GREENSBORO — Pastors should develop their leadership traits straight from the Bible and not from any current best seller that touts the latest trends said Mark Dever in the annual convention sermon Nov. 11.
Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., preached from the small book of Jude to talk about the traits of a Christian leader.
A Christian leader should be neither arrogant, nor selfish, said Dever, a popular author and six-year member of the steering committee for Founders Ministries.
"Jesus Christ wasn't like that," he said. "Neither should His followers be, especially those who are leaders in churches."
Instead, leaders should be self-giving to others, Dever said.
While Christian leaders need the confidence that Christ brings, they should not be arrogant or “self-promoters," he said.
BSC photo by K Brown
Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., said humility is one of the key characteristics in leaders.
Dever said leaders should not be grumblers, but should be humble.
Christian leaders should be peace-makers, not trouble-makers, Dever said. Leaders should build a common vision, not promote change by using factions and complaining, he said.
Dever said that because Christian leaders are certain of heaven they can give themselves freely.
"A good leader should … with great patience endure hardship," he said.
A leader should be gratefully content, he said.
"A good leader needs to identify problems, not pretend our church is perfect," Dever said.
Instead of blaming, Christian leaders should encourage people.
"We're called to love those who won't always love us," he said.
Dever said leaders should encourage with sound doctrine.
"Those in error we must refute, but those in the faith we must encourage," he said.
Some leaders, even some within the church, are anti-Christian, said Dever. Good leaders are committed to Christ and His gospel.
"Just because someone says they're a reverend doesn't mean they're saved," he said.
Dever said some leaders are immoral.
"It's no accident, folks, that those who become liberal in their theology soon become liberal in their morality," he said.
Dever said the stakes are high in church leadership.
"The quality of a leader matters," he said.