Webcast: Characteristics of God-honoring Leadership
Channel: Cross Allegiance
Date: 2014-09-03

Webcast from 9/2/2014 (Tuesday Night webcast series)
www.crossallegiance.org/webcast.html

Speaking about the characteristics that make up a God-honoring Leader.

Website: http://www.crossallegiance.org

Characteristics of God-honoring Leadership

Humility -- God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble
Tenderness -- A Shepherd's Heart -- Jesus to Peter in John 21
 -- Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.  We need to model Him and love others sacrificially.
*LOVE* (e.g. 1 John, Matthew 22, etc.)

Acts 6 -- Given to the Word and Prayer (for those called to some type of shepherding ministry), or Given to Sacrificial Service (for those called to service ministry), or dedicated to the call that God has on your life.

Structure in God's Kingdom is out of a root of LOVE, not Hierarchy

Good model for God-honoring leadership qualities: Elders and Bishops/Overseers/Pastors

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (parallel: Titus 1)

Requirements for Overseers/Pastors:
• Above reproach (is not spoken against for any just reason)  -- keeps his nose out of trouble or out of the appearance of evil
• Monogamous (literally, 'one-woman man') -- Pure, not lecherous, obedient to God's laws of sexuality
• Temperate - Patient with others, not given to rage
• Prudent/Wise - Think of Solomon…if God calls us to serve others in various ways, we should pray for Wisdom.  We know from James 1:5 that God grants wisdom if we ask Him in faith!
• Respectable -- Lives a godly life, serves as a good model for others to live after
• Hospitable -- Welcoming, friendly, kind, warm
• Able to teach -- This is very critical for someone in a teaching role.  Elders should be able to teach the Word of God.
• Not 'given' to wine - Not a drunkard…a form of self-control and discipline.  This does not rule out drinking altogether -- Timothy was told to drink a little wine for his stomach's sake (medicinal purpose) -- but remember that even Jesus
• Does not start brawls or have tendencies that way
• Gentle
• Uncontentious (see prior 2)
• Not a lover of money (though wisdom with money is a huge plus)
• A good manager -- This serves as a symbol of what he'll do with a church assembly -- this isn't referring to an MBA
• An effective leader
• A good steward of what God has given him (e.g. in this passage, one excellent way would be to look at his family life)
• Grounded in the Faith (// 1 Cor 16:13)
• Of good reputation/standing with the community/world outside -- This isn't referring to compromising.  You must stand on truth.  However, you need to speak it lovingly.  "Speak the truth in love" -- that means you're loving in doing so, but a lot of people are missing out that they need to speak the truth!

Here, it mentions several married characteristics.  Can singles be good leaders?
1 Corinthians 7:6-9

Yes, of course!  Jesus.  Paul.  John?  Timothy?  Very likely many other of the Disciples were single.  We know Peter had a wife.  But having a wife was inconsequential to whether or not people would stop in their tracks to turn toward obeying Jesus.

Church history shows that many church leaders were single, and you see that prevalent through Monastic Age and even to the time of the Reformation…but it used to be a bragging point to be single and in ministry.

St. Jerome taught in the 4th century that celibate singleness was 100% holy, and marriage 30%.  Perhaps this was a wrong view of sexual relationships and theology relating to it -- marriage is meant to be pure and a very good thing.  Luther also criticized Jerome, and interestingly, when Luther started renouncing his monastic vows and saying that marriage was good and Jerome was wrong, that very much elevated the status of marriage and ministry.

Paul states in 1 Corinthians 7:1 that it is GOOD for a man not to marry.  Was he wrong?

Consistently about half of adults are single -- anywhere between 43% and 52%

Our advice about life and counseling should stem from Scripture.  While life experience can be a huge God-given gift that allows us to speak healing into others' lives through our compassionate understanding, we don't need to partake in everything in order to speak the Word of God to situations.  Even more, do you need to take part in drug deals to be able to minister to a drug dealer?  Do you need to have premarital sex or commit adultery to counsel people struggling with sexual sin?  No!

The important part of ministry isn't whether or not you have a ring on your finger or not.  It's whether you're obedient to God in whatever He calls you to do.  God will make it clear what you can and cannot do, and why and why not, and when.  Listen for Him.

I pray for churches to rise up and minister to those who are hurting.  We need revival.

Regardless of status or background, honor God, and you will see Him do wonderfully.  Lead well!