Learning From Leaders

This past weekend we were privileged to have Dr. John M. Moore at Christchurch for our worship services. Dr. Moore is probably best known for his musical genius, being the author of the timeless hymn, “Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary”, and having written over 150 other hymns. His noted accomplishments also include having been the pastor and superintendent at Tent Hall, an evangelistic center in Glasgow, Scotland, originally built for D.L. Moody crusades. I believe our church is privileged any time we have a special speaker in, and (especially as a young man) I believe there is great value in having preachers come whose ministries are not measured in years, but in decades of faithful service.

I enjoy learning from someone, and, as is typical of any younger generation, more is caught by example then taught at a lectern. I enjoy listening to not just what someone says, but how their life says it for them. To this day, the people who have greatly influenced me to serve God have been men whose lives spoke louder than their words ever could. As the weekend progressed, I began to notice some outstanding truth’s evident in Dr. Moore’s life that resonated deeply with me. As I studied these truths out, I realized that these were truths that for the most part were evident in the lives of each leader I have admired down through the years. I hope that they are an encouragement and a challenge to you in your own personal life.

1. Be a gentleman.

Proper etiquette cannot be outclassed. I Corinthians 13:4-5 says: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil…” From the time that I shook Dr. Moore’s hand while picking him up at the airport, there was a kindness that seemed to envelop all those he interacted with. The same kindness that you felt your grandfather invest in you when you knew he could just as soon be doing a million other things. Unassuming. Empty of personal agenda or pride. The same kindness that I have seen so evident in the life of one of my greatest mentors: my pastor, Pastor Johnny Pope. I watched as Dr. Moore displayed this kindness to myself, my wife, our pastor and his wife, our waiter, the hotel staff, our church, our youth group, a first-time visitor at church…basically everyone he came in contact with. I wonder how consistent is my display of Christ’s love? Love that “…doth not behave itself unseemly…” Henry Drummond, in his book "The Greatest Thing in the World", comments on I Corinthians 13:5. "You can put the most untutored person into the highest society, and if they have a reservoir of love in their heart, they will not behave themselves unseemly. They simply cannot do it. Carlyle said of Robert Burns that there was no truer gentleman in all of Europe than the ploughman-poet. It was because he loved everything-the mouse, and the daisy, and all the things, great and small, that God had made. So with this simple passport he could mingle with any society, and enter courts and palaces from his little cottage on the banks of the Ayr. You know the meaning of the word gentleman. It means a gentle man - a man who does things gently, with love."

The value of this Christ-like kindness is immeasurable, having the power to influence people for eternity. It can take so many different forms – humility, kindness, graciousness, patience, and proper etiquette. Ultimately, it will always point to the same person: Christ. My prayer is that God as a magnet would use my every interaction with others to draw each person closer to Him.

2. Appreciate your pastor.

As we sat at lunch with Dr. Moore, I was enjoying hearing him tell his firsthand stories of God at work in his life, his personal friendship with D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and several others. There was a lull in the conversation, and I seized my opportunity, asking him what advice he would have for someone only a few years into ministry. Without hesitation he replied in his Scottish brogue, “Appreciate and learn from your pastor. A senior pastor has so very much to offer.” There is no replacement for a healthy relationship with your pastor. I thank God for the pastor that He has given us here at Christchurch. As I evaluated this truth through the light of the men who have influenced my life, I realized every one of them had this in common. Each pointed me to the (senior) pastor, and God’s working in my life through him. Every time I had a moment alone with Dr. Moore throughout the week, he reiterated that point, often complementing Pastor Pope. I thank God for a Pastor who faithfully watches for my soul! (Hebrews 13:17)

Through these simple interactions, I reinforced in my life the kind of person I want to be: a builder, not a destroyer. Someone who builds other people’s faith in God by building their trust in the daily circumstances God allows and in the leadership of God’s chosen authority (study Romans 13:1-4). We miss out on an incredible blessing when we refuse to follow or support God’s authority in our life.

3. Know the value of a good story.

Whether it is a bout of one’s personal experience, a tale of old that has been handed down, or a simple proverb that illustrates a point, the value of a story should never be underestimated. Jesus Christ Himself often used stories to illustrate the truths He was preaching, sometimes only giving the story and letting the crowd seek the truth in it. I enjoyed hearing Dr. Moore tell the stories of the hymns he has written, how God worked in his life, and many others.

A little while ago, I was with Pastor Pope on a hospital visit. The person we were visiting was telling us a story, and was not leaving out a single detail. I remember being impressed by Pastor as he intently listened, disregarding the length, and when an interruption was experienced, would help the person by reminding them what statements had been last made so as to give them an idea of where they had left off in the story. As we left the hospital, I almost jokingly complemented Pastor on his listening skills. He smiled very kindly at me, and simply said that he enjoyed a good love story. Which brings me to my last lesson learned from Dr. John Moore:

4. Know how to live an even better love story.

The story of how he met his wife was quite remarkable. We had been having a three-week couples seminar, so our Christchurch couples had the privilege of hearing Dr. Moore during the Sunday school hour. It quickly became evident that not only had he fallen in love with his wife, but also that he has never fallen out of love with her. They were married for forty-nine years before she went on to Heaven. But the more I watched and studied Dr. Moore, the more I realized that his love story did not start with his wife. His love story started with Jesus Christ. You see, each Christian ought to know the value of living a love story of dedication, faithfulness, sacrifice, and commitment to Jesus Christ, the one who first loved us.