Sermon Info
Summary
We see the impact of leadership every day in our world. We see good leaders, and we see terrible leaders. Good leaders put others before themselves, while bad leaders put themselves before others. Good leaders give and sacrifice to help and make a difference. Generosity is a big part of good leadership. God teaches His people to be generous, but we live in a world of greed. Will we become godly leaders? Trust God and invest in helping others. As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
Content
1. The importance of Godly leaders.
I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! Nehemiah 5:10
- Nehemiah is a Godly leader.
- Leadership is about influence. Therefore, we are all leaders.
- Leadership matters.
- Great leaders put others before themselves, while terrible leaders put themselves before others.
- Jesus is the ultimate Servant Leader and our model for how we should lead.
2. Generosity is the only antidote to greed.
At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And, the people did as they had promised. Nehemiah 5:13c
- Nehemiah was Godly and generous.
- Greed is one of the seven deadly sins.
- For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. 1 Timothy 6:10
- This is why God established the priority of giving.
- There are tithes and offerings.
- It is so important to lead our children to be generous.
3. We have been blessed to be a blessing.
But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Nehemiah 5:15b
- Nehemiah made decisions out of reverence for God.
- We have all been blessed, but not just for ourselves, but also to be a blessing to others.
- Nehemiah invested his time, energy, and resources in doing the work of God and in helping others.
- Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
4. Our life is not defined by what we get but by what we give.
Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people. Nehemiah 5:19
- Nehemiah lived his life for the glory of God.
- Nehemiah gave sacrificially.
- Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
- When we give, we are most like God.
- For God so loved the world, He gave… John 3:16
- You can’t outgive God.
- Let’s be a generous church. Your leadership matters.
