People Followed – March 28, 2009

People Followed

Judges 5:1-2

Jim Stephens

03-28-09

 

Scripture:

 

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the Lord!”  (Judges 5:1-2 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Twice in the Book of Judges, this statement occurs:  “In those days Israel had no king, so everyone did what seemed right in his own eyes.”  The roller-coaster ride of victory and defeat, freedom and slavery that Israel experienced during the nearly four centuries of the period of the Judges was primarily a failure of leadership.

 

Most of the people God used to rally Israel and bring periods of relief during Israel’s Dark Ages were pretty normal or unremarkable people who simply stepped up to the plate and took a swing at the next pitch.

 

When a leader stepped forward, the people rallied.

 

Application:

 

I want to step up and use my influence to lead people in the direction of freedom and victory.  I know that if leaders lead, people will follow.  Like Paul, I want to be able to say, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I’m less concerned about the leadership of position and more interested in the leadership of influence.  Help me to be an effective influencer – to influence your people toward victory and freedom in Christ.  Amen.

 

The People Started To Rebuild – October 10, 2008

The People Started To Rebuild

Nehemiah 3:1-2

Jim Stephens

10-10-08

 

Scripture:

 

1 Then Eliashib the high priest and the other priests started to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set up its doors, building the wall as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and the Tower of Hananel. 2 People from the town of Jericho worked next to them, and beyond them was Zaccur son of Imri. (Nehemiah 3:1-2 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

The people started to rebuild.  Nehemiah arrived with a passion that soon became a plan.  Once the people had an overall plan, individuals could see their part in it and they jumped in and got started.  Chapter three of Nehemiah’s journal shows how individuals worked side by side and linked their work together so that the wall was rebuilt starting at the Sheep Gate and progressing all the way around to finish at the Sheep Gate.

 

The work was hard and the challenge was great, but it was no longer just a massive ruin.  It was a project that each person could see his part in and tackle the challenge.

 

Application:

 

That’s something good leaders do.  Good leaders create an environment in which ordinary people can find their place of service and do their best.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I want to be a good leader and a good follower.  I want to see my specific place in your big plan and I want to help others find specific things they can do that use their skills and abilities and give them the joy of accomplishment.  Give me grace and wisdom to make the next season of my life the most productive for your Kingdom.  Amen.

 

They Know Me – August 8, 2008

They Know Me

John 10:14-15

Jim Stephens

08-08-08

 

Scripture:

 

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Jesus told this story about a shepherd, a sheep-fold, and how the sheep from several shepherds’ flocks who have overnighted in the fold recognize their shepherd by the sound of his voice and gather to him as he leads them out to pasture for the day.  His purpose was to illustrate the kind of care and commitment he has to those who choose to follow him.

 

He said, “I lay down my life for my sheep.”  That’s commitment worth following for.

 

Application:

 

The models we work with in church today are primarily models of leadership vision and fulfillment.  I’m not saying that’s wrong, I’m just observing that in many cases the “shepherd” is a highly motivated achiever who is committed to fulfilling vision and completing tasks that accomplish goals.

 

The charismatic and skilled leader does inspire followership in those who hear his voice – in sermons at multiple weekend services, on CD, on DVD, by podcast, and perhaps on radio and television.

 

Two elements are lacking:  The sheep don’t “know” the shepherd.  They know his persona.  The shepherd doesn’t know the sheep.  He knows statistics about the sheep, vignettes from their lives around a crisis or significant event, and some degree of professional/social interaction with a few – either a sampling or a circle of the “sheep.”

 

The leader often does “lay down his life,” in hard work, in sacrifice of time and energy, even in sacrifice of family, recreation, and spiritual formation.  But he is not usually “laying down his life” for the sheep.  It’s for the vision.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I see good stuff on both sides of the leader-shepherd coin.  I see the effectiveness of good leaders building successful churches that impact cities, regions, and the world.  And I see the effectiveness of the “good shepherd”  who intimately knows and is known by a flock of a hundred sheep.  Help me make sense of what I see and know and help others make sense of it, too.  Amen.