Message #2, I am here to lead as Christ led.
Message #2,
I am here to lead as
Christ led.
Click here for the Message #2 handout.
I’m standing on the shoulders of
two colleagues, Bremner & Anderson.
I was privileged to be classmates
with Dr. Dan Anderson at Appalachian Bible Institute a long time ago. Dan went
on to earn his Dr. at Dallas and has for many years been the Pres of
Appalachian, now ABC.
I have only met Dave Bremner. I
know him vicariously. He attends the church my son pastors. He is the North
American Director for SIM. He’s from South Africa. My Daughter-in-law works
with him at SIM.
Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” In this
case, I assure you, you can. The cover was designed by my Granddaughter.
I recommend these books.
Let me give you a quote from each
of them.
Actually, the first quotation is about Bremner’s book. Top p3
“In a world filled with power
seeking leadership—even within the church—and in which the ancient serpent of
Genesis and Revelation continues to deceive humanity by questioning and
distorting God’s words, Dave Bremner’s work is a refreshing reminder that Jesus
has modeled for us the character and essence of Godly leadership [in three
images] . . .. Shepherd, Servant, and Steward—for God’s mission in the vast
diversity of human life and culture.” (Sherwood Lingenfelter)
Anderson: “Biblical Slave
Leadership is a stewardship from and to God requiring the surrender of
one’s life to God for the development of others in the will of God.”
Chart: Note how the three
highlighted elements in Anderson’s definition of Leadership, match the three
“Images of Leadership” in Bremner’s book.
As I reread both of these books in
preparation for this conference, I found a remarkable coming together in these
2 men’s thinking.
I created this chart which uses the
paradigm of the three pictures of leadership that Dave Bremner observes in the
life and leadership of Christ and incorporates aspects of Dan Anderson’s book
that intersect with it. Obviously, it also contains my observations.
|
Shepherd |
Servant |
Steward |
|
|
Definitive thoughts: |
Significantly, the English words
“shepherd,” associated with caring for sheep and “pastor,” associated with caring for people
come from the same Greek word, ποιμήν,
poimen. See John 10:2, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 5:1-4. The linkage between
caring for sheep and caring for people is also found in the Old Testament.
See Ezekiel 34:2, for example. |
In the world in which the New Testament
was written, much of the work was done by slaves. A slave/servant’s time was not his own. In
many ways he/she was not his/her own. |
A Steward is someone who cares for the
property, or looks after the interests, of another. She/he is accountable to perform the
assigned tasks in such a way as to achieve the owner/master’s goals. |
|
Basic application: |
A Godly, Biblical leader must not use
his/her position selfishly. Rather she/he must focus on the welfare and
development of those being led. |
A Godly, Biblical leader must focus on
obedience, before and above commanding. |
A Godly, Biblical leader must not allow
personal plans or desires to keep him/her from leading in the direction of
God’s plans. |
|
Standard of success: |
If those being led are not growing and
moving toward greater responsibility themselves, the leader is failing.
Success lies in enabling those being to greater levels of service and in the
development of new leaders. The pattern found in Christ’s work with
the 12 and 2 Tim. 2:2 applies. |
If the “leadership” one is offering is not
causing both the leader and the led to grow in their conformity to God’s will,
the leader is failing. Success lies in obeying God in leadership and leading
others to obey Him in their service. |
The desired outcome of a Godly, Biblical
leader is the accomplishment of God’s plan. Greater levels of leadership are
accompanied by greater levels of accountability. Luke 12:48, James 3:1, 2
Cor. 11:28, 1 Tim. 3:5 |
|
Key passage: |
Philippians 2:2-5 |
Mark 10:42-45 |
Hebrews 10:7 |
|
Key Concept: |
Love |
Sacrifice |
Faithfulness |
|
Bremner: |
“The relationship between shepherd
and sheep illustrates the relationship God has with his people, and sets the
example that God has designed and commanded everyone who leads in his kingdom
to follow” (21) |
“The core of being a servant
who leads is a deep unfeigned humility. It turns its back on selfish ambition
and dedicates itself to the good of the followers.” (34) |
“Jesus . . . is the perfect steward,
faithfully and fully completing his assignment, declaring his work on earth
finished, and then ascending to the right hand of the Father, where he
intercedes for the saints.” (39) |
|
Anderson: |
“. . . it is impossible to be a leader
without allowing time for the process to occur. As a person is given
opportunity to lead, there will be the development of those being led.
Biblical leadership is not about advancing the leader’s personal agenda, nor
will it come at the expense of the ones being led. Leading is not about the
leader!”(431/2013, Kindle) |
“Contrary to the norm of Jesus’ day (and,
might I add, the norm of our present day), a leader must go down to lead.
This is neither a superficial humility nor a self-defacing demeanor.
Scripturally, the only viable understanding of the leader’s function is that
he is a slave. Biblical leadership is unconditionally and totally obligated
to the God Who has placed a stewardship of leading upon the life of that
leader. Leaders are obligated to be slaves!” (420/2013 Kindle) |
Commenting on Matthew 20:21, “to qualify
for the solicited leadership roles: (1) the leader-to-be must be . . .
willing to face death; and (2) he must be identified with Christ through
baptism, or immersion, in suffering . . .. Sitting at Christ’s right hand is
a leadership role that must be divinely given—a stewardship from God.” (285/2013
Kindle) |
|
Notable Biblical examples, other than
Christ: |
Moses, Peter, |
Barnabas, Timothy |
Paul, Nehemiah |
Bremner, Dave. Images
of Leadership: Biblical Portraits of Godly Leaders. Oasis International
Publishing.
Let’s explore that.
What we are going to do, Lord willing in this session is to
introduce these three essentials of Biblical leadership. We’ll come back to
them from time to time in the rest of our time together.
If
there is someone you include, get them to work with you on this. I want you to
take a minute and talk among yourselves. If you are by yourself, just think
about the questions. Whether group or solo, answer the questions. Write down
your answers.
1.
What passages in the Bible speak of shepherding?
Don’t spend too much time on this one.
2. In
the passages you identified, what leadership principles do you see?
3.
Identify anyone in the Bible, or with whom you
are acquainted, who lives out one or more of the principles you identified.
Don’t use names if it might embarrass someone—you can say something like, “A
relative of mine,” or, “a teacher in a school I attended.”
I am going to emphasize 3 passages.
Read them out loud, even if you are alone.
Here is your listening assignment.
In these passages there are no sheep involved. All of these passages are
talking about caring for and leading people.
The listening assignment: Jot down the traits that you observe, that are
true of good shepherds and those that are true of bad ones. Some of these won’t
be stated right out. Some will be implied.
· John
10:1-16
·
1 Peter 5:1-5
People are important.
That is a common value in all kinds of businesses, industry, government, and
non-profits.
In the church we should recognize
this supremely.
Read Matt. 5:21-26, & James,
3:9-10. Why are people important?
This is a time honesty and
vulnerability.
Try to talk to one or two of your
ministry colleagues about these, add to the list.
Bottom line: The mark of a
shepherd leader is the improvement of the those who are led.
II Servant
I think this is an aspect of
leadership that I’ve done better at than many other aspects of leadership.
Having said that, let me hasten to
add that I clearly haven’t mastered this concept. Maybe I should say that “I’ve
failed less miserably at this aspect of leadership” than I have at others.
In fact, often the area of life in
which we are most successful is the area of life where our failures can be the
biggest.
For instance, a parent may be
self-sacrificing, kind, and generous to their child. In the process of
self-sacrificially showing kindness and generosity, the parent may also enable
their child to become dependent, lazy, and complacent.
In my time as lead pastor at
CBC, President of PIU, and in other roles where I have been called on to lead.
I have frequently told those who were below me in the organizational chart, “I
would rather not have you work for me (though I am accountable for your
performance and there will be times when I give assignme . . . .
That is good.
However, generally speaking, in
a leadership role, I am responsible to lead a number of people. If I as a
leader, find myself consistently doing that which the person being led should
be doing, I may be kind, but I’m not helping the person who isn’t doing his or
her work. I’m likely failing to effectively lead the others who are looking to
me for leadership, and I’m helping the organization to fail in achieving its
goals and mission. I’ve been guilty of that.
Prominent in the list about the
shepherd concept of leadership is the command to feed. To feed a crowd is hard
work. It is a form of service.
Two often we see leadership as
being at the top of a pyramid.
Let’s turn that upside down.
In the first picture the leader the
leader tells the people under him/her what to do so that he/she can accomplish
the leader’s goals or desires.
In the second she/he asks a
critical question of the people in the level above. What can I do to help
you grow and be more successful?
I should not do their work. I should invest in them so they can do their work
and do it better. I should help them succeed. In the process I’ll succeed.
It is the difference between
extraction and investment.
“because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them,
“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill
him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he
meant and were afraid to ask him about it. They came to Capernaum. When he was
in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But
they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be
first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”” (Mark
9:31–35, NIV84)
We are breaking into the middle of
this passage.
This was a time when Jesus was
preparing the Apostles for his coming death and all that would mean to them.
“They did not understand.”
Listen to this. It is clear that
their failure to understand was not merely a matter of mental dumbness, but
because they had a different agenda.
““What were you arguing about on
the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was
the greatest.”
They were thinking in terms of the
first pyramid—extraction. Jesus was thinking in terms of the second
pyramid—investment.
“As your
leader, I want to provide for you that which you need to succeed. What do you
need?
Let me make some general
suggestions about what those you lead need in order to succeed.
Many a king misunderstands or abuses his calling and ends up
devouring the flock—and then he blames the sheep for the dwindling numbers.
Such a leader solidifies his power by the use of fear and shame. The troops
cower and obey, but they do not love the leader and they are not loyal to him.
It is far more difficult to be a shepherd king, one who must possess power and
give it away until he serves as the balancing point of an inverted pyramid.
(Allender 61)
“I no longer call you
servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I
have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have
made known to you.” (John 15:15, NIV84)
I called meeting of the leaders,
confessed what I had done and asked them to forgive me.
· Care/love/kindness
The sheep follow because they know the shepherd. The bad shepherd can only
drive them.
· A
climate of holy boldness, courage, the opportunity to fail, the assurance that
one will not be judged solely on the basis of his/her worst day and his/her
best day won’t be soon forgotten.
· Appropriate
empowerment
·
Two way accountability.
III Steward
“So then, men ought to regard us
as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now
it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
(1 Corinthians 4:1–2, NIV84)
““Again, it will be like a man
going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another
one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man
who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and
gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But
the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and
hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants
returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five
talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five
talents. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good
and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you
in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man
with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two
talents; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good
and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you
in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the
man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you
are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have
not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the
ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked,
lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where
I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit
with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with
interest. “ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten
talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an
abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And
throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:14–30, NIV84)
Just a few points:
· “each
according to his ability” Note 1 Cor 12:4-7
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are
different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of
working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the
manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians
12:4–7, NIV84)
·
“put his money to work,” and, “gained.”
“you entrusted me,” and, “I gained.”
When the master came back he was pleased with the first two servants, “Well
done.” But not with the 3rd. We’ll leave him alone.
In short, responsibility had been
given to them—instructions. This involved accountability.
Keep in mind we are following the
pattern that the Lord Jesus established in His leadership. Note:
“I have brought you glory on
earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4, NIV84)
You’ll notice in this prayer in
John 17 that it is as if Jesus is reporting to the Father. In Heb 10:7, He says
“I came to do your will.”
“As stewards in God’s kingdom, we should
constantly ask ourselves whether we are faithfully responding to the challenges
and opportunities of of our leadership in a way that reflects our faithfulness
in overseeing God’s purposes, rather than serving our own agendas.” (Bremner,
40)
Heb 13:17
“Obey your leaders and submit to
their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey
them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no
advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17, NIV84)
“Why am I here?”
I am here to lead in the way Christ led, not only where I
lead, but how I lead. As a shepherd, concerned for the welfare of those
I lead, as a servant, willing to be submissive to others, and as a
steward, knowing that this is not my work; I am accountable to another.
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