Unfinished Business: Leadership

By Pastor Christian on 10/5/09

This is the first in a series of three messages on the Book of Titus we are calling “Unfinished Business.”  The title comes from Paul’s relationship to the island of Crete and to his disciple-leader stationed there Titus. On his way to Rome, Paul had made a stop at the Island and held a huge evangelistic crusade. The response to the message of Christ was overwhelming and a new church sprung up, BUT Paul had to continue his journey to Rome. So he left Titus behind to take care of the Unfinished Business. This brief 3 week series will explore Paul’s advice to Titus and challenge us to take care of any Unfinished Business we may have.
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The first thing Paul apparently “did not get to finish” while he was on Crete was ESTABLISH SOLID ELDERS (church leaders) in all of the towns/churches across the island. 

Part of Paul’s missionary strategy was to establish indigenous leaders at every location he planted the Gospel. We can presume from his writing, his own leadership, and his conspicuous investment in young leaders like Titus that Paul understood the importance of good leadership for a healthy church.

Breaking out his established list (see I Tim 3), he told Titus that the ALL new church leaders should be. . . “blameless. The husband of one wife and have children who are believers and who are not accused of having wild lifestyles or of being rebellious. Because an overseer is God’s administrator, he must be blameless. He must not be arrogant or irritable. He must not drink too much, be a violent person, or use shameful ways to make money. Instead, he must be a lover of strangers, a lover of goodness, sensible, honest, moral, and self-controlled. He must be devoted to the trustworthy message that is in agreement with our teaching, so that he may be able to encourage others with healthy doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”  TITUS 1:1-5

First note that none of these are CAPACITY MEASUREMENTS. It does not say Elders must be brilliant speakers, extroverts, inspirers and savvy business people. Rather, Paul lists CHARACTER CAPACITY. Those who would lead must have a character God can use FIRST. Skills can be learned, overlooked and filled in by God’s strength (check out Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

This morning, Brandon did a great job of spelling out the exacting practicalities of these requirements. If you did not heard him yet – go listen to the message at http://www.canyoncreekonline.com/mediaplayer/sermon/the-intangibles-of-leadership.  If you did, then his quote of Spiderman probably summed it all up for you, “with Great Power comes Great Responsibility.” If you were paying attention, then there can be no doubt in your mind that to lead anywhere is a demanding undertaking, and to lead in the church is an comprehensive life calling.
You should have further gleaned that to lead you MUST be WILLING to step up to a higher level of accountability. There is simply a different calling for those who will lead. James said that only a few of us should undertake teaching BECAUSE we will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).

And. . .

I grant that all of that is true. To lead is a BLESSED BURDEN. But, because Brandon could only hint at it – and he did hint at it, I want to raise THE AMAZING PRIVILEGE OF LEADING. And, I don’t just mean the privilege of being the boss. There is some of that ;) I mean the privilege of really being able to invest, steer, interact with and know/be known by your organization.

It is true that the hourly worker or temp employee does not have the strain of leadership on their back. They can go to TGI Fridays after work, drink light beer and just forget about it. Only the leaders must stay and worry about its health. Only the leaders must work tirelessly to secure its future.

But. . .only the leaders and vested employees get to really enjoy the fruit of its product, the pleasure of its success and the secrets of its operation. The fruit is much sweeter for those who really sacrificed to make it grow

Check this, not everyone gets to be close to the CEO. He/she does not have that much time. Not everyone gets to know why the company is moving or where it’s going. Not everyone gets to know the secrets. Not everyone gets to gather around the conference table and work through the problems and opportunities. Not everyone gets the dividends. Not everyone gets the topmost pride of its success.

Only those who will step up to lead. . .

So yes, it comes with its strain. Yes, it comes with its sleepless nights. Yes it comes with the burden of a higher standard. But, I’d like to argue that with the right company - ITS ALL WORTH IT.
I don’t know about Microsoft or Boeing. I don’t design motherboards or widgets. But I can say this for those who lead in the church. Once you have processed the appropriate level of fear and trembling over the big choice of leading. Once you have dealt with the totality of the call, then prepare for THE AMAZING PRIVILEGE OF LEADING. This call creates is a life worth living; dividends that last an eternity, and a good reason to face hardship. By the way, the CEO is the bomb and HE DOES INVEST in his LEADERS.

God bless you friends, it is my honest prayer that God will give all of you the peace of your work and call some of you out to BLESSED BURDEN of LEADING.

Christian

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