Nelson Mandela (1918-2013).South African political leader victim of the racial policies of Apartheid that segregated black and white, in favor of the former. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. Moses. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. 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. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. 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. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. Moses. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. 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. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. 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. You are the foundation. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. 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. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. 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. He was generous and that in itself bridges the gaps of selfish and greedy people if God's grace is given the opportunity to be operative. The image of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 is a striking one. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. 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. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. 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). 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. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). 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. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4. But Pauls concern here was not for himself, but for others. Neither Lasea nor Fair Havens is mentioned by any ancient writer, two of the hundred cities of Crete. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 460. 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. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. 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. 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. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. When they set sail from Fair Havens, fifty or sixty miles brought them under the lee of Cauda (v. 16); on the fourteenth night from Cauda they drew near the coast of Malta (v. 27), and the next day (v. 39) they landed on that island, where they spent three months (28:11). With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. All must abandon ship now. It will, however, come eventually. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. It seems as thought they had left it in the sea, towed along behind, when the storm suddenly came upon them and swamped it. They all waited for the morning light. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. 553 The storm was now heavy upon the lumbering vessel, as it came roaring out of the north-east. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. Other words for democratic leadership We're sorry, an error occurred. . 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. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. They had little to gain and much to lose. 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. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. 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. He would build the walls on faith. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. 15:24; 16: 2-3). When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26). 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. Had people ceased eating, in part perhaps, because they thought they were going to die anyway? Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. . 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. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape. 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. Is there not a kind of parable here? If Gods sovereignty is the source of comfort to the Christian, it is the source of terror for the unbeliever, for God has warned of His coming judgment. 557 This is not to suggest that Paul now emerged because he knew that this was the low-point of his fellow-passengers, but because the night before the angel of God had appeared to him. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. 482-483. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. 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. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. 550 As they waited for a change of wind at Fair Havens, it soon became clear that they could not complete the voyage to Italy before the onset of winter. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. 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. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . Few managers or politicians understand that. Resilience may be the cornerstone of effective leadership. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. The need is great. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. Where is your God, he asked. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. 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. Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. (1 Kings 18:27). Jesus (Luke 5:16) Of course, one cannot talk about godly leadership without pointing to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. At its heart, leadership for the Christian means loving God, walking in God's ways, acknowledging God's blessing, confessing personal limitations and corporate failures, doing justice, seeking peace and asking God for the gift of . And Joshua did so.". In all of this God protected Paul. God has given each leader specific gifts. 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. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. Born a Cypriot and reared a Levite, he linked the Hellenistic world and the Jerusalem church. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. 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. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. 4. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. {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). 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. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. 31 What then shall we say to these things? They were so sure of the wisdom of their decision that they did not even draw up the small boat attached by a rope to the vessels stern (verse 16). (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. Not one soul was lost. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. There were no petty thieves on board this ship. 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. Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. 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? After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). 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. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. 544 We know that Luke was on board ship because of the we references, and because of the great detail that he includes, as an eyewitness of the journey, the storm, and the safe landing of the passengers. What has happened over the course of these events, so that a lowly prisoner, a man at the bottom of the ladder, so far as position and influence are concerned, is now the outstanding leader? 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. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible He . Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? Why not get better at it? An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. 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. Nevertheless, they decided to press on to a better harbor. Verse Concepts. As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. Now, no one had the use of this boat. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. Please see below for details. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for us not to work, but the assurance that our work is not in vain, in the Lord. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. {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). Flee to safety today. 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. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. 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. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. 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. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. 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. He had already survived one shipwreck, and he knew the dangers of sea travel: Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. Joshua had been in the presence of God. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. 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 . Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. I do not agree. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. Humanly viewed, Paul was constantly in grave danger, but he was never more safe or secure than when he was on his way to Rome. 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. 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. 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. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. 1 Timothy 3:5. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Verses 14-20: A Sudden Storm and Lost Hope, Verses 21-26: Pauls Night Visitation and Words of Encouragement, Verses 30-32: Sailors Stopped From Abandoning Ship, Verses 33-41: Pauls Encouragement and the Ships Grounding, Verses 42-44: Prisoners and Passengers Spared From Death. Clearly the answer is yes. They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. Scripture offers examples of both. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. This was, I think, to cause the ship to draw less water, and thus to float higher in the water, so that it would not as easily drag bottom.560 The ship would therefore be closer to shore when it struck bottom, making it a shorter swim (or float). Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. They boarded this ship and set sail. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. 558 The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. They cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land. Pauls caution is rather interesting. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. They were not in control of the ship. While it is great to learn from others, you dont have to try to be like others. Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. 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). For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. If Paul was completely right in his previous warning, then many were about to die. Take aids, or drugs, for example. He must live wisely and be just. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. 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). Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. It is only when all hope is lost that Paul addresses his fellow shipmates.557 Much time had passed, the storm had not diminished, the ship was being constantly mauled by the storm, and the passengers had gone a long time without food. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39). Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. What are some examples of democratic leadership? Examples. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. 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? The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. 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. 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. The stern of the ship began to break up. As time went on, as Paul was better known, and as the crises on board the ship became more pronounced, Paul stepped forward, giving both direction and hope to all the others on ship.