Leadership Upside Down
Leadership Upside Down – Kenneth Mick
Argyle Church of Christ, Jacksonville, FL
November 5, 2006
Lesson notes/Sermon review from what Jesus says (October 15)
• Shepherds are made by the Holy Spirit – Acts 20:28
• There can be a lot of power plays in pulpits, but this is not about putting “my team” in place, or securing influence for “your team”
• We are looking for shepherds at Argyle. We are actively in the process. We are looking for the people that God has qualified to be shepherds.
• Diakonia (Greek) – means to serve (“minister”) from an inferior position
I. 3 examples of the use of diakonia in the New Testament:
A. Mark 1:29-31 – Jesus comes to Simon Peter’s house and heals his mother-in-law:
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. (diakoneo – the service word)
B. Luke 10:38-40 – Jesus at Mary and Martha’s house:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations [diakonia] that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
C. Luke 8: 1-3 – Followers supporting Jesus
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with
him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others.
1. These women were helping to support (diakoneo) them out of their own
means
2. Providing for their needs is service/ministry.
II. Paul agrees with Jesus that LEADERSHIP IS MINISTRY –
A. Leadership is authentically understood as service.
B. We are on the lookout for people who have given themselves to ministry
C. Leadership in the world is being seen as being “in power” – that you are smart enough and deft enough to make sure what you want to happen happens – BUT Jesus says that leadership is ministry
1. Service to others
2. Meeting their needs
D. The one who rules or leads is the one who serves and cares for the needs of others from an inferior position.
III. Jesus is radical and serious about leadership:
Luke 22:25-27: Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them;
and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you
are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,
and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is
at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I
am among you as one who serves.
IV. Paul says that leadership comes from the influence of the Spirit’s work.
A. One of those works: Those able to help with others (assistance)
B. Another is administration (forms of leadership)
C. Verses about the influence of the Spirit’s work:
I Corinthians 12:4-6: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service (diakonia), but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
I Corinthians 12:27-28: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration.
1. The purpose of these gifts is for the common good. (I Cor. 12:7)
2. Hold your elders and ministers, accountable for our service of leadership.
3. The priority: Function precedes title/office
V. Leadership is not primarily position except that of inferior status.
I Corinthians 16:15-18: You know that the household of Stephanas were the first
converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints.
I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the
work, and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus
arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they
refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
A. Leadership is service of the saints.
B. Where “submission” is legitimate: From devotion to service to those who
Who join the work and labor in it.
VI. Elders’ leadership/service is the reason for respect and esteem.
A. The priority: Making sure the church and individuals are served.
I Thess. 5:12-13 – Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard
among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the
highest regard in love because of their work.
B. Where esteem and respect is legitimate: for those who work hard among you
because of their work.
C. Esteem is not rendered simply by position. We are not saluting a uniform.
rather esteem and respect flow from functioning as a leader, by serving
others from below – and inferior status.
None of the passages used today mention the word elder. What we are after as a primary concern is understanding “leadership,”, and then how leadership is exemplified in an elder’s function within the body. If you are doing these things, then you are functioning as an elder even if you don’t accept the title. An elder is someone who is already doing what an elder should be doing.
Listen to the Audio Sermon Here
11.05.2006 Ken Mick: “Leadership Upside Down”
(I Corinthians 12 and I Thessalonians 5)
Download it here
