On Wednesday mornings for the past month I have been going to a men’s bible study. We meet at Larry Linne’s office in Fort Myers. Larry is a member of FCC and I have found his current study and teaching to be very effective in my own life. Four weeks ago we began studying Biblical leadership as men and how to apply it in our lives. Being a new husband, business owner, having a heart desiring a career in ministry and wanting to be a father I feel this is the type of study and learning I need most right now. I am going to share this study using this site week by week. I am behind four weeks, so here is Week 1. I will catch up to the current week within the next 2 weeks.

    The first week of this study is about self-control. For us guys to be leaders we must excel in this area. For people to view us as not in control of our lives, families, actions, speech, money, etc. makes a poor leader. Who would want to follow a leader that lacks the quality of self control in their own lives? Your guess is as good as mine. It is always important for us to be realistic when viewing ourselves. If we consider ourselves leaders and look behind us and no one is following then what type of leader are we?

Here is some scripture we read and discussed on this subject:

Galations 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

It’s amazing to see ourselves produce great fruit in our lives, all of which to glorify God. The fruits of the Holy Spirit listed here are difficult to develop, but I believe Paul finished the first verse with the most difficult of them all. For us to have Christ in our hearts and as our Lord and to have not crucified the sinful nature that prevents these fruits from growing will have a terrible effect in becoming a leader of anything.

2 Peter 1:3-11

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.

Peter makes it very clear about God’s time table and His mercy and patience throughout this passage. As men and leaders we should live the Holy and Godly lives that He calls us to live. Living that life presents a great need for our self-control in all things. After all, God expects us to be great leaders so people will see their need for Christ and need to turn away from their sins and live a life of repentance.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

This is one long list of things we see in the lives of humanity today. Right in the middle of these things is the topic of this study. Self-control is something God sees as us having a form of godliness. We should not deny its power in being a great leader.

Collosians 3:12-13

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

We are told here to clothe ourselves with five important things that require great self-control. God has chosen us to do so. I spent a lot of time looking at these five gifts that His Spirit continues to grow in me. I have found two that I need to work on right away. Humility and gentleness are two things that prevent me from being a good leader. I will be focusing on changing those things in coming weeks.

1 Corinthians 3:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

This passage speaks to me in so many different ways. I could write about the things I do well with and the things I need to work on desperately. This is God’s definition of love and we should use this as a mirror to teach ourselves self-control and the most important thing about being a leader. We as men need to love in all these ways.

This study has opened my eyes to things I need to improve on, but at the same time has shown me the fruit I am producing to become a leader that glorifies God. Week 2’s study is from the book of Daniel and is on problem solving. I will post that early next week.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 11:38 pm and is filed under Leadership Study. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.