The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. Take aids, or drugs, for example. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. All one needs is a clean needle or a condom or possibility an abortion and theyre off and running, seeking a little pleasure, at the cost of the loss of their life, and of their soul. No doubt there were some anxious thoughts racing through the minds of the passengers. The broad issue is that of leadership. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. 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. He must live wisely and be just. 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). Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. Given all these factors, the ship set sail from Fair Havens. Pauls execution was sought by the Sanhedrin, which first tried to execute him legally (like Stephen) and then by assassination, but God used Roman soldiers once again to spare His servant. Here are some examples of their leadership. los lderes demcratas (41) dirigentes socialdemcratas (18) lderes democrticos (15) lderes demcratas (13) demcratas (8) If elected in free elections, the usurpers of power are usually democratic leaders. The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. 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. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. 1. It was time for another word of encouragement. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. 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. 1 Peter 5:3. "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake 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. 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? Christianity is not a fair weather religion. Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. In the early church there was a problem. With renewed strength, the passengers set about lightening the ship by throwing the remainder of the cargo the cargo of wheat overboard. Since this was not an ideal place to spend the winter, and sailing conditions looked favorable at the moment, they decided to press on to a more accommodating port. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. What grace was made evident in this storm! "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. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. You are the foundation. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? 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 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. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. 2:2). Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. 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. They just happened to run aground at the place where two seas met.562 It seems that the action of the water created some kind of sandbar or shallows, on which the ship stuck fast. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. 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. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. 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. The need is great. Unsaved men do not have the answers. 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. He did get disgusted. 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. Some are not as visible; all are useful. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. 546 With the westerly winds which prevail in those seas, says James Smith, ships, particularly those of the ancients, unprovided with a compass and ill calculated to work to windward, would naturally stand to the north till they made the land of Asia Minor, which is peculiarly favourable for navigation by such vessels, because the coast is bold and safe, and the elevation of the mountains makes it visible at a great distance; it abounds in harbours, and the sinuosities of its shores and the westerly current would enable them, if the wind was at all off the land, to work to windward, at least as far as Cnidus, where these advantages ceased. 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. Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. The time which had been lost, due to unfavorable winds, made it evident that they would not be able to reach Rome, not without wintering at some port, and finishing the journey in the Spring.550 The only question now was where they would winter, and whether or not they would press on to some more favorable port. Engage group members: The leader involves members and encourages them to involve others. When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. God has given each leader specific gifts. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. 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. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. 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. 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. Proud member Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. She had entered the election the previous year following the death of her husband, the incumbent governor who was campaigning for a second term. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. 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. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. Examples of democratic leaders. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. The most probable account is that they dropped a floating anchor or drift anchor, which was dragged astern at the end of a rope of suitable length so as to offer the maximum resistance every time the ship plunged down from the crest of a wave. Bruce, p. 486. Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. 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. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. 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. They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape. Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. Paul strongly urged them to stay where they were, at Fair Havens. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. He had a special place. The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. 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. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. 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). The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. 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. A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. 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? He . The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. 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. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. They hoped that daybreak would come so that they could visually navigate the ship, rather than to attempt to make port (or even to ground the ship) in the dark. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? Verse Concepts. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. Paul and a number of other prisoners were put aboard an Adramyttian ship,542 which was setting sail for ports along the coast of Asia. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. Petty criticism wears on the leader. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. Jesus: A leader is a servant first. In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. 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. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. 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. He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". 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. Some things dont change. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Moses is remembered as the liberator, the leader, the law-giver, the prophet, and the intermediary in the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. 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. If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. Not one soul was lost. 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. The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. A theophany had taken place in Joshua 5:15: "The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. Please see below for details. Your community. 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. And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. 16:8, 16-20). Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. 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. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. I do not agree. 482-483. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). Moses. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." This channel is the place between two seas. Here the ship, in Smiths words, would strike a bottom of mud graduating into tenacious clay, into which the fore part would fix itself and be held fast, whilst the stern was exposed to the worst of the waves. After the long battering which the ship had endured for the past two weeks, its exposed part could not take this further punishment, and it quickly disintegrated. Bruce, p. 494. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) An elder must live a blameless life. Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. On the third day, some of the unnecessary tackle on board the ship was thrown overboard. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. Paul once again stepped forward, speaking out to all aboard, so as to assure and encourage them, as well as to persuade them to prepare themselves for the rigors and physical demands of the hours that were to follow. That sounds like leadership to me. (1) A look at leadership. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. 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. They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. 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 1:6-9). The short version is that there was a plot to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai got wind of the plot. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. in 1971. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. 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. It is enough to discourage any pastor. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. It may not come quickly. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). Democratic leadership style fosters high job satisfaction and productivity because followers are involved in decision making. Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. 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. That safety is only in Christ. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. 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. 4 The United States is one. Until now, they had been trying to save the ships cargo, but now some of it555 was thrown overboard, lightening the ship and reducing the stress on the hull. The most memorable aspect of effective leadership of a pastor is when he has survived the polarities of differing opinions and modeled having each side respect the other's. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. Los usurpadores de poder suelen ser democrticos si han sido elegidos en elecciones . Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. 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 Paul had been right before, and his words had come to pass, he had even more important words to speak now, not from his own perception or judgment, but from the God whom he served. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. 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. But in addition to his surviving this storm, God promised to spare all the other passengers on board as well, not for their sakes alone, but for Pauls sake. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . Flee to safety today. The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. 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. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. Read Chapter All Versions. Remember, he struck the rock and disobeyed God, but his patience had worn thin. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. One church member compliments your Sunday morning message, the next complains about your quoting Carl Jung because he is not a Christian. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him.