Every passenger made it safely to shore. Salem Media Group. Paul strongly urged them to stay where they were, at Fair Havens. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. He had a special place. 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." All one needs is a clean needle or a condom or possibility an abortion and theyre off and running, seeking a little pleasure, at the cost of the loss of their life, and of their soul. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy (1 Corinthians 7:13-14). 1. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow 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. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. This proposal pleased the whole group. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. Pastor Appreciation Month and Pastor Appreciation Day are great opportunities every October to show how much you care for your pastor and church leaders. To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. Examples of delegated authority include parents and their children, masters and their servants, priests serving in the temple, and Christian leaders, as Christ's servants, with the members of a church. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? In a democracy leaders. They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. 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). They also loosened the ropes which lashed down the rudders and hoisted the sail.561 They were on their way toward land. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. I do not agree. In Acts 20:35, we see him say to the elders of the church in Ephesus, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more . Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. 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. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. 564 Would he not have dared to command the soldiers not to kill Paul, but to have allowed the others to be put to death? Bruce writes. Pauls leadership emerged in a time of crisis, in an hour of need, when no one else seemed to have any answers.565 Functional leadership (as opposed to formal leadership) emerges in times of need. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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? (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. in 1971. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Susan Ward. 482-483. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. Moses. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. 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? What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. Where is your God, he asked. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. Flee to safety today. The amount of talking by the leader is another clue. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). 562 St. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. {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). The great leaders of the Bible, men like Joseph, Moses, David, and Daniel, were men who had an impact because they were men of God, men of great skill and ability, and men who God raised up. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. There were no petty thieves on board this ship. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. (1) A look at leadership. The safety of the passengers, involved their actions, in eating a good meal, in lightening the ship, and in swimming to shore or in clinging to some wreckage and floating to shore. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. In doing so, he cites Romans 15:4 (NKJV), which states, "whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the . 1. Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) - The 34th President of the U.S. Eisenhower was the Supreme Command of NATO before he served two terms as the U.S. President. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. All rights reserved. I believe leadership must be positive influence . Resilience may be the cornerstone of effective leadership. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. Related articlesHow and Why Should I Pray for Leaders?An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others, Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. 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. A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. The stern of the ship began to break up. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. 4 The United States is one. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). 1 Peter 5:3. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. Few managers or politicians understand that. Not once or twice the world has had to thank the great saints and mystics for providing timely help in moments of crisis when realistic, practical men of affairs were unable to supply it. Bruce, p. 475. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. Why not get better at it? (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. Great leaders wash their people's feet. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. 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. 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. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. 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. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. Scripture offers examples of both. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. Paul and a number of other prisoners were put aboard an Adramyttian ship,542 which was setting sail for ports along the coast of Asia. This created a serious problem. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. Here is a list of famous examples of democratic leaders: Dwight Eisenhower, The 34th U.S. President Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Larry Page, Co-founder of Google Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Read more about these Famous examples of democratic leadership and feel inspired. Examples of democratic leaders. 16:8, 16-20). The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. It seems as thought they had left it in the sea, towed along behind, when the storm suddenly came upon them and swamped it. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. This centurion was to develop a deep respect for Paul, so that he would extend considerable liberties to him, take seriously his advice, and make every effort to protect him. This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. What are some examples of democratic leadership? In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. Verse Concepts. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. He . 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. 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. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. If there were but ten righteous in the city of Sodom, God would have spared the city for the sake of those righteous (Genesis 18:22-33). Take aids, or drugs, for example. Examples. The sovereignty of God means that He is not at our disposal, to carry out our whims or wishes, but that we are at His disposal. 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. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. But there was a problem. The sovereignty of God is the basis for our safety and security, but it is not an excuse for our sloppiness. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). 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. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. Pauls caution is rather interesting. Some Christians are inclined to live their lives sloppily, believing that because God is sovereign He will, on demand, produce a miracle to deliver us from the fruits of our own foolishness. Several days before, Paul had told the passengers, who had lost all hope, that they would all be saved, although the ship would run aground (verses 21-26). As it was the middle of the night and the storm was still fierce, the sailors put out anchors, to drag along the bottom, to slow down their drifting. Let us consider just a few: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Did he do anything? One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. He would build the walls on faith. Your Bible study. The chapter may therefore be outlined in this way: One way or the other, Festus must have found some way to explain Pauls appearance before Caesar. His leadership was built not so much on ancestry from the Jewish lineage as by faithfulness. The name of this leadership style is derived from the word "democracy," which means "run by the people." Democratic leaders welcome and value others' input, rely heavily on team participation, and facilitate discussions that enable multiple members of their group to weigh in on decisions. 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. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. of Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. Julius and the others did not seem to look upon Paul in religious or spiritual terms, but only in terms of practical and proven ability and knowledge. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. Allow me to make one last observation here. They did not know exactly where they were and they could not recognize anything familiar about the land, but they did resolve to run the ship aground in a bay which they could see ahead. Luke now passes over the details of a number of the days that followed, indicating only that many days passed, and that the storm continued to abuse the ship and to terrify its passengers. 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. 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. But today, we want to focus on a . All must abandon ship now. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. In all of this God protected Paul. 36 Just as it is written, For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
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