Leadership as Stewardship: Advancing God's Purpose Together

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of leadership through the lens of 1 Corinthians 3, where Paul addresses the divisions within the Corinthian church. Leadership, as Paul describes, is not about self-promotion or aligning with the most popular figure. Instead, it is a stewardship—a temporary responsibility for which we are accountable to God. This perspective challenges the worldly view of leadership as a means to personal gain and instead calls us to serve a greater purpose beyond ourselves.

Paul's message to the Corinthians was clear: the divisions among them were a sign of spiritual immaturity, as they were allowing cultural values to dictate their actions rather than God's values. By rallying around different leaders, they were missing the point of what true leadership entails. Paul emphasizes that both he and Apollos are merely servants, each with a role assigned by God, and that it is God who brings growth. This underscores the idea that leadership is about advancing God's mission, not personal agendas.

Furthermore, Paul reminds us that leadership is temporary. Just as he laid the foundation in Corinth and others built upon it, our roles as leaders are not permanent. This temporality calls us to make the most of our leadership opportunities, building with care and using materials that will withstand the test of time. Ultimately, we are accountable to God for how we steward these opportunities.

In practical terms, this understanding of leadership can transform how we lead in various spheres of our lives, whether in the church, at work, or in personal relationships. It encourages us to view our influence as a means to further God's purposes and to hold ourselves and others accountable to this standard. As followers of Christ, we are called to lead in a way that reflects His values, ensuring that our actions align with His mission and bring glory to His name.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leadership as Stewardship: Leadership is not about self-promotion but about serving a purpose greater than oneself. It involves managing responsibilities entrusted to us by God, focusing on His mission rather than personal gain. [47:29]

2. Temporary Nature of Leadership: Our roles as leaders are not permanent, which calls us to make the most of our opportunities. We must build with care, using materials that will endure, as our leadership will be tested and revealed over time. [53:23]

3. Accountability in Leadership: Leaders are accountable to God for their actions and decisions. This accountability requires faithfulness to God's calling and a focus on advancing His purposes rather than personal interests. [49:34]

4. Influence in Everyday Life: Every individual has influence, whether as a parent, friend, or coworker. Viewing our influence as stewardship encourages us to advance God's purposes in the lives of others, making the most of our leadership opportunities. [58:17]

5. Expectations of Christian Leaders: If leaders claim to be Christians, they should live according to God's definition of leadership. As followers, we have a responsibility to encourage and hold them accountable, ensuring that their actions reflect Christ's values. [59:49]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction and Baptisms
- [02:30] - Defining Great Leadership
- [05:15] - Context of 1 Corinthians
- [10:00] - Corinthian Culture and Church Divisions
- [15:45] - Leadership as Stewardship
- [20:30] - Temporary Nature of Leadership
- [25:00] - Accountability in Leadership
- [30:15] - Practical Applications in Church
- [35:00] - Influence in Everyday Life
- [40:00] - Expectations of Christian Leaders
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer and Baptisms
- [50:00] - Baptism Testimonies
- [55:00] - Final Baptisms and Celebration
- [01:01:26] - Closing Remarks and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Leadership as Stewardship

Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific issues does Paul address in the Corinthian church regarding leadership and divisions? [43:54]

2. How does Paul describe the roles of himself and Apollos in the growth of the church? [47:29]

3. What metaphor does Paul use to explain the temporary nature of leadership and the importance of building with care? [53:23]

4. According to Paul, what is the ultimate source of growth in the church, and how does this relate to the role of leaders? [47:29]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Paul's definition of leadership as stewardship challenge the cultural values of Corinth, and what implications does this have for modern leadership? [49:34]

2. In what ways does the temporary nature of leadership influence how leaders should approach their roles and responsibilities? [53:23]

3. How does accountability to God shape the decisions and actions of a leader, according to Paul's teachings? [49:34]

4. What does it mean for leaders to build with materials that will withstand the test of time, and how can this be applied in various leadership contexts? [53:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own spheres of influence. How can you view your role as a leader or influencer as a stewardship opportunity to advance God's purposes? [58:17]

2. Consider a leadership role you currently hold or aspire to. How can you ensure that your actions and decisions align with God's mission rather than personal gain? [49:34]

3. Think about a time when you witnessed or experienced divisions due to leadership. How can you apply Paul's teachings to promote unity and maturity in such situations? [43:54]

4. Identify a leader in your life who claims to be a Christian. How can you encourage them to live out the definition of leadership as stewardship, and what steps can you take if they fall short? [59:49]

5. Reflect on the temporary nature of leadership roles you have held. How can you make the most of your current opportunities to build something lasting and meaningful? [53:23]

6. How can you hold yourself accountable to God for the influence you have in your relationships, and what practical steps can you take to ensure faithfulness in this area? [49:34]

7. Consider a specific area in your life where you have influence. What is one tangible action you can take this week to steward that influence in a way that reflects Christ's values? [58:17]

Devotional

Day 1: Leadership as Divine Stewardship
Leadership is a divine stewardship, not a platform for self-promotion. It is about serving a purpose greater than oneself, managing responsibilities entrusted by God, and focusing on His mission rather than personal gain. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul addresses the divisions within the Corinthian church, emphasizing that leadership is not about aligning with popular figures but about being accountable to God. He reminds the Corinthians that both he and Apollos are merely servants with roles assigned by God, and it is God who brings growth. This perspective challenges the worldly view of leadership as a means to personal gain and instead calls us to serve a greater purpose beyond ourselves. [47:29]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from personal gain to serving God's mission in your current leadership roles?


Day 2: Embracing the Temporality of Leadership
Leadership roles are temporary, calling us to make the most of our opportunities. Paul illustrates this by explaining how he laid the foundation in Corinth and others built upon it. This temporality requires us to build with care, using materials that will endure, as our leadership will be tested and revealed over time. Understanding the temporary nature of leadership encourages us to focus on what truly matters and to invest in things that have lasting value. [53:23]

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (ESV): "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted."

Reflection: What temporary leadership role are you currently in, and how can you ensure that your contributions have a lasting impact?


Day 3: Accountability to God in Leadership
Leaders are accountable to God for their actions and decisions. This accountability requires faithfulness to God's calling and a focus on advancing His purposes rather than personal interests. Paul emphasizes that the divisions among the Corinthians were a sign of spiritual immaturity, as they were allowing cultural values to dictate their actions rather than God's values. By rallying around different leaders, they were missing the point of what true leadership entails. [49:34]

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV): "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Reflection: How can you hold yourself accountable to God's standards in your leadership decisions today?


Day 4: Influence as a Means to Further God's Purposes
Every individual has influence, whether as a parent, friend, or coworker. Viewing our influence as stewardship encourages us to advance God's purposes in the lives of others, making the most of our leadership opportunities. Paul reminds us that leadership is about advancing God's mission, not personal agendas. This understanding can transform how we lead in various spheres of our lives, encouraging us to view our influence as a means to further God's purposes. [58:17]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Identify one person in your life whom you can influence positively today. How can you intentionally reflect God's purposes in your interaction with them?


Day 5: Expectations of Christian Leaders
If leaders claim to be Christians, they should live according to God's definition of leadership. As followers, we have a responsibility to encourage and hold them accountable, ensuring that their actions reflect Christ's values. Paul calls the Corinthians to maturity, urging them to align their actions with God's values rather than cultural ones. This expectation challenges Christian leaders to embody Christ's values in their leadership and encourages followers to support and hold them accountable. [59:49]

Titus 1:7-9 (ESV): "For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

Reflection: How can you support and hold a Christian leader in your community accountable to live according to God's values?

Quotes



"So God honoring leadership, right? It's stewardship. It's about something bigger than just advancing our own interests, and it's temporary. Nobody gets to do it forever. But there's another point that he makes in this passage. He says, as leaders, we are accountable for the decisions that we make." [00:55:03] (16 seconds)


"Paul starts out, he reiterates this idea, look, leadership is stewardship. I'm just a steward. I'm here to advance Christ's mission and to serve him. But then he goes on to say that everyone who's been given a stewardship is going to be judged. There's something required of them. They've got to prove faithful." [00:56:43] (16 seconds)


"If our leaders claim to be Christians, we can expect them to live out of this definition of leadership. Now, if they don't claim to be Christians, all bets are off, right? Like it doesn't make any sense for us to say, well, they should live up to Christian standards if that's not something that they've ever ascribed to or signed up for." [00:59:49] (17 seconds)


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Transcript
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