Laying Down Rights

1.      We are born with inalienable rights. Given to us by the constitution.

a.       Not to be discriminated by race, color, religion (Only in America)

b.      Free speech (not in cuba)

c.       Vote (not in dictactorship)

d.      Freedom (not slaves in Africa)

2.      We also have rights that we do not think about yet have.

a.       Right to not have someone cheat me or cut me off in traffic (I own this lane of traffic)

b.      Right to make decisions (not in most countries) No right to get out of poverty

c.       Right to sleep (Not if you are a prisoner of war, sleep deprivation)

d.      Right not to get married (not in India)

e.       Right to choose mate (not in India, Muslim countries, Isaac)

f.        Right to dress the way I want. (again, not in Muslim countries)

g.       To decide my future (college, etc) (not slave children or children of lesser means)

h.       To choose my church (not in Russia or other countries with limited evangelistic presence.)

i.         Control my destiny

j.        To be popular

k.      To be famous

l.         To be a rock star

m.     To have a good reputation (Christ lay his aside)

                                                                           i.      Do I have a right to my integrity

                                                                         ii.      Do I have a right to control what people think of me.

                                                                        iii.      Do I have a right to be understood?

3.      Jesus also had rights.

a.       He was by his very nature, God.

b.      He had equality with God

c.       He was God

4.      Jesus said unless a man take up his cross and follow.

1. Rights
1. Hinder Unity
2. Hinder Humility

                                                               i.      I don’t have to clean that bathroom

                                                             ii.      I don’t want to sit there. I want a better seat

*How to die for a people that you don’t know and that don’t care for you.

*“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” Jim Elliot

“Leaders belong to their generation and not to themselves”

Leadership is not something to be strived for. There is no glory in becoming the world’s best leader.

Responsibilities

Rights

                                    Leadership

Ghandi and the untouchables. He lived as an untouchable, cleaning toilets and living on a farm. (a understanding of the Indian caste system is required to know how absolutely crazy Ghandi’s decision was) Also compare to other leaders like Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, etc. What price was paid by these men and women? What set them apart?

Starting from a foundation built upon the rock! Leadership cannot be separated from Christ. It is impossible to be a leader without having built your life on the rock

Mt 7:24 Whosever hears these words of mine and does them is likened to a wise man. Strive to build your house on the rock not sand or even concrete. Concrete looks like rock but isn’t. Concrete will last along time (100 years) but it is not eternal 100^100000000 When the winds, rains blow against the house it will not fall. Winds and rains are biblical for the H.S. This scripture is a reference about God not devil. God himself will come to test your foundations.

So as a leader what is it that you want to do? Upon recognizing the importance of character and basic Christian foundation you can now build upon the rock. First get on the rock and then build upon the rock.

You are on the rock, now what are the blue prints what are you going to build.

1. Personal Mission Statement - What do you want to become? (Do you have a personal mission statement?) “Publilius Syrus,” a book of sayings that pre-dates the birth of Christ. reads: “Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so is he.”
2. Vision, Where do you want to go?
1. Where is God leading you to be?
2. How can you compare or chart your progress. You need to be graded. Mentors can help you do this. How do you know that you are growing? You may think you are growing but are you really growing? In School we receive report cards. At work we receive evaluations.

You are on the rock and you have blueprints. Now it is time to count the costs.

3. A wise man counts the costs so he doesn’t get halfway through the project and cannot finish. Everyone will make fun of him. Compare to parable of the tower.
1. Take up your cross daily and deny yourself.
2. Lay down your life.
3. The pearl of great price
4. The treasure in the field.

You are on the rock, you have blueprints, you have counted the costs and now how are you are going to get there?

4. Decision Making – How are you going to get there?
1. Can you really be a leader? Miles Monroe Chap 10 – Mark 10:38 Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized that I am baptized with?

                                                               i.      Personal sacrifice – a level of commitment not matched by others

1.      I am called to get things started fallacy

2.      leadership without faithfulness and perseverance

3.      who pays the bill?

                                                             ii.      Rejection – You will be misunderstood

1.      my god my god, why have you forsaken me.

                                                            iii.      Criticism

1.      Greatest test of a leaders maturity

2.      Remember the beatitudes, persecuted for my sake

                                                           iv.      Loneliness

1.      Out in front

                                                             v.      Pressure and perplexity

1.      Because at times great decisions must be made there can be great pressure upon you.

2.      stress

3.      how do you kick someone out of the church?

4.      Jesus sweated blood under the pressure of the cross

                                                           vi.      Mental and physical fatigue

1.      All leaders possess a exceptional degree of stamina and energy.

2.      Keeping a positive mind in the midst of it all

3.      Finding the time to sneak away for rest (not television) but rest!

                                                          vii.      Price placed upon others in family

1.      your spouse, children, and friends will feel the squeeze. How is this balanced?