God never said leadership would be easy, but he did say it would be rewarding. There is a wonderful promise tucked away in Hebrews 6:10: “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”
The Lord knows your service to him and his flock, and he promises to reward those who remain faithful.
One of the best ways to cultivate leaders is to read good books together on the subject. A friend recently asked a group of fellow pastors, “Can any of you recommend a solid, gospel-centered book on Christian leadership?”
Here was my top five list of books on leadership, along with a publisher description of each:
The need for talented, vigorous leaders in the church cannot be overemphasized. Such times demand active service of men and women who are guided by and devoted to Jesus Christ. With more than 1 million copies sold, Spiritual Leadership stands as a proven classic for developing such leadership. J. Oswald Sanders, a Christian leader for nearly seventy years and author of more than forty books, presents the key principles of leadership in both the temporal and spiritual realms. He illustrates his points with examples from Scripture and biographies of eminent men of God, such as Moses, Nehemiah, the apostle Paul, David Livingstone, Charles Spurgeon, and others.
Cultures and organizations do not change without strong leadership. While many leadership books focus on management or administration, the central focus of The Conviction to Lead is on changing minds. Dr. Mohler was the driving force behind the transformation of Southern Seminary from a liberal institution of waning influence to a thriving evangelical seminary at the heart of the Southern Baptist Convention. Since then he has been one of the most prominent voices in evangelicalism, fighting for Christian principles and challenging secular culture. Using his own experiences and examples from history, Dr. Mohler demonstrates that real leadership is a transferring of conviction to others, affecting their actions, motivations, intuition, and commitment. This practical guide walks the reader through what a leader needs to know, do, and be in order to affect change.
More than ever, people are talking about leadership. But much of today’s discourse is advancing the same old misconceptions. In The Book on Leadership, best-selling author, pastor, and teacher John MacArthur sets the record straight: Leadership does not come from a job title. It isn’t a matter of personality or charisma. And it isn’t the same thing as iron-fisted authority. True leadership – The kind that refuses to bend to a shifting, fickle world – comes from a much deeper source. Based on the writings of one of the most effective spiritual leaders of all time?the apostle Paul? MacArthur presents the “26 Characteristics of a True Leader.” Whether you are a business leader, civic leader, church leader, parent, teacher, or student, the life of Paul will empower you to unleash your own capacity for leadership.
This book provides leaders and teachers a clear understanding of what the Bible teaches about love. This understanding is essential to you as an individual leader and to the church as a whole. It will significantly improve your relational skills — Enhance your effectiveness in ministry — Diminish senseless conflict and division — Build a healthier church — Promote evangelism. If you lead or teach people in any capacity in the body of Christ, this book will help you become a more loving leader or teacher.
Most seminary graduates will begin their ministries with plenty of important head knowledge to share–but with a deficit of some of the most practical aspects of doing ministry, such as which ministry role most suits them, how to start out strong at a new church, persevering during difficult seasons of ministry, leading meetings and delegating tasks, safeguarding their family, fighting discouragement, pastor envy, and a lack of contentment, navigating special ministry needs, such as hospitals, weddings, and funerals, and much more. Through his hard-won wisdom, Jason Helopoulos comes alongside new pastors as a trusted friend and mentor, ready to guide them through their first years of ministry with intelligence and compassion.
What favorite books on leadership would you add to this list?
You may have heard of the “Caring Well” Conference that took place last week in Texas. This national conference hosted by our friends at the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission had a stated purpose to “Equip Churches to Confront the Abuse Crisis.”
There is no question this subject needs attention, and that churches need further equipping and training. Just last August, nineteen of our ministry leaders came out to church on a Monday night to attend a two-hour seminar on sex abuse prevention and response. What a tragedy this subject must even be talked about. But such is the ugly nature of sin.
I’m sure much of the advice given at Caring Well was sound and helpful, but some attendees noticed an absence of the gospel and a lack of confidence in the sufficiency of scripture. I was not there, and have not listened to the sessions myself, so I am simply sharing what I have heard from sources I respect. I share this not to generate controversy or downplay the serious threat of sex abuse in the church, but as a realtime example of the constant need for discernment. Let us never take for granted core doctrines like the sufficiency of scripture and the role of the local church, whether it be in our counseling, our preaching, or even our conferences. These principles can so easily be assumed or even undermined.
Sarah Ascol, one of the attendees, is right to observe, ” While there is an important role for those with specialized training—doctors, lawyers, law enforcement, counselors—they must not replace the central place of the church in dealing with sexual sin. It is breathtakingly arrogant to act as if the wisdom of men can take the place of the Word of God revealed in the Scripture. God’s word is powerful and it makes no small claims about that power.”
To read more of Sarah’s critique, click here. She concludes with this summary: ” The
best sessions of the conference were those giving practical advice on
recognizing grooming behaviors and screening church volunteers as a way to
protect against sexual abuse occurring at a church. The Christian lawyers from
Ministry Safe did a better job of offering tools to the church without
attempting to supersede her authority and role than did any pastor or advocate
who took the stage. Had such excellent practical training been coupled with a
serious consideration of the power of the Gospel, a call to holiness and truth
among the people of God, and a firm reliance on the Scripture as valuable in
preparing the church to respond to abuse, then this conference would have truly
fulfilled its goal…”
Good stuff to keep in mind. May we remain both gracious and discerning, maintaining a high view of scripture while showing compassion toward abuse victims. All the while, let us never forget the central role of Christ’s church in matters of truth and sanctification.
Tuesday, September 11, 2001. If you’re much older than 21, you know exactly where you were that morning. My wife and I were young marrieds, paying off school loans and renting a one bedroom apartment in Southern California. We woke up that morning with a knock at the door. A neighbor, out of breath, said in a quivering voice, “We’ve been attacked. They’ve hit the World Trade Center. I think we’re in a war.”
It took us a moment to process the information, but we quickly turned on the radio. And just then the first World Trade Center tower collapsed. 500,000 tons of concrete and steel came crashing down in lower Manhattan. It was described by the newscaster as “a candle melting like wax.”
Everyone knew something was terribly wrong, but no one yet knew the extent of the attack. Every airplane, every ship, every high rise and stadium were suddenly another potential target. Realizing that jet liners full of passengers were being hijacked and used as guided missiles, the FAA quickly ordered all civilian aircraft to be grounded for the first time in history. Those next few days were surreal. There was not a single plane in the sky.
Harbors and ships were also put on high alert. I was working at Princess Cruises at the time, in their shoreside Fleet Personnel Department. On 9/11, our conference room transformed into a war situation room. Maps and reports were sprawled across the conference room table. Multiple TVs were playing CNN in the background. Weary corporate executives debated over options of what to do with our fleet, our passengers, and our crew.
Eighteen years later, the pain is still fresh. Every time I see images of United Flight 175 heading into the South Tower of the World Trade Center, it makes me shudder. A sudden swerve, a massive fireball, billows of smoke. 65 people killed instantly.
This day of infamy became my generation’s version of Pearl Harbor. America was attacked on its own soil, with four synchronized hijackings. The enemy’s intent: to carry out Islamic holy war and kill as many as possible, destroying in the process some of the most important icons of democracy and Western civilization. In total, 2,977 were killed, including 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and civilians from over 70 different countries.
Many people afterward were wondering, “Where was God on 9/11?” And the answer of course is, he was seated on His throne. How can this be? Because God is sovereign over all things. Not just good things, but bad things too. He is either in complete control, or he is not in control at all. And the Bible teaches he is in complete control.
Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases (Psalm 115:3)
Nothing happens without His knowledge, His permission, and ultimately, His divine power. He is sovereign over nature. He is sovereign over sickness. He is sovereign over people. He is sovereign over nations. He is sovereign over wars. He is sovereign over elections. He is sovereign over Satan. He is sovereign over evil. Our God is in complete control!
Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it? (Lamentations 3:37)
People are of course still responsible and accountable for their actions. They still act by their own free will, i.e. they act according to their nature and do what they genuinely want to do. But behind the scenes, God is the primary mover in human history.
The good news is that this means no one can thwart God’s plan. Our nation was caught completely off guard, but God was not surprised on Sept. 11. If he was, then he would cease to be God. Mohamed Atta and the rest of the 9/11 terrorists may have slipped into the United States and onto those planes, but they did not slip under God’s radar. It is a mystery to us why God would allow such violence and injustice, but we can rest assured God’s perfect knowledge and power were still very much at work at every moment.
Then why didn’t God prevent 9/11? This is a question we cannot fully answer.
The hidden things belong to the LORD our God (Deut 29:29)
For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Is. 55:9).
Ultimately, God works all thing out for good, and we must trust Him. But perhaps we can find at least a partial explanation.
The late Jerry Bridges wrote, “History is like a giant piece of fabric with very intricate and complex patterns. During the limited span of our lifetimes, we see only a tiny fraction of the pattern. Furthermore, as has been observed by others, we see the pattern from the underside. The underside of a weaving usually makes no sense. Even the upper side makes little sense if we view just a tiny piece. Only God sees the upper side, and only He sees the entire fabric with its complete pattern. Therefore, we must trust Him to work out all the details of history to His glory, knowing that His glory and our good are bound up together.”
9/11 brought unspeakable horror, but it serves as a modern-day reminder of another great atrocity – when Jesus died on the cross. You see, 9/11 was not the first time our sovereign God permitted great tragedy and injustice to occur. We must remember that God was also in control the day his Son was crucified. He did nothing to stop it. In fact, he orchestrated those events at great personal cost in order to achieve our salvation.
In Acts 4, when the early church gathered to pray and reflect on Christ’s death, they acknowledged the human cause, but also the underlying divine cause for all that had happened: “Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place.”
Without a doubt, 9/11 changed our world forever. But let us take comfort that God is in complete control, and that he dealt with our sin by sending his own son to suffer an even greater injustice. The horror and darkness of those smoke-filled streets in lower Manhattan, pointed to an even greater darkness that engulfed the whole world on the day an innocent Savior died to take away our sins. Now, we see in part, but one day, we will see in full, and the wondrous tapestry of God’s redemption will finally be complete.
Tomorrow during the worship service, the Sunday School kids will be sharing some of the Bible verses they’ve been memorizing. I expect it will be both inspiring – and a bit convicting – as we hear these kids recite whole sections of scripture, in some cases, twelve consecutive verses.
With this special emphasis on Bible Memory tomorrow, I have chosen my sermon text as Psalm 119:11, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
We could summarize this verse by saying the psalmist stores up his greatest prize (God’s Word), in the greatest place (his heart), for the greatest purpose (to avoid sin). There is a direct correlation between our knowledge and internalization of scripture, and our ability to fight against sin.
Many of us agree with all of this in concept, but really struggle to memorize scripture. We go through our entire lives failing to place this habit along some of the more famous spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, and church attendance. But we do this to our own detriment.
Do you want to change this? It’s never too late to start! If you are willing to start memorizing Scripture, ask God for help, then begin with a small, attainable goal. Pick just one or two verses, and begin memorizing them. Tell someone else that you have taken up this new habit, and ask them to check in on you. You might want to check out one of the great Bible Memory apps available today, or just use the good old fashioned 3×5 index cards. However you choose to memorize, I guarantee you will be blessed, and that you will feel better equipped for the enemy’s attacks. Consider it a weapon upgrade.
Here is a short list of verses you might want to start with, adapted from John Barnett’s book, The Word-Filled Family. At the top are the Bible references organized by topic in a checklist format. Below that, I have included the entire verse.
Word of God Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Psalm 119:9–11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Jesus Christ John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. Colossians 3:23–24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Death & Hell Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. Galatians 5:16–17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Inspiration (Scripture is God-breathed) 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Sin Romans 3:10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Christ’s Death 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Salvation John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 1 Peter 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Assurance of Salvation Romans 10:9–10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. John 10:27–28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:11–13 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Second Coming of Jesus Christ Titus 2:11–13 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Revelation 14:12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Surrender to God Romans 6:12–13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. Romans 12:1–2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Daily Confession Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Maintain Fellowship with Others Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! God’s Forgiveness Psalm 86:5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Psalm 103:10–12 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Ephesians 4:30–32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. God’s Guidance Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. John 17:7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. God’s Peace Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. God’s Presence and Protection Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Hebrews 13:5–6 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Psalm 91:10–11 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. God’s Provision Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Prayer Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Psalm 55:17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. John 15:7–8 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Philippians 4:6–7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Witness Matthew 28:19–20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
My wife and I were reminded of this again last month when we drove to Los Angeles for a funeral. One of Natalie’s mentors for over fifteen years, Louise Essex passed away in June from Lou Gehrig’s disease. Some of you ladies may remember Louise from a color-draping seminar she gave at church several years ago.
The funeral was a swirl of emotions. We were delighted to run into old friends and celebrate Louise’ 72 years of life and ministry. At the same time, we were saddened by her horrible disease and untimely death, and the fact we will never see her again this side of heaven. The greatest salve to a grieving heart is to know a person is finally enjoying rest with Jesus.
Every time I brush against the stinger of death, I am reminded of Jesus, who wept over the death of his friend Lazarus, and spoke words of hope to Martha, “Iam the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”
Friend, if you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, I urge you to repent of your sins and put complete trust in Him today. Only then can you claim Jesus’ promise of eternal life, and resurrection from the dead.
Every day is a gift from God, and none of us know how many more we have on this earth. Let’s make each one count by believing in and abiding in Christ. For the believer, the best is yet to come!
Pinch Of Clay 