Pursuing Godliness: The Heart of Church Leadership
Summary
Leadership within the church is both a high privilege and a significant responsibility. The church belongs to Jesus Christ, who purchased it with His own blood. Aspiring to be a leader in the church is a noble task, but it comes with the potential to do great good or great harm. Paul, in his letters to Timothy, emphasizes three priorities for church leaders: watch your life, watch your doctrine, and stir up the gift within you. Today, we focus on the first priority: watching your life.
To watch your life means to pursue godliness. Godliness is not merely about behavior; it is about being God's man or woman. Psalm 4:3 tells us that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself. The first calling of the disciples was to be with Jesus, highlighting that godliness is about being in His presence. The life of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is within us, and this is the essence of godliness.
Jerry Bridges describes godliness as an attitude towards God that includes the fear of God, love for God, and desire for God. Fearing God means hating nothing more than grieving the Holy Spirit. Loving God means not wanting to offend Him. Desiring God means hungering and thirsting for more of Him. Sadly, many Christians lack this aura of godliness. They may be talented, personable, or busy in ministry, yet not truly godly because they are not devoted to God Himself. They may be devoted to a vision, ministry, or reputation, but not to God.
Godliness is more important than talents, personality, commitment, or apparent success. The danger lies in being more devoted to one's vision or reputation than to God. The church desperately needs leaders who are godly. Let us be encouraged to pursue godliness, to be God's man or woman, and to live a life devoted to Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The Essence of Godliness: Godliness is about being God's man or woman, set apart for Him. It is not merely about behavior but about having the life of Jesus Christ within us through the Holy Spirit. This is the heart of what it means to be godly. [02:17]
- Attitude Towards God: Jerry Bridges highlights that godliness involves the fear of God, love for God, and desire for God. These elements shape our attitude towards God, leading us to hate grieving the Holy Spirit and to hunger for more of Him. [03:19]
- Beyond Talents and Success: True godliness is more important than talents, personality, or apparent success in ministry. It is possible to be devoted to a vision or reputation rather than to God Himself, which is a significant danger for leaders. [04:44]
- Devotion to God: Many Christians lack true godliness because they are not devoted to God. They may be busy in ministry or successful in Christian service, yet not truly godly because their devotion is misplaced. [04:30]
- The Need for Godly Leaders: The church desperately needs leaders who are godly, who prioritize their relationship with God above all else. Let us strive to be God's man or woman, pursuing a life of godliness by His grace. [05:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Leadership in the Church
- [00:26] - The Noble Task of Leadership
- [00:39] - Priorities for Leaders
- [00:52] - Watching Your Life
- [01:05] - Understanding Godliness
- [01:22] - Being Set Apart for God
- [01:50] - The First Calling of Disciples
- [02:04] - The Heart of Godliness
- [02:17] - The Life of Jesus in Us
- [02:34] - The Mystery of Godliness
- [03:19] - Elements of Godliness
- [04:01] - The Aura of Godliness
- [04:44] - The Danger of Misplaced Devotion
- [05:24] - The Need for Godly Leaders
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Pursuing Godliness
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 4:3 - "Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him."
2. 1 Timothy 3:16 - "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory."
3. Mark 3:14-15 - "He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons."
Observation Questions:
1. According to Psalm 4:3, what does it mean to be set apart by the Lord? How does this relate to the concept of godliness discussed in the sermon? [01:22]
2. In 1 Timothy 3:16, what is described as the "mystery of godliness"? How does this passage connect to the life of Jesus Christ within us? [02:34]
3. What was the first priority for the disciples when Jesus appointed them, according to Mark 3:14-15? How does this reflect the essence of godliness? [01:50]
4. How does Jerry Bridges define godliness, and what are the three elements he mentions? [03:19]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does being "set apart" for God in Psalm 4:3 influence a believer's daily life and decisions? What does this look like practically?
2. In what ways does the "mystery of godliness" in 1 Timothy 3:16 challenge or encourage believers in their spiritual journey? [02:34]
3. How does the priority of being with Jesus, as seen in Mark 3:14-15, shape the understanding of godliness beyond mere actions or behaviors? [01:50]
4. Why might some Christians, despite being active in ministry, lack the "aura of godliness" as described by Jerry Bridges? What factors contribute to this discrepancy? [04:01]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. How can you ensure that your devotion is primarily to God rather than to a vision, ministry, or reputation? [04:30]
2. Consider the three elements of godliness mentioned by Jerry Bridges: fear of God, love for God, and desire for God. Which of these do you feel most challenged by, and how can you cultivate it in your life? [03:19]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you might be more devoted to your own success or reputation than to God. What steps can you take to realign your priorities? [04:44]
4. How can you practically pursue being "God's man or woman" in your daily interactions and decisions? What changes might you need to make to prioritize being in God's presence? [01:22]
5. Think of a time when you felt the life of Jesus Christ within you. How did that experience influence your actions and decisions? How can you seek more of these experiences? [02:17]
6. In what ways can you encourage and support others in your church community to pursue godliness? What role can you play in fostering a culture of godliness within your church? [05:24]
7. Reflect on the importance of godly leadership in the church. How can you contribute to this need, whether in a formal leadership role or through your influence in the community? [05:24]
Devotional
Day 1: The Heart of Godliness
Godliness is not merely about outward behavior but about embodying the life of Jesus Christ within us through the Holy Spirit. It is about being set apart as God's man or woman, living in His presence, and reflecting His character. This essence of godliness is the foundation of a life devoted to God, where one's actions are a natural outflow of a heart aligned with Him. The call to godliness is a call to be transformed from the inside out, allowing the life of Christ to shape every aspect of our being. [02:17]
"For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you allow the life of Jesus to be more evident in your daily interactions and decisions today?
Day 2: The Attitude of Godliness
Jerry Bridges describes godliness as an attitude towards God that encompasses the fear of God, love for God, and desire for God. This attitude shapes how we relate to God, leading us to hate grieving the Holy Spirit and to hunger for more of Him. Fearing God means having a reverence that influences our choices, loving God means prioritizing His will above our own, and desiring God means seeking His presence continually. Cultivating this attitude is essential for a life that truly honors God. [03:19]
"Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper fear, love, and desire for God in your life today, and what practical steps can you take to nurture this attitude?
Day 3: Beyond Talents and Success
True godliness is more important than talents, personality, or apparent success in ministry. It is possible to be devoted to a vision or reputation rather than to God Himself, which poses a significant danger for leaders. The focus should be on a genuine relationship with God rather than external achievements. Godliness calls for a heart that seeks to please God above all else, recognizing that talents and success are secondary to a life lived in devotion to Him. [04:44]
"Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure." (1 Timothy 5:22, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you prioritize success or recognition over your relationship with God? How can you realign your focus today?
Day 4: Devotion to God
Many Christians lack true godliness because they are not devoted to God. They may be busy in ministry or successful in Christian service, yet not truly godly because their devotion is misplaced. True devotion involves a heart fully committed to God, where one's identity and purpose are rooted in Him. It is about being more concerned with God's approval than with human accolades, ensuring that one's life is a reflection of His love and truth. [04:30]
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your devotion to God, ensuring that your heart and actions align with His will?
Day 5: The Need for Godly Leaders
The church desperately needs leaders who are godly, who prioritize their relationship with God above all else. Such leaders are essential for guiding the church in truth and love, setting an example of a life devoted to God. Godly leaders are those who are not swayed by personal ambition or external pressures but are committed to living out their faith authentically. The call is to strive to be God's man or woman, pursuing a life of godliness by His grace. [05:24]
"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you support and encourage godly leadership within your church community, and what role can you play in fostering an environment that values godliness?
Quotes
you know leadership in the church is a high privilege and it's also a great responsibility. think about it the church belongs to the lord jesus christ he bought it with his own precious blood and if you aspire to be a leader in the church well the bible says that you aspire to a noble task. [00:00:01]
well the heart of godliness is that you are god's man or god's woman. psalm 4 and verse 3 know that the lord has set apart the godly for himself. god has set apart certain people for himself. they're to be his holy his and they're described as the godly because to be godly means you're god's man you're god's woman. [00:01:07]
think about it the first calling of the disciples was to be with jesus. mark tells us that jesus appointed 12 whom he also named apostles why so that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and have authority over demons. [00:01:40]
and godliness therefore is more than behavior you're god's man you're god's woman and what that means is that the life of jesus christ is actually in you by the power of the holy spirit you see this in first timothy in chapter 3 and verse 16 great indeed we confess is the mystery of godliness. [00:02:15]
now jerry bridges who writes very helpfully on this says that godliness is an attitude towards god that has three elements the fear of god love for god and desire for god think about that that you fear him that you love him that you hunger and thirst for more of him. [00:03:06]
fear him of course means that you would hate nothing more than to wound him to grieve the holy spirit i love god so i don't want to bring a fence to him i bear his name i don't want to let him down that's the heart of godliness you know that you are god's man god's woman. [00:03:33]
it is sad that many christians do not have this aura of godliness about them they may be very talented personable or very busy in the lord's work or even apparently successful in some avenues of christian service and still not godly and he asked the question now why is that. [00:03:58]
because he says they are not devoted to god they may be devoted to a vision or to a ministry or to their own reputation as christians but not to god now do you see what he's saying this godliness is more important than your talents more important in ministry than your personality however bright that may be. [00:04:24]
it's more important than your commitment and it's more important than any apparent success that you may seem to have and here's the danger it's possible jerry bridges is saying to be more devoted to your vision than you are to god himself or to your ministry or even to your reputation what everyone else thinks about you. [00:04:49]
now the priority for us is the pursuit of godliness friend the church of jesus christ desperately needs leaders who are godly so i hope that through this module you'll be encouraged to say freshly today i want to be god's man i want to be god's woman i want to be godly. [00:05:15]
and by god's grace this is the life that i will pursue. [00:05:39]
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