Article

Statistics reveal that we need servant leaders in the church:

80% Of the United States claims to be Christian, but only
60% Of all Americans attend church at least once per month
12% Of Americans read their Bible
25% Of Church members admit they never read their Bible
23% Never read their Bible
60% Never give to missions
70% Never assume responsibilities in the church
85% Never invite anyone to church
95% Never win anyone to Christ

 

These statistics are very revealing.  From observing them, we can see that the church is not doing its job very well.

 

The success of the church to fulfill the Great Commission lies in Servant Leadership.  Throughout history, when God has ever needed someone to initiate, organize and carry out an important project, he has called upon ordinary people to lead.  It's the way of God.  When God wanted His people delivered from an oppressive Pharaoh, He used the servant leader Moses.  When He needed Jerusalem's wall rebuilt, he used a servant leader named Nehemiah.  When He wanted His people to experience a golden era, he used a servant leader named David.  When He needed a statesman-prophet He used a servant leader named Isaiah.  And when He needed a fearless church planter, He used a servant leader named Paul.

 

Leaders are God's servants equipped by Him to fulfill a specific purpose.  Leadership lives by these principles:

 

The foundation of leadership is character
The nature of leadership is servant hood
The motive for leadership is love
The measure of leadership is sacrifice

The authority of leadership is submission

The purpose of leadership is to lead people from here to eternity
The glory of leadership goes to God
The tools of leadership are the Word of God and Prayer
The privilege of leadership is growth

The power of leadership is the Holy Spirit
The model of leadership is Jesus Christ

Leadership must be built in the church and we all need to understand that all of us are leaders under construction.  We must allow God to build us into leaders.  This means being willing to listen to the Will of God, and do the Will of God.  Leaders are made - not born, they are made through God's teachings and through life experiences.

 

I.  Leaders are built by learning about God and His ways by doing their homework.  We as leaders are under construction by God and the more we learn about Him the more we develop.  II Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth."  Studying the Bible helps develop you into a leader.  All great leaders do their homework!  We as leaders have the responsibility to draw closer to God by studying His Word and learning more of Him.  We as leaders are never totally done being built by God until the day we go home to be with Him.  We are to be constantly learning and growing.    Quote:  "Once you are through learning, you are through."

 

II.  Leaders are under construction by God even through mistakes.  Yes, leaders make mistakes!  We goof up, create mess, mishear, misinterpret, misjudge, misread, misspeak, misspell, misunderstand, and yes, make the mistake of sinning.  Truth is, everyone has blown it!  Even the great apostle Paul shares insight on the issue of mistakes in Romans 7:15-22.  "I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate to do, I do.  And if, I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who does it, but sin living in me.  I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For what I do is not the good that I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who does it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

 

III.  Leaders are built and developed through life experiences.  Leadership is not something you are born with.  Leaders are built one step at a time, one lesson at a time, and one experience at a time.  Each one of these experiences and lessons teach him/her something more about being a quality leader.  Leaders need to understand that they are developed by humbling adversity, humbling mistakes and life experiences.  The prophet Jeremiah had a promise from the Lord that He would give Israel and also us the church, shepherds after His heart, who will lead with knowledge and understanding." (3:15)   The key is to have both knowledge and understanding.  You need a balance of both.

 

James 1:2-4 tells us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

 

Our goal, as servant leaders is:  "So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ.  We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.  I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ's mighty power that works within me."  Colossians 1: 28-29.