THE CULTURE OF A BIBLICAL CHURCH: SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE CHURCH – PT 1

DR. LARRY LAMB

• Regardless of the country, every church’s character is shaped by its leadership.
• A church guided by biblical leadership is never a coincidence. With biblical leadership, the church can function healthy and effectively.
• The Bible describes the kind of man to lead in the local church.
• The emphasis in local church leadership is on character.
• A man who does not possess a godly character cannot lead the church.

REMEMBER THIS ABOUT CHURCH LEADERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS:
– These are non-negotiable.
– The standard is very high.
– Talent is not the issue.
– Longevity in Christ is not the standard.
– The amount of memorized Scripture is not a qualifier. Some people have memorized a lot of Scripture and are mean and arrogant. Some are meek and humble.

• Hosea 4:9 And what the priests do, the people also do…
• In his terrific book, Spiritual Leadership, J Oswald Sanders says, “Leadership is influence.”
• When there is some type of conflict leadership gets tested.
• Conflict happens because people see issues differently. Conflict happens because of selfishness.
• James 4:1-4 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
• Biblical leadership doesn’t make the environment perfect, but it does make it healthy.
• Acts 6:1-7 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.  3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” 5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).  6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. 7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

1. Growth in a church brings change and challenges. (Acts 6:1)

2. Selecting godly leaders made the difference. (Acts 6:2-3)

“Spirituality is not easy to define, but you can tell when it is present. It is the fragrance of the garden of the Lord, the power to change the atmosphere around you, the influence that makes Christ real to others.” J Oswald Sanders

3. Let the gifted leaders be responsible. (Acts 6:4)

4. A genuine miracle (Acts 6:5)

• Before a respected, godly, and wise man is selected for a position in the church, there needs to be men who can recognize a man who is respected, godly, and wise.

1. Acknowledge your desire to change. You may be sensing “rumblings of discontent ” in your life. I want to be different.

“Am I getting nobler, better, more helpful, more humble, as I get older? Am I exhibiting the life that men take knowledge of as having been with Jesus, or am I getting more self-assertive, more deliberately determined to have my own way? It is great to tell yourself the truth.”  Oswald Chambers

2. Accept the fact that I cannot grow without the help of others.
3. Acquire a growth plan.

1 Timothy 4:7 …train yourself to be godly.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

• The selection of leaders in a church is crucial because it is the Lord’s church.
• Jesus died for the church, and it is valuable and precious.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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