The Marks of Cross-Shaped Leadership

Last Sunday I preached the second half of my two messages on the letter to the Corinthians. On March 3rd I talked about the “cross-shaped” life from first Corinthians and last Sunday, on the 10th, we talked about “The Marks of Cross Shaped Leadership” from Second Corinthians. For each sermon I was working off the main idea or theme of each letter and hitting the highlights of how Paul developed the theme in the letter. So below you will find my outline of the sermon and a diagram of the structure of 2nd Corinthians.

The Marks of Cross-Shaped Leadership

2nd Corinthians

• Purpose of 2nd Corinthians
• “The epistle is about Paul’s ministry, which the Corinthians fail to understand (not about the legitimacy of his apostleship, which is not in question). They understand him only in part (1:14) because they still evaluate things from the perspective of the flesh… This letter is not just a personal defense; it is a restatement of the basic doctrine of the cross which Paul preached to them.” Garland, D. E. (1999). Vol. 29: 2 Corinthians. The New American Commentary (33). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
• Paul is trying to show them what gracious, godly leadership and ministry looks like.
• Message of 2 Corinthians
• Christian leaders live out the cross in a ministry willing to sacrifice and suffer for the truth and for the benefit of God's people. They understand that it is internal character change, brought about through the Spirit, which is important and not external ability. Such leaders should be obeyed, honored and supported.
• True Christian Leadership is Cross-Shaped
• Marks of Cross-Shaped Leaders 1.1-7.6
• Conduct motivated by a sincere love for Christ and desire for His people to grow. 1.1-2.17
• Receive suffering and deliverance from Christ to comfort others. 1.1-11
• Open, truthful plans based on Christ's promises and love for God's people. 1.12-2.4
• No hidden agendas
• Forgiving,  reaffirming and comforting in public and private discipline.  2.5-12
• Reconcilers and restorers
• Handle well suffering and rejection based on God’s calling and promise. 2.13-17
• Handle adversity well, with an eternal perspective
• Real call to ministry is seen in changed lives, superior message, suffering and character 3.1-5.10
• Growth of followers into the image of Christ    3.1-18
• “Look behind you. If no one is following you are  not a leader.”
• Willingness to participate in the sufferings of Christ. 4.1-5.10
• Sees difficulty as grace and opportunity to see God working . 4.1-12
• Motivated by eternity and focused on inner growth. 4.13-18
• Suffers joyfully in view of the eternal body and the greater experience of a life of obedience. 5.1-10
• Focused on grace, not the externals 5.11-7.16
• Share a clear message of reconciliation with God. 5.11-21
• Content oriented preaching rather than fancy rhetoric
• Persevering, Open, Integrity in Life and Ministry   6.1-13
• Separate from false doctrine and practice 6.14-7.1
• Life matches preaching
• Actions match what they ask others to do
• Willingness to Confront in Love      7.2-16
• Marks of cross-shaped ministry 10.1-13.6
• Done God's Way, not in human ways, and in  God's power. 10.1-18
• Uses God's methods  10.1-6
• He packs high-powered, divine weapons, but “the meekness, kindness and gentleness of Christ” always govern their use.
• Persuades rather than intimidates, reasons and coaxes rather than beats up
• Motivated by God's approval not human approval. 10:7-18
• Refuses to compare ministries 10.12
• Do Good without expecting something in return
• Do the job without the title  or the salary
• Glories in God, not self. 11.1-12.10
• Keeps focus on Jesus, not self. 11.1-4
• Sacrifices to build up the body  11.5-15
• Avoids the silliness of boasting about one's own accomplishments or abilities. 11.16-22
• Boasts about weaknesses and suffering because they point to God's power. 11.23-12.10
• “Thorn in the Flesh”
• “Paul is not saying that weakness is power. Instead, he is saying that “the weaknesses that characterize his life as an apostle—of which the Corinthians are very much aware and from which he neither seeks nor expects relief—represent the effective working of the power of the crucified Christ in his ministry.” What makes Paul seem so weak to some paradoxically allows the power of Christ to work through him all the more.”
• Godly leaders draw the church away from sin and its consequences 12.11-13.6
• Invest their lives in others and earn respect 12.11-18
• People will grow in Christ-like character. 12.19-21
• People see Christ’s power in them to grow spiritually. 13.1-6
• “Here is the best litmus test for the sign of an apostle. A true apostle of the crucified Christ is one who is willing to spend and be spent on behalf of a congregation. He serves at great cost to himself for the great benefit of others.”
• Cross-Shaped Leadership In Action 8.1-9.15
• The Offering for the Poor in Jerusalem
• Sacrificial and Participatory 8.1-6
• Excellent spiritual service done as God gives ability, with purity of motive 8.7-15
• Administration transparent and handled by people of proven integrity 8.16-24
• Planned, committed and generous expression of love  9.1-6
• Demonstrated faith in God and His care for His people 9.7-10
• Increase in thankfulness, praise and prayers   9.11-15
• Character  of a cross-shaped church 13.11
• Joy
• Optimistic atmosphere of joy, praise and gratitude
• People are Mended/Restored
• Nobody is perfect, including the leader but we are helping each other toward Christ
• People are Comforted, Encouraged and Admonished
• One Mind
• Intent on the Same Purpose ; Unified
• At Peace
• Sharing the blessings of God’s love with one another.

“The only valid Christian criteria to measure apostles have nothing to do with noble birth or personal accomplishments but relate to how they conform to the cross of Christ and what God has done in them.”