Supplemental Reading 1: Leadership

LEADERSHIP IS A LIFESTYLE

Introduction:

Being a leader is both a privilege and a responsibility.  As leaders we have a commitment to the people who follow us.  We are accountable for the influence we have over people and must guard the things we say and do.  When we recognize the gravity of the influence we have over people we become more aware of the responsibilities we take on as leaders.  Leaders who rush into positions of authority without understanding the responsibility that accompanies the title or position are more prone to failures in character and leadership.  Leaders who are eager for position and honor without the responsibility will lead their people down the wrong road if they haven't paid sufficient attention to developing their character through cultivating a growing and healthy relationship with Jesus Christ.

Being a leader is more than a position of authority that comes with a title.  True leadership is a lifestyle.  The character of a true leader emerges even in times when no one is watching.  A true leader will act as a leader regardless of the accolades and honors that come with a position.  True leaders are servants that have put the needs of the people around them first.  Great leaders are people who have submitted their lives to Jesus and seek His will for the needs of their people and themselves.

THE CHARACTER OF A LEADER

            In Deuteronomy 17, God lays out the rules and regulations the leaders of His chosen people.  While these commands were specifically given to the nation of Israel, there are some principles in this passage that apply to leaders of God’s children, the Church.

Read Deuteronomy 17: 14-20.

List the stipulations God lays out for who can be a king. Circle the ones that are applicable to present day leaders (15-17)

List the rules God says kings must observe. Circle the ones that apply to present day leaders. (18-20)

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR TODAY

STIPULATIONS FOR LEADERS

            Most of us probably won’t be campaigning for the office of King of Israel, however there are some principles that God gave for kings that apply to us today.  In verse 15, it says that the king must be someone God chooses.  Leadership for God’s people isn’t a decision a person just makes.  God’s leaders aren’t nominated or voted on, they are called.  God determines who will have the responsibility, authority, and honor of leading His people.  The only reason why anyone can bear the title of leader is because God allows it.

Principle 1:  God calls His leaders.

            God goes on to tell us that the king “must be from among your fellow Israelites.”  This command is instruction given to the chosen people of God.  As the Church, we are God’s chosen people (1 Pet 2:9).  When God’s people are trying to discern who God has chosen to lead them, this person must be part of God’s people.  God wants a person who is connected to the people and will love them.  This person is someone that knows, follows, worships, and serves the same God of the people. A simple way to say this is: “God’s leaders must be devoted followers of Jesus developing a growing intimacy with Him.”

Principle 2: God’s leaders must be devoted followers of Jesus developing a growing intimacy with Him.

            I don’t know about you but I’m not looking to make people go to Egypt to buy me horses.  The next three stipulations in the passage have to do with the same principle.  God doesn’t want the king to have a lot of horses because horses were a means of amassing military power.  God didn’t want the people to go to Egypt to buy more weapons and become dependent on a foreign power for military strength.  God didn’t want Israel to depend on their ability to defend themselves; He wanted them to trust Him to be their protector and conqueror.  God didn’t want the king to have a lot of wives because a wife is someone dear to a man’s heart.  A wife has great influence on her husband.  Can you imagine how many directions a king's heart and mind would be pulled trying to please more than one wife?  God didn’t want the king to find primary satisfaction in pleasing his wives.  God wanted the king to set aside his heart for the Lord and find full satisfaction in pleasing the God.  God didn’t want the king to make the acquisition of wealth his primary concern.  God didn’t want the king to begin relying on his ability to provide for himself or the people.  God wanted the king to trust the Lord to provide for the needs of the nation.  The last three stipulations all have to do with trust.  God wants his leaders to be fully dependent on Him for every need and to find full satisfaction in pleasing Him.

Principle 3: God’s leaders must be fully satisfied in their commitment to trust God.

AM I A LEADER

            Am I a leader? Good question, hopefully that’s one of many questions you will be able to confidently answer at the end of this course.  Determining God’s call to leadership isn’t something you’ll have an answer to overnight.  Discerning God’s call to leadership requires confident assurance that comes from prayer, God’s Word, and God’s people.  But until that day a greater question to ask maybe, “Am I a person that meets God’s stipulations for leadership?”

Am I a person that meets God’s stipulations for Leadership?

RULES FOR GOD’S LEADERS

            In addition to the stipulations God has for people to become kings, He also lays out practices kings must observe.  These practices are timeless and apply across all leadership contexts.  The first of these practices are to, “write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.”This instruction of writing a copy involves visual, tactile and even auditory learning; writing is also a long and expensive endeavor.  The king isn’t going to want to make mistakes and have to start from the beginning, he can’t just cut and paste.  The king will have to meditate on the law and be positive that what he’s going to write is accurate and then double check after he’s written that it’s right.  He’s not the only one verifying the accuracy; the king is writing all this stuff out in the presence of the priests.  Can you imagine the pressure of having priests stand over you as you copy the Word of God?  The king isn’t simply to study, meditate and write down the instruction.  He’s also supposed to keep it with him and read it for the rest of his life.  God wanted to make sure that once the instruction worked its way into the kings head he didn’t forget any of it.  He’d have to actually review everything he’d learned for the rest of his life.  As kings studied and reviewed the Law of God the kings would grow in fear of the authority and power that God has over their lives and the nation.  God intended these practices to lead to the kings’ obedience to observe God’s statutes and lead the people to do the same. Finally as the kings led the people to observe the law, they were to remain humble not thinking they were better than the people or exempt from obedience.   All the practices mentioned in this passage are meant to redirect attention back to the source of all authority.  God is the giver of all authority and ultimately is the one in charge.  God’s instructions and Laws are designed to allow His people to fully experience the best of life.  God’s Leaders are representatives of His authority and are responsible for enforcing law, giving commands and counsel that are consistent with God’s Word.

5 Practices of God’s Leaders (Deuteronomy 17:18-20) 1.        Read the Word of God 2.       Meditate and Memorize God’s Word 3.       Respect the authority of God 4.       Follow all of God’s instructions 5.       Be a humble enforcer of the Law

The practices God lays out for leaders make a lot of sense when we think about the concept of Steward or Ambassador.  The leaders of God’s people aren’t really the ones in charge of God’s people.  If you’re familiar with the Lord of the Rings Series, the “Stewards of Gondor” are the proxies of the Kings of Gondor.  They rule in place of the King and are to hold the throne of Gondor until the King returns.  Christian leadership is the same because Jesus is the King and we eagerly await His return (Phil 3:20-21).   The people belong to Jesus, and Jesus has entrusted His leaders to be good “stewards” of His people until His return.  God’s leaders can’t make good decisions the way Jesus would make decisions unless they know God’s Word.  God’s leaders gain knowledge of God’s Word by reading it.  They know how to apply it when enforcing, commanding, and counseling when they understand the Word.  Understanding of God’s Word comes from studying (Meditating and Memorizing).  As we apply what we know to our life experiences the more we respect God’s authority as we understand that His laws are right and for our benefit.

LEADERS NEED CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Read Exodus 2:11-4:31.

Key Point to Know 1.        God wants us to humble ourselves	Key Point to Know 2.       God gives us the chance to be used by Him	Key Point to Know 3.       God asks us to be faithful with what He has entrusted us to grow our confidence in His power and presence.
Key Passage	Key Passage	Key Passage
Exodus 2:11-15 Key Themes: 1.        Moses takes authority(v12) -privilege of authority w/ out wanting the responsibility 2.       Moses sets a bad example -murders then tries to hide it 3.       The people don’t want Moses as leader(v14) 4.       Moses runs away from consequences(15)	Exodus 2:16-3:15 Key Themes: 1.        Moses has a fresh start (v16-22) 2.       Moses is given responsibility -a wife -a son -father in law’s flocks 3.       Moses is faithful in his responsibilities(3:1) 4.       God gives Moses assurance of his call(3:10,12,14) 5.       Moses is humble -fears that he is insufficient(3:11) 6.  God assures Moses He will be with him. (v15)	Exodus 3:16-4:31 Key themes: 1.       Moses understands what God has called him to do(3:16-22) 2.       Moses grows in confidence about his role as a leader(4:1-2) 3.       God equips Moses to do his job. (4:3-12) 4.       Moses doubts God’s power (4:13-14) 5.       Moses becomes fully obedient to God (4:24-26) 6.       Moses embraces his role as a leader of God’s people(4:29-31)

Reflective Discussion Questions: 1.       When are instances that we want authority or power but are not willing to accept the responsibility for what we say or do? 2.       How have we tried to hide or run away from bad things we’ve done? 3.       Knowing you, the failures and flaws you have in your life, would you want to follow you? 4.       Why do we make excuses for ourselves when we make mistakes? 5.       Why is it difficult for us to own or take responsibility for things we’ve done wrong? 6.       Do we live knowing that we’ve been given a fresh start through Jesus Christ? 7.       Do we live differently after accepting Jesus as boss of our lives or do we live like nothing happened? 8.       Do we still live like the boss of our lives? 9.       What types of responsibilities has God entrusted you with right now? 10.   Are you a faithful manager of your God given responsibilities? 11.   Do you know what God has called you to do?  How can you confidently assert that you know what God wants you to do? 12.   When faced with our deficiencies do we take comfort in knowing that Jesus is with us? 13.   When we do things well do we grow confident in our own ability to perform or in God’s ability to equip us for the tasks He gives us? 14.   What are ways God might equip us to live out His call? 15.   When we see God equip and provide why is it that we still doubt God’s power and presence in our lives being sufficient? 16.   What are things in our lives that we aren’t sure we can trust God with?  What are some changes we need to make in our lives to be fully obedient to Jesus?

Application

Individual Challenge 1.  What would your life look like if you faithfully obeyed Jesus and humbly allowed Him to mold you into who HE wants you to be?  How could you be used to influence God’s people?  Your unsaved friends?

Community Vision 1.  What could this community group do if everyone faithfully submitted themselves to God’s authority and allowed God to use the group to transform the community?  What kind of impact could we have on Challenge?  What kind of impact could we have on our campus?  In our city?

INVEST IN THE FUTURE

Numbers 27:12-23

            Throughout Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land we see a special relationship that forms between Moses and Joshua.  Moses is the appointed leader of God’s people and identifies Joshua as a person that has the ability to lead God’s people.  He started teaching and developing Joshua into a leader by allowing Joshua to spend time with him and allowed him to watch the decisions making process.  Moses also taught Joshua by allowing him to observe his relationship with God.  Joshua learned and grew in his confidence in the Lord by watching and observing how Moses responded to God.  Moses gave Joshua small responsibilities and allowed him to grow in proficiency and confidence.  This allowed Joshua to grow in his ability as a leader and in his confidence in God.  This also allowed the people to begin trusting Joshua’s leadership.

            This course is like your time in the wilderness.  Your instructor is your Moses.  Your instructor has seen some potential for you to be used by God to lead His people and is investing in you.  As you think about what it means to invest in the future and how someone is investing in you, remember that one day you too will need to invest in the future.  You too will need to train someone up to be a leader of God’s people.