Spiritual Leadership

Passage: Acts 1

You know the drill.

“Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen.  Welcome aboard United Flight 1083 bound for Chicago.  Our captain has informed us that our flying time to Chicago today will be approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes at an altitude of 32,000 feet.  We want to review with you at this time some of the safety features of our Boeing 757.  You can follow along with the laminated card in the seat pocket in front of you.  During takeoff and landing we ask that you keep your seat back in their full and upright position and that your tray table be stowed and locked and all electronic devices be powered off and stowed.  There are eight exits, two at the front of the aircraft, four over the wings and two at the rear of the aircraft.  In case of emergency floor lighting will direct you to the exit nearest you.  In the unlikely event of cabin depressurization an oxygen mask will drop down in front of you.  Place the mask over your nose and mouth, tighten the straps around your head and pull down on the tube to begin the flow of oxygen.  If you are traveling with small children, put your mask on first and then assist your child with their mask.”

 

There are important leadership lessons in these pre-flight emergency instructions.

We are acknowledging the grace of God in our church by recognizing, blessing and praying for those who are gifted by God and willing to serve among us in these ways.  But the leadership here doesn’t stop here.  It goes beyond these walls into our homes and community.

Husbands are spiritual leaders.  Mothers and fathers are leaders, older siblings are leaders, fifth graders are leaders in elementary schools, eighth graders are leaders in middle schools, and seniors are leaders at high schools and colleges.  Many of you lead in your kids’ schools, in your neighborhoods, in your places of work and service.

I want to talk about leadership this morning at all levels, and especially about the kind of leadership we will need for our homes, church, community and nation.

Flight attendants are exercising authority for the sake of the passengers.  Lives are at stake.  They are giving warnings that in time of crisis will be very important, but are often ignored.  Spiritual leaders are God’s gift to His flock, to exercise authority for the sake of our souls.

To guide us in this, the first chapter of the book of Acts is like a pre-flight announcement before the Church takes off at Pentecost.  This passage gives us insight into spiritual leadership, how to be the leaders God has called us to be.

Since we are already at 32,000 feet, I am going to fly over this text and land on several verses to help us get a picture of how to get and stay connected to the source of our life.