LEADERSHIP - Character Quality # 16

A great leader lifts his/her lid by:

1                   Being a good follower

2                   Influencing

3                   Having vision

4                   Showing up

5                   Giving your all

6                   Taking initiative

7                   Reenlisting to follow

        One wouldn’t think that a great leader needs to be a good follower.  However, we all follow something – the important question is who or what do we follow?  Many people are ruined by choosing to follow the wrong people, ideas or philosophies.  Following Jesus is the only right choice for following.

PETER FOLLOWED

Matthew 4:18-20

 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."   At once they left their nets and followed him.

It also wouldn’t seem that being made a “FISHER OF MEN” is a good metaphor for leadership.  Fishing is passive – either the fish are biting or they aren’t.  Not true, a real fisherperson works hard and uses the right bait in the right location to attract the right fish to the net or the hook.  You influence the fish to come.

Lifting the lid of leadership ends where it begins and it starts all over again.  Notice how the scene below is similar in location and theme to the one above – at the beginning and near the conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

PETER REENLISTED TO FOLLOW

John 21:12-19

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.  Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.   When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"  "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."   Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"  He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."   The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.  I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."   Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

Can you think of a time when your leadership lid has been lifted or when you have seen someone else lift their lid of leadership?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper

OBEDIENCE - Character Quality # 15

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.  And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.  So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”           Exodus 3:7-10

Put yourself in Moses' shoes for a moment and think about how you would respond to this situation. First off, he's talking to a bush that is on fire. This fiery bush claims to be God and though it's on fire, the fire doesn't consume it; it just continues to burn. Moses is convinced and God proceeds to tell him that He is about to do something for Moses' people; He is going to intervene on Israel's behalf. Imagine the joy Moses must have felt when God says, “ So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians.” WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!! Peel a grape, pluck a chicken, roast a heifer and bring out the bubbly, the Israelites are going to be rescued! I'm sure that joy was short-lived because two verses later God reveals the rest of the plan. The Israelites are going to be rescued and Moses is going to be the tool that God uses to make it happen. “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

If you are familiar with the story then you know that Moses immediately goes on the defensive and starts making excuses as to why he can't complete the task that God had given him.

Have you ever found yourself in Moses' situation; a situation where God has called you to do something? Perhaps it was a call to a particular ministry or job or even a call to witness to someone. How did you respond and how did the situation play out?

*What will Moses do? Will the Israelites ever make it out of Egypt? Will the fire ever consume the bush? Come find out this Sunday morning!

(*These questions are all rhetorical and necessary to complete my shameless plug.)

Director of Student Ministries, Joel Stamper

WORSHIP - CHARACTER QUALITY # 14

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.   For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.  The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.  For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways."  So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest."

There are two parts two this Psalm.  The first part tells us what and why we worship and the second part tells us what not to do.  Can you make a list of the what (to and not to do) and whys of worship from the scripture above.  In so doing, you will discover that in the very act of listing them out you are in the midst of an act of worship.  Feel free to add other aspects of worship from scripture or from your experience as well.

Local American Baptist pastors met today and each shared a favorite worship experience at some point in their lives.  The range of experiences was vast from being alone with God, to being in a giant crowd, from being loud to being quiet and much more.  What has been one of your favorite worship experiences?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff

PATIENCE - CHARACTER QUALITY # 13

1 Timothy 1:15-17   Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Proverbs 19:11     A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Gal 5:22   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…

Col 3:12    Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

You must first have a lot of patience to learn to have patience.  ~Stanislaw J. Lec (1909 - 1966)

Not Yet Made

          Dr. Leon Tucker, a gifted preacher and teacher, once told of a woman who had been broken by a great tragedy in her life. She had been living under the crushing weight of a heavy burden for so long that praise had given way to complaint. Finally she cried out in bitterness of soul, “Oh, I would to God I had never been made!” In response to her rebellious words a friend wisely replied, “Why my dear child, you are not made yet; you are only being made, and you are quarrelling with God’s process.”

          I was going to ask some really great questions, but I have decided to make you wait for them.  Instead, for now I will ask how you have experienced the patience of God and how you have exhibited or experienced patience in your life?

VISION - CHARACTER QUALITY # 12

Do you have a new vision for a new year?  It is time we get an old vision for a new year.  There is a vision that has not changed.  That vision is God’s vision.  That vision is repeated over and over again in scripture.  It is summed up in the verses: 2 Peter 3:8-15a   But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.  Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.  So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation.

                God’s vision is that ALL will come to repentance!  What story(s) from scripture come to mind that illustrate how much God wants people to turn form sin and put their faith in him?  One of the great ones from the Old testament is found in I Kings 18 where Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a little fire starting exhibition.  In the end the prophets of Baal cried out, “The Lord – He is God! The Lord – He is God!”  Who or what circumstances did God use to turn you from sin to put your faith in Jesus for salvation?

From the Heart, Pastor Jeff Cooper

PEACE - CHARACTER QUALITY # 11

Why do so many people rarely experience peace?  What brings you peace?  When is the last time you felt truly at peace?  Describe a time you have been an instrument of peace.

Simeon held the 8 day old Jesus in his arms and prayed saying: “you now dismiss your servant in peace.”  Jesus gives a peace that passes understanding that is vastly different than the peace that comes from things in the world.  Ritual can bring us peace.  Family can give us peace.  A roof over our heads can give us peace.  Money can give us peace.  Researchers say that praying, even to various gods brings peace – the act of prayer itself.  Nothing and no one gives the peace that Jesus gives.  If you don’t know his peace, then you have no peace – not lasting deep abiding peace.  The scripture is listed below as well as the prayer of peace.  After reading through it all, please answer any of the questions above or leave further comments about your thoughts on peace!

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.  For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."  The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.    Luke 2:21-38

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.

                     ---   Peace Prayer of St. Francis

 From the Heart, Pastor Jeff

LOVE - CHARACTER QUALITY # 10

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.   (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)   And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.   And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)   To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.   And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.      Luke 2:1-7

In the business of the season, do you have room for Jesus?  Have you experienced his overwhelming love in recent weeks?  Does God seem near or far?  What does it mean to truly know the love of God?  How do you know God loves you?  How does anyone else know you love God?  How do you help others make room for Jesus?  See Revelation 3:20

I Love You!

--  Pastor Jeff