Leadership Lessons
Part 5
Pastor Shannon Nieman
Part of LEADERSHIP LESSONS
October 4, 2023

  • We are looking at some of the leadership traits of the Apostle Paul
    • No question, he is one of history’s most influential people!
    • Though he lived 2000 years ago, his life, example, and teachings continue to profoundly impact individual lives, the church worldwide, our church and society.
      • To say Paul was a leader is an understatement!
      • We should study him and emulate him!
  • So far, we have looked at the following leadership qualities he lived:
    • Humility – the most important trait for a leader to exhibit and the hardest to acquire.
    • Accountability – He held himself accountable.
    • Respect – Paul treated everyone, even those who held him captive, with respect!
    • Perseverance/Endurance – He pushed through incredible hard times!
      • All of these are required and lived by people that truly lead, don’t just call themselves leader.
      • A title or position does not make a person a leader.
      • It’s not what is ON you, it is what is IN you that MAKES you a leader!

      • Too often, we see exhibited by “leaders” behavior that is destructive, hard to defend, vulgar, immature, territorial, out of control, etc.
        • Yet, we see none of this in Paul’s life. – In fact, we see the opposite!
        • Why? Was he just special, not of this world?
          • Was it a gift working in his life, that others can’t acquire?
          • Some would like to think these things so they could absolve themselves of their bad behavior!
          • I think we find Paul’s wisdom in.

      • I Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child. I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
        • “When I was a child” – All of us are children at some time in our development – all of us including Paul!
        • Child – one unlearned, unenlightened without any definite limitation of age
          • Meaning we don’t grow or age out of childhood
          • It can be with us, define us, all of our lives!
      • Paul went on to then define qualities of childhood behaviors:
        • Spoke – talked too much
          • How often we see/hear leaders that can’t shut up!
          • To lead, you have to learn to be quiet so you can learn and as a result, your words carry more weight!
        • Understood – to have a mindset of a child involves the will, affection, and conscience, opinions
          • Leaders cannot have childish opinions.
          • They must control and have stable affections.
          • They follow their conscience.
          • They are not stubborn!

        • Thought – reason
          • Reasoning is an integral part of our decision-making process.
          • Children reason based on feelings, emotions, circumstances.
            • Leaders cannot be ruled by these things!
          • Leaders must reason based on wisdom, knowledge, and understanding!

        • Became – came into existence
        • Man – an adult of weight, importance, a LEADER!
          • Paul is actually saying, “When I became a leader.”
        • Put away – destroyed completely, complete cessation
      • Clearly, leaders are grown-ups, practice ownership of their emotions, thoughts, attitudes, and ending of childish behavior.
        • Childish behaviors – selfishness, temper tantrums, lying, hurt feelings, small and short-term thinking, easily frightened, eating wrong, etc.
        • Let’s grow up! Let’s be adults! Let’s put away childish things so we can LEAD and LEAD WELL!