Wanderings & Wonders - "God's Blueprint for Church Leadership" - Exodus 18 - Mike Maglish

God's Blueprint for Church Leadership

Exodus 18
Mike Maglish

Part of Wanderings & WondersLessons from the Wilderness

July 20, 2025

The SuperPastor Myth: 
• Preach like Charles Spurgeon 
• Counsel like Dr Phil 
• Lead like Steve Jobs 
• Fundraise like Dave Ramsey 
• Still show up to stack chairs 

6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,” —Exodus 18:6 

“Here’s what I picture. Moses’ wife is frustrated that Moses has been working too much. So she went to her dad to complain.” - DeAnna Coburn 

 —Exodus 18:7 

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” —Exodus 18:13-23 

God NEVER called one person to DO IT ALONE 

21 “Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” —Exodus 18:21 

QUALIFICATIONS 
• ABLE - Competent 
• FEAR GOD - Spiritually grounded 
• TRUSTWORTHY - Tested in integrity 
• HATE BRIBES - Financially ethical and impartial 

Leaders must be QUALIFIED for the TASK 

 —Acts 6:1-6 

QUALIFICATIONS 
• GOOD REPUTE - What others say about them 
• FULL OF THE SPIRIT - Empowered by God 
• WISE - Practical judgment, not just knowledge 

 —Acts 6:7 

Ministry is EFFECTIVE when qualified leaders are RELEASED 

1 Timothy 3:2–7 (Overseers) 
• Above reproach 
• Faithful to spouse 
• Self-controlled, respectable, hospitable 
• Able to teach 
• Not drunk, not violent, not greedy 
• Manages household well 
• Not a recent convert 
• Has a good reputation with outsiders

Titus 1:6–9 
• Not arrogant or quick-tempered 
• Lover of good, upright, holy, disciplined 
• Able to give sound instruction and rebuke error

 —2 Timothy 2:2 

MULTIPLE leaders are needed to FULFILL God’s Plan 

Takeaway: We will ACCOMPLISH much more TOGETHER than we will ALONE