Called to Lead, Part 2
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
October 4, 2026
Bible Center’s Mission and Vision
Mission—We Love God, We Love People, We Live (& Lead) Like Jesus Vision—We make disciples, who make disciples, who advance the Kingdom of God (i.e., make earth more like heaven—#HereLikeThere)
Kingdom Leaders Need Kingdom Self-Awareness
1. We are children of the King—we belong to His family. 1 John 3:1 — "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
2. We are ambassadors of His Kingdom—our citizenship is in heaven, but our assignment is on earth. 2 Corinthians 5:20 — We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
3. We are SHAPEd for His Purposes God gave us unique Spiritual Gifts, a Heart, Abilities, our Personalities, and life Experiences to serve Him and others Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
4. We are stewards of His resources—we manage what He owns, according to His instructions and for His glory.
Titus 1:7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards [managers] that they be found faithful [ trustworthy, reliable, dependable].
Joseph: A Self-Aware Kingdom Leader
Genesis 39:1-6 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the
Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
I was reminded
The Bible was primarily written to God’s people, not to individual persons Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, [y’all]” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I Discovered
- The Torah was given to God’s people, coming out of slavery, to teach them how to livein relationship with God, and in relationship with others, as God’s chosen people, as they went into the land He promised them and their ancestors
- Torah Does NOT primarily mean rules and punishment (i.e., “The Law”)
- Torah Primarily means instruction, teaching, guidance (Hebrew root, to aim, point the way, or teach) like the training a loving parent gives to their child! Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching [Torah], but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
I was reminded
- A primary purpose of the Torah–God’s instruction and direction—is for our provision and protection Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching [Torah], but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
Sermon in a Sentence
Self-aware Kingdom Leaders demonstrate their love for God through stewardship and worship Deuteronomy 26:8-12 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
Called to Lead
John M. Wallace, Jr., PhD
September 28, 2026
Sermon in a Sentence: Pursuing the Qualifications for Kingdom Leadership Will Make Me Better
Everywhere
1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble
task. 3:2a Now the overseer is to be above reproach…
Titus 1:7-8 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.
The 4 Spheres of Kingdom Leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-16, Titus 1:5-9)
1. Self Leadership
1Timothy 3:2 [An overseer] is to be temperate, self-controlled, respectable, …3 not
given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
1 Timothy 3:8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not
indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
Titus 1:7 [An overseer] He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or
violent or greedy for gain
Titus 1:8 [An overseer must be] … a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and
disciplined.
2. Family Leadership
1 Timothy 3:2b Now the overseer is to be above reproach faithful to his wife, 4 He must
manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a
manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own
family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and
his household well.
Titus 1:5-6 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into
order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. 6 if anyone is above reproach,
the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of
debauchery or insubordination.
3. Community Leadership
1 Timothy 3:7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not
fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
1 Timothy 3:8,
Titus 1:8 He must be hospitable
1 Timothy 3:11 In the same way, the women [wives of deacons/women deacons] are to
be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in
everything.
Titus 1:7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not
overbearing, not quick-tempered, …, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
4. Church Leadership
1 Timothy 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall
under the same judgment as the devil.
1 Timothy 3:2 Now the overseer is to be…able to teach, 9 They must keep hold of the
deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
Titus 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to
give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
1 Timothy 3:9-10 9They [deacons] must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a
clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them,
let them serve as deacons.
1 Timothy 3:13 Those [deacons] who have served well gain an excellent standing and
great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Why Church Leadership Matters
1. The Church cost Christ His Life
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
2. The Church represents Christ and His Kingdom on the Earth—it is the Embassy of the
Kingdom
I Timothy 3:14-16 14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these
instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct
themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and
foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness
springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels,was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Our (Expanded) Mission
• We Love God
• We Love People
• We Live (and Lead) Like Jesus
Disclaimer: Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We believe and teach that the Bible is God’s Word — His opinion — and provides His instruction for how to live life under His rule (i.e., the Kingdom of God).
