Tag: leadership
-
A House with a Standard – Genesis 17:27
Genesis 17:27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him. This verse shows us that Abraham’s obedience did not stop at the personal level. It reached into his whole household. The men under his care knew exactly where he stood. Abraham…
-
Leading the Way – Genesis 17:23
Genesis 17:23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. What stands out to me here…
-
Lead the Way – Genesis 7:13
Genesis 7:13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; One little detail in that verse says a lot to me. Noah went first. He did not stand outside the ark saying,…
-
No Lords but Jesus – Revelation 2:6
Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Jesus had rebuked Ephesus for leaving their first love, but He also stops to commend them here. I like that. Even in correction, He notices what is right. He sees what is still healthy. He sees what…
-
Go First – 1 Peter 5:3
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. Peter says spiritual leadership is not lordship. That matters because people in any place of responsibility can start slipping into control mode without even realizing it. A pastor can do it. A parent can do it. A ministry leader…
-
Feed Them Well – 1 Peter 5:2
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Peter knew pressure was coming, and because of that, he brings leaders back to the main thing. Feed the flock of God. That is such…
-
Among the Flock, Under the Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5:1
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Peter has been talking about suffering, fire, pressure, and judgment beginning at the house of God. And now, as he…
-
Joy in the Shepherding – Hebrews 13:17–19
Hebrews 13:17–19 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things…
-
Words Backed by the Word – Hebrews 13:7
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Submission becomes much easier when authority is tied to truth instead of ego. That is the heartbeat of this verse. The writer is not telling people to…
-
Consider Jesus — Hebrews 3:1–2
Hebrews 3:1–2 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. Up to this point in Hebrews, the writer has been making a bold case. Jesus, though for a…
-
Slow Hands in Leadership — 1 Timothy 5:21–22
1 Timothy 5:21, 22 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. Paul suddenly raises the seriousness of the moment.…
-
When Sin Must Be Brought Into the Light — 1 Timothy 5:20
1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. There are moments in life when quiet correction is enough. A private conversation. A gentle word. A door closed and a heart turned back in the right direction. But Paul says there are times when that is not enough. When sin…
-
Lead by Example — 1 Timothy 4:12
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Timothy was young, and Paul knew people might notice that before they noticed anything else. In those days age carried weight. A young leader could easily…
-
Strength That Starts at the Table — 1 Timothy 3:12–13
1 Timothy 3:12–13 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Paul brings it back home. Before a man…
-
The Kind of Man Who Serves — 1 Timothy 3:8
1 Timothy 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Paul shifts from overseers to servants. Not the men up front teaching every week, but the ones making sure the lights are on, the tables are set, the widows are cared for, the needs…
-
A Good Report — 1 Timothy 3:7
1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Paul does not stop with what a man looks like inside the church. He says look outside. How is he known by those who do not sit in the…
-
Not a Novice — 1 Timothy 3:6
1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Paul now adds something that feels almost protective. Do not put a brand new believer into leadership. Why? Because pride grows fast in fresh soil. The word novice means newly planted. A sapling. Something still…
-
Proven at Home — 1 Timothy 3:3–5
1 Timothy 3:3–5 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of…
-
A Man Who Can Be Trusted — 1 Timothy 3:2
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Paul begins with a word that levels the room. Blameless. If that meant flawless, we could close the Bible right here and go home. No one would qualify. Not you.…
-
A Weighty Desire — 1 Timothy 3:1
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. Paul slows down before he says this. “This is a true saying.” In other words, this matters. If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. We hear…
-
Esteem Them in Love – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Paul turns here to something deeply practical and deeply needed: leadership in the…