Defining True Leadership
Since we're reading this book together, I wanted to get the ball rolling with a quote from chap 1:"True greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. ... the true spiritual leader is focused on the service he and she can render to God and other people.... We must aim to put more into life than we take out" (15).Tell me, what passages of Scripture does this quote remind you of? Also, does this describe your heart's desire when it comes to spiritual leadership?
Labels: Ministry, Oswald Sanders
posted by Ordinary Pastor at 4:16 PM
5 Comments:
I will definiteley get this book as I currently don't have it. Going on your post PJ, it is amazing how much I have come (and am still coming) to realize how much we are designed by God for service. As our Master exemplified, we are here to serve others - not be served. If it was modeled by Jesus Himself, then who are we as leaders on earth to not do the same?? It's amazing how our true joy comes from serving others as this is what we're made for. The world is directly opposed to this idea, making it difficult each day to run against the world-wind. Immediate passages this reminded me of: Matt,19:30,20:26-28; Luke 9:23-24. 22:26; Rom 12:1-2, 14:7,21; Gal 6:1; Eph 4:1-2, 29, 32
Yeah. Matthew 20:26-28 came to mind instantly when I read that part of the book.
I think I recalled to mind Paul and some of the verses that Cory brought up, and it caused me to think about some of Paul's words to the corinthians about how he was their servant (1 cor 9:19) and how he urged them to godly behavior through his service to them.
seems a bit odd to think that we could get away with leading others in serving, if we ourselves have not first served them.
What a challenging thought!!
What strikes me now about that quote is how much a shepherd really portrays what a pastors job is. With the message on Ps. 23 a couple weeks ago we saw how the Lord is a Shepherd to His people, and pastors are placed over God's people so i think it makes sense to follow God's example of how He deals with His people. Also I was reminded of the charge Paul gave to Timothy in I Tim 1:3-5, about protecting the people and guiding them in the right direction. Its neat to see that the Highest calling in God's eyes, would be the lowest calling in man's eyes, that is being a servant.
For a course in school I'm currently taking (Resolving Church Conflict), we had a recent assignment of having to interview a pastor who has much expierence with dealing with conflict inside the church. After the interview, we had to post our interview results for all to read. I was appalled at what I read. Thinking about our first PIT meeting and what we talked about regarding the extremely high standards of the pastorate - I am totally vexed to why God allows unqualified men (and women for that matter)to lead congregations. In everyone's interview, it always came down to a leader in ongoing sin, and unwilling to confess that and repent of it. All of them were the same - 100%! Most of these pastors "didn't know the best way" to deal with their leaders who were in sin. These pastors are supposed to be teachers of the ultimate instuction Book on how to deal with sin. How can they not know? The Lord in Matthew 18:15-20 and even Paul in the Corinthian letters could not have made it more clear and applicable in dealing with sin in the Church...that's especially true if it's a pastor/leader in sin. This really made me evaluate this calling and understand how crucial it is to be holy as our heavenly Father is holy and how crucial it is to keep His Church holy. Sorry for the long post, I'm really bothered by these "Christian" leaders who the world sees and blasphemes our Lord because of (cf. Rom 2:21-24).
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