Temptations of a Christian Leader

1
Temptations of a Christian Leader

• 1 Thessalonians 21-6

2
Leadership is one of the most observed and least
understood phenomena on earth. James MacGregor
Burns, Leadership, p. 158.
3
Just about everything we have been taught about
traditional management prevents us from being
effective leaders. And just about every popular
notion about leadership is a myth. James M.
Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, in The Leadership
Challenge, p. xv.
4
Leadership and spirituality are probably two of
the vaguest words you can find in our language,
and when you put them together you get something
even more vague. Parker J. Palmer, Leading
from Within, p. 201.
5
Luke 2224-27
24 And there arose also a dispute among them as
to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.
25 And He said to them, The kings of the
Gentiles lord it over them and those who have
authority over them are called Benefactors.
26 But it is not this way with you, but the one
who is the greatest among you must become like
the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at
the table or the one who serves? Is it not the
one who reclines at the table? But I am among you
as the one who serves.
6
An Open Record
1. you yourselves know . . . (vs. 1) 2. as you
know . . . (vs. 2) 3. as you know . . . (vs.
5) 4. For you recall . . . (vs. 9) 5. You are
witnesses . . . (vs. 10) 6. just as you know .
. . (vs. 11)
7
The Temptations of a Leader
I. Leaders are tempted to give up when things get
tough. (21,2)
8
The Temptations of a Leader

• I. Leaders are tempted to give up when things get
  tough. (21,2)

II. Leaders are tempted to alter their message in
order to please people. (23,4)
9
The Temptations of a Leader

• I. Leaders are tempted to give up when things get
  tough. (21,2)
• Leaders are tempted to alter their message in
  order to please people. (23,4)

III. Leaders are tempted to selfishly use those
they lead in order to get what they want. (25,6)
10
The Temptations of a Leader
III. Leaders are tempted to selfishly use those
they lead in order to get what they want. (25,6)
A. Manipulate with Flattery B. Camouflaged
Greed C. Seeking Glory D. Flaunting Power
11

• Leaders are tempted to give up when things get
  tough. (21,2)
• Leaders are tempted to alter their message in
  order to please people. (23,4)
• Leaders are tempted to selfishly use those they
  lead in order to get what they want. (25,6)

Godly leaders lead with great COURAGE. Godly
leaders lead out of deep CONVICTION. Godly
leaders lead from strong CHARACTER.