Without God's constant guidance in our lives, how can we be confident of what we are teaching, how we are ministering, or why we are even leading? 482-483. Here are some examples of their leadership. A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. As it was the middle of the night and the storm was still fierce, the sailors put out anchors, to drag along the bottom, to slow down their drifting. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. I do not think that Pauls words were meant as a typical I told you so so much as they were spoken to motivate his peers to listen to him now. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. 2:2). 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. She had entered the election the previous year following the death of her husband, the incumbent governor who was campaigning for a second term. They all waited for the morning light. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. It is only when all hope is lost that Paul addresses his fellow shipmates.557 Much time had passed, the storm had not diminished, the ship was being constantly mauled by the storm, and the passengers had gone a long time without food. Jesus (Luke 5:16) Of course, one cannot talk about godly leadership without pointing to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. This is influence and leadership in action. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong (Titus 1:9). The centurion commanded that all should make it to land if they could. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. We live in a time of great crisis. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. They were not in control of the ship. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Susan Ward. The meeting's facilitator will be acting democratically if they actively seek out the team's thoughts and opinions and encourage them to voice them. It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. The hour is hopeless. He must live a devout and disciplined life. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . If Paul had been incompetent and impotent in this time of crisis, who would have wanted to hear him tell about faith in Jesus as the Messiah? It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. The dangerous season for sailing began about September 14 and lasted until November 11; after the latter date all navigation on the open sea came to an end until winter was over. Born a Cypriot and reared a Levite, he linked the Hellenistic world and the Jerusalem church. All one needs is a clean needle or a condom or possibility an abortion and theyre off and running, seeking a little pleasure, at the cost of the loss of their life, and of their soul. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. Examples of democratic leaders A few specific examples of leaders who have demonstrated this style of leadership include: Former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, demonstrated how much she valued her team members by writing personalized letters to their parents. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) He had a special place. Indeed, the fate of the ship was not exactly as Paul had warned, for there was no loss of life.551 He simply spoke as a seasoned traveler, an astute observer, and one who had experienced dangers at sea. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. As time went on, as Paul was better known, and as the crises on board the ship became more pronounced, Paul stepped forward, giving both direction and hope to all the others on ship. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. Passing it with considerable difficulty, and apparently not being able to make port there, they finally were able to make port at a place known as Fair Havens,548 which was not far from the city of Lasea, where they could have spent the winter. God has given each leader specific gifts. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. Did he do anything? I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. I have always looked upon the Apostle Paul as a godly man, a zealous servant of Jesus Christ, and a powerful preacher of the gospel. What grace was made evident in this storm! Since this was not an ideal place to spend the winter, and sailing conditions looked favorable at the moment, they decided to press on to a more accommodating port. This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. I could talk about David, Moses, or Nehemiah, but I want to talk about three lesser-known leaders who make great examples of Godly leadership in the Bible. Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Robertson, p. 469. Bureaucratic leadership is defined as a form of leadership in which there is a hierarchy of authority that creates rules for management and decision making. 1. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. Paul and a number of other prisoners were put aboard an Adramyttian ship,542 which was setting sail for ports along the coast of Asia. This centurion was to develop a deep respect for Paul, so that he would extend considerable liberties to him, take seriously his advice, and make every effort to protect him. Until now, they had been trying to save the ships cargo, but now some of it555 was thrown overboard, lightening the ship and reducing the stress on the hull. The sovereignty of God means not only that God is able to intervene supernaturally, but that He is also able to work naturally, through human instruments (like the Roman soldiers, and in our story, like the centurion, in Pauls behalf). A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. It will, however, come eventually. . Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. 72-73, p. 480. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. If Gods sovereignty is the source of comfort to the Christian, it is the source of terror for the unbeliever, for God has warned of His coming judgment. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? 553 The storm was now heavy upon the lumbering vessel, as it came roaring out of the north-east. Smith suggests that the mainyard is meant; an immense spar, probably as long as the ship, which would require the united efforts of passengers and crews to launch overboard. Bruce p. 486. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. Leadership Styles in 1 & 2 Kings Merida introduced his Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings by touting the relevance of the biblical text to the modern world. in 1971. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. He had had enough. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Here are 12 examples of inspiring leaders in the Bible who teach us what a great leader could and should be as well as how leaders should carry themselves. Paul: "Believe in something bigger than yourself." "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:8-10). The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. I do not agree. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. They cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land. Verses 30-32 describe the sailors attempt to abandon ship, which they aborted, due to the action taken by the soldiers, who heeded Pauls words of warning. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. Democratic Leadership Examples President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was famously democratic in his leadership style, once said that "leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well." In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. In the early church there was a problem. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. 31 What then shall we say to these things? Some Christians are inclined to live their lives sloppily, believing that because God is sovereign He will, on demand, produce a miracle to deliver us from the fruits of our own foolishness. During the night, an angel of God had appeared to Paul, with a sure and certain word about the future, a word that would bring encouragement to all on board ship. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. Fourteen days have passed since they left Fair Havens and the storm first struck the ship.558 The sailors now have little idea as to where they were, or how far they might be from land. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. Many of the great democratic leaders in history are today cult object and recognition, as an example to follow in the fight for more just, peaceful and orderly societies..