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More Scripture & Thoughts
Great leadership comes at a premium. No organization, church, corporation or nation can be expected to do well without its share of great leaders. But just what constitutes great leadership and who are the paradigms of great leaders is not always so obvious.
Certainly it seems there are certain virtues that great leaders share, but context is important in determining what mix of such gifts and character produces the results that bring the greatest glory to God.
Let’s take some time to reflect about that within the context of leading a local fellowship of Christian believers in academe. If you are reading this, it is likely because you’ve been asked to take leadership in such an organization by someone who thought you had some or enough of the kinds of leadership traits that could help bring about a successful fellowship and movement of believers. That may not mean you have all of what it takes to do that by yourself--though you may--in some cases its because you have a team of folks who are helping one another bring about the desired results.
Let’s take a look at some passages of Scripture that relate to spiritual leadership:
1Pet. 5:1 ¶ To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
1Pet. 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
1Pet. 5:3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
1Pet. 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1Pet. 5:5 ¶ Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ¶ “God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
1Pet. 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1Pet. 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1Pet. 5:8 ¶ Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1Pet. 5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1Pet. 5:10 ¶ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
1Pet. 5:11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
What are some things you see in this passage about leadership? What are some things you want to trust the Lord specifically to work into your life in your leadership role?
See also:
1Tim. 4:9 ¶ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance
1Tim. 4:10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
1Tim. 4:11 ¶ Command and teach these things.
1Tim. 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1Tim. 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
1Tim. 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
1Tim. 4:15 ¶ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
1Tim. 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1Tim. 5:1 ¶ Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,
1Tim. 5:2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
What are some things you see in this passage about leadership? What are some things you want to trust the Lord specifically to work into your life in your leadership role?
See also:
2Tim. 3:10 ¶ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
2Tim. 3:11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
2Tim. 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
2Tim. 3:13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2Tim. 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
2Tim. 3:15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2Tim. 3:17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Tim. 4:1 ¶ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2Tim. 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
2Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2Tim. 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
2Tim. 4:5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
What are some things you see in this passage about leadership? What are some things you want to trust the Lord specifically to work into your life in your leadership role?