A Call to Become
Good Followers Before Becoming Good Leaders
1st
Corinthians 11:1
Oct 20, 2013 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church,
Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (1st
Corinthians 11:1)
A.
Throughout history, God has
called people to follow Him – to become good followers
1.
Abraham (Gen 12:1-4a)
2.
The nation of Israel (Exod
13:21,22; 40:34-38)
B.
Today, “Follow the leader” is a
children's game. (From Wikipedia)
1.
First a leader or "head of the
line" is chosen.
2.
Then all the children line up
behind the leader.
3.
The leader then moves around the
room and all the children have to mimic the leader's actions as they go.
Whatever he does, they had to do.
4.
Any players who fail to follow or
do what the leader does are out of the game.
5.
The last person standing other
than the leader, takes over, and is now the new leader.
C.
But For the Christian… “Follow
the Leader” is an actual way of
life! It means to…
1.
To Emulate, to copy, to become
LIKE the person you are following
a.
Not just mimic like a ‘Mime’ does
– that is only external
b.
But learn to have the same
mannerisms and reactions INTERNALLY as they do
2.
To think the same as they do
3.
To talk like them, love like
them, become like them!
4.
To become so much like your
master, that people can’t tell you apart!
D.
I’ll ask you this… who is your
Master that you are following? That you are copying?
E.
Ever since we were born, we have
been following some-thing, or some-one
1.
At first, it was parents, and our
brothers and sisters
2.
Then it was our friends
3.
Later it was the culture around
us – the movies, the advertisements – the music
4.
And then it was our own sinful
selfish heart that we followed so blindly
5.
We were only puppets – controlled
and discarded by a world that never cared about us at all!
a.
The music industry doesn’t care
about you!
b.
The movie industry doesn’t care
about helping you raise your children
c.
Beer companies couldn’t care any
less about your health or your family, or your losses when you die!!!
d.
The pornography photographers and
producers care nothing about your marriage or purity or sanity or joy!
e.
If you are following ANY of that,
you are only a puppet slave, wrapped with chains!
F.
But Jesus Christ firmly calls us
to stop, listen, and follow HIS voice – His will – and start doing things
HIS way!
G.
It was so that He could change us
– to teach us how to live and think and act and react – so that we could affect
our world for good!
H.
The world needs different
leadership – better leadership – better examples! This world needs people who
affect our culture, our generation – actually turn our world upside down
1.
This country needs right
leadership – and I am not talking politically
2.
Every church needs right
leadership
3.
Every home represented in this
room needs right leadership
4.
Because without right leadership,
the whole world is going to one day soon end up following the worst and most
dangerous leader of all time – the antichrist!
I.
Before the world can get a new
generation of leaders, they need to see a new generation of godly followers!
J.
That’s why the apostle Paul in 1st
Corinthians 11:1 challenges us to “follow the Leader”
1.
Oh that we all learned HOW
to FOLLOW the Leader, THE Leader, this morning!
2.
Because, we are failing at it.
There are not many good followers today – not many!
3.
Let’s take a fresh look at how to
follow the Leader of all leaders, Jesus of Nazareth!
II.
Message - To Follow The
Leader Means…
A.
Choose the Right Leader that
you are going to Follow (1st Kings 18:21) – Choose the Right
Example to be like!
1.
Who you study, and who you listen
to, AND WHO YOU FOLLOW is YOUR CHOICE – and it will affect you for good, or for
evil!
2.
Wrong Leaders Abound – people who
influence entire generations!
a.
Thousands of names, thousands of
‘personalities’ that have the attention of the world today
b.
Oprah Winfry
c.
Lady Gaga
d.
Barak Obama
e.
Michael Jackson
f.
Marilyn Monroe
g.
Mohammad Ali
h.
Elvis Presley
i.
John Lennon
j.
Britney Spears
k.
And the ‘new’ kid on the block…
Miley Cyrus
3.
I will say it again… Who you
study, and who you listen to is YOUR CHOICE – and it will affect you for good,
or for evil!
a.
What do you watch?
b.
What songs fill your heart?
c.
What examples do you constantly
see and end up emulating???
d.
THAT is what you are going to
become! And it won’t be pretty!
4.
Only ONE leader deserves our
attention! Jesus of Nazareth!
a.
HE is OUR Example (1st
Peter 2:21; John 13:15)
b.
The Bible is filled with the
lives of people whom God called, and they responded – some successfully, most
with many failings
c.
But Jesus calls everyone to
follow Him (Mt 4:18-22)
d.
Not just think going to church is
the end, but learning from Jesus everything it takes to live (Mt 11:28,29;
28:20)
5.
To be like Jesus… that’s life’s
greatest goal!
a.
Don’t be like anyone else!
b.
Too many in this room are “just
like your mother”, or “just like their father”!
c.
Way too many are just like their
friends!
d.
Be very careful!
e.
You probably have picked up all
their bad habits
f.
And your children probably have
too!
g.
Take a good look at your life and
start repenting and forsaking whatever things are not like Christ!
h.
So that you can start replacing
your quick temper, and bad attitudes, and sharp tongue, and harsh words, and
wandering eyes, with Christ!
B.
Be a Good Follower (Philp
3:12-14)
1.
Everyone wants to tell GOD what
to do for them
a.
They want to be in charge of
running their world
b.
They want a ‘Jesus’ that works
well for them
c.
Rarely do you meet someone who is
willing to switch sides, and fall under new “management”
2.
We all want the position of a
‘leader’, with all its privileges and praise! We want to:
a.
To set the pace
b.
To set the standard
c.
To show everyone else the way to
do things, and the way to go
d.
All those things may need to be
done
3.
But Christ has other plans at
first in all our lives!
4.
God’s work in us is to FIRST
humble us, and make good followers out of us – wise sheep – out of us – to get
us to get OUT of the driving seat, and into the BACK seat, and let HIM drive!
Let HIM lead and YOU follow!
5.
Thankfully, He does not call the
perfect, or the righteous… but sinners to follow Him (Luke 5:32)
a.
God ONLY uses those who start low
b.
God ONLY grows those who are soft
c.
God ONLY makes great kings out of
unknown shepherds – see David for example!
6.
So, starting today, become a good
learner – a great disciple – an apprentice of the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ
(Mt 23:8,10)
a.
Stop racing ahead of God – let
Him lead!
b.
Stop trying to be like each other
– you may end up only copying al the faults!!!
c.
Never comparing ourselves with
ourselves!
d.
Only ever just following the life
that Jesus lived!
7.
Become a Biblical Apprentice -
Apprenticeship means, Learning the ways of the Master
a.
Psa 81:13
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in MY
WAYS!
b.
Psa 95:10
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a
people that do err in their heart, and THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS:
C.
Follow His Steps – Do Things
His Way (Luke 6:46; 1st Peter 2:20-23)
1.
What good is hearing what
Jesus says, but not having the heart to DO what He says? (Luke 6:46)
a.
That is probably the biggest
reason why people don’t enjoy this Book anymore – they are not willing to do
what it says
b.
So, the Bible goes dark – becomes
empty and cold
c.
But if you seek to do what God
says, this Book will come alive and shake you up, and stir your heart, and light
up your life, and will save our world!
2.
So, Don’t just hang around Him,
waiting for HIM to do something, DO what He said do (John 12:26; 13:15; 1Pet
2:20-23)!
a.
It is called, Serving HIM! Serve
the Lord (John 12:26) – minister for Him, and to Him – please Him by your life
b.
Never forget, you serve the Lord
Christ – not people
c.
Do things as if you were serving
your Best Friend!
d.
We come to church, and do our
smallest bit – but the Lord deserves our best!
3.
Follow Christ’s example! (John
13:15; 1Pet 2:20-23)
a.
Step how He stepped, walk how He
walked. Stop when He stopped.
b.
Change the way you normally act
and react, and bring it in line with HIS ways
c.
Patiently Suffer (1Pet 2:20) –
what a thing to say!!!
d.
Not giving in and sinning when
under pressure (1Pet 2:22)
e.
Never lying or deceiving – EVER!
f.
When reviled, revile not again
g.
When you suffer, threaten not any
revenge
h.
But instead commit yourself to
him that judgeth righteously!
4.
People wear these bands with WWJD
(What Would Jesus Do) on them. They need to change It to, WDJD (What DID Jesus
Do)!
5.
Do the smallest things that He
asks, and doing them HIS way
a.
Reading through your Bible, every
day
b.
Praying about the things in your
life, asking for help, and wisdom
c.
Just trusting Him when nothing
makes sense
D.
Follow His Voice (John
10:27; 10:3,4)
1.
Not your own heart anymore – or
how you feel – or what you like – or what excites you or thrills you
2.
And don’t follow the many voices
of the culture and world around you
a.
The college culture
b.
The co-worker culture
c.
The music and movie culture
3.
But follow HIS voice
4.
But, Where can His voice be
heard?
a.
In a cave in Arabia?
b.
In the stars?
c.
Via the internet?
d.
No! Only by hearing His written
words on these pages!!!
5.
The Bible alone! Reading THIS
Book is the only way to actually HEAR His voice today 1Th 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye
received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of
men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in
you that believe.
6.
Did you know God wrote this book
for YOU! He has YOUR name written on these pages
a.
He knows your name!
b.
He placed YOUR name in every
“whosoever…”
c.
You are being spoken to every
time God says “I say unto thee…”
d.
He is talking to every one of us
from the pages of this old Book of books, the Bible!
7.
Have you learned to HEAR His
voice?
a.
Most never will (John 8:43)
b.
But some of you heard it once
when you got saved (Rev 3:20)
c.
Listen for it again – listen hard
until you hear HIM speaking as you read every line of every page (Heb 3:7, 15;
4:7)
d.
If you haven’t heard it, you need
to be worried – and start reading, and listening because this may be the last
call before you check out of this life, and have no more chances to be saved!
e.
Hear HIS voice! Harden not your
hearts!
E.
Stop Following Those Who Do
NOT Follow Christ (2Thes 3:6, 11-15; Rom 16:17,18)
1.
Take a good look at your friends,
at your music
a.
Eminem
b.
Beyonce
c.
Gaga
2.
Be bold enough to be different -
To go another route than everyone else
3.
Psalm 66:18
F.
Start Following Those Who Do
Follow Christ Well – let them help you
1.
Don’t just follow “anybody” who
says they are a Christian! Don’t follow immature believers, no matter how old or
successful they may seem – they are not worth following!
a.
Modern Christianity is following
the success oriented groups out there
b.
It’s better to follow the ones
that have suffered as they stayed faithful
2.
The Bible says, Follow other
MATURE believers (1Cor 4:16; 11:1).
a.
1Cor 4:16
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
b.
1Cor 11:1
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
c.
Wow. God has given all of us
living breathing examples of what it means to follow Christ! Thank God! That
makes it much easier!
d.
Look around and find the most
spiritual person, the most serving person, the most joyful person in this room,
and watch them! Learn from them! Follow their examples! They will
not be perfect examples, so allow them to fail, but learn from them as they
follow Christ!
3.
Watch how they handle things
like:
a.
Sorrow
b.
Sickness
c.
Money and Debts
d.
Health problems
e.
Discouragement
f.
Marital problems
g.
Loneliness
h.
Spiritual attacks
i.
Even death
4.
God gave you a pastor, not as a
figurehead, but as an example (Heb 13:7)
a.
Learn how he follows Christ
b.
So Follow your pastor – he IS
supposed to be your example of what it means to live by faith, do right, love
right, pray right, give right!
5.
God also has given us loads of
other great examples throughout history - great men and women of God – great
preachers and missionaries that are worthy of emulating, and following, and
being like!
a.
Like Missionary William Carey to
India (early 1800’s)
b.
Like Charles Spurgeon in London
(late 1800’s) – Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle with over 5,000 attending
c.
Like Adoniram Judson missionary
to Burma (Mid 1800’s)
d.
Like David Livingston to Africa
(mid 1800’s)
e.
Learn from them how they lived
for souls getting saved, and for nations being reached with the Gospel! How they
loved their families, and served the Lord passionately!
G.
Have Fun Following (1Thes
1:6) – Stay Joyful!
1.
1Th 1:6
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the
word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
2.
I can’t emphasize this enough!
a.
We have far too many grouch’s and
complainers, and unhappy people in Biblical Christianity…
b.
No wonder people wonder why we
keep going to church!
c.
The time will come when you will
have to take the lead, and it will be even more lonely, and harder still!
3.
So! Enjoy the ups and downs now!
4.
Jesus never complained ONCE, even
though He had constant ups and downs
a.
No money; No place to sleep; No
food; No one understanding Him; No rest
b.
He would be surrounded one day,
being praised and honoured, and the next day, be abandoned, and rejected!
c.
Yet He never complained! He just
kept a joyful spirit about Him (Luke 10:21)!
5.
Trust that the Lord knows
where he is leading you – whether over a mountain, or through the valley of the
shadow of death even!
6.
Laugh a lot – don’t let the devil
rob you of your smile as you just follow the leader
7.
It one day will be worth it all!
H.
But most of all, Make Sure You
Finish the Journey (John 6:66-69)
1.
You have to be a Follower, yes!
2.
But be a Finisher!
a.
It really stinks when Christians
only try and do a little bit like Jesus for the smallest amount of time, or
until the smallest obstacle comes their way – and then they quit!
b.
Be a Christian is a follower who
finishes the race that Christ has set before us (Acts 20:24; 2Tim 4:6,7)
1)
Act 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I
have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
2)
2Tim 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith:
3.
Be Faithful – Consistent in your
direction and actions!
a.
No matter what happens to anyone
else around us (John 21:18-22)
b.
No matter how many finish, or how
few!
c.
Never quit doing what is right,
and most important as a Christian!
d.
People quit church, and quit
giving and tithing, and quit soul-winning, and quit reading their Bible, and
quit praying
e.
And yet they want to still call
themselves Christians
f.
Christians keep going – keep
faithful – when they fall, they get up; when they fail, they get right
III.
Conclusion
A.
Our world needs to see a new
generation of godly followers!
1.
People who Emulate, copy, become
LIKE Jesus Christ
2.
Learn to have the same mannerisms
and reactions INTERNALLY as He did
3.
To think the same as He does
4.
To talk like Him, love like Him,
become like Him!
5.
To become so much like your
master, that people can’t tell you apart!
B.
People Who Choose the Right
Leader to Follow – the Right Example to be like
1.
Wrong Leaders Abound
2.
Only ONE Leader deserves our
attention! Jesus!
C.
People Who Are Good Followers
before being Good Leaders
1.
God’s work in us is to FIRST
humble us, and make right followers out of us – wise sheep – out of us – to get
us to get OUT of the driving seat, and into the BACK seat, and let HIM drive!
Let HIM lead and YOU follow!
2.
Thankfully, He does not call the
perfect, or the righteous… but sinners to follow Him (Luke 5:32)
3.
So, starting today, become a good
learner – a great disciple – an apprentice of the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ
(Mt 23:8,10)
D.
People Who Follow Christ’s
Steps – Doing Things His Way
1.
DO what He said do!
2.
Follow Christ’s examples to the
letter!
3.
Learn the ways of the Master
E.
People Who Know Jesus’ Voice
1.
Have you learned to HEAR His
voice?
2.
Harden not your hearts!
F.
People Who Stop Following
Those Who Do NOT Follow Christ
1.
Take a good look at your friends,
at your music
2.
Be bold enough to be different -
To go another route than everyone else
G.
People Who Follow Those Who Do
Follow Christ Well
1.
Don’t follow immature believers,
no matter how old or successful they may seem – they are not worth following
folks!
2.
Look around and find the most
spiritual person, the most serving person, the most joyful person in this room,
and watch them! Learn from them!
3.
Watch how they handle things:
4.
Follow your pastor – he IS
supposed to be your example
a.
Pay attention to how I do things!
b.
Learn how I follow Christ
c.
I won’t be perfect, but I at
least WANT to help you follow only Jesus
H.
People Who Have Fun Following
(1Thes 1:6) – Stay Joyful!
1.
Enjoying the ups and downs
2.
Laugh a lot – don’t let the devil
rob you of your smile as you just follow the leader
3.
It one day will be worth it all!
I.
But most of all, People Who
Finish the Journey
J.
Have you even STARTED the
journey?
1.
A Christ-ian means, a
Christ-Follower
2.
Not just knowing about Him, but
following Him, learning from Him, becoming more and more like Him!
3.
To start, you have to be born all
over again – on the inside!
4.
Here is how!