Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

Introduction:

“The dearth of leadership is apparent throughout society. No matter where we turn, we see the severe lack of faith in leadership of our schools, religious organizations, and governments.” James Bolt, Executive Development Ass

“I have reached several conclusions regarding the future of the Christian Church in America. The central conclusion is that the American church is dying due to a lack of strong leadership. In this time of unprecedented opportunity and plentiful resources, the church is actually losing influence. The primary reason is the lack of leadership. Nothing is more important than leadership.” George Barna

The greatest challenge in every church small or large is leadership and leadership development.

“I contend that the leadership crisis in the church is in reality a leadership development crisis.” Aubey Malphurs, DTS.

Jn 21:15-22

Review – 5 principles of leadership
1. People become leaders through a process.
Ordinary men who followed Christ with all they had.
Interested; Available; Teachable; Growing commitment

Leaders are learners. That’s one of the qualities that stands out in Peter’s life. Yes, he had to learn the hard way. But he did learn.

“Simon, son of John” only the most important occasions.

Jesus was about to say to him was extremely important.

Peter is “in process”. He hasn’t arrived.

2. Leadership requires commitment.

The basic qualification for service is love for Christ

The necessity of settling the issue of what or whom you will love.

The one thing about which Jesus questioned Peter prior to commissioning him to tend the flock was love. This is the basic qualification for Christian service. Other qualities may be desirable, but love is completely indispensable (cf. 1 Cor. 13:1-3).

Do you love me more than these things? “these things”

This is the law of “buy-in” among competing loves!

Mt 13:22 “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” NIV

3. Shepherding is the backbone of the ministry

Jesus commands Peter to Feed His sheep!

4. Leadership requires personal sacrifice

The freedoms of youth vs. the constraints he will experience.

His service and sacrifice is a matter of personal obedience

5. Leaders in the church must be those who are leader-led!

Peter’s self-confidence had led to failure! “Follow me.”

The clearest biblical illustration of a leadership development crisis is in Exodus 18

Moses is leading a mega church of God’s people toward the promised

Moses is the point man leader – as God appointed him to be.

But he is the “go to” guy at every level of leadership.

The result is an unsustainable leadership structure.

Moses becomes the bottleneck in the process of developing a

God-honoring community of believers.

Ex 18:18-24 “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.

Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.” NIV

2 Ti 2:1-2 “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” NIV

I. The Problem

Moses is the only leader. (Too few leaders)

Maybe Moses didn’t know how to develop other leaders.

Possibly Moses feared that he would lose control.

Pastors are entrusted with the ministry.

They have the responsibility to guard the flock from both

outside attack and insider saboteurs.

When it comes to the teachings of the Word of God that include the mission, vision, and values of the ministry the pastor is to guard the flock. But when it comes to doing the ministry he is to give it away.

1 Ti 1:2-4 “To Timothy my true son in the faith…I urged you when I to stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.” NIV

1 Ti 4:6 “If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.” NIV

1 Ti 6:20-21 “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.” NIV

2 Ti 1:14 “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” NIV

2 Ti 4:1-4 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus…. I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 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. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” NIV

Tit 1:9 “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” NIV

Ac 20:28,31 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood….So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” NIV

But bottom line: Moses was a wearied leader! He was trying to juggle too many balls. He couldn’t do it alone. His schedule was overloaded and he was not training other leaders. He needed others to help lead under his guidance.

Not even Christ could do it alone.

Mk 3:13-15 “ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” NIV

Responsibility – Authority – Accountability.

II. Solutions:

1. Clear job description for Moses with specific responsibilities