​Bankrupt For Jesus
 
   The other day I ran across a bankruptcy lawyer’s commercial  while doing research for a project on ministry debt. In that commercial, it stated there are two types of personal bankruptcy in this country, chapters 7 and 13. The lawyer was advertising for chapter 13. The ad shouted, “it costs only $99 month and your debt can be erased!” He continued, “Stop the harassing collection calls and contact us today!” “Only $99 and your worries can be eliminated!” Sounds like a bargain doesn’t it? It’s a great deal especially if you’re say $50k, $100k in debt.

   There’s only one problem. That payment is based off your income which is determined by the court and the only way you are paying $99 a month is that you don’t have much income. On top of that, the lawyer gets most of that money and only a couple of debtors get a portion of what’s owed. You have to complete every payment for 3-5 years before your debts are cleared. If you pay all your payments on time up to the last couple of months and then default, your debts remain! Your name and debts are not cleared! What they also don’t tell you is that if you go ahead and make the sacrifice of paying more now by filing chapter 7, your debts are cleared in full. Depending on your assets and possessions of value and have your debts eliminated if qualified. Chapter 7 obviously seems like the better deal long term.

   I understand that it’s probably hard to come up with the money needed to make a lump sum payment like that. In a situation where you are already behind on bills, but need to scrape up possibly a couple thousand dollars is nearly an impossible task. But isn’t it easier just to go ahead and get it over with? Aren’t you going to have to eventually pay someone before they garnish your wages and take your possessions?  Paying your debts back in this way will be heavy burden and well over your ability to pay back? Sometimes, the load can begin to pile up more than we can bear. It seems the further you get burdened down, the faster it grows. The system also seems to be working against you, most likely because it is. There has to be a way out, an emergency exit that allows us to take the pressure off.
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   Listen, I’m not advertising for bankruptcy, promoting financial advice, or financial irresponsibility today. What I am pointing out really is just the obvious. What do you do? You would under reasonable circumstances take the easier road out which is the chapter 7. However, if you just can’t reasonably make the lump sum you at least file the 13 because you have no other choice in a situation where you have no money or income to pay off such large amounts of debt. It is easier to pay back a lawyer in payments for a total amount of around $5,000-6,000 than to pay $50,000 or even 100k back in debt. A debt such as this can be the straw that finally breaks the camel’s back.
This morning, whether you knew it or not, you owe a debt. This debt cannot be restored in monetary or periodic payments, rather it is a debt that can only be paid by ransom. This debt was amassed by the sins we have committed against God and against one another. We are all guilty of those sins as the Word of God tells us:

Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 
 
Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
 
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
   We certainly face eternal death and suffering if we do not clear those debts of sin before we die. There may never be a tomorrow for any of us, so it’s best we clear those debts today! I come by to tell you today about a bankruptcy lawyer named Jesus who can clear any debt.  He’s already paid the price for your sins and my sins today. You can’t pay these sins off in 3-5 years, no not even in a lifetime. There is only one payment plan for this debt, and that is Calvary. The price was paid on the cross in the blood of Christ. Our sins can be washed away this morning and the debts cleared from the ledger. However, this type of debt forgiveness requires one thing from us. That is the commitment of our hearts and lives to Christ, the ultimate debt reliever.
 
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
 
   Jesus, being made perfect and knowing no sin, allowed himself to be sacrificed on the cross for the debts of you and me! We can spend our lives and all of eternity paying our chapter 13 payments back to Satan, or we can start with a new and clean slate today with Christ! Will you trust Him today? He’s already cleared the debt for us. He’s just waiting on you to make your mark on the line. Are you willing to commit to Him, to taste and see that He is good? The only down payment to pay is the burden of our hearts and minds. The only lump sum our bankruptcy lawyer Jesus expects is the humble heart of a broken and weary sinner. Give him you heart today and have your debts be forgiven. That heavy burdened soul inside of you is begging for this relief and this freedom. Step out of those chains of bondage this day, step out of the debt to sin, to lust, to greed, to restlessness. Step out, step out, and step into the arms of Jesus this morning!
 
Romans 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
 
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 
   Make that commitment today and allow Jesus to repay that debt for you! The greatest thing about all this is, we don’t lose anything in the process of receiving this redemption and debt relief. We are not going before a trustee in a hearing today, Jesus has done that for us already. As a matter a fact, He sits at the right hand of the trustee (The Father) speaking on our behalf and writing our name down in the book of life. He’s jotting the note that our debts have been cleared for good. Our savior is so good that, just in case we do mess up again, He’s already taken care of that as well. All we have to do is turn in our ledger again by humbling ourselves before him and He can once again purify our hearts. In the process of our turning to Christ, we also in the process get the ultimate debt counselor in the Holy Spirit to advise us  and guide us from racking up such debt in the first place. He’s knocking on your heart today! If you’ll just let Him in, He can let you in to the Kingdom of Heaven. Don’t wait! There may never be another tomorrow. You may never get a chance to claim this debt relief in the future. Trust in Jesus and call upon him right where you are!

Provide an explanation and example of biblical leadership. How do you define biblical leadership?
 
​   Biblical leadership is seen and evidenced throughout the Holy Bible. While each person had their own style regarding how and what style they often lead by, there were certain traits about them that defined them as a leader, prophet, great man of God, etc. Our text by Borek, Lovett, and Towns gives us eight laws of leadership that were always evident throughout any leadership style which are, “the law of dreams, rewards, credibility, communication, accountability, motivation, problem solving, and the law of decision making.”[1] How I would define leadership is very similar to how our text also defines leadership. I would say that a true leader has a group of characteristics such as being a motivator, requiring respect, honor, integrity, passion, and charisma. Our text defines leadership in many ways, such as: “It has been said that leaders have two important characteristics: First, they are going some-where; second, they are able to persuade other people to go with them.” [2] This definition is nearly identical to a book I own by John Maxwell, who also states, “All great leaders possess two things: They know where they are going, and they are able to persuade others to follow.” [3] Our text also defines leadership as, “In one sense, leadership is the process of helping people do the worthwhile things they want to do. Good leadership has been described as the art of getting average people to do great work. At its highest, leadership consists of getting people to work for you when they are under no obligation to do so.” [4] My personal favorite definition that the text gave is, “In a military context, it is the process by which one soldier influences others to accomplish the mission.” [5] After all, we are soldiers in the army of the Lord!

   There is one aspect however that I believe overrides all of these other attributes and even determines if these attributes will be acquired in the first place, that is God’s favor. God often places His hand upon great leaders and molds them into who they are. They are just made, but also crafted. I agree with our text when it states, “Leadership may be one of those things that is easier caught than taught.” [6] Figuratively speaking it may be caught, but we know that leadership doesn't just get caught, but rather appointed unto God’s people. Joseph wasn't just shown favoritism by many high ranked Egyptian members of society, but most likely also gained some leadership qualities along the way that were sourced from both experience and God’s divine hand. This is the reason that I have to agree with the statement that there are nine spiritual gifts and qualities that aid in the development of leadership within a person. The nine spiritual gifts of leadership are, “evangelism, prophecy, teaching, exhortation, shepherding, empathy, serving, giving, and administration.”[7] These gifts help to provide the knowledge and skills needed which are necessary for leadership such as understanding situations, knowing what is coming up ahead, communicating, controlling large groups of people, and leading by example. While leadership has many qualities as well as definitions, how far and large that leadership is attained depends upon the size of the vision of the leader and size of their sacrifice. In the same book that I mentioned by John Maxwell, he goes on to tell of the sacrifices of a leader to accomplish his greatest desires and visions. Maxwell states that, “A great person will lead a great organization, but growth is only possible when the leader is willing to ‘pay the price’ for it.” [8]






Leadership is both uplifting and can provide challenges for a leader. What are some of the challenges you face as a Christian leader?
 
 
   Leadership can be very uplifting, which is what drives a leader to do what they do. They wish to see those who look up to them in leadership grow and change. Leaders like to see how they are performing by seeing those who follow them perform. However, many times leadership can also be very challenging. On the journey from today to a better tomorrow, there are going to be some adjustments and growing pains. Many times when the going gets tough and immediate benefits are hard to measure or do not exist, people begin to doubt a leader. Our lecture says, “When an organization is producing strong results, leadership is looked as the driving force behind the organization’s success. On the other hand, the lack of results causes others to question the effectiveness of the leadership.”[1] Respect is earned and measured many times by results, which is why the ability to motivate others is essential in this role.
 
   Leadership as I have mentioned before requires much hard work and sacrifice. Sometimes this means being the servant over being served ourselves. Saying what it means and the struggles of being a Christian servant leader, our text mentions, “They are always giving of themselves and rarely have the opportunity to receive from others. They provide the emotional support others need, but may not have the strong support network that will uphold them. They are often the subjects of abuse by those who make extreme and unreasonable demands on them.”[2] Being a servant leader is the most effective as well as the form of leadership we are commanded by Christ to exhibit. While this can often be difficult for the reasons given here, the payoff for the Kingdom of God makes up for it in leaps and bounds. Servants are blessed by the act of serving and valued in the heavens. God places special blessings on us when we serve the people He loves. Among the problems that come with servant style leadership, our text says, “They may also become problem-focused and discouraged because so many people they know and work with seem to be struggling.”[3] I have found myself in the downtrodden position of being discouraged as a result of both ministerial and public service positions. We must open up the Word of God however and read Scripture such as Philippians 4:13, while staying in constant contact through prayer with God.
 
   Leadership is often misguided, operating outside the will of God. This is a problem for anyone who has authority as a ministry leader because as our lecture states, “Biblical leadership is not about style or technique as much as it is about character.”[4]We can do whatever we want and how we want to do it, but until we are operating under the will and way of God we are spinning our wheels in the mud. God provides directions through His Word, via conviction in the Spirit, through confirmation of other believers, and even sinners sometimes. This gives us the traction we need to get moving forward on the path that He has already laid out for us. When we operate outside of God’s will as leaders, we are taking those who follow us into a direction of building idols. When God knocks down that idol of progress to those who look to us for direction, that is when the confidence that was once in place for that leader responsible begins to fade. Leaders who intend to be in ministry, but operate outside of the will of God won’t be in position long before they are isolated and ineffective. Thankfully, since God is good He often can get us reset on the right track if we are willing to be molded. As a minister of the Gospel, there have been times when I believed I was outside of the will of God and He was able to redirect me in place. This redirection however, requires much discomfort and sometimes even personal suffering. Let God deal with that hurt and He will mold you back into the beautiful vessel He desires for you to be.



[1]John Borek, Danny Lovett, and Elmer Towns, The Good Book on Leadership: Case Studies from the Bible (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2005), 9-10.


[2] John Borek, Danny Lovett, and Elmer Towns, The Good Book on Leadership: Case Studies from the Bible (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2005), 8.


[3] John C. Maxwell, Developing The Leader Within You (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1993), 140.


[4] John Borek, Danny Lovett, and Elmer Towns, The Good Book on Leadership: Case Studies from the Bible (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2005), 8.
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[5] Grand Canyon University, “What is Biblical Leadership?” (lecture 1, Biblical Foundations of Christian Leadership, Grand Canyon University, 2016). https://lc.gcu.edu/learningPlatform/user/users.html
 
[6] Grand Canyon University, “What is Biblical Leadership?” (lecture 1, Biblical Foundations of Christian Leadership, Grand Canyon University, 2016). https://lc.gcu.edu/learningPlatform/user/users.html
 
[7] John Borek, Danny Lovett, and Elmer Towns, The Good Book on Leadership: Case Studies from the Bible (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2005), 210-211.
 
[8] John Borek, Danny Lovett, and Elmer Towns, The Good Book on Leadership: Case Studies from the Bible (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2005),210.

Christians are called to trust and rest in God; yet busyness is often equated with worth. What does it mean to enter into Sabbath rest deeply rooted in trusting God that models healthy respect for Sabbath? Also, how can the spiritual practice of a Sabbath rest positively impact your life and leadership as you minister to others? 


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   Being called to trust and rest in God is not just a suggestion, but a command. Scriptures such as Psalm 23 aren’t just some metaphorical suggestion, but paint a picture of relaxation for a moment. I am sure that the majority of the things we concern ourselves with daily, never come to pass. The same goes for our Sabbath day as the Church. To many in the church world today, the Sabbath is sacred while others disregard a specific day of the week or either the whole idea of having a Sabbath day at all. One thing is certain; God designed our bodies for the Sabbath (Exodus 20:9-10). The communist regime of Russia tried a one rest day out of ten for a while and soon discovered that it did not work as production slowed down and personal issues started developing within their population. As a result, a seven day cycle was brought back with one resting day. This can be a lesson for us today, especially those who work full-time jobs whether in ministry, secular, or even bi-vocational. Burnout is a real problem and once it begins, it has a snowball effect. To avoid burnout as well as a lack or productivity, we must maintain a healthy balance of understanding regarding the Sabbath day.
 
   While we should hold the Sabbath day as Sacred in reverence of God and in respect for our bodies, we should avoid the legalistic interpretation such as found in the days of Jesus. In Mark 2:27 we are told by Jesus, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath”. While the Pharisees and Jewish leaders of that day understood that the Sabbath was holy, they forgot one vital piece to the puzzle of God’s goodness in that He is “compassionate!” If we begin to uphold a law or all laws in general until they reach the point of becoming in higher esteem in our minds than God, we have developed them into an idol. This is what had happened in this instance. The Law had become such an idol to the Jews that the compassionate, loving, and sacrificial life of Jesus was right before their eyes and they missed it all. As followers of Christ, we must keep our beliefs and opinions in perspective as well as our interpretation of the Scripture. We should consistently seek the will of God and seek answers from him in prayer.
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   The Sabbath day allows us not only to become well physically refreshed, but spiritually as well through balance. The majority of my week is spent in the hustle and bustle of the work-life balance; therefore much of my time with God is often neglected in one area or another. Today, I may get my Bible study done, but did I really pray as much as I would like. Tomorrow, I may repenting for the arguing session with my wife today and completely miss my morning devotion. It seems that the Sabbath day always allows us to get spiritually caught up in the Lord. He takes us and loves on us in our moment of worship and does a work in our hearts that only God can do that restores our relationship with Him. Services at church leave me feeling spiritually, physically, and emotionally refreshed ready to take on the new week ahead. What day we worship and rest should not be our biggest concern, but rather if we are taking this day out of our week. For many of us in public service jobs who are bi-vocational, my Sabbath doesn’t always come on Sunday. Many different weekdays are used as a substitute for my Sabbath to be restored physically, while I receive spiritual restoration and rest on Sundays. Whatever your Sabbath scenario, just make sure that you are honoring it and God. Taking a Sabbath not only refills your spiritual and physical tank. It also affects those around us as well and as a leader within the ministry, we are looked to many times to sustain those who are still new in the faith and those who are hurting internally. We simply cannot meet the demands, needs, and expectations of the church without the spiritual and physical refilling that a Sabbath day provides. No energy drink or coffee exists that is strong enough to equate to a day in the Lord and rest. 



Psalm 23 (KJV)23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Exodus 20:9-10 (KJV)9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

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Mark 2:27 (KJV)27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Based on Philippians 2:1-3, why do you think Paul cautions church leaders about self-ambition or vain conceit? Why does Paul lift up humility as an antidote to self-ambition and vain conceit?






   Paul cautions church leaders about self-ambition or vain conceit to help them avoid the pitfalls of worshiping self over God. The opposite of humility is pride. Scriptures such as Isaiah 2:12 says, “they will be humbled”. Other Scriptures such as Isaiah 23:9; James 4:6; James 4:10; and Proverbs 11:2 all show God’s view of pride. When we begin to have a lot of pride in our life, we begin to worship our standing in the world over the one who controls it all, God. When we have more confidence in our abilities over God’s ability, we are committing the sins of idolatry and blasphemy at the same time. We have all seen what happens to those who become prideful, they are humbled to their proper place and sometimes even lower. Many of those stories happen right in our own backyards, yet ministers continually commit the offense of becoming prideful. Nebuchadnezzar was even humbled by allowing him to go completely insane, even to the point of behaving like an animal. Whatever means is needed to humble us; God is capable of doing it or allowing it to happen. However, we do not have to go through such a painful process if we follow the suggestions of the Scriptures such as Philippians 2:1-3.


   Philippians 2:1-3 instructs us to do things “in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” While it may be difficult to place ourselves low and honor everyone else above us, it is spiritually rewarding to do so. Think about the last time you served someone, did it not make you feel better about yourself? Why only do such service on occasion or at our convenience, why not all the time? Matthew 20:16 states, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” I want to be that few and that last, not just so I can be ahead in the Kingdom of God, but rather so I can worship Christ in Heaven who has done so much for me here. Ephesians 2:9-9 tells us that we are saved by grace in order that we will not brag about our works to earn our ways to heaven; however there is reward for those who can put in the work of the Lord. What we should not do is brag about our accomplishments for the Kingdom, but rather place others ahead of us in roles of praise. Leaders who consistently place those who surround them in high places of praise are well respected, honored, and loved by not only their team, but also Christ himself for their humble deeds.

Why does Paul reserve his harshest words for a believer who indulges in "sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is drunkard, or cheats people" (1 Corinthians 5)? 






   Paul reserved his harshest words for the believers who indulge in “sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is drunkard, or cheats people” because these are the types of sins that show not only the idols in people’s lives, but also reflect a classic defining action of a sinner in this day. If we say we are a believer, yet we have idols that we bow down before in our home, what would others say about that? If we are abusive to our spouses, neighbors, children, or friends and are thought as a believer, would that not turn heads? If a marked trait of everyone who believed was sins such as these, what would separate the body of Christ from any gang, social club, or even crime mob out there? These sins are also huge violations of the Ten Commandments. While we are not judged by the law, there are moral laws which should be upheld by Christians such as these. Those who worship idols are automatically guilty of violating the first commandment as well as the Greatest Commandment which was given by Jesus himself (Matthew 22:36-40). Even the abuse of a “neighbor” or the violation of his wife, cheating, and even being greedy violate the second part of the commandment given by Jesus. We as followers of Christ, should strive to be like Him in every by following every command. It was obvious from the beginnings of the church, that the body of Christ had issues with separating themselves from sin and those who were involved with it. Paul is reminding them to avoid such fellowshipping and to stay away from those who dabbled in such wickedness as this.


   As believers, we are called to be sanctified. Sanctification summarized means, to be separated. That means being separated from sin and everything that is related to sin. God is the picture of what it means to be holy and sanctified. As believers we house His Spirit within in us, therefore we must keep His temple (our bodies) holy before the Lord. Our lecture says it best when it states, “What does being in the world mean? Within a missional framework, it means being distinct from the world but not distant from the world. To be distinct is to continue to maintain a Christian worldview that shapes and informs how one interprets and engages faith commitments and leadership before and within a secular society.”[1] It also points out Jesus direct reference to this issue with John 15:18-19. We must be willing to live amongst this world, to serve it with the Gospel and suffer its curse, but this world is also “not our home.” We must always keep in mind that we are to abstain from the ways of the world and strive daily to be more Christ-like in our ways.


​Describe why Paul highlights abusing and cheating others in his list of egregious sins among Christians who are all parts of the body of Christ. Base your response on 1 Corinthians 5.




   Regardless of how the terms sexually immoral, greedy, swindlers, idolaters, or just plain immoral is termed; they are all abusers of the body of Christ. Their behavior reflects on us all by using others and their own bodies of such extreme sins against flesh. What a brother or sister does reflects back on the body of Christ as a whole. If we are seen as sinners and hypocrites, it gives the lost another reason to discount the Gospel when it is delivered. The enemy doesn’t need our help in this matter and those issues should be left out of the body. It sounds harsh to practically avoid another believer if they have fallen, but these types of sins are those which seem to be performed with regularity, not just a fallen believer. By this point, the person has backslid into a lifestyle of sin, not just an incident. Also, within this chapter it appears that some person has married their own father’s wife. For Paul to say, “there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate” is a big deal considering the wickedness of society in his day. Believers should avoid and certainly not lay claim to these types of individuals who wish to associate with the church.


   Our bodies are temples of the Spirit (6:19-20) which have meaning and purpose far beyond what we see in them in this life. They were never intended to be riddled with the curse of sickness, death, and sin. It is for this reason that one day we will be raised and made whole again. If we consistently defile ourselves and others, we are working against the will of God in this area. All of these types of sin whether it be sexual or physical abuse, even greediness are those that have allowed idols to replace God in their life. At this point, they are no longer just believers, but pagans. By definition, if you are not walking in the light (Luke 11:35; John 8:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 John 3:9) then you are a child of darkness. Since we cannot serve two masters, we have chosen the later when we choose sin over God and sees this consistently (Matthew 6:24). At this point, we have given ourselves over to sin and darkness. As believers, we cannot associate ourselves with someone who knows about the goodness of God, but refuses to give up this type of lifestyle. I have stood and observed many times that these types of individuals begin to pull down the other believers with them instead of the other way around. We have all heard, “misery loves company.” Let us not be that company as Paul is pleading to us here in chapter five. 



[1] Grand Canyon University, “Engaging Ethical Issues: Christian and Cultural Moral Beliefs and Practices” (lecture 7, Ministerial Ethics, Grand Canyon University, 2016). https://lc.gcu.edu/learningPlatform/user/users.html