examples of democratic leaders in the bible examples of democratic leaders in the bible

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 journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Fearing that they might drift into shallow and dangerous waters some distance to the south,553 they put out a sea anchor of some kind, perhaps something like a parachute, which filled with water and slowed the ship down.554, The storm continued through the night, and the next day things looked even worse. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. Take aids, or drugs, for example. The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. He left this to God. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. 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). Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. 4. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. But Pauls concern here was not for himself, but for others. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. We're sorry, an error occurred. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. 550 As they waited for a change of wind at Fair Havens, it soon became clear that they could not complete the voyage to Italy before the onset of winter. How can Paul, a prisoner, emerge as the leader on board a ship, while in the midst of a storm? To sail on, therefore, was a foolish decision in Pauls opinion, and thus he discouraged it as strongly as he could, but to no avail. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. Scripture offers examples of both. One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. How does Pauls safety relate to you? If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. And Joshua did so.". The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. 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. They hoped that daybreak would come so that they could visually navigate the ship, rather than to attempt to make port (or even to ground the ship) in the dark. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. 549 Smith observes that Fair Havens is so well protected by islands, that though not equal to Lutro [Loutron, a port some 40 miles farther west along the coast], it must be a very fair winter harbour; and that considering the suddenness, the frequency, and the violence with which gales of northerly wind spring up, and the certainty that, if such a gale sprang up in the passage from Fair Havens to Lutro, the ship must be driven off to sea, the prudence of the advice given by St. Paul may probably be supported even on nautical grounds. Bruce, pp. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. 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). 2:2). There are many different styles and forms of leadership. The Greek-speaking Jewish believers complained that their widows were being overlooked in the distribution of food when compared to the widows who were Hebrew-speaking. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. {I have been} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from {my} countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). They all waited for the morning light. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. When the ship is grounded and the passengers must swim for their lives, the soldiers plan to kill Paul, along with the other prisoners, to prevent any from escaping. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. 558 The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. Allow me to make one last observation here. 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. Moses is remembered as the liberator, the leader, the law-giver, the prophet, and the intermediary in the covenant between God and the Jewish people. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Every passenger made it safely to shore. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. 1. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. They planned to slip away, on the pretext of laying out anchors, but they were going to take the lifeboat (as it were) and leave the people to fend for themselves in the ravaging storm, in a ship drifting ever near the rocks of the approaching shore. 4. 31 What then shall we say to these things? It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. They took bribes and perverted justice. They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. If you remember the qualifications of a leader that we looked at earlier, you will see why this is a great example of Godly leadership in the Bible. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. But what are some of these purposes and promises? But today, we want to focus on a . Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. About midnight on the fourteenth day, the sailors determined that land was nearing because the depth of the sea below had diminished from twenty fathoms to fifteen. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. This created a serious problem. A theophany had taken place in Joshua 5:15: "The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." He was right in that a great storm had swept down on this ship, and that both the ship and its cargo would be lost. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. 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? Here are three unique leaders who serve as great examples of democratic leadership: Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln took office understanding his decisions over the next four years would determine the fate of the United States. I do not believe that Lukes central purpose in Acts 27 is to teach us about leadership, but I do think that Pauls leadership is very apparent in our text. The Greater Syrtis was still a great distance away, but the wind might continue to blow for many days, and that was the direction in which it was blowing them. 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. Paul was as secure as any man could be. I believe leadership must be positive influence . Humanly viewed, Paul was constantly in grave danger, but he was never more safe or secure than when he was on his way to Rome. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. Examples of democratic leaders. When they set sail from Fair Havens, fifty or sixty miles brought them under the lee of Cauda (v. 16); on the fourteenth night from Cauda they drew near the coast of Malta (v. 27), and the next day (v. 39) they landed on that island, where they spent three months (28:11). You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Time would prove Paul right. 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. Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. Los usurpadores de poder suelen ser democrticos si han sido elegidos en elecciones . When the outcome is known, and the One who determines it is both faithful and sovereign (in control), the danger of harm is removed, along with the need for fear. Now they were ready for the days activities. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. However, there is no story of Esther without Mordecai. It has long been acknowledged as one of the most instructive documents for the knowledge of ancient seamanship. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 474. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39). Far to the south, off the African coast, lay the notorious Syrtes (17), the graveyard of many ships, as underwater archaeology has vividly revealed in recent years. 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. Paul was overruled. To Paul, the sovereignty of God was not an excuse to avoid his human obligations or his personal responsibility; it was the motivation for him to live responsibly. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Some things dont change. If Paul had been right before, and his words had come to pass, he had even more important words to speak now, not from his own perception or judgment, but from the God whom he served. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. This may have been the case, and if so the calculations upon which the shipmaster (not owner as AV and RV, according to Ramsay) based his rash advice are less apparent. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. 546 With the westerly winds which prevail in those seas, says James Smith, ships, particularly those of the ancients, unprovided with a compass and ill calculated to work to windward, would naturally stand to the north till they made the land of Asia Minor, which is peculiarly favourable for navigation by such vessels, because the coast is bold and safe, and the elevation of the mountains makes it visible at a great distance; it abounds in harbours, and the sinuosities of its shores and the westerly current would enable them, if the wind was at all off the land, to work to windward, at least as far as Cnidus, where these advantages ceased. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. The sovereignty of God means that we dare not presume that God will work a miracle for us, at the time and in the way we choose, due to our foolishness, carelessness, or sin. 4 The United States is one. It was a coasting vessel, which was to call at various ports of the province of Asia; at one of these Julius knew he would find a ship, preferably a grain ship, bound for Italy. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 477. Think of it. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. There was some level of favoritism going on. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. Read Chapter All Versions. No doubt there were some anxious thoughts racing through the minds of the passengers. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. Your community. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. These passengers were spared, I suspect, so that they could not only hear the gospel, but experience the hope which the gospel gives, and the power by which the gospel saves unworthy sinners. They also loosened the ropes which lashed down the rudders and hoisted the sail.561 They were on their way toward land. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. Their safety was relative, however. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. Is this principle of extended deliverance perhaps an explanation of Pauls comments in 1 Corinthians 7, that the unbeliever is sanctified on account of the believer? Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. 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. Pauls Bay is sheltered on the northwest by the island of Salmonetta, which is separated from the Maltese mainland by a narrow channel about a hundred yards wide. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. If you possess these types of qualifications, would that make you a better leader? He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. Proud member Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. Pauls caution is rather interesting. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. He wanted to spare him, and so he forbade them from killing any of the prisoners.564 All of the prisoners were spared, on account of one personPaul, just as all of the passengers were spared for Pauls sake. He had had enough. It was time for another word of encouragement. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. Here are some examples of their leadership. The most memorable aspect of effective leadership of a pastor is when he has survived the polarities of differing opinions and modeled having each side respect the other's. 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. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. 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? I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. The stern of the ship began to break up. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. 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." . He portrays Paul in many roles throughout Acts, but here he shows him standing out as the practical man in a critical emergency--keeping his head when all about him are losing theirs. Pauls execution was sought by the Sanhedrin, which first tried to execute him legally (like Stephen) and then by assassination, but God used Roman soldiers once again to spare His servant. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. Just about every pastor has "struck the rock" at one time or another; but then, like Moses, the same pastor usually has the resilience to see things through. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? They would hardly wish to be close to shore in the storm anyway, for there was more danger of the ship breaking up on the rocks than of it breaking up in the open sea. Not one soul was lost. Others decided Paul and the other prisoners should set sail, and so Paul and they were turned over to Julius. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. Because it was a part of Gods sovereign plan, God did purpose to spare Paul and the ships passengers, but in a way that would to some seem only like good luck. The miraculous aspect is seen in Pauls prediction of what happened in complete agreement with all that did happen, even to the minute details. 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. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. Verse Concepts. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) The broad issue is that of leadership. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. In all of this God protected Paul. Hence the battle to maintain a westerly course, aided, it appears, by a veering of the wind to the east, as the cyclonic disturbance shifted its centre. Blaiklock p. 190. He had a special place. Now, no one had the use of this boat. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. Great leaders wash their people's feet. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. The non-swimmers could wait a little longer, perhaps for the ship to further break up, and then clinging to some piece of floating wreckage, paddle their way to shore. With great difficulty, the dinghy was hoisted on board, and then supporting cables were used to undergird the bottom of the ship, so that it might not break up under the weight of its cargo and the stresses of the storm. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. But it is here, in our text, that I see Paul as a very wise man in practical matters, a man who is a leader of men, and whose counsel is taken seriously because he knows what he is doing. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. Petty criticism wears on the leader. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. Other words for democratic leadership Handling the ship in this storm was almost impossible, and any attempt would require an expert crew. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. To Paul (in my opinion) this would be akin to jumping off the pinnacle of the temple, and thus putting God to the test (Luke 4:9-12). Moses. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for us not to work, but the assurance that our work is not in vain, in the Lord. 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.