The One Who Leads

…because Christian leadership is given by God’s mercy (and 6 other principles from 2 Corinthians 4:1-7)

Christian Leadership:

1. Is given to us by God’s mercy so we don’t lose heart 

“Therefore having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart (v.1)

Christian leadership isn’t given to us because we deserve it or are good enough for it. It’s given by God in his mercy. That is, it’s totally not because of us. And so we see that any gospel ministry is not actually ours it’s God’s. Therefore we don’t lose heart and we don’t give up. When there’s inconsistent numbers. When people don’t seem to be growing, or when things just suck. We don’t lose heart. This is God’s work given to us by His grace. 

2. Doesn’t use dodgy tactics

“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word” (v.2)

Christian leaders don’t use deception. We don’t tamper with God’s word. We don’t change it a little to make it seem more acceptable. How do you know if you’re in the realm of underhanded ways? When you tamper with the Bible. When you try to make it say something you want it to say instead of what its actually saying. 

3. States the truth openly and therefore has a clear conscience

“but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God” (v2)

Teaching God’s word clearly and faithfully is the main game for the Christian leader. We are to be people of the text. That is the way to state the truth openly. So pray that you would be faithful to God’s word and present it clearly and faithfully. 

4. Proclaims the gospel in a world of unbelief

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (vv.3-4)

Christian leaders expect blank stares. For some the gospel is veiled and so we must see that we’re working with blind minds. So don’t be put off when the gospel will hit brick walls for some people. That’s the normal context for Christian leadership. 

5. Doesn’t proclaim ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord (v.5)

“For what we proclaim is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord” (v.5)

Its easy to proclaim yourself in Christian leadership. It just comes naturally. But proclaiming Jesus as Lord takes careful and prayerful preparation. So pray before you lead “please Lord help me to proclaim YOU and not me”

6. Relies on God to turn the lights on in people’s hearts 

“For God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”  (v.6)

The context is blindness but God turns lights on in dark places. The same God that spoke and made light shine also speaks and makes light shine in hearts to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus. So pray that God would turn lights on in people’s hearts as we proclaim the gospel. That’s God’s job. 

7. Sees where the power is

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (v.7)

We are like clay jars with treasure in them. We have the gospel and that’s where the power is. It’s in God’s gospel. So Christian leaders must see where the power is. It’s not in our cleverness or in our persuasiveness. The power belongs to God and not to us and so we rely on Him.