{"id":31,"date":"2024-05-14T15:49:54","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T15:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ihnbible.org\/news\/?p=31"},"modified":"2024-05-14T16:25:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T16:25:56","slug":"christian-leadership-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ihnbible.org\/news\/2024\/05\/14\/christian-leadership-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Leadership 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Lesson 2 Introduction to Leadership<\/p>\n

What is the biblical definition of \u201cleadership\u201d?<\/h1>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/b>There are several key passages in the Old Testament that lay a foundation for building a biblical definition of leadership.<\/p>\n

Jethro\u2019s Counsel to Moses<\/h2>\n

It came about the next day that Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood about Moses from the morning until the evening.\u00a0Now when Moses\u2019 father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, \u201cWhat is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit\u00a0as judge\u00a0and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?\u201d\u00a0Moses said to his father-in-law, \u201cBecause the people come to me\u00a0to inquire of God.\u00a0When they have a\u00a0dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor and make known the statutes of God and His laws.\u201dMoses\u2019 father-in-law said to him, \u201cThe thing that you are doing is not good.\u00a0You will surely wear out, both yourself and\u00a0these people who are with you, for the\u00a0task is too heavy for you;\u00a0you cannot do it alone.\u00a0Now listen to\u00a0me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you.\u00a0You be the people\u2019s representative before God, and you\u00a0bring the\u00a0disputes to God,\u00a0then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them\u00a0the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.\u00a0Furthermore, you shall\u00a0select out of all the people\u00a0able men\u00a0who fear God, men of truth, those who\u00a0hate dishonest gain; and you shall place\u00a0these\u00a0over them\u00a0as\u00a0leaders of thousands,\u00a0of hundreds,\u00a0of fifties and\u00a0of tens.\u00a0Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be\u00a0that every major\u00a0dispute they will bring to you, but every minor\u00a0dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and\u00a0they will bear\u00a0the burden\u00a0with you.\u00a0If you do this thing and God\u00a0so\u00a0commands you, then you will be able to\u00a0endure, and all\u00a0these people also will go to\u00a0their place in peace.\u201d (Exodus 18:13-23 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

The key things from this passage that fill out our understanding of biblical leadership include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders will experience a call that demands the involvement of others to fulfill.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders must focus on training leaders in two key areas including the way to walk and the work to do.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders must be able to select others in whom to invest their heart and vision.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders fulfill their call by delegating to and managing others.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders release others to do the work without jealousy.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders only do what their delegates cannot do.<\/p>\n

The Law of the Kings<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhen you enter the land which the\u00a0Lord\u00a0your God gives you, and you\u00a0possess it and live in it, and you say, \u2018I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,\u2019\u00a0you shall surely set a king over you whom the\u00a0Lord\u00a0your God chooses,\u00a0one\u00a0from among your\u00a0countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your\u00a0countryman.\u00a0Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he\u00a0cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0has said to you, \u2018You shall never again return that way.\u2019\u00a0He shall not multiply wives for himself,\u00a0or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.\u201cNow it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll\u00a0in the presence of the Levitical priests.\u00a0It shall be with him and he shall read it\u00a0all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the\u00a0Lord\u00a0his God,\u00a0by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes,\u00a0that his heart may not be lifted up above his\u00a0countrymen\u00a0and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

The key things from this passage that fill out our understanding of biblical leadership include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders must be chosen by God Himself.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders must not use their position for self-gratification.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders must submit to the laws of God.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders must be humble before God and the people they serve.<\/p>\n

The Good Shepherd<\/h2>\n

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name\u2019s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

The key things from this passage that fill out our understanding of biblical leadership include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders are concerned about the needs of those that they lead.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders seek to lift rather than suppress those that they serve.<\/p>\n

The Good Shepherd provides, gives rest, confidently leads, renews, restores, guides, directs, protects, corrects, comforts, feeds, anoints, loves and furnishes permanent shelter.<\/p>\n

There are several key passages in the New Testament that lay a foundation for building a biblical definition of leadership.<\/p>\n

The Greatest<\/h2>\n

James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, \u201cTeacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.\u201d\u00a0And He said to them,\u00a0\u201cWhat do you want Me to do for you?\u201d\u00a0They said to Him, \u201cGrant that we\u00a0may sit, one on Your right and one on\u00a0Your\u00a0left, in Your glory.\u201d\u00a0But Jesus said to them,\u00a0\u201cYou do not know what you are asking. Are you able\u00a0to drink the cup that I drink, or\u00a0to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?\u201d\u00a0They said to Him, \u201cWe are able.\u201d And Jesus said to them,\u00a0\u201cThe cup that I drink\u00a0you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.\u00a0But to sit on My right or on\u00a0My\u00a0left, this is not Mine to give;\u00a0but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.\u201d Hearing\u00a0this, the ten began to feel indignant with\u00a0James and John.\u00a0Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them,\u00a0\u201cYou know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.\u00a0But it is not this way among you,\u00a0but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;\u00a0and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.\u00a0For even the Son of Man\u00a0did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His\u00a0life a ransom for many.\u201d(Mark 10:35-45 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

Then the mother of\u00a0the sons of Zebedee came to\u00a0Jesus with her sons,\u00a0bowing down and making a request of Him.\u00a0And He said to her,\u00a0\u201cWhat do you wish?\u201d\u00a0She said to Him, \u201cCommand that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine\u00a0may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.\u201d\u00a0But Jesus answered,\u00a0\u201cYou do not know what you are asking. Are you able\u00a0to drink the cup that I am about to drink?\u201d\u00a0They said to Him, \u201cWe are able.\u201d\u00a0He said to them,\u00a0\u201cMy cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on\u00a0My\u00a0left, this is not Mine to give,\u00a0but it is for those for whom it has been\u00a0prepared by My Father.\u201d And hearing\u00a0this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.\u00a0But Jesus called them to Himself and said,\u00a0\u201cYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and\u00a0their\u00a0great men exercise authority over them.\u00a0It is not this way among you,\u00a0but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,\u00a0and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;\u00a0just as\u00a0the Son of Man\u00a0did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His\u00a0life a ransom for many.\u201d( Matthew\u00a020:20-28 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

And there arose also\u00a0a dispute among them\u00a0as to\u00a0which one of them was regarded to be greatest.\u00a0And He said to them,\u00a0\u201cThe kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called \u2018Benefactors.\u2019\u00a0But\u00a0it is\u00a0not this way with you,\u00a0but the one who is the greatest among you must become like\u00a0the youngest, and the leader like the servant.\u00a0For\u00a0who is greater, the one who reclines\u00a0at the table\u00a0or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines\u00a0at the table? But\u00a0I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22:24-27 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

The key things from this passage that fill out our understanding of biblical leadership include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders are not position and authority minded seeking to be served by others.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders are servants-minded and understand that they have their position for the purpose of serving others.<\/p>\n

The Good Shepherd<\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI am the good shepherd; the good shepherd\u00a0lays down His life for the sheep.\u00a0He who is a hired hand, and not a\u00a0shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters\u00a0them.\u00a0He flees\u00a0because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.\u00a0I am the good shepherd, and\u00a0I know My own and My own know Me,\u00a0even as\u00a0the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and\u00a0I lay down My life for the sheep.\u00a0I have\u00a0other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become\u00a0one flock\u00a0with\u00a0one shepherd.\u00a0For this reason the Father loves Me, because I\u00a0lay down My life so that I may take it again.\u00a0No one has taken it away from Me, but I\u00a0lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.\u00a0This commandment I received from My Father.\u201d (John 10:11-18 NASB 1995)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The key things from this passage that fill out our understanding of biblical leadership include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders live for the sake of others.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders protect their followers from danger.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders care about individuals.<\/p>\n

Washing the Feet of Disciples<\/h2>\n

Now before the Feast of\u00a0the Passover, Jesus knowing that\u00a0His hour had come that He would depart out of this world\u00a0to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them\u00a0to the end.\u00a0During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of\u00a0Judas Iscariot,\u00a0the son\u00a0of Simon, to betray Him,\u00a0Jesus,\u00a0knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that\u00a0He had come forth from God and was going back to God,\u00a0got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He\u00a0girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to\u00a0wash the disciples\u2019 feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.\u00a0So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, \u201cLord, do You wash my feet?\u201d Jesus answered and said to him,\u00a0\u201cWhat I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.\u201d Peter said to Him, \u201cNever shall You wash my feet!\u201d Jesus answered him,\u00a0\u201cIf I do not wash you,\u00a0you have no part with Me.\u201d Simon Peter said to Him, \u201cLord,\u00a0then wash\u00a0not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.\u201d\u00a0Jesus said to him,\u00a0\u201cHe who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and\u00a0you are clean, but not all\u00a0of you.\u201d\u00a0For\u00a0He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said,\u00a0\u201cNot all of you are clean.\u201d So when He had washed their feet, and\u00a0taken His garments and reclined\u00a0at the table\u00a0again, He said to them,\u00a0\u201cDo you know what I have done to you?\u00a0You call Me\u00a0Teacher and\u00a0Lord; and\u00a0you are right, for\u00a0so\u00a0I am.\u00a0If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another\u2019s feet.\u00a0For I gave you\u00a0an example that you also should do as I did to you. (John 13:1-15 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The key things from this passage that fill out our understanding of biblical leadership include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders understand their call and position before God.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders are secure enough before the Lord to be able to participate in tasks at all levels.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders provide an example to others of what it means to humbly serve.<\/p>\n

Tending the Flock<\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span>From Miletus he sent to\u00a0Ephesus and called to him\u00a0the elders of the church.\u00a0And when they had come to him, he said to them, \u201cYou yourselves know,\u00a0from the first day that I set foot in\u00a0Asia, how I was with you the whole time,\u00a0serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me\u00a0through\u00a0the plots of the Jews;\u00a0how I\u00a0did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and\u00a0from house to house,\u00a0solemnly\u00a0testifying to both Jews and Greeks of\u00a0repentance toward God and\u00a0faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a0And now, behold, bound by the\u00a0Spirit,\u00a0I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,\u00a0except that\u00a0the Holy Spirit solemnly\u00a0testifies to me in every city, saying that\u00a0bonds and afflictions await me.\u00a0But\u00a0I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may\u00a0finish my course and\u00a0the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to\u00a0testify solemnly of the gospel of\u00a0the grace of God. \u201cAnd now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about\u00a0preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.\u00a0Therefore, I\u00a0testify to you this day that\u00a0I am\u00a0innocent of the blood of all men.\u00a0For I\u00a0did not shrink from declaring to you the whole\u00a0purpose of God.\u00a0Be on guard for yourselves and for all\u00a0the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you\u00a0overseers, to shepherd\u00a0the church of God which He purchased\u00a0with His own blood.\u00a0I know that after my departure\u00a0savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing\u00a0the flock;\u00a0and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away\u00a0the disciples after them.\u00a0Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of\u00a0three years I did not cease to admonish each one\u00a0with tears.\u00a0And now I\u00a0commend you to God and to\u00a0the word of His grace, which is able to\u00a0build\u00a0you\u00a0up and to give\u00a0you\u00a0the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.\u00a0I have coveted no one\u2019s silver or gold or clothes.\u00a0You yourselves know that\u00a0these hands ministered to my\u00a0own\u00a0needs and to the\u00a0men who were with me.\u00a0In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said,\u00a0\u2018It is more blessed to give than to receive.\u2019\u201d When he had said these things, he\u00a0knelt down and prayed with them all.\u00a0And\u00a0they\u00a0began\u00a0to weep aloud and\u00a0embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,\u00a0grieving especially over\u00a0the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were\u00a0accompanying him to the ship. (Acts 20:17-38 NASB 1995)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The key things from this passage that fill out our understanding of biblical leadership include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders live a life of example that is open to all (vs. 18).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders serve the Lord with humility (vs. 19).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders do not keep back anything that will help those they serve (vs. 20, 27).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders take every opportunity to instruct their followers (vs. 20).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders are driven by a sense of purpose and destiny (vs. 22-24).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders are able to face the challenge of opposition to their calling (vs. 19, 23).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders live a life that is ethically clean (vs. 26).
\nThe word \u201cinnocent\u201d that is used in this passage literally means \u201cclean, genuine and free from corrupt desire, guilt or sin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders prepare their followers for potential danger (vs. 29-31).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders know how to commend their followers to God (vs. 32).<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Biblical leaders are not greedy but generous to those under their influence (vs. 33-35).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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