Character-First Leadership

Transcription

1 Character-First Leadership I. Introduction. a. Leadership. i. the office or position of a leader; capacity to lead; the act or an instance of leading. ii. Lead: to guide on a way especially by going in advance; to direct on a course or in a direction; to direct the operations, activity, or performance of; to guide someone or something along a way. b. Formal and informal leadership. i. Leadership is not really about titles. ii. Just because someone has a certain title does not mean they are a leader. iii. In fact, some of the best leaders are never recognized by the highest titles. iv. Every person in this audience leads in some way or another. 1. You have people looking to you for guidance. 2. You have a measure of influence. c. Leadership settings. i. Some of you may be leaders at your job (officially or unofficially). ii. If you have children or grandchildren, you certainly have an opportunity to lead. 1. If you have younger siblings, you probably lead in some ways. iii. In the church, there are leaders (informal or formal). iv. Community, school, volunteer groups. v. Who are you leading? d. Discussions on leadership. i. What are characteristics of a good leader? ii. How do you become a good leader? iii. Many books have been written. iv. Many seminars taught. e. This morning s lesson. i. Over the last week or so, I have been thinking about leadership in particular as it relates to my job. 1. And I came up with what is, in my opinion, the most important aspect of leadership. a. Character, Trust, Integrity. 2. And I thought of a title that described this thought. a. Character-First Leadership ii. And as I thought more and more on the subject, I came to the realization that the principles I was thinking about were all taught within the Scriptures. 1. And that led me to develop this sermon.

2 II. Characteristics of Character-First Leadership a. A Character-First Leader humbles himself to serve others. i. Leadership is not about being above anyone else. ii. Servant leadership. 1. yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Mt. 20:26 iii. He s not better than anyone else. 1. Why? a. Because God is the one who gave us the abilities that we have. b. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:11 b. A Character-First Leader admits his mistakes. i. Some leaders feel they have to know all the answers. ii. But in reality, good leaders recognize their weaknesses. 1. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 2. He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. John 8:7 iii. Not only is their value in recognizing our weaknesses, but there is also value in owning up to our mistakes in front of others. 1. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16 2. Put this in the context of parents when they make a mistake in respect to their children. c. A Character-First Leader doesn t lord the position over the ones he leads. i. The challenge for a new leader. 1. How will they handle power? 2. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man s character, give him power. ~ Abraham Lincoln ii. Character causes people to not overreact to their change in position. 1. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:3 2. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 d. A Character-First Leader has a strong reputation of integrity. i. The type of person we re describing is one who everyone know what they stand for. 1. When you hear something questionable, you know that it can t be true. ii. Blameless is a qualification of elders in Titus 1:6 and 1 Timothy 3:2

3 1. Also a qualification of deacons in 1 Timothy 3:10 iii. Men chosen to serve in Acts 6:3 were men of good reputation. e. A Character-First Leader practices what he preaches. i. We ve probably all seen the type of leader who talks a good game, but doesn't walk the walk. ii. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for this. 1. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. Mt. 23:3 iii. I m not going to ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself. f. A Character-First Leader leads instead of herds i. Contrasting leadership styles. 1. Lead by telling everyone hat to do (taskmaster). 2. Leading by working right alongside. ii. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3 1. The picture is the shepherd out in front leading the way. g. A Character-First Leader cares about those he leads i. Which leader would you rather follow? 1. One who gives you everything you need but everything is always about the job. 2. Or the one who truly cares about you as a person. ii. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10: Jesus knows us. 2. He cares what happens to us. h. A Character-First Leader is always fair to those he leads. i. He doesn't play favorites. ii. He makes decisions based on the facts. iii. The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever. Proverbs 29:14 1. Many times, the rich would be treated differently than the poor. 2. Here the truth is used to judge. i. A Character-First Leader speaks the truth but does so with care and concern. i. You don t have to wonder about whether what you re being told is true. ii. This type of leader also knows how to deliver a tough message. 1. Ephesians 4:15, speaking the truth in love. 2. You know that he cares.

4 3. You may not like the message but it is conveyed in the appropriate manner. j. A Character-First Leader wants what is best for those he leads. i. I believe the ultimate goal of a leader is to help people grow. 1. To prepare them for the future. ii. In the church, this is the ultimate goal of elders. 1. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17 2. Eternal life. III. Why is Character-First Leadership important? a. All of the previous points relate to a person s character. i. Character is defined as moral excellence and firmness. ii. Goodness is about character integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. ~ Dennis Prager b. Because others are modeling their behavior after us. i. Children will learn the traits of their parent. ii. Employees will do thing the way they have been taught (by word or example). iii. This is given as a purpose of having elders. 1. Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Hebrews 13:7 iv. Eyes are watching. c. Because a negative reputation will harm our influence. i. We all have influence. 1. Good or bad. 2. A strong character strengthens our ability to influence for good. ii. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 1 Timothy 3:7 1. Qualification of an elder iii. For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. Romans 1:24 1. Result of hypocrisy. d. Because your ability to lead is hampered if people don t trust you. i. Why would you follow someone you can t trust?

5 ii. Would you go above and beyond the call of duty for someone who lacks character? iii. Knowledge will give you power, but character will give you respect. ~ Bruce Lee iv. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2 1. How effective would an unfaithful man be at teaching? 2. We listen to people who have proven to us that they can be trusted. e. Because you can t do everything yourself. i. The most practical reason of all. 1. You need people. 2. You can t do it all. ii. There are three things which are majestic in pace, yes, four which are stately in walk: a lion, which is mighty among beasts and does not turn away from any; a greyhound, a male goat also, and a king whose troops are with him. Proverbs 30:29-31 iii. It s a beautiful thing when you see a leader who people want to follow. f. Because it will help you get the job done. i. Character will help you accomplish your goal. 1. It will cause people to trust your leadership. 2. It will cause them to work hard for you. 3. It will motivate them to stick with you when things get difficult. ii. All of which helps you get your task accomplished. iii. Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion. ~ Aristotle iv. Why were the apostles willing to carry out the instructions of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20? 1. Could you not say that it was related to the type of character which Jesus had displayed? IV. Conclusion: Character is Important. a. Practical value of character. i. Show class, have pride, and display character. If you do, winning takes care of itself. ~ Paul Bryant ii. Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness. ~ Anne Frank iii. Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. ~ Stevie Wonder iv. Only a man s character is the real criterion of worth. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

6 b. Eternal value of character. i. Colossians Vs. 4 references the reward for the faithful. 2. Vs. 6 references the punishment of the disobedient. 3. Vs. 8-9 describe the type of person who will be punished. 4. Vs describe the type of person who will be rewarded. ii. Listen to the type of person that is described. 1. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3: These verses describe the character of the new man. 3. Christianity is about developing character. iii. And character is the key to eternal life.