You don’t have to boast here on this earth. You don’t have to wear a gold ring or a tassel on your hat to show your level of education. God will reveal every deed. Every effort and attitude will be made known (Hebrews 4:12-13). We will be surprised by what we are rewarded for. If you boast here on earth, you can actually lose your reward in heaven (Matthew 6:4-6). If you do things to show off, even if it is because you want respect, you lost have your reward for the good you did because you are boasting in pride about it.
Christian Leadership for Missions
Why We Have Not Fulfilled The Great Commission – part 12
Leadership is: submitting to one another. Submitting to one another will cause an even deeper death to self. Submission is a necessary action for everyone in the body of Christ, especially those who call themselves leaders. Christ did not allow men to exercise leadership over one another because he is completely sufficient to provide all the leadership that we need. He did not give men authority over one another because it was not necessary to fulfill his goal.
Becoming Part of Christ’s Body – part 13
Division comes in when you are focused on your own defects or the defects of others or others. One man’s doctrine is more correct than the other man’s. That man would rather you be focused on extending his kingdom. Division also comes in when you are focused on the defects of other denominations or churches.
The Reality of Roles in Leadership – part 14
If you have to use the word “leader”, you could define leadership in this way: All members of the body are leaders. We are all pointing each other to the head Jesus Christ. We are all doing what needs to be done with or without each other. We are all leading each other to follow the head. I submit to Christ and by doing so submit to you and thus lead you because I am being led by Christ.
Waiting Tables is Underrated – part 15
Some say the apostles have all the gifts, but this is contrary to the central notion that there is one body with many interdependent members that have different functions. I spent a few years in a ministry that should know what the ministry gifts are and how they function.
The Authority Structure Scale – part 16
Leadership, especially on the mission field requires a deep understanding of authority. Jesus did give the apostles authority, but not for everything. He did not give them authority to lead other people (Mark 3:14; 6:7). Jesus fully intends to lead every member of his church all by himself. Jesus is fully aware of where his Church is and what they are doing.
Agreeing With One Another – part 17
Leadership requires being in agreement with one another. One of the major reasons missionaries return from the field is that they just cant get along with one another.
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought .
(NIV, 1 Corinthians 1:10)
The Lost Art Foot Washing – part 18
There were four major sects of Judaism present at the time of Christ that were all divided over doctrine: the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Essenes, and the Zealots. Jesus was constantly rebuking these sects challenging them about their doctrine (Matthew 22:15-33). Much of that doctrine was invented throughout history and not found in the Old Testament writings.
Examples of Christian Leadership – part 19
“He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him”.
(NIV, John 7:18 18)
Jesus sends us. We work for him. He sends us to work being his representatives in this world. He is the boss, we are the workers. I hope that this book has clarified one major point: Jesus is the real leader here.
Examples of Wordly Christian Leadership – part 20
Example of the box, talent / charisma / personality based leadership:
In this box, the number one leader is a super cool dude. He’s an awesomely legit, tight, real, rad bro. He has all the right words, the right physical voice, and the right facial expressions. He has a marketable personality and a great corporate image. He also may possess great talent and the ability to influence people. He is an extremely good public speaker. He has the right clothes, the right music band, and the right accessories possibly even including a tattoo.