What does biblical leadership look like, and how should elders in the church lead with the right spirit, motivation, and manner?

This message explores the nature of spiritual leadership as taught in the New Testament, particularly focusing on the role of elders in the church. It warns against common corruptions of leadership—seeking power, privilege, and recognition—and contrasts these with the humble, servant-hearted leadership exemplified by Jesus Christ.

The sermon unfolds in several parts:

1. The Perils of False Leadership Motivations

   • Leaders tempted by personal power, privilege, and recognition

   • Jesus’ strong condemnation of such attitudes in Matthew 23

2. The Proper Motivation for Eldership

   • A genuine eagerness to serve others, not to exalt self

   • Caring, guiding, admonishing with a servant’s heart

3. The Right Manner of Leadership

   • Leading by example, not intimidation or coercion

   • Authority is earned through godly living worthy of imitation

4. The Role of the Senior Pastor

   • Jesus Christ as the ultimate Senior Pastor

   • Elders as His associates fulfilling His commands

5. The Responsibility of Those Led

   • To know, appreciate, and imitate their leaders

   • To follow with trust and confidence in their godly example

6. Encouragement for Leaders and Congregation

   • Leaders humbly seeking God’s strength

   • Congregation embracing their role in supporting leadership

• Leadership is not about personal gain: The desire for power, privilege, or recognition perverts the office of elder.

• Servant leadership is essential: Elders must lead with a heart to serve others eagerly and selflessly.

• Authority comes from example: Elders lead by living lives worthy of respect and imitation, not by demanding obedience.

• Jesus is the true Senior Pastor: All church leaders are His representatives, serving under His authority.

• Followers must respond rightly: Christians are called to know their leaders, respect them, and follow them with faith and trust.

• Leadership requires humility and dependence on God: Leaders should recognize their own insufficiency and rely on God’s strength.

• Matthew 23:1-12 — Jesus’ rebuke of leaders who seek power, privilege, and recognition, and His call to humility.

• 1 Peter 5:1-4 — Instructions to elders to shepherd the flock willingly, not lording over, and leading by example.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 — Call to know and appreciate those who labor in leadership.

• Hebrews 13:7, 17 — Remember and imitate leaders’ faith; obey them with confidence and joy.

Recorded 11/9/80

Guiding Question: What will you choose in the defining moments of your life—mediocrity or a life of courageous adventure?

1. Every man faces defining moments. These are sacred, solitary times where a man decides:

• Who he will be,

• What he will give his life to,

• And how hard he’s willing to fight before he quits.

These moments don’t come often, but they shape your entire life—toward mediocrity or greatness.

2. You can be given everything… but only you can choose the adventure. Robert Lewis reminds us that no one—not a pastor, mentor, or friend—can make you live the adventure. It's a personal choice, and no amount of teaching will substitute for your own courageous step forward.

3. You must prepare before the moment. Like athletes in a locker room before the big game, men need to:

• Reflect deeply on their design, wiring, and destiny.

• Prioritize their battles—marriage, wounds, addictions, dreams.

• Assemble a plan—not too much at once, but the most urgent priorities.

• Talk with safe people—trusted friends or mentors who help you sharpen your plan.

• Move forward with courage and clarity, choosing the high and noble path.

4. Use tools like “life wiring” and “life compass.”

• Wiring shows where you're strong and where you're blocked (past, present, future).

• Compass asks: Before I die, I want to be, do, have, help, and leave… These tools help define and direct your journey.

5. Great adventures are built with clarity and courage. Start small. Tackle the top three priorities in your life. These will often be:

• Your job and whether it aligns with your design.

• Your marriage and its vitality.

• Your spiritual life and connection with God.

• Your wounds and whether they still define you.

• Your sense of fun, purpose, or noble cause.

If you're stuck, start with the one thing you know is holding you back.

6. The “locker room” moment is now. You’re not on the field yet—you’re in the moments before. The real adventure begins when you step out the door and take the field, willing to fight for a life that matters.

7. Caleb's Prayer: A Model for Bold Living End with this courageous declaration:

“Give me the land and give me the high ground.” Like Caleb, may your faith grow bolder as you grow older.

• Joshua 24:15 – “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

• Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I have set before you life and death… choose life so that you and your descendants may live.”

• 1 Corinthians 9:26–27 – “I run in such a way, as not without aim… I discipline my body so that I may not be disqualified.”

• Psalm 92:12–14 – “They will still bear fruit in old age…”

• Caleb’s example (Joshua 14) – A man with a different spirit who followed the Lord fully and asked for the hill country at 85.

Guiding Question: How do you live a full and faithful life—both early and late—that reflects God's great adventure for men?

1. Life is a two-half game. Robert Lewis frames life like a sports game:

• Warmups (0–20): Getting started.

• First Half (20–40): Warrior phase—building, striving, competing.

• Halftime (40–50): Reevaluating and healing.

• Second Half (50+): King and friend phase—ruling wisely and giving back.

Each phase has its own battles, blessings, and purpose. Playing both halves well is rare but possible.

2. Courage is essential in both halves. Like Caleb, real adventurers exhibit courage:

• In the first half: Raw faith to enter God’s “promised land” for your life, even when giants (challenges) loom large.

• In the second half: Fresh faith to take the high ground—to use your wisdom, influence, and resources for God’s purposes, not just comfort.

3. Most men do well in only one half. Many men peak early and coast later. Others struggle early but finish strong. Few, like Caleb, remain faithful and courageous from start to finish.

4. Caleb is a model for a life well-lived.

• Caleb was the only one (along with Joshua) to believe God could deliver the promised land—at 40.

• At 85, he still believed—and asked for the hardest challenge, the hill country.

• His life proves that background doesn’t determine destiny—faith does.

• His courage empowered the next generation, especially his son-in-law Othniel, who later delivered Israel.

5. Practical advice for the two halves of life:

For the First Half (Younger Men):

• Invest in your marriage—make your wife your best friend.

• Know who you are (and aren’t).

• Live within your means and practice generosity.

• Seek experiences, not just stuff.

• Know God personally.

• Fight for purity and integrity.

• Learn to ask forgiveness.

• Build strong male friendships.

• Start forming a life vision.

For the Second Half (Older Men):

• Don’t retire—refocus.

• Build on your strengths.

• Clean up unfinished business and reconcile broken relationships.

• Discover your noble cause and invest in it.

• Mentor younger men.

• Get to know God if you’ve neglected Him.

• Plan meaningful experiences with your wife.

• Keep refining your long-range vision.

• Take the high ground—the best of life is still ahead.

• Numbers 13–14 – Caleb’s courage and faith in spying out the promised land.

• Joshua 14–15 – Caleb, at 85, asking to take the hill country.

• Judges 3:9–11 – Othniel, Caleb’s son-in-law, leads Israel to peace for 40 years.

• Numbers 14:24 – “But My servant Caleb… has followed Me fully…”

• Psalm 92:12–14 – “They will still bear fruit in old age…”