Leadership, Part 1

Well, good afternoon to everyone. I'd like to welcome all of our guests that we have today. We have a number of people traveling, I believe, plus we have just a number of people who are some who are here for the first time. So, welcome! Today we're going to begin a series on the subject of leadership, and this is something that I hope that we can cover at least once a month for the next year. Actually, I'm going to cover more scriptures than this and I will in the sermon, so it's something that we want to focus on. I think over the years the church has realized the need for developing leaders at all levels of the church.

When I say all levels, I'm talking about whether you're 5 years old or 90 years old. It doesn't matter what your sex is, male or female, it doesn't matter if you are ordained or not ordained, that we need leaders. And so, recently the church has put together a program where there's a three-pronged element to it. One is, first of all, to train leaders locally. And that is something that we can do where it's available to everybody. So I thought, what better way to do this than to take the sermon at a time, plus a little more, and get started on this. And, secondarily, we find that we want to develop leaders within a local congregation who can be ordained, deacons, elders, deaconesses, and so on, and then church pastors.

In the recent council reports, you may have read that there's a need for developing church pastors. In the next three years, we will have 18 men who will turn 70. Potentially, they could all retire. We could have a number of other men who might have health problems, difficulties. And so, we've got to begin to replace them. In the next 10 years, there will be half of the ministry who will reach the age of 70.

So, as you can see, there's a great need for leaders in that area, but there's always a need for leaders at all levels of the congregation. You and I are being trained for positions of rulership. When I look around me here, I see a potential group of kings and priests, and we have to have the abilities and the leadership qualities. We need to learn how to serve. We need to learn what the proper attitude and approach is.

So, today we're going to begin very fundamentally. We're going to begin with the greatest servant who ever walked the face of this earth, Jesus Christ. We're going to see his example. We're going to see his teachings. And we're going to see what the heart of a leader should be like. The heart of a leader, and that should be our heart. And we're going to take a look at Christ, and we're going to find out from his example. Let's go over to Philippians 2. Philippians 2. And we will begin here in verse 1.

And I want you to notice here, in the first four verses of this chapter, what it has to say about Christ and his attitude. Verse 5 tells us, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. So you and I are to have the same mind, same attitude, same approach, same outlook that Jesus Christ had. But what kind of attitude and approach did he have? Well, let's begin to read it. It says, Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy fulfill my joy, be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than himself. And let each of you look out not after his own interests, but also after the interest of others. I think as you read through these verses, you realize that the qualities mentioned here, the ideas put forward, are extremely high qualities that are virtually unapproachable by us as human beings. Without God's help, none of us will ever obtain unto those. And yet, what you find, these very much impact what a servant's attitude, a leader's attitude should be like.

Notice what I read to you here. If I made a list, and I just went down that list, notice it talks about consolation or comfort in Christ, comfort in love, fellowship of the Spirit, affection and mercy, light-mindedness, same love, one accord, one mind. A oneness is emphasized. Nothing done through selfish ambition, lowliness of mind.

Let's theme others better than self and look out for the interest of others. I mean, those are all qualities that we need to have, and they're qualities that will make us leaders. They are the qualities that form the basis of leadership as God defines it in the scriptures and in the Bible. And as verse 5 says, let this mind be in you.

Why does Paul say, let this mind be in you? Why is it hard for us to keep this mind, this attitude, this approach in our lives? Because too often we find that it is. The study of the heart of a leader begins with the study of the mind of Jesus Christ, because being the greatest leader who ever walked the earth, there's no greater example that we can emulate, follow, observe, study than his.

And as I said, we need to discover the way he thought, his discernment, his approach to people, what motivated him, and all of these areas. Let's notice his attitude, verses 6 and 7, even before he came to this earth, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. So he and the Father were equal. I mean, they were both gods in the God family.

But he made himself of no reputation. The word reputation means he emptied himself, or to make empty. Christ laid aside the equality in the form he had. See, as a spirit being, he existed on a different level than we do. He existed as a spirit being, he existed as a glorified being, as an all-powerful being, and yet he was willing to empty himself of that, come to this earth, and take on the form of a human being. Sort of like us, taking on the form of something way down here. But he was willing to do that for a reason. So, what you find then, it says here, he made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant. God is the greatest servant in the universe. And so, you'll find that he took the form of a servant when he came to the earth. He didn't come here in the form of a Gentile ruler to lord it over people, but he came as a servant. I'm going to be asking a series of questions as we go through this. We'll sort of touch on each one, but certainly I will not give you a full answer.

What's the difference between serving and taking the form of a servant?

Because there is a big difference. One can serve, and we have all kinds of people who serve today. They serve in soup kitchens. There are probably tens of thousands of people today who are busily serving in soup kitchens, helping the poor. We have people pick up litter along the highway, cigarette butts, you know, whatever. And they serve. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. But is that really having a servant attitude, having the mind of Christ, and being a servant? See, there's a difference in even serving and being a servant. And Jesus Christ came not just serving but as a servant. In verse 8, it says, being found in the appearance of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the death of or the point of death, even to the death of the cross. So here you find the very basis of what leadership has to be built on, and it is humility. You find that leaders who lead for power, who lead for money, who lead for prestige, who lead for any other reason, will not succeed in God's book. Humility is what God is looking for. And you'll notice that he was obedient in the midst of trials and tests. You and I go through trials and tests all the time. We're confronted with them almost on a daily basis.

And yet Jesus Christ was obedient. The trials, the tests, did not steer him away from being obedient and obeying God. Why? Well, because he kept his eye on the purpose of God, the ultimate goal of God. He knew why he was here on this earth. He knew why he'd come to this earth.

Now, you and I are part of the privileged few who know why we're on this earth.

Most people have some type of vague idea why they're here, but they don't really know. They don't know that God is in the process of reproducing a family, creating himself, and having the kingdom of God. And so they don't understand this. And you and I are the ones who are privileged to be called now so that we have a goal. We have something we shoot for out there, the kingdom of God. And that motivated him. It shouldn't motivate us. He had a purpose while he was on the earth. And we've got a purpose here today in doing the work of God. As a result of his attitude, you'll find, therefore, God has highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every name. You'll find Christ's purpose for coming to the earth, as Hebrews 2.10 says, was to help bring many sons to glory. He had to come and set an example, teach us, and be willing to die for our sins.

What do you think God and Jesus Christ think when they look down and they see us trying to help other people reach their potential? Not just human potential, but God potential.

The preaching the gospel. You're going to this world with the gospel and you're carrying out the work of God. So the very basis, then, of the godly leadership that we need to have is based upon having the mind of Jesus Christ, which is based upon humility and being a servant.

Now let's go over to John 13. You might remember in John 13.

This is the last Passover that Christ kept while he was on the earth.

And beginning in verse 3, John 13.3, I want you to notice this.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he'd come from God, and was going to God. Now again, the word says, knowing that, that indicates his sense. He knew where he had been in the past. He knew where he was now, and he knew where he was going.

So it was very clear in his mind, and it helped to serve, to motivate him. Sometimes, I think, we forget where we came from, what we've been, and we've been nothing. I mean, we're just piles of dust, are we not? And yet, God has for some reason chosen us, and here we are now. And now is an opportunity for us, for salvation, for God's kingdom. And then we know where we're going, if we are faithful to that. So we should have somewhat of the same type of motivation.

Now, with all of this in mind, how does this tie in with his instituting the foot washing? It had to be a reason why Christ instituted the foot washing that night. Beginning here in verse 4, says, He rose from supper, laid aside his garments. He took a towel, he girded himself, and after that, he poured water into a basin. It began to wipe the disciples' feet, or wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with a towel with which he was girded.

Now, someone might think a person getting down on his knees and washing other people's feet. How did that enhance him as a leader? You might think, well, you know, that didn't enhance him as a leader. But what you need to realize is that Jesus Christ was preparing his disciples for roles of leadership. And there were some very valuable lessons that they had not really caught on to as yet, and he was trying to reinforce. So this is one of the last things that he realized before his death, that it was absolutely paramount that he'd be able to get across to the disciples. So in verse 6, it said, he came to Simon Peter. And typically, Simon said in him, Lord, are you washing my feet? And Jesus said to him, what I am doing, you don't understand now.

So, you see, they didn't really catch it, but you will know after this. And Peter said in him, you will never wash my feet. You will never wash my feet. And Jesus answered him, if I do not wash you, you've no part with me. Simon Peter said, Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head. You give me a bath. Wash me. What are some of the reasons why Peter was not willing to accept Christ washing his feet? I mean, he had to have some reason. One of them might have been, you know, somebody in charge, a leader, wouldn't do such a thing as that. You might remember back in the first century, that was one of the jobs of the lowliest servant to wash feet. And here Christ came along, and he was washing their feet. What you find, you can learn a lot for how Christ approached this, what he said to Peter, and then the patience and the mercy that Christ had. I mean, Christ could have finally have gotten upset with these fellas and said, now, look, you know, I've been trying to get this lesson across to you time after time again. Why don't you wake up? Boy, he didn't do that. He's still teaching them. He's still trying to show them the right way. So, on verse 10, Jesus said to him, he who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean, and you are clean, but not all of you. For he knew who would betray him.

Therefore, he said, you're not all clean. Now, what would a human leader do to somebody who they thought was going to betray them? They'd have them sacked, beheaded, shot, you know, anything that you might think of. But yet, as servants of God, you and I, you and me, we have to deal with people sometime who, out of ignorance, might treat us unjustly. Maybe they might even betray us. They're not fair with us. How do we react? Do we try to retaliate? Do we try to get back at them?

Try to get even? Do we never forget? Boy, you know, you did that, and I will never forget, I'll get you one of these days. Is that the attitude? Or do we think, how can we help this person? Going on in verse 12 and 13, Christ had a major lesson that He wanted them to learn, and one that sometimes we overlook from the obvious lesson. And that is, when He had washed their feet and taken His garments and sat down again, He said to them, Do you know what I've done to you? You call Me teacher and Lord, and you say, Well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. I've given you an example that you should do as I've done to you. Jesus was, in effect, still telling them, even though I got down and washed your feet, I'm still your Lord and Master. I'm still in charge.

I'm the authority around here. But He didn't try to lord it over them. It wasn't a matter of Him trying to say, Well, you know, if I wash their feet, they'll disrespect me. They won't like me. They'll think, you know, who is this? No, He didn't take that approach whatsoever.

You and I have to have the same frame of mind. That's why He said, You and I ought to wash one another's feet. And so, it doesn't matter who you are. God says that we should do this.

Another question we might reflect upon, why does sacrifice make one great in God's sight?

If we sacrifice and become as a servant, why does that make us great in the sight of God?

And part of the answer could be with what God's nature is like, who He is.

Okay, now with this in mind, let's move over to Mark, the ninth chapter, Mark chapter nine.

And remember, we're looking here at what is the heart of a godly leader.

Now, in Mark nine, beginning in verse 33, He came to Capernaum, and when He was in the house, He asked them, What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the road? But they kept silent.

See, they've been arguing, as it goes on to say, for on the road they disputed among themselves, who would be the greatest? How many conversations have you had among church members here, where you're standing around the group and saying, which one of us is the greatest?

I doubt that you've had that conversation too often. But the disciples were, and what does this say about the disciples' perception of what leadership should be all about?

Well, I don't think their idea was very good. Now, you might say, well, why would they think this? Well, if you review the events preceding this, you might gain a clue.

As an example, three of them have been allowed to see Jesus Christ's transfiguration.

All 12 had been sent out and had been given power and authority. They went about preaching. They cast out demons. They healed the sick, and maybe they came back, and they began, well, how many people did you heal? Well, I healed 25. I healed 50. How many demons did you cast out? Well, 20. Well, I only cast out three. Well, you know, I'm a little better or greater. You know, I mean, they could be comparing themselves among themselves. One of the great pitfalls of humility is when people begin to compare themselves. Then you're no longer humble. You begin to sack up your righteousness, quote-unquote, against somebody else's. Your accomplishments against somebody else's.

Do we ever do anything like that? Do we ever have comparisons among ourselves?

Maybe we don't do it verbally, not perhaps openly, but silently in our own minds. There are probably many times that we do that. Well, you know, I wouldn't be that way. I look at that person. Look at all his faults. Look what he's doing, you know. And we begin to compare ourselves to that individual without realizing we all have shortcomings. We all have weaknesses. We all have strengths. My strength might be your weakness. Your weakness might be my strength, or vice versa. So we all have weaknesses. And so what you find is their approach was not right. And Christ picked up on this, and so in verse 35, He sat down, called to twelve, and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all. So how do you become first?

By becoming last. Now that seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it? You want to be first out here? Be last here. While He's trying to get a concept through to them of what true service is, and that if you really want to be great, you want to be first, the way God measures it is by not exalting yourself, but becoming the servant of everyone. Be willing to serve, be willing to give, becoming the least, not trying to push yourself forward. And then verse 36, He took a little child, set him in the midst of them, and when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me.

And whoever receives me receives not me, but him who sent me. Now, Matthew's account, I'll just refer to it. Christ said, Whoever humbles Himself, or as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of God. But He also said, If you don't become converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of God. So this becomes a very important point if we want to get into God's kingdom. That if we get into God's kingdom, we have to be willing to humble ourselves. We have to be willing to become a servant. As we can see, a lack of humility interferes with keeping the Christ-like servant mindset. And they certainly didn't get the lesson.

Now, did they learn this lesson and therefore never had this problem thereafter?

Well, of course not. Guess what? They're just like us. They continue to have a problem. Let's go over.

There are actually three accounts in the scriptures where Christ had to deal with this. The next one is in Matthew chapter 20, and verse 20 we will begin with.

And this is the famous account of Mrs. Zebedee.

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him with her sons and kneeling down and asking something of him. So, you know, this is an innocuous. She comes and makes a request of Christ.

He said to her, what do you wish? And she said, grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand, the other on your left hand.

Well, that may have floored him. I don't know. But what would have been her motive in asking such a question? Why would a mother ask such a question? Well, a mother would always want the best for her children, wouldn't she? Always the best, highest, you know, right and left.

Couldn't ask for anything much higher.

You know, and asking this, what did they have to gain or what did they have to lose?

Did they consider the impact that this was going to have on the other ten, and how they would approach it? Now, in verse 22, Jesus answered and said, you don't know what you ask.

Are you able to drink the cup? I'm able to drink. Now, why does he ask that question?

Well, she said, you know, let him sit on your left and right. He says, well, are you able to drink the cup? I will drink and to be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. And they said to him, well, we're able. And he said to them, you will indeed, he said, you're right, you will drink my cup and be baptized with the baptism I baptized with. In other words, you will suffer martyrdom.

You'll go through trials and tests. You'll have some difficulties. And he said, you know, it's necessary, you know, you will have these trials. But to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give. But it is for those whom it is prepared by my father.

See, God is preparing positions of rulership. He's the one who are determining who rules in what area. So, you know, he said that you, you know, God is the one who is preparing that.

Now, what you find is that these disciples at that time were not ready to be baptized with his baptism, to drink of his cup. And they certainly were not ready to begin to rule. But there would come a day when they would be faced with that, and they would be prepared, and they would be ready. Now, notice the other 10. The other 10 standing around, they're listening to all of this go on. They're just as happy as a lark, right?

No, now we've got another problem. And when the 10 heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers. But why would they be angry with the two brothers?

Well, because they wanted those positions.

You know, if Christ said, okay, James, John, you can be on my left and right.

The other 10 would say, well, if we'd gotten there first, we would have had the opportunity. But they got there before we did. So what you find, the whole group had a problem in how they approached leadership. They heard it, and they were greatly displeased with James and John. You know, they were very upset with them. What it shows is the self-serving attitude and capacity that we as human beings have. So now Christ has another problem on his hands. Now he's got to deal with 10. He's already answered Mrs. Zebedee and the two boys.

So in verse 25, he said, he called them to him self and said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

And whoever desires to be first, let him be your slave. See again, Christ always refers back to the Gentile form of leadership and authority. What's wrong with the Gentile form of leadership?

Well, it's lording it over people. It's ruling for power's sake.

We find that the number one driving force in all politics, and that's true in this country, as well as in the world, is for people to have power. They get into the office and they have that power, everything that goes along with it, and then they have all the fringe benefits, likewise, to go with it. So this shows you a little bit about the perception that the disciples had concerning the use of power and authority. Now, Jesus Christ did not condemn wanting to be great.

He didn't say, oh, you're wrong for wanting to be great.

He didn't condemn the desire for that, but He certainly redefined the pathway.

He showed that there's a different direction to achieve that than what most people would think.

To become last, to become a servant, is the way to greatness, He said. Well, that's not how they would have thought of it, but that's exactly what He showed. And then going on in verse 28, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. This Scripture, we learn what the heart and soul, what the core of godly leadership is all about. It's about serving. Jesus Christ, one good Bible study for you, if you'd like to, sometimes we say, well, I've read the Gospels.

Go back and read the Gospels from the point of view. Here's Christ, and read His example. How did He serve? And in serving, in what way did He serve? Because He didn't just serve by giving His life. That was the ultimate giving. As He says here, His life for ransom for many. But He came to serve. He came as a servant. And so, you and I need to be able to become a servant and to have His attitude and His approach. Okay, now we come to the third example. Let's go over to Luke 22, verse 23. And this again is on the final Passover night, Luke 22-23.

And you find they began to question among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing. Because they had just gotten through saying, you know, one of you will betray me.

And so, you know, they were, I think, a little shocked about that. And they were wondering who was it. But there was also a rivalry among them. So here we are, last Passover. Jesus Christ is about to face the greatest emotional and spiritual strain of His life, this great trial of being crucified, scourged, and going through all of that. And here the disciples still have a rivalry going on, obviously among themselves, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

So Christ had tried two times before to get the lesson across and still didn't. Or they didn't pick it up, let's say. Now, one of the things that I've often wondered is you'll see that Jesus Christ instituted the foot washing service on this last Passover night. And I wonder if that was done as a result of this going on with His disciples, where He teaches them, and then He gives them a living example by getting down and washing their feet, as to exactly what He meant. You know, just something to think about. So this is the third instance where, you know, He has this discussion with them.

And He said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority are called benefactors, but not so among you. This isn't the way it should be with you. On the contrary, He who is greatest among you, let Him be as a younger. See, somebody just starts in the company, doesn't have as high a position as somebody who's been working there 50 years, or the CEO. So be like the younger, and He who governs as He who serves. For who is greater, He who sits at the table, or He who serves? Is it not He who sits at the table? And yet, I am among you as the one who serves. So here was the great God of the universe, the one who stepped out and said, let there be light, and there was light, the one who created the universe, the God used, the Father used to create. And here He is, down on His knees, serving them. And He served all humanity. So you'll find that Jesus Christ, under the pressure of this final test and trial, took time out to think about His disciples, to think about their needs, to instruct them, and to show them the way that they should go. And in verse 28, Christ said, But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. So even though He had to instruct them again and corrected them, He offered them encouragement. He gave them a vision about the kingdom of God. And brethren, the same thing should be true for us, even though we go through all kinds of trials and tests. And you'll find that the disciples did go through that. John is the only one that we know of that the original apostles, who was not martyred. The rest of them were. What motivated them? What kept them going? Why did they never give up? Why did they never quit? Because they kept the vision in front of them, the purpose in front of them. They had the proper attitude. So, brethren, what we find is this is an attitude that God is looking for. And if you and I are going to have a godly mindset, the mind of Jesus Christ when it comes to leadership, then we have to follow and have His approach. So the next time we study this subject, and I'm going to try to do this once a month with you, we will cover the subject of leadership. We'll continue to cover it. And we will read from the Old Testament the instructions and the examples from the Old Testament. There's a lot in the Old Testament that speaks to and talks about this. The Bible has a great deal to say about godly leadership, especially the Christ-centered leadership that all of us need to develop. You and I want to have the heart of a leader.

We want to have the mind of Jesus Christ.