The Priorities of Leadership - NEW SERMON VIDEO

I have finally gotten around to posting David's sermon from last week (September 11, 2011).

The Needs of a Godly Church Leader - Part 2 - NEW SERMON VIDEO!

The Needs of a Godly Church Leader - Part 2

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, September 4. 2011

1 Timothy 4:1-16, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.   If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.   Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

What does a good servant of the Lord, a godly church leader, NEED to be fit or fitted, to be equipped to lead in his marriage, in his family, and in God’s church?

That question may sound like typical ‘preacher’ ‘sermon intro’ kind of question, coming at the subject of church and family leadership from a purely academic point of view.  But, listen.  Have you looked around you lately?  Paul’s words about the perilous times, the dangerous days yet to come, we’re living in them!  They’re here!  Don’t believe me?  Take a look at the condition of families and marriages, your family and your marriage.  Don’t believe me?  Take a look at the church, yes, even this church. 

An introductory question like the one I posed, what a man, a servant of the Lord, needs to be equipped to lead his wife, his children and his fellow believers, that question is no longer purely academic, it is a matter of extreme urgency. 

We’re talking about the PRIORITIES, no the ‘maybes’ or the ‘could bes’, but the ‘must bes’ of godly manhood.  You remember the quips, don’t you?  ‘As the husband goes, so goes the ______.’  ‘As the father goes, so go the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________.’  ‘As the shepherd goes, so go the ______.’  Godly leadership, and what it takes to do it, to be a godly leader in one’s marriage, to one’s children, in God’s church, is no longer optional, or simply a matter of classroom discussion.  No!  It is an urgent necessity! 

So, what DOES a man need to lead, to give, to guide his family, and God’s flock?  Used to, we might have thought that all he needs to get the job done is an extra bowl of Wheaties, or perhaps an additional slice of Wonder Bread.  But listen, that won’t cut it in the perilous latter days scenario Paul describes here.  No!  Remember?  The man of God, seeking to lead his wife to follow Christ, the man of God, yearning to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, the man of God, propelled by the Spirit of God to shepherd the sheep, he needs good food.  He needs daily nourishment derived from the good doctrine, the ‘Red Letter Soup’ I mentioned last week.

Secondly, he needs good exercise.  P.E. is fine.  Keep the body in shape  Keep the muscles toned up.  You’re going need them for this kind of work.  But listen, Fellows.  You know what you’re going to need even more?  1 Timothy 4:7-8, you’re going to need to exert yourself in the direction of godliness!  Unlike mold and mildew, spiritual growth doesn’t just happen!  To become more and more like Jesus Christ doesn’t just happen by way of your location in the Lazyboy with the remote control in hand!  Unless, that is, you set those things aside and spend a half hour or more on your knees, and with this Book and a pen and paper in hand! 

Marriage leaders, family leaders, church leaders need good exercise to lead.  They need good food to lead.  They need good courage to lead, also.  Monday morning quarterbacks and second-guess Sams will do everything they can to keep you on the sidelines, or maybe even out of the stadium!  But, listen, Fellows.  It’s time to buck-up!  1 Corinthians 16:13 – Paul puts it like this: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 

You want to lead in your marriage, in your family and in the Lord’s Church?  You must have COURAGE!  Ask the Lord Jesus, the most courageous person who has ever walked the face of the earth, and He’ll give it to you! 

What does a good and godly leader NEED, if he’s going to lead his wife, his children, and the flock of God, where God wants him to lead them, and how God wants him to lead them?  1 Timothy 4:12 – He needs a good reputation. 

1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

Proverbs 22:1 has an interesting, and I believe, very powerful nugget of truth to give us along these lines: it says, “A good name is to be chosen more than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”  Luke tells us in Luke 2 that the young child, the adolescent Jesus, grew in four key areas of life.  Do you remember what they were?  Luke 2:52, “Jesus grew, He increased, in wisdom, in stature, in favor with God…” and then it says that Jesus grew, He increased “in favor with men.”  His good and godly reputation increased. 

Men and young men-in-the-making, do you realize that the very first and very last quality or qualification for church leadership listed by the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3, is the qualification of a good reputation?  Take a look: 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 3:7 and even 1 Timothy 3:10, “A bishop, an overseer, an elder must be blameless”, he must have a good reputation, a clean slate, verse 7, he must have a “good report” among outsiders.  Why?  Why is it so important for men, godly men who aspire to lead their families and God’s flock, to have a good reputation?  Because God’s good name is at stake!  Yes, Fellows, whether we realize or not, whether we like it or not, our lives, and yes, even the lives of those God has commissioned to lead here and at home, what are they?  Whether we realize or not, whether we like or not, our lives and their lives are living, breathing BILL BOARDS advertising our Lord!  What’s the ‘message’ people see and hear about Christ when they ‘read’ your life and life style?  Remember the quips?  ‘As the husband goes, so goes the…’  ‘As the father goes..’ ‘As the shepherd goes..’  What does a godly church and family leader need?  A must have is a good reputation!  And, listen, men, God knows the real you and me!

What does a godly church and family leader need?  He needs good food, good exercise, a good courage, a good reputation.  Then, next, he also needs, or maybe I should say, “has been given,” a good assignment.  1 Timothy 4:13 – Paul lays out that assignment for his young colleague, Timothy, like this: “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”  As you can see, Paul sets forth three major tasks for Timothy to pursue as a godly leader.  What are they?  Reading…  Reading, what?  Solomon had this interesting observation to make about reading: “Of the making of books there is no end,” (Ecclesiastes 12:12) and “much study is a weariness of the flesh.”  I think if Solomon was writing that verse for 21^st century, American men, he would put it like this: “Of the making of magazine, Sports Illustrated, Popular Mechanics, Field and Stream, Hot Rod, etc. there is no end, and too much time in them is a waste of time..”  Men, we are called to LEAD our wives, our children, and this flock, in the way God wants us to lead them.  How much help in doing so will you gain from that pile of magazines lying beside your LazyBoy? 

READ, READING, for your sake, you need to read this Book!  But, you know what else I think the apostle Paul envisioned here?  He envisioned marriage-leaders, husbands, reading God’s Word to their wives.  He envisioned fathers, gathering their children and grandchildren around them on the sofa and reading God’s Word to them.  Yes, church leaders reading, not from the READER’S DIGEST, or from the latest, best-selling novel, but from this Book to God’s people! 

Why?  So that we can teach them from it, and exhort them to be doers of it!  A good assignment, men, that’s what we have.  A good assignment to read, to exhort, and to teach our wives, our children, and God’s people, from this Book!  But, how are we going to get all this done? 

There are two more things that a godly leader NEEDS that I want you to take note of with me, before we close: 1 Timothy 4:14-16.  Let’s read that section of the text together, shall we?

1 Timothy 4:14-16, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

To carry out the assignments of godly leadership, godly men need at least two things: number one, they need a good focus.  Writing to Timothy, Paul knew that many things, many enticing, alluring, and even important-sounding things could capture Timothy’s attention, his time, energy and especially, his heart.  In so many words, in these three verses, Paul urges Timothy to keep his focus where it should be: on his spiritual giftedness, verse 14, on what Paul had taught him, verse 15, and, yes on himself, and what he was to do as a godly leader, verse 16.  

“Keep the focus, Timothy.”  A good and godly leader must constantly attend to the Holy Spirit’s ‘fireplace’ within him.  To neglect it, to take a ‘I couldn’t care less’ attitude about it, is to open the door for the flame to go out!  In his second letter to Timothy, Paul urged him a second time regarding the very same thing: he said, “Stir up the gift of God which is in you by the laying on of my hands,” (2 Timothy 1:6).  Keep the focus, men, we must keep the focus on our spiritual giftedness, to increase its intensity, to enhance its effectiveness.

Secondly, keep the focus on the Word.  Verse 15 – Now, you and I don’t have a Paul writing letters to us, like Timothy did, do we?  Or…, do we?

“Meditate” – the idea there is literally to “rack your brain”, mulling over what this Book says so that you can teach it, so that you can live it… As the husband goes…  As the father goes…  As the shepherd goes…  Keep the focus on the Word.  Keep the focus on yourself, and on the doctrine, on what you are teaching your wife, your children, and God’s flock.  Continue in them, Paul says… why? 

Why?  The PRIORITIES of Godly Leadership, what does a godly leader need?  He needs good food, he needs good exercise, he needs a good courage , he needs a good reputation, he has and needs to keep a good assignment and he needs a good focus.  Why?  1 Timothy 4:16 – Because he has, because he must always keep in mind that he has, a good goal.  “Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine, continue in them” – why?  “Because in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you…” 

Salvation, eternal salvation – heaven - and its opposite, eternal damnation – hell – in view of the perilous times, these dangerous, latter days in which we live, men, is there any more lofty goal than that?  “Take heed to yourself and to what you are teaching your wife, your children, and God’s flock…”  ‘As the husband goes, so goes the wife.’  ‘As the father goes, so go the children.’  ‘As the shepherd goes, so go the sheep.’  “Take heed to yourself, take heed to what your words AND your life is teaching them…”  Why?  Because of eternity. 

The Needs of a Godly Church Leader - NEW SERMON VIDEO!

The Needs of a Godly Church Leader - Part 1

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, August 28, 2011

1 Timothy 4:1-16, “  Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.  If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.  Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

What does it mean, what is required to lead in God’s church?  As we count down the days till we participate in the process of God’s raising up those He would have lead in this congregation, we have been privileged to examine, and challenged as we’ve examined, what God’s Word has to teach us about Church Leadership. 

We’ve looked at the passage in 1 Peter 5, where we found out that to lead in God’s Church – simply put – a man must be a Christian, he must truly be born again, and if he isn’t, he has no business in that position of influence.  Secondly, we observed that men of influence in God’s church, godly church leaders, must be aware of the needs of the people.  They must see the flock, and even the lost, as God sees them, as Christ sees them, and then, they must have a desire, an ability, and certainly an opportunity, an open door, to meet those needs.  Such is the nature of the call, or calling, to godly church leadership.

Last week, we rehearsed some of the prayers of a godly church leader, beginning with the simply, humble petition, “Lord, help me to be the godly church leader you want me to be.”  “Help me, Lord, to be a disciple-making teacher, help me to be a single-minded soldier/athlete, help me to be an enduring farmer, a diligent workman, a sanctified vessel, a gentle servant, Lord, I want to be, I know You want me to be, yes, God, HELP me to be a godly church leader…”

Before we move on to what we must take in from this passage of Scripture, allow me to point out, to suggest something to all of you, for your consideration.  Chew on this one with me, will you?  EVERY MAN, every boy, who, the Lord-willing, will one day be a man, is what?  He is a potential church leader!  Every man, every man-in-the-making, is a potential church leader.  Fathers, mothers, spouses, sisters, brothers, what are you doing to assist those men and future men in your life, in becoming what God intends for them to be?  What are you doing to help them become fit, equipped, qualified, to lead in marriage, in family and then, in the church? 

As we think again about church leadership, godly church leadership, and, in particular, as we look today at the subject of the priorities of church leadership; allow me to open up the subject this way: 3 little quips, each with a blank for you to fill in.  Number one: “As the husband goes, so goes the ______.”  Number two, “As the father goes, so go the _________.”  And, then, number three, “As the shepherd goes, so go the ______.” 

When we’re talking about leadership, the kind of leadership God intends for marriage, for family, for the church, what are we ultimately talking about?  We’re talking about INFLUENCE, aren’t we?  “As the husband goes, so goes the wife…”  That’s marital influence, leadership, either for good or for evil, in marriage.  Then there’s, “As the father goes, so go the children.”  That’s family influence, isn’t it?  Then, number three, the area of influence in the church, leadership of the flock of God, remember?  The quip went something like this: “As the shepherd or shepherds go, so go the sheep.” 

What are the PRIORITIES, not the ‘maybes”, not the “could bes”, but what the “must bes”, the PRIORITIES of the godly church leader?  I know it’s going to sound strange, perhaps even like a contradiction, to what we’ve learned already from our look at this subject the last few weeks, but hear me out, please.  As important as it is for a godly church leader to be aware of others’ needs, and to be asking God to aim him to meet those needs, listen, before a godly man, a church leader or leader-in-the-making can even get to that point, he must first come to grips with what he needs to be able, to be prepared and equipped to do so. 

1 Timothy 4:6-16 – What does a good servant of the Lord, a godly church leader, need to be fit, to be equipped to lead in his marriage, in his family, and in the church?

Verse 6 – He needs good food…  “If you instruct the brethren in these things,” Paul urges his young colleague Timothy, “[then] you will be a good minister (the word there is ‘servant’, ‘deacon’) of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”  You’ve heard the old adage, haven’t you?  And, if we look at our body, perhaps we’ll know the truth of the adage.  It goes like this: “We are what we eat…”  Is it wise, is it LOGICAL, for us to expect a man, or man-in-the-making to be or become a godly husband/marriage leader, a godly father/family leader and a godly shepherd/church leader, if we are watching him, maybe even encouraging him, to fill up on ding-dongs, French fries and diet coke?  How is it, think it through with me, will you?  How is it that a man is to be or become a good minister of Jesus Christ, instructing the brethren, beginning with his own wife and children, in the good things of God, in the nourishing, muscle-building things of God’s Word, if he is not first feed himself that kind of food??

What is it that a godly man, a godly marriage, family and church leader – needs – first and foremost?  He needs food.  He needs to ask God, seek God’s Word, asking the Lord, “Would you feed me, would nourish me and strengthen me in the words of faith, and of the good doctrine…” 

By the way, fellows, maybe even you Ladies…  Are you wondering if you could see a ‘menu’?  As your ‘waiter’ this morning, allow me to suggest to you the ‘Red Letter Soup’ as your first choice.  Yes, my friends, you can go a long ways, find a great deal of spiritual nourishment, from those ‘Red Letter Words’, the Words of Jesus, from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  What does a good servant of the Lord need first?  He needs good food.

Secondly, 1 Timothy 4:7, he needs, you need, I need, good exercise.  Now about this time, I know – fellows – you’re going to think that I’m starting to sound too much like a doctor, and men, most men, yes, even this man, hates to go to the doctor.  But, look – listen – it’s not what you think.  It’s not back to boot camp and push-ups, sit-ups, and calestenics.  Nor, is it P.E. class all over again.  “Hooray,” right?  No, look at the text with me, will you? Verses 7 & 8, Paul continues his instruction, he continues pointing young Timothy in the direction of godly manhood, when he declares, “But reject profane and old wives’ fables”.  What’s Paul talking about here?  He’s talking about bad ‘food’, about spiritual food that tears down rather than nourishes up - reject it – strike it off the ‘menu’!  And, instead, what are you to do?  Along with that good food, starting with the red letter soup, and then good back to places like Genesis and Exodus, and Psalms and Proverbs, along with that good food, Paul urges us to add in good exercise.  It’s time to go to God’s gym, so that you can “exercise yourself toward godliness.  For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness, become more like Jesus Christ, more patient, more tender-hearted, more discerning, more humble, more faithful and so on, godliness, the object, the goal of Spiritual exertion, spiritual exercise, what is the ultimate outcome of godliness?  “Bodily exercise profits a little, it rewards you and me with only a temporary pay-off, but godliness is profitable for all things”, it will benefit you in every area of your life, and, not only that, but look.  It also has built into it a promise like no other promise.  “Godliness… has promise of the life that now is, and of the life that is to come…” 

What does a good – a godly – marriage, family and church leader need?  He needs good exercise… By the way, as your ‘personal trainer’ for the day, do you mind if I make a recommendation as to where to begin?  First step in a good, spiritual ‘work-out’ begins right here, on your knees, on your face, stretched out, humbly prostrated before the Lord of the universe, the God of your salvation! 

What is it that a good, a godly leader needs, if he’s going to lead his wife, his children, and the flock of God, in the paths of righteousness?  He needs good food.  Secondly, he needs good exercise.  Then, thirdly, he needs to ask God to develop in him a good courage.  1 Timothy 4:10 – “For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe…”  A good and godly leader needs a good courage.  Fellows, how many of you have ever played the role of ‘Monday-morning quarter back’?  How many of us have got all the maneuvers of ‘Second-guess Sam’ down pat?  How many of us, from our vantage point on the sidelines, played end, guard and tackle (end of the bench, guarding the water bucket, tackling anyone who gets near it), know what we would have done if WE were the leaders?  It’s easy to throw ‘potshots’ at the guy on the field, isn’t it?  But, what happens when the ‘Coach’ calls you’re your name, and says, ‘Kautt, time for you to play quarterback?’  What then?  It’s time for some courage, isn’t it?  Godly leaders, you want to know what I think keeps many a man from stepping out on the field to do battle against enemies like greed, and pride and lust?  What keeps them from taking on marriage, family and

church-wrecking things, yes, even in their own lives, like pornography, and gambling and alcohol and laziness?  COURAGE.  They lack courage!  They know that to face and to face-up-to enemies like that in their lives and in others’ lives, they will also have to endure the blood, the sweat and even the tears that go with it, and they’re just not ready to do it!  Yes, they know, that to step out on that field is to open oneself up to all the ridicule, the criticism and the out and out bashing of the Monday-morning, Sunday after church, quarterbacks, the Second-guess Sams, and the end, guard and tackle.  And they’re just not up to it!  So, what do they need?  Fellow, what do we need, to lead in our marriages, our families, and in God’s church?  We need courage!  And, you wives, mothers, sisters, and even brothers, Christian brothers, what can you do to help them?  You can EN-courage them!  You can pray for them, exhort them from this Book, and cheer them on, so as to put courage into them! 

What does a godly leader need?  Fellows, there’s more to learn from this passage regarding this subject, and Lord-willing, next time we will take a look at those things.  But, in the meantime, while you and I are prayerfully evaluating the possibility of our taking the lead, of our answering the ‘Coach’s’ call to step onto the field, you ought to ask yourself this one significant question: if I am to lead my wife, my children, and God’s people, as Christ wants me to lead them, what do I need?  I need good food, I need good exercise, and I need good courage.  Ask the Lord to give you what you need, to lead, will you? 

Prayers of a Godly Leader - NEW SERMON VIDEO!

Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Church Leadership Requirements - part 2

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Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, August 14, 2011

1 Peter 5:1-4, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

What does it mean, what is required to lead in God's church? Last Lord's Day we began a look at the subject of church leadership in preparation for the election of church officers coming up next month. Though the national scene, straw polls, presidential debates and candidates announcing their intentions to campaign for the highest office in the land, though all of that political hype and hoopla may get a lot more media attention and to some seem more significant, listen, I don't think there are too many things more important than finding out what this Book has to say about leading in God's church. I don't think there are too many things more urgently needed than prayers for and insight into what God desires for His people. That's why I want to invite you and encourage you to be here each Lord's Day over the next few weeks, so that you can benefit, and so that you will know better how to pray for and encourage those who lead or will lead in this congregation.

What does it mean, what is required y God, if a man is to lead in God's church? I mentioned last Sunday that the nature of church leadership, shepherding, feeding God's flock, setting an example to the sheep, testifying to the saving work of Jesus Christ, all of that DEMANDS that we understand these things NOT from a world point of view, but from a Biblical point of view. And, where does that Bible-view point pertaining to church leadership begin?

It begins with the simply, yet profoundly critical fact that to lead in the church a man must be converted. He himself must be born again.

No, Jesus Himself is not here, in a physical body, to lead His church. But He has sent forth His Spirit to fill and empower men, re-born men, to lead in His stead. Before you and I mark out ballots, we must consider that weighty question: do these men's lives testify to the reality of the new birth? Have they truly been converted? Does it show?

And men, as we consider the calling and the responsibility, the accountability of the calling to lead in God's church, we must look into this 'mirror', God's Book, and honestly ask ourselves if the new birth, Christian conversion, is something that is true of us. 'Is my life producing the fruit of Christ-likeness? Am I truly born again?'

To lead in God's church is more than to wear a title, to win a popularity contest, to come out on top of a straw poll. To lead in God's church, one must be BORN AGAIN. Secondly, to lead in God's church, to lead in God's way, a man must be acutely aware of the needs of others. Priests and Levites may pass right on by the half-dead who lay helplessly beside life's road. But not good samaritans. Hirelings, self-centered hirelings may be blind to their predicaments and deaf to their cries of distress, but not good shepherds! They see the flock the way Jesus sees it, helpless and harassed, scattered and vulnerable and they realize that what they need, who they need is not a hireling, but a shepherd. Men, do you see the need, the needs of God's flock, the crying needs of the countless LOST sheep outside these four walls? To lead in God's church, what does it mean, what is required? Vision, listening ears, why? So that you might come to be aware, ACUTELY aware that people are in need, in need of what the GOOD Shepherd can bring to them, through you!

The nature of church ministry, the nature of church leadership is not a second, third or fourth tier issue. No! Rather, every year, every day it ought to be on the front burner for God's people.

Genuine conversion, an acute awareness of others' needs. Indeed these qualities should mark the life of the church leader or potential church leader. But so should two or three other important components. Let's take a look at them one at a time, shall we?

The next step toward active, vibrant, meaningful leadership in God's church takes us from a simply awareness of others' needs, to a desire, a willing, want, to meet those needs. There's an old adage that has a lot of truth to it when it comes to what we are discussing here. It goes like this, 'A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.'

Notice how the apostle Peter puts this truth here in our text. He writes, “the elders who are among you I exhort, I, who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly...” It's interesting, if not insightful to note carefully what Peter is saying here. In a manner similar to what Paul stressed when he said in 1 Timothy 3, that a church leader, specifically, an elder, must “desire the office,” he must aspire to be, year to become, all that church leadership requires; so Peter explains that the church leader is not really qualified, or at least not quite ready to take up that critical role, if he has to have his arm twisted to do so. “Not by constraint”, “not under compulsion”, “not because you have to, but because you want to”, because it is a part of who you are, a part of who and what God is making you!

In the flyleaf of my Bible where I have these gems regarding church leadership written down, next to this one, the one about a church leader having a DESIRE to meet others' needs, I penned these words: “Here am I, send me, use me, God, to meet those people's needs!”

What does it mean, what is required to lead in God's church? Genuine Christian conversion, an acute awareness of the needs of others, a desire, a willingness to be used to meet those needs. Then, next, an ability, a capability to meet those needs.

Of the five characteristics of the call to church leadership that I have jotted down in the flyleaf of my Bible, this is the one, it seems to me, that gives men the most trouble. Can I do the work that being a church leader would require of me? Without sounding too pious or super spiritual, allow me to answer that question this way: no, you can't! Without God's help, without the power of the Holy Spirit, you can't! And, without sounding like I'm double-talking, contradicting what I've just declared, allow me to answer your question this way: can you? Yes, you can! I mean, if the apostle Paul, a former blasphemer, an ex-persecutor of the church, a self-proclaimed 'violent man', the chief of sinners, if God can choose him, if God can use Him (see 1 Timothy 1:12-17), listen, brothers, He can use you! You CAN do the work of church leadership! If you are a Christian, truly born-again, and growing in your walk with Christ. If you have a desire, an eager willingness to be God's instrument to meet some of the needs of which He has made you aware, then, listen, “God has not given to you a spirit of fear [a timid, doubting spirit, 'I don't think I can!']...” No! Rather, 2 Timothy 1:7, “God has given to you the Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Are you a Christian? Have you received the gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit? Then, listen, hear what His word says to you and to your doubts and uncertainties: Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His power that is at work, in us [in you], to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” In Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, instructed, shaped, equipped by His mighty word, you have the power! You do! So, then what? Last question, last characteristic of the nature of the call to church leadership. Do you have the opportunity? Has God opened a door for you to be His instrument to meet others' needs?

The subject of the open door, the door of opportunity, is an interesting topic for study from the Scriptures. It is one that relates directly to the subject of church leadership at this point. Open doors, doors of opportunity, what do you think of them? How do you react to them? Exciting – does that word seem appropriate? Frightening – how about that word? Exciting AND frightening... interesting combination, isn't it? Kind of like riding a double-loop roller coaster, right? “A great and effective door has opened to me,” is the way Paul described it to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:9). And then he added these words, “And there are many adversaries!”

“A door for the Word, an opportunity to speak the mystery of Christ” - that's what Paul asked the Colossians to pray for him. By the way, did you know that Paul was in chains, in jail, when he wrote that? A door, an opportunity to be God's man to meet others' needs. Exciting? Yes! Frightening? Yes! But, listen again to what the Spirit of Christ said to the angel of the church at Philadelphia: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, a wide open opportunity, and no one can shut it! [“I know, I know,” Jesus says, “I know that] you have only a little bit of strength [to pursue those open doors]” but listen, listen to Jesus' precious promise to all who will say, “Here I am, use me!” Revelation 3:7 - “I hold the key of David. I open, no one – no one – can shut and what I shut, no one can open!”

Exciting and frightening! When it comes to leading in God's church, I can't think of two more fitting adjectives, can you?

But listen – what are they in comparison to these nouns? God's unlimited power, Jesus' abiding presence and the Holy Spirit's infinite wisdom.

Brother, if God is calling you to lead, if you truly are His child, born again, if He has opened your eyes to the needs, stirred in you a zeal to address those needs, flung the door open for you to be His instrument to meet those needs – what are you waiting for? The excitement, it will be there, and so will the fearful adversaries! But, listen – best of all, God will be there. God will be there to lead you, to help you, to use you, for His glory, to feed His sheep.

Church Leadership Requirements - part 1

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, August 7, 2011

1 Peter 5:1-4, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

In the flyleaf of one of my Bibles, I have written a summary of what my father-in-law shared with me a long time ago about church leadership.

As we begin a month-long look at this subject, in preparation for our church elections, I would like to relay some of these gems my father-in-law gave to me all those years ago. I trust that these insights into church leadership will help and inspire those of us who lead, but also that they will guide and instruct those who are led, both as they vote in the coming election, and as they pray for those who lead.

What does it mean, what is required to lead in God's church? Any more there ways of answering those questions, and many definitions of church leadership. But, because the church is a Divine-institution, not the creation of man, but of God, because Jesus calls it His church and refers to Himself as its Builder and declares that it is founded on the world-changing fact that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, because all of these things are true about the church, it is imperative that we go not so much to the thoughts and ideas of men for help in understanding what it means to be a church leader, but that we come back to this Book, God's Book, for guidance and instruction.

The nature of church ministry, the nature of church leadership – shepherding, feeding God's flock, setting an example to the sheep, testifying to the saving work of Jesus Christ, DEMANDS that we understand it NOT from a worldly point of view, but from a Biblical point of view. No where is that fact seen more clearly than in the first nugget of truth about church leadership that my father-in-law shared with me. See if you don't agree. What does it mean, what is required to lead in God's church? Listen, it may not top a lot of people's lists, but if we are going to be people of the Book, it will, it should, it MUST top our list! What does it mean, what is required to lead in the church? At the top of the list, to lead in the church, a man must be converted. He must himself be truly born again.

I know, I know, that Peter denied Jesus three times, though he steadfastly claimed that he would never do so, that he would DIE before doing so. I know... And, yes, I know, I know, that Andrew, James, John, Philip and all the rest fled into the darkness when Jesus was arrested, leaving Him alone just like He said they would. And, I know, I know, Thomas, the doubter, he stuck to his guns, and said, 'Unless I see the nail prints in His hands and feet, and can put my fingers into His side, I won't believe He's alive!' I know...

But, listen, can you imagine, just try to do so for a minute, what kind of church we would have if Jesus would have left it in the hands of Judas Iscariot?! What's the difference? I mean, Peter denied our Savior, three times he denied Him, and James and John and Philip and Andrew and the others they left Jesus to fend for Himself, ran off and left Him so as o save their own necks! And, Thomas – does the term skeptic seem appropriate?

But, listen, where was Thomas one week later? John chapter twenty tells us that that night Jesus appeared in the midst of His disciples, this time Thomas was there, and he got to see Jesus' wounds, got to touch Him, got to hug Him. And, what did he do? He fell on his knees and cried, “My Lord, and my God!” But where was Judas?!

And, as for James and John, Philip and Andrew and the rest, just who was it that stood up to declare to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost that 'this same Jesus, whom you have crucified, God has made both Lord and Christ'? Read Acts chapter two and you'll see. It wasn't Judas! It was them!

And, then there's ol' Peter, we remember him, he's famous, or maybe we should say, in-famous, for the 'cock-a-doodle-do' incident, right? But, listen, do we also remember that it was Peter - who two times – boldly declared to the very same Sanhedrin that declared Jesus guilty, “I cannot BUT speak about the things I have seen and heard, I must obey God rather than men!” That was Peter, but where was Judas?

What was the first gem regarding church leadership that we must wrap our arms around? To lead the church, a man must – he absolutely HAS TO BE converted! Born again! When it comes to failure, there IS no difference between Judas and all the others. But, listen, when it comes to conversion there is! They sinned, they failed, they doubted, but they repented! And were saved! Judas didn't! That's the difference, and that's why Jesus used them to establish His church!

So what? That's church history, right? Yes, it is. But listen, if we want to be God's instruments in His work, today, listen, it must also be church reality, church PRESENT! Before you cast that ballot in a few weeks, fellows before we say 'yes' to invitations to fill positions of leadership, this must be our burning issue, our number one question! Is he converted? Can I see the evidence, the 'fruit' in his life? Am I truly 'born again'? Is my life an illustration of a Judas-like faker or of someone ready to bow the knee and exclaim, 'Jesus, you are alive! You are my Lord and God'?

Peter, the human author of the Scripture text we read a moment ago, alludes to all of this, when he humbly says of himself, “I am a witness of the sufferings of Christ”, “I am partaker of, a participant in Christ's glory that will be revealed...” This Is who I am, because of Calvary. Judas didn't live to see Jesus die! This is who I am because of Resurrection Day! But, Judas' body swung from a tree on that first day of the week. This is who I am because of Pentecost, but by that time Judas' coins had purchased a field called 'Akeldama' – 'field of blood' – and, by that time, the day of Pentecost, instead of standing with Peter and the others, testifying to the fact that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, Judas' lifeless body was a bloody, broken-open heap...

Because he was converted, truly born again, a witness of the suffering and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, because of all of that Peter could rightly be called an 'elder', a 'fellow elder'!

There's a second gem of truth regarding church leadership which my father-in-law shared with me, that builds on this first one, and it goes something like this: having been converted, truly born again, to lead in God's church, a man must have an AWARENESS of the needs of others! A church leader, to be Scripturally qualified, must be acutely aware of the needs of God's people, and of those God desires to call to Himself to be His people.

Speaking of my father-in-law, two months ago my family and I had the privilege of sharing in his celebration of retirement from 50+ years of work and ministry for the Lord. You should have been there, especially for the 'treasure hunt' that my father-in-law's oldest daughter, my wife, put together to spice up the occasion. In a nut shell, the treasure hunt was a fun little 'driving game', where Julia's dad drove all over Tyler picking up 'clues' pertaining to his 50 years of work. Now here's where I'm going with this little story. The first clue he retrieved was a baby chick. Strange clue, I know, unless, like him, as a 20 year-old newly-wed, and soon-to-be-first-time-father, you're in the business of raising broilers – 10,000 of them! Delivered on the very same day my wife, his first child, was born! Talk about an acute awareness of need!

Looking at a 'sea' of humanity coming His way for His healing touch, His tender compassion, His truth-filled teaching, like a brand-new chicken farmer listening to the incessant 'peeps' of all those 'cheeps', Jesus didn't smack His forehead and exclaim, 'Look what I've gotten myself into!' No! Instead, He said to those who would later carry His mantle of leadership, the Peters, the Thomases, the Philips, 'Look! Do you see the need?! The fields, they are white unto harvest!' 'Look! Do you see the need?! That 'sea' of humanity, it's not a mass of nameless, faceless flesh. No! It's My flock! Helpless and harassed, scattered and vulnerable, like sheep without a shepherd! “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers, the willing workers who really see the need, are few, very few. So pray, ask, BEG, the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest field.'

To lead in God's church, the converted man, the truly born-again man, must see the need, he must be acutely aware, as Peter puts it here, that the flock of God must be fed from the grassy green pastures of God's Word, and led to the nourishment of God's streams of living water... Peter knew it. Jesus opened his eyes to it, remember? 'Peter, do you love Me? Feed my sheep... Peter, do you love Me? Feed my sheep... Peter, do you love Me? Feed My Sheep!”

Peter knew it, Jesus opened his eyes to it. And, as Jesus' inspired instruments, speaking to born again 'fellow elders', he asks, 'Are you aware? Do you see the need?' “Feed, shepherd, the flock of God which is among you...”

What does it mean, what is required of a man, if he is to be a leader in God's church? The rest of this message I must leave for next time. But, before we close, I have to tell you one more thing. The chick, the baby chick, that my father-in-law picked up as clue #1 in the treasure hunt – what happened to it? 'Cheep' as we affectionately call him (or her?) now resides in our backyard, and is nearly full grown. But, here's the deal: I know, I know, you're wondering, 'why would anyone want a chicken in the city?' Well, like you, we like eggs and legs, and all that other tasty 'chicken stuff'. But, listen, we brought the chick home, not 10,000 of them, just one – why? To help a future church leader named Jaden learn what it means, what God's Word through Peter means, when it says, “Feed the flock of God which is among you...” We kept the chicken so that he might come to see the need! To prepare him to enter those white and ready fields, to reap the harvest God intends to bring into His garner.

What does it mean, what is required to lead in God's church?

Would you join me over the next few weeks, in looking right here, in God's Book, for the answers to those questions?