Why Godly Leadership matters

Why Godly Leadership matters

Selected Verse

Establish the need: Is this important?

 

Purpose: Today we shall see five areas that need good leadership so we can take a biblical study of leadership seriously.

• Marriage need leadership
• Children need leadership
• Church need leadership
• Work need leadership
• Country need leadership

 

Marriage need leadership

Proof

1. Scripture talks about husband being the leader in marriage.
   1. 1 Corinthians 11:3: “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”
      1. In the context this is Paul speaking in a chapter that focuses on God’s given role for men and women.
      2. This passage is clear that “the man is the head of a woman.”
   2. Ephesians 5:23: “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”
      1. In the context this is Paul speaking in a section on marriage.
      2. This passage is clear that “the husband is the head of the wife.”
   3. Also there are verses that teaches on biblical submission of wives to their husbands that reinforce the truth of a husband’s biblical headship.
      1. Ephesians 5:22: “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord”
         1. In the context this is Paul speaking in a section on marriage.
         2. This passage is clear that wives should submit to their own husbands.
         3. In the Greek it is clear that this is not a suggestion but a command.
      2. Ephesians 5:24: “But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.”
         1. Again in the context this is Paul speaking in a section on marriage.
         2. Note the comparison of wives submitting to their husbands is the church with Christ.
         3. What’s the scope of this submission? Paul states “in everything.”
      3. Colossians 3:18: “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
         1. In the context Paul gives commands to various members of the family.
         2. This passage is clear that wives should submit to their own husbands.
         3. Again in the Greek it is clear that this is not a suggestion but a command.
      4. 1 Peter 3:1a: “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands…”
         1. In the context Peter is addressing believing women in the context of her family and her having an unbelieving husband.
         2. This passage states directly that wives should submit to their own husbands.
      5. 1 Peter 3:5-6: “For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”
         1. Peter notes that “holy women” “in former times” were “submissive to their own husbands” (5)
         2. Specifically Peter talked about how “Sarah obeyed Abraham” (5) showing how Peter as an Apostle interpreted the Book of Genesis.
         3. This is an example that Peter saw was worthy of women emulating.

Practice

1. Are you married and you are a husband? Then learning Biblical leadership matters.
2. Are you single but you would like to be married one day and be a husband? Then learning Biblical leadership matters.
3. Sisters are you a wife? Then you want to learn biblical leadership to pray for your husband!
4. Are you single but you would like to be married one day and be a wife? Then learning Biblical leadership matters in finding out who to court and marry.

 

 

Children need leadership

Proof

1. Children are to listen to their father:
   1. “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;” (Proverbs 1:8)= A father leads by instructing his child.
   2. “My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;” (Proverbs 6:20)= Notice the fahter is a leader who is to issue godly commandments.
   3. See also Proverbs 3:12, 4:1 about father’s instruction.
   4. These verses teaches that a father is a leader by discipline of the child: Proverbs 13:1, 15:5.
2. Children are to listen to their mother:
   1. “My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;” (Proverbs 6:20)= Notice the mom is a leader of her child by her teaching which a child should not neglect.
   2. “The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:” (Proverbs 31:1)= Notice the mom is leading by teaching her son.

Practice

1. Are you married and you are a father or mother? Then learning Biblical leadership matters.
2. Are you single or married and you would like to be a father or mother one day? Then learning Biblical leadership matters.
3. Are you someone’s child? Then you can know how to pray for your parents biblically.

 

Church need leadership

Proof

1. Note that Elders rule: “The elders whorule well are to be considered worthy of double honor…” (1 Timothy 5:17)
2. What does ruling look like? They make decisions according to Acts 15:22: “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren”
   1. Note they pick people for certain important tasks
   2. They make important decisions (Acts 15 is the Jerusalem council)
   3. They make decisions centering on conflict according to Acts 15:22, where there was a debate.
   4. They look into doctrinal dispute and settle it according to Acts 15:3-4

Practice

1. Are you a church leader? Learning Biblical leadership matters.
2. Are you a church member? There will be time you might be called to serve others even if you are not a pastor, elder or deacon.  Learning Biblical leadership matters.
3. What if you never serve as a church leader? You are to pray for the leaders of the church.  Therefore learning Biblical leadership matters.

 

 

Work need leadership

Proof

1. Boaz in the story of Ruth was a good leader in that he cared for took initiative to show he cared for his workers: “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, “May the Lord bless you.” (A)
   1. Notice Boaz greeted the workers before they greeted him.
   2. Later you will also see he also told his workers to be merciful to Ruth, a widow.
2. Boaz in the story of Ruth was a good leader in that even as his servants work : “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.” (A)
   1. Here Naomi tells his widowed daughter in law where she can find Boaz.
   2. Boaz though he had hired workers during harvest season would still sleep in the ground at the threshing floor at night just as his men would have done.
   3. Thus Boaz is a man who “led from the front with the grunt” and not “in the rear with the gear.”

Practice

1. Are you a leader in your job? Learning Biblical leadership matters.
2. Are you a follower at work? There might be a future time that God have you be in some kind of leadership capacity.  Learning Biblical leadership matters.
3. What if you never will be a leader in your work place? You can still pray for your boss and leaders.  Therefore learning Biblical leadership matters.

 

Country need leadership

Proof:“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

1. Paul want belivers to pray for all men (v.1)
2. This include praying for those who are government leaders: “for kings and all who are in authority” (v.2a)
3. Why? “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (v.2b)

Practice

1. If you desire to be in politics, its important you practice biblical leadership.
2. Even if you never work in government you can pray for our government leaders based upon what Scripture teaches about what godly leadership looks like.