Introduction: Rom. 2:4 (The goodness of God and Christ leads us. Christ is our leader. He so perfectly embodies every aspect of God's idea of good leadership that he truly is the character of good leadership. Studying this will reveal the direction Christ leads us. It will also guide us in how we fulfill our respective rolls as leaders; elders, husbands, parents, Christian example, civic leaders, etc.)
I. Good Leadership Defined:
1. Reputation: 1 Tim. 3:7 (The fact that God requires elders to have a good reputation shows that real leadership is born out of reputation.)
2. Moral Standards: 1 Tim. 3:2 (God requires leaders to live by exemplary moral standards. A good reputation is built by living good standards.)
3. Not By Force: 1 Pet. 5:1-3 (God forbids elders to lead by force. Good leadership must be firm but doesn't have to force.)
4. By Example: 1 Pet. 5:3 (God requires elders to lead by example. This is an essential component of good leadership.)
5. Sacrificial Love: Jn. 15:13-14 (Christ connected his requirement we obey him, follow his leadership, to the fact that he has a self sacrificing love for us. True leadership involves this kind of love for the people and the cause being led.)
6. For The Good Of Others: Heb. 13:17 (Godly elders lead the flock out of concern for the souls.) Phil. 2:4 (God expects us to think of the good of others, not ourselves. An essential characteristic of good leadership is to fulfill that position for the good of others.)
II. Man's Failure:
1. Bad Name: 1 Sam. 18:7-8 (Saul exemplifies man's failure. Trying to lead with a failing or bad reputation does not work.)
2. Loose Morals: Jer. 23:1-2, 9-11 (The leaders of God's people in old times failed because they were grossly immoral. Though some may try, good leadership cannot exist simultaneously with corrupt morals.)
3. My Way Or The Highway: Titus 1:7 (Elders must not be self willed. Some try to lead while insisting they get their own way. Good leadership cannot have the attitude that everything must be done my way.)
4. Sit Back And Give Orders: Mt. 23:4 (Instead of leading by example, the Pharisees tried to sit back and give orders, never intending to do these things themselves. Real leader ship doesn't hide behind a rock at the bottom of a hill demanding others charge up. Real leadership leads the charge.)
5. Selfish Interests: 3 Jn. :9 (Some, like Diotrephes, accept leadership for their own interests, to promote their own agendas. This is not godly leadership.)
6. Good Of Self: Isa. 56:11 (Like many today, these shepherds of Israel sought leadership for their own good instead of the good of the people and the cause.)
III. Christ Personifies Good Leadership:
1. Known As A Good Teacher: Jn. 3:1-2 (The fact that Christ was well known as a good teacher shows that his leadership grows out of the best reputation.)
2. No Sin Or Guile: 1 Pet. 2:22, 1 Jn. 3:5 (Christ had no sin whatever. He was morally perfect. His leadership grows from his moral purity.)
3. Compels, Won't Force: Mt. 23:37 (Christ wanted to lead Jerusalem as a hen gently leads her chicks, not by kicking them back into the nest. He doesn't force us to follow him. He compels us.)
4. Left A Pattern Of Steps: 1 Pet. 2:21 (The leadership of Christ involves his example. He didn't stand at the hill of self denial and command us to trudge up alone. He is at the point! He led the charge when he walked up Calvary's hill!)
5. Gave His Life: Eph. 5:23 (Christ's leadership over the church is founded in the fact that he has self sacrificing love for the church. It's easy to respect leadership like this.)
6. Emptied Himself For Others: Phil. 2:5-8, 2 Cor. 8:9 (Christ's leadership is founded on the fact that he gave himself for the good of others.)
IV. Christ's Leadership Calls You To Follow:
1. Calls Upon You To Listen: 1 Thes. 2:13
2. Reminds You Of Your Sin: Isa. 53:6
3. Calls You To Come Under His Wings: Mt. 11:28-30
4. Calls You To Follow His Example: Jn. 8:12
5. Calls You To Give Your Life: 1 Jn. 4:19, 1 Jn. 3:16
6. Calls you To Empty Yourself For Him: Gal. 5:24
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