Through the Word in 2020 #73 – July 13 / “He’s our guy!”

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For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE
 
If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.
 
What do you look for when it comes to leadership – especially in the Church? Business expertise? Oratorical skill? Advanced degrees? Organizational savvy? Musical ability? Years of experience? Good looks? A powerful voice? A winning personality? All of those are good and well. And if a new leader brings some of these to the table – well, all the better. But what are the key things? The things which ought to be non-negotiable? The things which go beyond our wish-list of preferences – to what we we really need? The things which ought to make us say: “He’s our guy!” Some thoughts on that today out of
1 Chronicles 27:16-29.
 
I’m Reid Ferguson. And you’re listening to Through the Word in 2020.
 
It’s interesting to see how all 3 of our passages today dovetail. 1 Chronicles, Luke 6:12-16 and Colossians 1:3-14.
 
In Colossians Paul marks out the value of Epaphras’ ministry by simply saying “he is a faithful minister of Christ.” Probably not the first item on the list of most pastoral search committees. But oft repeated in the New Testament. Then, when Jesus appoints His apostles to leadership in Luke 6, He’s not drawing from the best schooled and certainly not from the most experienced.
 
I dare say that many would argue that leadership is no place to learn the ropes. Yet this is precisely what Jesus did with His Disciples. Some things must be, and can only be – learned on the job. It does not mean they are not responsible, they are. But neither must every man be so fully equipped before he enters into service, that there is no room for mistakes and growth. We must beware of not choosing total novices on the one hand, and of not requiring more than is meet.
 
Which brings us back to David’s charge to Solomon his son as he is about to enter into leadership over Israel. And 4 things which are indispensable in my opinion, but again, rarely seen on the qualifications list of most pulpit committees.
 
Here are the priorities of true leadership as outlined in our text:
 
1. Knowing God – not just knowing about Him. “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father.”
 
Many know lots about God, the Bible and maybe even doctrine. But we need men in leadership who KNOW God. Personally. Those we can get a sense of as walking with Him in private – who carry on an ongoing, living relationship with God.
 
2. Serving God. And this David marks out in two categories:
 
a. Serving God with a WHOLE heart. They have given themselves to serving God above just having a ministry or career.
 
b. Serving God with a WILLING mind. One lexicon says the word “willing” means one who takes pleasure and delight in serving the Lord. Whether they have a position, a career in ministry or not, they will seek places to serve and do so with joy – irrespective of life circumstances.
 
3. Seeking God – that He may be found. One who makes it their practice personally to be seeking the Lord. Seeking to know Him more, serve Him better, walk with Him more closely, love what He loves and hate what He hates. One who has a personal passion to grow in their relationship with Him.
 
4. Being careful and strong in the building of Christ’s House, the Church. Having the goal of building up the saints in the most holy faith. Not worried about building up a reputation, a ministry or championing some cause.
 
These are the ones we look for. And granted, these qualities may not be as easily discernible as the ones which fall more easily into categories of gifts or abilities. But these are those who will lead His Church, because of where they are going. They are pursuing Christ, and Christ-likeness. Follow them as they follow Him.
 
God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.

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