What am I lacking?

Terrance Brown

How to stay fresh : What am I lacking? • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Matthew 19:16–30

Church Leadership

0 ratings

· 52 views

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Text

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Introduction

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

We living in a time, that leadership is so vital. So many views, perceptions, experience, and so much education. Has change our world and church in today's time. Our leadership focus has become a business quantity and less focus on the quality. It has become more about what you have as a leader than about what you can do for the people as a leader. Leadership has become more of titles, networks and notarity and less focus on results.

Leadership

"Every leader has a particular style of leadership that is innate. However, the behaviors, attitudes or methods of delivery that are effective for one person may in fact be counterproductive for another," says Michael Burke, account supervisor, MSR Communications, a public relations firm.

As leaders we learn that what works for one person might not work for the next.

"Great leaders are aware of their own style and make the effort to learn how their style actually comes across to their team. They learn to flex their leadership style to individual team members so that they communicate and behave in ways that motivate and inspire."

Are people really being help by my leadership, is the question we need to ask. Is my leadership based off business intelligence, key performance indicators or a forecast budget or Is my leadership based off of the available physical resources.

Is “faith in God” a component of our leadership?

Is “grace and mercy” a consideration in our leadership?

Have we personally used our “Faith in God” and the “grace and mercy” that God has given us individually to govern our leadership.

says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

We as leaders must examine our selves daily. - “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

We as christian leaders must examine our selves and ask our self the question:

“What am I lacking?”

This is a personal examination of self that each leader needs to make a appointment with God for.

I understand that Leadership can vary per group and organization. -- are you someone who dictates the group and doesn't listen to anyone else's opinion? Or do you lead with a more bureaucratic or democratic style?

Leadership can also vary in style -- are you someone who dictates the group and doesn't listen to anyone else's opinion? Or do you lead with a more bureaucratic or democratic style?

As leaders we learn that what works for one person might not work for the next.

Rachael Fisher-Layne, vice president of media relations, JCPR, a public relations agency

1. Honesty. Always do the honest thing. It makes employees feel like they know where they stand with you at all times.

2. Focus. Know where you're going and have a strong stated mission to lead people on. If you're not sure, how can your people be sure? You have to have strong focus and stay the course.

3. Passion. Whatever it is, you must have passion for what you're doing. Live, breathe, eat and sleep your mission.

4. Respect. Not playing favorites with people and treating all people -- no matter what station in life, what class or what rank in the org chart -- the same.

5. Excellent persuasion abilities. People have to believe in you and your credibility. Image is everything and the belief people have in you, your product, your mission, your facts or your reputation are key to being a great leader. You have to persuade people of this -- it doesn't just happen.

Darcy Eikenberg, a leadership and workplace coach, Red Cape Revolution

1. Confidence. If you don't believe in yourself, no one will. I hear leaders worrying that if they show too much confidence, others will think them arrogant. The reality is people want to know what you know for sure -- and what you don't. Having the confidence to say "I don't know" is a powerful skill.

2. Clarity. The only way you can get confidence is by becoming really, really clear about who you are and what is most important to you. New leaders fail when they try to become all things to all people, or try to do too much out of their area of excellence. Clarity helps you say "yes" to the right things -- and "no" to others.

3. Care. The strongest, most effective leaders I've met care not just about the business, but about the people in it and the people impacted by it. Plus, they show they care through their words and actions, even proving how they care for themselves and their family by taking unplugged vacations and continuing their own professional development. Care shouldn't be a four-letter word in our workplace today -- and the best leaders know it.

1. Integrity. They are people who are respected and worth listening to. I find in general due to all of the economic difficulties, employees prioritize and seek leaders and organizations that are honest and meet their commitments.

2. Compassion. Too many leaders these days manage with the balance sheet, often times at the expense of their employees and long-term customer relationships. Talented people want to work for leaders and organizations that truly care about their employees and the communities in which they operate.

3. Shared vision and actions. People produce real business gains and smart people need to understand what is needed and be part of the solution.

4. Engagement. Great business leaders are able to get all members of their teams engaged. They do this by offering them challenge, seeking their ideas and contributions and providing them with recognition for their contributions.

5. Celebration. In today's work environment, people are working very long hours and they need to take some time to celebrate their successes in order to recharge their batteries. Those leaders who fail to do this create burnout environment overtime.

Mike Sprouse, CMO, Epic Media Group, and author of "The Greatness Gap"

1. Humility. True leaders have confidence but realize the point at which it becomes hubris.

2. Empowering. True leaders make their associates feel emboldened and powerful, not diminished and powerless.

3. Collaborative. True leaders solicit input and feedback from those around them so that everyone feels part of the process.

4. Communicative. True leaders share their vision or strategy often with those around them.

5. Fearlessness. True leaders are not afraid to take risks or make mistakes. True leaders make mistakes born from risk.

Nancy Clark, author of "18 Holes for Leadership"

1. Genuine. You need to be clear on what your values are and must be consistent in applying them. As part of that, you need to have the courage to hold true to them. You must not lose sight of reality. Lost values may be one of the biggest causes of downfalls.

2. Self-awareness. You need to be clear on what your strengths are and what complementary strengths you need from others. This includes understanding others and learning how best to utilize their strengths. Many unsophisticated leaders think everyone should be like them; that too can cause their downfall. They surround themselves with people like them. "Group think" can blindside them and cause failure.

3. Leverage team strengths. Part of awareness is don't expect people to change. If you think you can change someone, think again. This doesn't mean you can't help them grow and develop. But don't expect to change anyone (even yourself) behaviorally. We are who we are. Your job as a leader is to understand each person's strengths and place them in positions where they can flourish and grow. If you are good at that, you have a huge part of the equation for success.

4. Leadership transitions. Going from individual contributor to supervisor is only the first of many transitions along the leadership pipeline. You need to understand the business model, how it applies to your current position, what you need to do to provide the greatest value, and how to leverage your strengths at this level. This requires building competencies and focusing on the right things. No one ever tells you that there are many levels and many adjustments you need to make along the way.

5. Supportive. You need to foster a positive environment that allows your team to flourish. Also by aligning the reward and recognition systems that best match your teams profile and deliver results.

What am I lacking?

Good Examination

We need to first understand it is not all about what you do but its who you do it for.

He was concern with how he was persume

This young man was under the impression that doing good things, would give him eternal life.

Are we so concern with the good things we do

Jesus, had to check this young man. Jesus lets him know, you can not put me in the same class as your good deeds. Jesus, clearly separates himself, knowing that all things is made possible through his father.

He didnt care about who

Are you more concern with the quantity in leadership or the quality of leadership?

See this young man, was more concern with what he was doing than how he was doing it.

See this young man, was more concern with “what he was doing” than “how he was doing it”.

What he was doing

He was keeping the commandments

He had great character, he was wealthy and his heart craved for eternal life.

How he was doing it (Problem)

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 18

Unlike the “rulers,” to whose class he belonged (Lu 18:18), he so far believed in Jesus as to be persuaded He could authoritatively direct him on this vital point.

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Unlike the “rulers,” to whose class he belonged (), he so far believed in Jesus as to be persuaded He could authoritatively direct him on this vital point.

Are you more concern with the quantity in leadership or the quality of leadership?

All these, &c.—“what lack I yet?” adds Matthew (). Ah! this gives us a glimpse of his heart. Doubtless he was perfectly sincere; but something within whispered to him that his keeping of the commandments was too easy a way of getting to heaven. He felt something beyond this to be necessary; after keeping all the commandments he was at a loss to know what that could be; and he came to Jesus just upon that point. “Then,” says Mark (), “Jesus beholding him loved him,” or “looked lovingly upon him.” His sincerity, frankness, and nearness to the kingdom of God, in themselves most winning qualities, won our Lord’s regard even though he turned his back upon Him—a lesson to those who can see nothing lovable save in the regenerate.

Are you more concern in your leadership role with the degree of excellence (metrics) you obtain or how you are perceived?

Do you allow the ministry business requirements to dictate or limit your leadership?

Are you just a good leader?

Are you just satisfied with doing the duties of leadership and being perceived as a good leader?

How much of you is given in leadership?

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor.

Is your Ministry bigger than God Ministry?

Is your Ministry bigger than God Ministry? Do you concentrate more on the tasks of ministry than your worship to God. Tell story about people in ministry that concentrate on the business aspects in the church vs being fed by the word of God. As leaders in the Kingdom, we must not be overly consumed by our want for the tasks in ministry than I want for the Glory of God. We can not just want the power in ministry, more than the power of the ministry.

Do you concentrate more on the tasks of ministry than your worship to God?

Am I so consume with what i have to do for the ministry than actually ministering in the ministry.

Tell story about people in ministry that concentrate on the business aspects in the church vs being fed by the word of God. (story of church leaders who come only to church to do their ministry and never participate in God’s worship)

sell, &c.—As riches were his idol, our Lord, who knew if from the first, lays His great authoritative grasp at once upon it, saying, “Now give Me up that, and all is right.”

IFactor Ministry

Leaders should never be part of the IFactor Ministy. In this ministry everything is about I.

I do everything in this ministy

, Its only successful because of I, I have to be in this ministy because I have to know what is going on in the church.

Its only successful because of I

I have to be in this ministy because I have to know what is going on in the church.

As leaders in the Kingdom, we must not be overly consumed by our want for the tasks in ministry than I want for the Glory of God. We can not just want the power in ministry, more than the power of the ministry.

What are you doing for the ministry?

Do you contribute more through the tasks of ministry than you do spiritually? Have your task taken over your ability to study the word and worship.

1. Personal walk with God.

In , Paul exhorts his younger co-worker, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching….” In , he told the Ephesian elders, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock….” Our text brings out four aspects of the personal walk of church leaders:

A. Must maintain a good conscience before God and others (13:18).

Paul told Felix (), “I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” The conscience is that inner sense of right and wrong that God has put in every human heart (). It is not infallible, in that it must be informed by God’s Word of truth. It can become seared or hardened (; ). Even if your conscience is misinformed, it is always a sin to violate it (, ; ). Thus Paul told Timothy (), “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

The main way to keep a clear conscience is to walk in daily obedience to God’s Word. If you knowingly sin, confess it immediately to God and seek the forgiveness of the one you sinned against. Personal obedience to God is the prerequisite to leading others in obedience to God.

B. Leader live knowing that they must answer to God someday (13:17).

They are continually cognizant of the fact that they will “give an account” to God, both for their own lives and for the church over which God has placed them as overseers. No man or group of men has final authority over the church. We are merely under-shepherds, accountable to Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd. It is His church, not mine! Church leaders are stewards or managers of the church for Christ, who bought it with His blood. Keeping this fact constantly in mind prevents any abuse of authority or any taking advantage of people for personal gain. Every church leader should read often , where God confronts the shepherds who have not tended and cared for His flock, but have used it for their own selfish ends. He will call us to account!

C. Leaders are men and women of faith and prayer, who encourage others to pray (13:7, 18, 20-21).

In verse 7, the author tells the Hebrews to remember and imitate the faith of the leaders who have gone before them. In verse 18, he asks them to pray for him, and in verses 20-21, he models prayer by praying for them. (See also on faith.)

he was concern with the logistics of living a good life

Here is precisely where American business principles do not apply to the local church. The church is not to be run as a business, where we make plans and implement those plans according to the best of human wisdom. The church is to move forward by faith in the living God and by dependence on Him through prayer. Our aim as church leaders is certainly not to lead by our collective wisdom, but rather to seek the mind of the Lord for His church as we wait upon Him by prayer and faith.

D. Leaders are willing to suffer for Christ if need be (13:23).

The author mentions Timothy, who has just been released from prison. Paul had exhorted Timothy (), “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” Apparently, Timothy had followed Paul’s admonition.

We easily could face persecution for our faith in the years ahead, and the leaders are always the main targets for the enemy. Even if we do not suffer persecution from without, leaders must be ready to suffer criticism and personal attacks, often from those in the church. Charles Spurgeon’s Autobiography ([Banner of Truth], 1:303-327) contains an entire chapter on the early criticisms and slanders that were leveled against him, often by other pastors. Late in his life, he went through many other unfair attacks because he stood against the growing liberalism in the Baptist Union.

Leaders who hold firmly to biblical truth will face such attacks, because no matter how kindly you say it, God’s truth always offends someone. They don’t dare attack God directly, so they attack the leader who delivered the message. It is never fun, but it goes with the job. Spurgeon’s wife helped him deal with the attacks by putting on a plaque, which he read every morning, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Thus godly church leaders are responsible to lead, and a main way that they do so is by walking personally with God.

2. Church leaders are to work together.

“Leaders” is plural. The New Testament clearly teaches that leadership in the local church is to be plural (; ; ). Plural leadership is a safeguard against the abuse of authority.

Godly church leaders are called to work together.

In our text, the author works closely with Timothy (13:23) and with the leaders of the Hebrew church. He tells the church to greet their leaders (13:24). It is the leaders (plural) who keep watch over the souls of the flock (13:17). Obviously, they could only do this by working together as a team.

In the New Testament, the only example of one dominant leader is negative. The apostle John confronts Diotrephes (dee-AHT-rehf-ehz), who loved to be first among them, and who took it upon himself to put people out of the church (). By virtue of personality, spiritual gifts, and spiritual maturity, there are examples of spiritual leaders who were first among equals. Peter was the spokesman for the twelve. James was a dominant leader in the early Jerusalem church (; ; , ). Paul became the leader of the first missionary team, even though Barnabas had been a believer longer than Paul had. But all of these men submitted to one another in the Lord and taught that as believers, we must do the same ().

Leaders put a priority on Godly relationships.

The author is concerned that the Hebrews work harmoniously with their leaders, so that they may lead with joy, not with grief (13:17).

The whole Bible is summed up by the two great commandments, which are both relational: Love God and love others. This means that church leaders must work at relating to one another in love, and they must work at helping church members relate to one another in love. This was Paul’s concern when he wrote Philippians, that two women, Euodia (ee-oo-daa) and Syntyche (sin-ty-sha) would “live in harmony in the Lord” (). (How would you feel if Paul named you like that in an open letter!) He was concerned for the Corinthian church because Chloe’s people had told him of the quarrels that were taking place there ().

Whenever you get several hundred people together, especially when the group consists of those from different backgrounds, ages, and even nationalities, you have a huge potential for conflict. When you throw in different personalities, differing preferences, and the need to confront sin and false teaching, it’s a miracle that the church has survived all of these centuries! One of the main responsibilities of church leaders is to be examples of godly relationships and to help others work through relational problems. Thus godly church leaders are responsible to lead the flock by walking personally with God and by working together in godly relationships. Finally,

3. Leaders must help those in the church walk personally with God.

Again, our text is not comprehensive, but it reveals at least four aspects of this task.

A. Godly church leaders help church members by keeping watch over their souls (13:17).

The Greek word translated “keeping watch” means “to keep oneself awake,” and thus, “to keep watch, guard, or care for” (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Walter Bauer, William Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich [University of Chicago Press], Second Edition, p. 14).

The image was drawn from shepherds keeping watch over their flocks (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament ([Harper & Brothers], 1887, p. 9). Shepherds had to stay alert in order to guard their flocks from predators. They had to know the sheep and observe them carefully enough to know when a sheep was sick or missing. They had to go after the strays and try to restore them to the flock. They had to lead them to pasture and clean water (see ).

These tasks require the discernment to know where people are at spiritually and when they are heading toward spiritual danger. Leaders must love God and people enough to have the courage to confront those who are drifting. While you can only lead those who are willing to be led, godly leaders must always make the effort. The task is more difficult in our day when there are many different churches in town. If people get upset at one church, or if the leaders there try to confront some sin in their lives, they just move down the road to another church that welcomes them. Sadly, they usually carry their problems with them.

“Keeping watch over souls” is an overwhelming task, and the responsibility for it does not fall only on church leaders. Every spiritually mature believer is responsible to help restore those who are caught in any trespass and to bear one another’s burdens (). If you know of someone in the church who is straying from the Lord, but you don’t know what to do, go to one of the elders for counsel. We do our best to keep watch over the flock, but often we are not even aware when someone is in need. We all need to work together to care for one another spiritually.

B. Leaders help church members by faithfully teaching God’s Word (13:7, 22).

In verse 7, the author mentions the leaders who spoke the word of God to the flock. In verse 22, he mentions his own brief “word of exhortation” (the Epistle to the Hebrews). While all elders should be “able to teach,” some especially “work hard at teaching and preaching” and should be financially supported for that task (). I assure you that it is hard work, although spiritually rewarding! In one of the strongest admonitions in the Bible, Paul’s almost final words to Timothy were (),

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

C. Leaders help church members by aiming at their joy and spiritual profit (13:17).

“Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” This refers first to the leaders’ joy, but it obviously extends to the joy and spiritual profit of all of the members. Those who are walking in obedience to Christ will know His joy (). Godly leaders rejoice to see those in the flock walking in the truth ().

D. Godly church leaders help church members by emphasizing God’s grace (13:25).

“Grace be with you all” is a salutation, but it is far more than a mere formality. It is a spiritual desire and emphasis throughout the New Testament. In Hebrews, he mentioned that Jesus, “by the grace of God… might taste death for everyone” (2:9). He encouraged us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16). He has warned against insulting the Spirit of grace (10:29) and falling short of God’s grace (12:15). In 13:9, he cautioned against legalism, adding, “for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace….”

Far too many Christian churches and homes are marked by legalism, but leaders are responsible to create an atmosphere of God’s grace. Grace is never a license to sin, but rather, it instructs us “to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (). When we sin (and we all do!), God’s grace forgives and restores. God’s grace is patient with the weak, encouraging them to grow in the Lord.

In Conclusion

Leaders and Officers - We must ask our self this question “What am I Lacking?”

We must evaluate ourselves to ensure that we are using God in all that we do.

King James Version Chapter 19

27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, pjudging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Your work down here is not in vain. Keep on pressing for Jesus.

You may be tired but keep pressing on

You may be weary but keep pressing on

Sometimes you may be sick but keep on pressing

One of these days my pressing will be over, and I’ll hear My God say

“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Well Done- you fought a good fight

Well Done

Do you know who I’m talking about?

The one who died for your sins and mine.

He Died , but thats not how the story ends,

He died on friday, stayed in the grave on Saturday but got up early sunday, with all power in his hand.

What are you doing for the ministry?

Do you contribute more through the tasks of ministry than you do spiritually? Have your task taken over your ability to study the word and worship.

Related Media

Related Sermons