag about studying but I have set the example for which I want them to excel to.
If those COG's (Children of God) that we lead every Sunday don't SEE our preparation then they probably won't follow, and if they don't follow then you have no one to lead.
I hope and pray that everyone could understand my thoughts.
Wesley
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not grief: for that is unprofitable to you.
Wesley, I guess you're saying that a great leader is a humble servant. So....we should be submissive to a humble servant leader and allow them to rule over us? I think you hit the nail on the head. I can't think of a better desciption for a leader than "servant". See this is the problem with the Jewish believe system. They won't recognize Jesus as Messiah because he's not what they expected. Huh, maybe some of us have some Jew in us to?
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Heb 13:17 (NASB)
Is there a time I do not have to obey my leaders? Like if Billy ask me to read the scriptures once a day, do I have to read every day?
Paul, I haven't made up my mind how to answer your question yet, but I would like to take it to the next level. Is submission to religious authority... submission to Christ? Isn't Christ the ONLY mediator between us and God? Should we submit to leadership that condemns free thought or questioning? I think many times we place people in leadership positions in our churches because they possess so many "great leader" skills. We must be careful with this thinking. Maybe we should place spiritual people in church leadership positions rather than good leaders in church leadership positiions. Wasn't Adolf Hitler a great leader? How about Joseph Stalin? Or Saddam Hussein? Oh, but thats right, those were all political leaders. What about Jim Jones? How about David Koresh? Or Joel O'Steen I'm not saying we shouldn't submit to our leaders, I'm just saying.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
As for earthly leaders, even in the church, there are times where we are required to follow. When it goes against Christ, remember the Pharisees.
As for Hitler, Stalin, and every other dictator, they never started as true leaders. Just because someone is the head of an organization doesn't make them a leader. A leader which must use punishment to get results is a tyrant. Never has Christ used punishment to get us to follow. If we enthusiastically follow him there is no punishment, just paradise. If we refuse His leadership then we have CHOSEN hell as our final destination. Remember the two thieves at Calvary.
There's a small book called "The Leadership Lessons of Christ" that is the best one hour read I've ever read on leadership and I'd put it on my To Read list.
And thanks for the responses, I was starting to think no one liked me anymore and I had to cry on Billy's shoulder tonight..........LOL...
Wesley
***Correction**
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
As for earthly leaders, even in the church, there are times where we are not required to follow. When it goes against Christ, remember the Pharisees.
Wanted to make sure that I said it correctly.....
Wesley
Ok Wesley, so what does make one a leader? I think the answer is followers, regardless of the direction and goal. Am I wrong?
Websters gives a long list for the definition of Lead. The one I like the best is 1. To show the way as by going before.
Wesley, I'm sure you will agree that the best leaders you would ever "follow to hell and back" are the ones who defined this.
One of my fond memories of the Corps was Col. Newinghouse. We had just finished a grueling 25 mile hump (something we had to do in less than 8 hrs. every year) in 7hrs 20min. in hilly terrain. After crossing the finish line Col. Newinghouse called the Battalion to attention. He had Battalion staff drop their packs and he took them on a 5K run.
If you expect me to follow, you will have to go before me. If we are going to the Pump & Pantry, thats easy. If you are asking me to quit watching Rated R movies, abstain from Alcohol, don't let me see you watching Soap operas, and over eating.
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give a account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable to you." Hebrews 13:16
Being involved with many groups at work, I believe the leader can make or break the group. Without strong leadership the group meets a couple of times has no clear task, people get confused and are not usually not willing to work with that leader again.
You guys made some interesting points -- I'm not sure how to answer Paul's question. Is there a time when you don't have to obey leadership? I think when something goes against something I beleive in. I should go talk to leadership about it. We are all human and are not always right --rather we are leaders or followers. The best we can do is pray for Jesus to lead us in the right direction. To be lead by a humble servant and be a humble servant because remember the leader goes first and sets an example.
Crystal
John, Well you're not wrong, a leader does have to have at least one follower or they're just a loner. But a tyrant only serves himself/herself and allows no leaway. And when you question their lead they end your following. A true leader understands that you're never always right and that you're always developing other leaders and sometimes being questioned by a follower allows for growth of the younger leaders. Take Jesus and His disciples. They followed as He took the lead and they did question Him. How many times did they question who He had dinner with or witnessed to? He used those times to teach them because He knew the future and His church had to have leadership. We as teachers are doing the same with this Youth department that we are held accountable for by Him.
Paul, I have been with those same kind of leaders more times than I can remember and I've been with those that are at the opposite end of the leadership spectrum. John the Baptist was that kind of leader to prepare the way for Christ. Peter became that kind of leader after following The Perfect Example. And Paul changed to that kind of leader after his encounter with Christ. And all of us have accepted the call to become those kind of leaders. These are reasons that I have our youth do the offering during the evening service or having assistant teachers or CARE group leaders.
Are we "Leading by Example" with our servanthood leadership that prepares each of them to assault Hell in the name of Jesus Christ?
Wesley
Well said Wesley. I follow. Thanks.
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