examples of democratic leaders in the bible

He loved God. In the early church there was a problem. Verse Concepts. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. 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. The amount of talking by the leader is another clue. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 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. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. 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). Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). Some things dont change. 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. 4 The United States is one. If Paul was completely right in his previous warning, then many were about to die. 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. 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. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. 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. 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 one whose fate was sure and certain, was the most cautious; those whose ultimate fate was most uncertain were those who lived most dangerously. 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. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. 11. Gods Word gives us those answers. Isnt it true that men do those things which they know to be risky, partly for the love of the risk, and often due to some small gain they wish, prompted by a false sense of assurance, and by the hope for some small gain? 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). The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. 72-73, p. 480. I think not. Elijah had both. 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. 562 St. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. 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 . He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. That safety is only in Christ. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? Paul was as secure as any man could be. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. It may not come quickly. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 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. He must live a devout and disciplined life. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. 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 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. Here are some examples of their leadership. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. Democratic leadership style fosters high job satisfaction and productivity because followers are involved in decision making. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. Their safety was relative, however. The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. 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. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. Here are some examples of their leadership. Los usurpadores de poder suelen ser democrticos si han sido elegidos en elecciones . 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. That sounds like leadership to me. This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. Did he do anything? But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Robertson, p. 469. 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. They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Pauls leadership emerged in a democratic society. We are told that the majority reached the decision to sail on, rather than to winter in Fair Havens. 1 Timothy 4:12. 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. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. If they were to have the strength necessary to make it to shore, they would need to start the day with a good meal. I know it sounds more like mother or a TV commercial, but Paul was dealing with a very practical necessity. God used this two-year delay of Felix and the bungling of Festus to bring Paul to the point where he would appeal to Caesar. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. Now, when they knew where they wanted to go, they again began to rig the ship for sailing, to whatever degree this could be done in such a storm. God does not jump through our hoops and thus Paul never presumed that he had Gods power on tap to use when and how he chose. 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. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. 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. {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). 16:8, 16-20). Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. Your Bible study. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. Smith suggests that the mainyard is meant; an immense spar, probably as long as the ship, which would require the united efforts of passengers and crews to launch overboard. Bruce p. 486. Fourteen days have passed since they left Fair Havens and the storm first struck the ship.558 The sailors now have little idea as to where they were, or how far they might be from land. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. As the journey to Rome continues, there are yet to be more signs and wonders accomplished through the hands of Paul (see 28:3-10). During the night, an angel of God had appeared to Paul, with a sure and certain word about the future, a word that would bring encouragement to all on board ship. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. Indeed, the fate of the ship was not exactly as Paul had warned, for there was no loss of life.551 He simply spoke as a seasoned traveler, an astute observer, and one who had experienced dangers at sea. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. How does Pauls safety relate to you? 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 . He arose, then, for two reasons: (1) his shipmates were in desperate need of encouragement, and (2) he now had a word from God for them. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? However, there is no story of Esther without Mordecai. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. 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. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9). Take aids, or drugs, for example. Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. In a democracy leaders. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. Examples. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. He turned to the centurion and the soldiers and gave them what were really orders: Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved (verse 31). He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. 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. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. Bruce writes. One church member compliments your Sunday morning message, the next complains about your quoting Carl Jung because he is not a Christian. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. Paul had a fair bit of experience with sea travel. Great leaders wash their people's feet. The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. 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. They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. 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. All 276 passengers were saved. I do not think that Pauls words were meant as a typical I told you so so much as they were spoken to motivate his peers to listen to him now. 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." They had little to gain and much to lose. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. What grace was made evident in this storm! 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. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. He left this to God. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. 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. They boarded this ship and set sail. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. When Esthers words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 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. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. 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. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. 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). 554 The wind would tend to blow the ship much more quickly than the current, and so a sea anchor would reduce the force of the wind on the ship by using the sea as a brake. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. This created a serious problem. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? On the third day, some of the unnecessary tackle on board the ship was thrown overboard. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. 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? From here on, sailing will not be smooth. The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? Tim Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011. Thus, the safety of the ship, according to Pauls words, required the presence of the crew. With renewed strength, the passengers set about lightening the ship by throwing the remainder of the cargo the cargo of wheat overboard. "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. 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. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. Nobody said it would be easy. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. 1 Peter 5:3. But there was a problem. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 31 What then shall we say to these things? Time would prove Paul right. 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. You are the foundation. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. It was time for another word of encouragement. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. We're sorry, an error occurred. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. 553 The storm was now heavy upon the lumbering vessel, as it came roaring out of the north-east. 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. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 4. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. 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. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. 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. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference, 10 Gift Ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month, Pastor Appreciation Month: 5 Ways to Say Thanks, Why Prayer is Essential in the Life of a Leader. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. 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. I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. The need is great. 15:24; 16: 2-3). While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. (1) A look at leadership. 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. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Bureaucratic leadership is defined as a form of leadership in which there is a hierarchy of authority that creates rules for management and decision making. Clearly the answer is yes. 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. 556 The following day, a more drastic measure was necessary: the spare gear had to go if the ship was to have any chance of surviving. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. Moses. Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!"

Dell Scott And Philippe Lacasse Real Life, Articles E