It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 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. Here are 12 examples of inspiring leaders in the Bible who teach us what a great leader could and should be as well as how leaders should carry themselves. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. 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 . The image of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 is a striking one. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. Few managers or politicians understand that. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. Paul strongly urged them to stay where they were, at Fair Havens. Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. The sovereignty of God means not only that God is able to intervene supernaturally, but that He is also able to work naturally, through human instruments (like the Roman soldiers, and in our story, like the centurion, in Pauls behalf). 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). 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. 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. {I have been} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from {my} countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. 7 Great Leaders From The Bible | Jack Wellman - Christian Crier But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. About midnight on the fourteenth day, the sailors determined that land was nearing because the depth of the sea below had diminished from twenty fathoms to fifteen. They planned to slip away, on the pretext of laying out anchors, but they were going to take the lifeboat (as it were) and leave the people to fend for themselves in the ravaging storm, in a ship drifting ever near the rocks of the approaching shore. "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. 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. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). We're sorry, an error occurred. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. Jesus (Luke 5:16) Of course, one cannot talk about godly leadership without pointing to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. 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). In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. They cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land. 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. Other words for democratic leadership Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. 562 St. Leadership Styles in 1 & 2 Kings - Matt Garris The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. 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 passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. God has given each leader specific gifts. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. She had entered the election the previous year following the death of her husband, the incumbent governor who was campaigning for a second term. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. In all of this God protected Paul. 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. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. 1 Timothy 4:12. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. 4 The United States is one. Leadership Styles in 1 & 2 Kings Merida introduced his Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings by touting the relevance of the biblical text to the modern world. If the relative safety of the passengers was in being on board ship, with Paul, our certain safety is in being in Christ. He has weathered the storm of Gods wrath on the sinner. 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. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. What grace was made evident in this storm! God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. I believe leadership must be positive influence . 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. 38. A Biblical Look at Leadership (Acts 27:1-44) | Bible.org Your family. 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. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. They took down the sail, which would have been ripped to shreds by the winds, and lashed down the rudders, which would have been broken up as they were smashed against the ship by the waves. I read in the paper the other day that when faced with the decision as to whether he should change to an alternate airport or press on to the original destination, the pilot of a commercial airliner left the choice with his passengers. 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. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. Here are three unique leaders who serve as great examples of democratic leadership: Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln took office understanding his decisions over the next four years would determine the fate of the United States. 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. 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? Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. So, says Luke, they lowered the instrument, not being more specific perhaps because he did not know, or did not remember, the technical name for whatever it was that was lowered. 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? 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. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. "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. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape. 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). The assassination conspiracy was still the main hope of the Sanhedrin as Paul was imprisoned for two years by Felix, but God kept Paul from Jerusalem. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. 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. 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. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. Examples of democratic leaders. Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. They took bribes and perverted justice. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. 31 Top Bible Verse About Leadership - Encouraging Scripture 1 Peter 5:3. Examples. 12 Most Inspiring Leadership Lessons from Bible Characters - LinkedIn He had had enough. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. Take aids, or drugs, for example. 541 Lukes narrative of the voyage and shipwreck of Paul on his way to Italy is a small classic in its own right, as graphic a piece of descriptive writing as anything in the Bible. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. 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). He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. Examples of democratic leaders A few specific examples of leaders who have demonstrated this style of leadership include: Former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, demonstrated how much she valued her team members by writing personalized letters to their parents. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. All must abandon ship now. Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. Did he do anything? (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. Born a Cypriot and reared a Levite, he linked the Hellenistic world and the Jerusalem church. 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 . 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. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. 16:8, 16-20). The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. Read Chapter All Versions. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. Here are some examples of their leadership. Obedient Daniel. 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. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. 15:24; 16: 2-3). Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. Time would prove Paul right. 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. Now, no one had the use of this boat. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. The precise status of Julius is difficult to determine: from the authority which he assumed when once (from Myra onward) he found himself on board a ship of the Alexandrian grain fleet, it might be inferred that he was a frumentarius, an officer charged with supervising the transport of grain (frumentum) to Rome. Bruce p. 477. The solar date of the day of atonement in A.D. 59 thus accords well with Lukes implication that the Fast took place while they waited at Fair Havens. Bruce, p. 481. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. The angry mob, which the Asian Jews had incited in Jerusalem, were trying to kill Paul, but God used Claudius Lysias and his soldiers to save his life. 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? If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. Handling the ship in this storm was almost impossible, and any attempt would require an expert crew. I see people working for a place a leadership, rather than working to serve others, and letting leadership develop or not on its own. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. . 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. Jesus: A leader is a servant first. You are the foundation. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. No doubt there were some anxious thoughts racing through the minds of the passengers. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. He was right in that a great storm had swept down on this ship, and that both the ship and its cargo would be lost. 1. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). 17 Democratic Leadership Examples & Characteristics Why not get better at it? Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. As a church staff or volunteer ministry leader, you can learn valuable and unique lessons from several biblical characters. It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. Their safety was contingent on the presence of Paul and the patience of God. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! I think not. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. 542 The ship in which they embarked belonged to Adramyttium (modern Edremit), a seaport of Mysia in northwest Asia Minor, opposite the island of Lesbos. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? In the early church there was a problem. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? However, there is no story of Esther without Mordecai. 482-483. His church was a murmuring people. 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. 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. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. They were not going to get to Rome until after winter was over anyway, and they could stay right where they were, with no real problems. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? Others decided Paul and the other prisoners should set sail, and so Paul and they were turned over to Julius. 559 If the soundings were made at midnight, and if the passengers were at least inside the ship, rather than on deck, only the sailors would have known that land was approaching. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. To reinforce his words, Paul now did what he urged each of them to dohe ate. He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. I have always looked upon the Apostle Paul as a godly man, a zealous servant of Jesus Christ, and a powerful preacher of the gospel. Moses | Biblical Leaders - Seminar - WordPress.com But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. 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. Think of it. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong (Titus 1:9).