Godly Leaders for Today
2 Timothy 2:15
- Introduction: A World in Disarray
- The current generation faces a world where everything seems unstable
- Question posed: What is the glue to hold society together?
- Analogy: Building a marble temple from mud and manure
- Humanity's Endless Pursuit of Solutions
- Humanity is fixated on solving problems but often fails
- Illustration: Humpty Dumpty was pushed
- The Question of Impact
- What kind of person can make a lasting impact in a broken world?
- Reference: 2 Timothy 2:15 as a guiding text
- Apostle Paul mentoring Timothy for future leadership
- Three Key Questions for Ultimate Impact
- Is the Lord Well Pleased? (Passion for a Person)
- Focus on pleasing God rather than people
- Example: Jesus pleased God by doing His will
- Key Lesson: Without God, we can do nothing
- Quote: "When I try, I fail. When I trust, He succeeds."
- Danger of misplaced confidence in education, talent, or personality
- God is easy to please but hard to satisfy
- Is the Work Well Done? (Passion for Excellence)
- Importance of striving for excellence in one's work
- Analogy: Cecil B. DeMille and his dedication to excellence in filmmaking
- Warning against mediocrity
- Two common failures:
- Lack of Standards: Aiming too low
- Lack of Sacrifice: True dedication is costly
- Illustration: Michelangelo and his teacher's warning about dedication
- Is the Word Well Used? (Passion for Truth)
- Emphasis on handling God's Word accurately and truthfully
- Importance of clarity and understandability in teaching
- The ministry must be built on a deep knowledge of the Word
- Warning: Cannot impart what you do not possess
- Living out the truth is as important as knowing it
- Critique of Christians who do not live according to their proclaimed faith
- Illustration: A man attracted to Christianity but repelled by Christians
- The Call to Live the Truth
- The Christian life must be characterized by integrity and authenticity
- Living the truth prepares one to share it effectively
- Personal obsession: To know, live, and share the truth with passion
- Final Encouragement and Reflection
- Recommendation: Write down the three questions:
- Is the Lord well pleased?
- Is the work well done?
- Is the word well used?
- These questions will guide one's life and ministry
- The goal: To hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
- Closing Reflection: A Poetic Challenge
- Reflection on a poem: "Some men die in ashes, some men die in flames, some men die inch by inch, playing silly little games."
- Challenge to finish well and live with purpose
- Prayer
- Gratitude for God's Word and guidance
- Prayer for strength, focus, and faithfulness in ministry
- Commitment to a life and ministry approved by God
*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.
About the Contributors
Howard G. Hendricks
Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, known simply as “Prof,” directly or indirectly touched millions of lives in the evangelical community and beyond. For more than sixty years Prof served on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), where he taught more than ten thousand students. He served as the chairman of the Center for Christian Leadership for over twenty years. He also ministered in person in more than eighty countries. Through speaking engagements, radio, tapes, films, the sixteen books he authored and coauthored, countless journal and popular-market articles, his service on numerous boards, and his work as a chaplain to the Dallas Cowboys (1976–1984), his reach was and is worldwide.
His legacy, in partnership with Jeanne, his wife of more than sixty-five years, includes four children and six grandchildren. Holding large audiences enthralled at venues such as Billy Graham’s conference center or Promise Keepers’ stadium rallies, Prof would confide, “It’s wonderful to be here with you, but I have a group of delicious students waiting for me back at the seminary.”
Contributors
