Leadership is subject to the trickle-down effect. Whether bad or good, leadership usually reproduces itself from above. Most fathers lead their families in the way that their fathers lead them. Most companies never change their management style, especially if they have had some degree of success in the past. It’s not that the chain can’t be broken, but that change has to be planned and deliberate.
Of course, if leadership trickles down then we need to examine the spring at the top from which it flows. And for us that is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the leadership source for the Christian family. And He is the Head of His church. In fact He is the head of every man. There may be things that we could learn by studying the management techniques of the great corporate CEO’s of the world, but if they were the beginning and the end of our study of leadership, we’d end up in human idolatry.
In our scripture the Lord was explaining that His tenure as the General Manager of the Jerusalem church was coming to an end. It was expedient that He go away, or the Comforter would not come. Soon the Holy Spirit would be overseeing the day-to-day activities of the church and its members. But………..the Lord’s retirement was still a few weeks ahead, and He was still in charge. So when Peter attempted a hostile take-over of the decision-making responsibilities, he was quickly put in his place. Peter “took the Saviour and began to rebuke Him,” but he didn’t get very far. “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou are an offence unto me: For thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
At that point Jesus taught the disciples a few of the principles of wise and godly leadership. At first it may not sound like it, but it is. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Have you ever noticed that Christ first said “coming after me” and then “follow me.” Am I insane or do I see the Lord making a distinction between the too? Is perhaps one of them a qualification to the other? Strong says that to “come after” could be defined as “appearing after.” But to “follow after” means to “accompany.” I’m not smart enough to explain the difference – or to tell you that there really is a difference. Nevertheless, it appears that in order to “come after” Christ one prerequisite is to deny ourselves. To deny one’s self is to put others first – generally, and in this case specifically – to put the Lord first. Secondly, the Lord tells us to take up our cross. That is a subject which has mystified the mystics for multiplied millennia. Whatever it is, it is not a reference to Jesus’ cross, but to our own. If we can draw some parallels between the two, I think that this refers to carrying out our God-given responsibilities, as the Lord Jesus carried out His own. Thirdly, if we want to come after Christ we need to deliberately choose to follow Him. Then finally, there must be a willingness to be completely lost. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Remember that these things are not only the pre-requisites for LEADERSHIP, but also for discipleship. Which of the twelve disciples were not also ordained to be leaders of others? There is a sense in which all Christian disciples are destined to be Christian leaders. But before they can lead they first must become followers.
So what are some of the New Testament principles of Christian leadership? A better question might be: “What are some of the things that we see in Christ, which could be described as principles of leadership?”
First, Jesus lead others by EXAMPLE.
Our Saviour was a man under authority, just as we are under His authority. Again, I don’t pretend to understand all that is contained in the covenant between the Father and the Son. Nor to I understand all that is involved in the relationship between those two Divine Persons. I believe that the Bible teaches that the Father and the Son are eternally equals. And yet, the Son, in the days of His humanity, became obedient to the Father, under the structure of the covenant.
Turn to Hebrews 10:4-10 – “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
John 15:1-8 is a classic passage on the relationship of the disciple to the master. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” Now notice verse 10 – “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” Isn’t the Lord leading like a beloved officer in the forefront of his troops in the time of battle? In the preceding chapter Christ was again teaching the disciples about his upcoming sacrifice and departure. He had already “steadfastly set His face toward Jerusalem.”
John 14:26-31 – “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”
Life, to be well lived, requires character and integrity. Whether we are trying to train children, or soldiers, or Christians, the fundamental need is the same. And it is impossible for an hypocrite to instill integrity in others. How can a teacher instruct others in the art of reading, if she can’t read herself? In the area of character there never has been a more qualified master than the Lord Jesus.
With these things before us, I think that it’s impossible to be great leaders without being good Christians. There may be good, decent parents among the unbelievers, but they cannot instill the really important things of life into the hearts of their children. This world needs the principles of the Bible more than ten thousand of the things of the world. We need the things that we find in the Person of Christ; not just the teachings but the person of Christ.
Secondly, Jesus clearly communicated the EXPECTATIONS of the Father to the troops.
When I was working at the mall, we had pre-published job descriptions for each of the positions in the company. There were few areas where we didn’t know who was in charge and what he was supposed to do. And the Lord has left little to doubt about what He expects of us. A good leader communicates what the expectations are.
Do you have any idea how many exhortations to you and me that there are in the New Testament? Abstain from all appearance of evil (from every form of evil). That is not an option to be discussed and voted on. Abstain from fleshly lusts – I Pet. 2:11 Mark them which cause divisions and offenses – avoid troublemakers – Rom. 16:17 Avoid profane and vain babblings Avoid science falsely so-called – I Tim. 6:20 Avoid foolish questions, and arguments about the law – Tit. 3:9 Strive for reconciliation with your brethren – Matt. 5:24 Be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves – Matt. 10:16 Be ye thankful – Col. 3:15 Be patient toward all men – I Thess. 5:14. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts – I Pet. 3:15 Be ready always to give an answer of the hope that is in you – I Pet. 3:15 Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed – Rom. 12:2 Be patient in tribulation – Rom. 12:12 Be children in avoiding malice, but be men in understanding – I Cor. 14:20 Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord – I Cor. 15:58 Be ye of one mind – Rom. 12:16 Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers – II Cor. 6:17 Be angry and sin not – Eph. 4:26 Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit – Eph. 5:18 Be anxious for nothing – Phil. 4:6 Be a good example to other believers – I Tim. 4:12 Be ye gentle to all men, and apt to teach – II Tim. 2:24 Be content with such things ad you have – Heb. 13:5 Be vigilant – I Pet. 5:8 Don’t be like the hypocrites in prayer – Matt. 6:5 Fear not what men can do unto you – Luke 12:4 Be not children in your understanding – I Cor. 14:20 Don’t be deceived by evil companions – I Cor. 15:33 Be not weary in well-doing – II Thess. 3:13
I hope that I’m not boring you. Be not slothful – Heb. 6:12 Beware of false prophets – Phil. 3:2 Grieve not the Spirit – Eph. 4:30 Grow in grace – II Pet. 3:18 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness – Eph. 5:11 Have compassion – Jude 22 Have a good conscience – I Pet. 3:16 Hold forth the word of life – Phil. 2:16 Hold fast sound doctrine – II Tim. 1:13 Beware of covetousness – Luke 12:15 Beware of backsliding – II Pet. 3:17 Do not bid false teachers god-speed – II John 10-11 Nurture your children in the things of the Lord – Eph. 6:4 Cast your cares upon the Lord – I Pet. 5:7 Have confidence in God – Heb. 10:35 Come out from among the people of the world – II Cor. 6:17 Count it all joy when you are tempted – James 1:2 Treat others as you would like to be treated – Matt. 7:12 Desire the sincere milk of the Word – I Pet. 2:2 Do all to God’s glory – Col. 3:17 Do all things without murmuring or disputing – Phil. 2:14 Earnestly contend for the faith – Jude 3 Give no place to Satan – Eph. 4:27 Give attention to reading – I Tim. 4:13 Give freely as God as prospered you – I Cor. 16:2 Give willingly and purposefully – II Cor. 8:12 and 9:7 Honour your father and mother – Eph. 6:2; Matt. 19:19 Honour your civil leaders – I Pet. 2:17 Lay aside all envy and evil speaking– I Pet. 2:1 Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth – Matt. 6:19 Let your light shine – Matt. 5:16 Let no man deceive himself – I Cor. 3:18 Examine yourself – I Cor. 11:28 Let your requests be made known unto God – Phil. 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace – Col. 4:6 Do all things decently and in order – I Cor. 14:40 Let those who are taught support their teacher – Gal. 6:6 Wives, be in subjection to their own husbands – Eph. 5:22 Husbands love your wives – Eph. 5:25 Wives, reverence your husbands – Eph. 5:33 Be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath – James 1:19 Let your adorning be more inward than outward – I Pet. 3:3-4 Don’t let sin reign in your mortal body – Tom. 6:12 Don’t let the sun go down upon your wrath – Eph. 4:26 Redeem the time – Eph. 5:16 Resist the Devil – I Pet. 5:9 Strengthen feeble knees – Heb. 12:12 Follow after things that edify – Rom. 14:19 Walk in the Spirit – Gal. 5;25 Don’t provoke one another; provoke one another – Gal. 5:26 Don’t be weary in well-doing – Gal. 6:9 Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together – Heb. 10:25 Study to show yourselves approved unto God – II Tim. 2:15 Take no anxious thought for tomorrow – matt. 6:34 Be careful not to despise the little ones – Matt. 18:10 Withdraw yourselves from disorderly people – II Thess., 3:6, 14 Exhort one another – Heb. 10:25 Run with patience the race before you – Heb. 12:1 Look unto Jesus – Heb. 12:2 Offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually – Heb. 13:15 Judge not one another in doubtful things – Rom. 14:1 Don’t cause others to stumble – Rom. 14:13 Mark trouble makers – Rom. 16:17 Pray for your persecutors – Matt. 5:44 Present your body to God – Rom. 12:1 Put on the new man – Eph. 4:24 Put on the whole armor of God – Eph. 6:11 Quench not the spirit – I Thess. 5:19 Recon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin – Rom. 6:11 Whatsoever things are true, honest, just and pure – think on these things – Phil. 4:8
I’ve just given you one hundred New Testament exhortations, and I could easily double this list. I just want you to notice two things: First, the Lord Jesus is the best illustration of nearly everyone of these. And second, the Lord gives little doubt about what He expects of us.
Please notice that Christ Jesus made obedience the norm – Obedience is the standard.
Out of the things that I just gave you, how many of them are optional? How many of them are marginally important? How often does the Lord tell us to discuss them among our selves? How many of them are restricted to some cultures but not to our culture? How many of them are supposed to be implemented only if we find them easy enough? None!
Let’s say that the Lord gave us an hundred question test, and those were the questions. How many of us would get a passing grade as each question was examined in the light of the last seven days? Will anything like these come up at the Judgment Seat of Christ?
I’m probably getting away from the original intention of my message. But I bring up each of these things and these comments about judgment, because I believe that the Lord wants to hold our noses to them. A good leader may be forgiving when his followers fail, but he’s not a good leader if he creates an atmosphere that condones or encourages failure. Christ Jesus expects you to be obedient in all one hundred of the things that I have just read. And that should be the expectation that we have for ourselves as well.
Yes, it requires discipline. Self-discipline is one of the characteristics of the Christian life. “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow.”
Jesus encouraged the disciples to reach for their full potential.
The Lord is not unfamiliar that each of us have our own peculiar gifts and talents. He knows them better than we do, because He put them within us. That means that He’s not interested that we all look just like everyone else who call themselves “Christians.” He doesn’t want us all to be exactly like our neighbor. But He does want us to strive to be as obedient as we can, and to be as fine as we can. We all have our own cross, our own sphere of responsibility in which to practice these hundred things.
The good leader encourages others to strive to be the very best that they can be. That is what quality character is all about. And it is character, Christian character, that the Lord wants to cultivate in us.