Does it surprise us when we pray for patience and then experience challenges? The problem is we want patience, but we want it now! Hmmm!

Too often, we expect growth and maturity as though we were ordering a meal at a drive-thru window. We place our order on one side and expect to have it waiting for us when we reach the other side. No patience required, right?

Church growth requires leaders to be patient. The demonstration of patience is a powerful lesson for all spiritual leaders.

In time, the demonstration of such patience and gentle guidance will yield fruit to the glory of our God.

How many times do we expect others to know what is on our mind? Somehow, we assume others naturally know what we are thinking, as if they are a mind reader.

Leaders can make this mistake, if they are not careful.

People do not know what we are thinking unless we tell them.

Consider vision: Vision must be effectively communicated. People follow leaders who know where they are going and how to communicate that direction.

Expecting others to know what we think does not work. Communicate, and others will follow.

Wisdom says, “Stand up to be seen. Speak up to be heard. Sit down to be appreciated.”

The application reaches into many areas, but it certainly has relevance for leaders.

Leaders should be accessible and approachable. Questions need to be answered, plans discussed, and vision plotted.

Leaders must be clear. Leaders need to be decisive, but they must also be clear and precise.

Leaders also need to know their limitations. They must know the balance and limits of their time and talent.

Followers value leaders who are visible, understood, and work within the boundaries of their ability.

Too many have sold out to the highest bidder. In the pursuit of greater numbers positions on truth have been altered. Challenge and controversy are avoided to gain popularity and profit.

To overcome the problems of immorality and indecency, we must make a stand.
To help the church mature as God designed, we must make a stand.
To help those who are lost find the true hope of salvation, we must make a stand.

The task is not easy. Conflict and controversy will arise. Trying to avoid it, sweep it under the rug, deny it exists, or hope it just goes away and resolves itself, will not work.

The world and the church need men ready to lead. How do we measure up?

What brings discouragement to leadership? Failure? Inability? People?

Discouragement causes us to lose confidence and enthusiasm. How do we prevent discouragement?

1. Focus on higher priorities and a greater cause.
2. Work to create confidence and enthusiasm in others.
3. Develop a work ethic of diligence and integrity.
4. Determine to do “what” is right not just “be” right.
5. Remember we will make mistakes. Deal with them properly and move ahead.

Following a few simple ideas can encourage others and bring greater encouragement to our leadership. Then we will see more times when we are up, rather than down.

Leprosy was contagious and often terminal. Lepers were rejected and forced outside the city in their own commune.

2 Kings 7 presents an interesting situation that involves four such men.

Because of a famine, they sought help from the enemy, hoping to receive mercy. When they arrived, the enemy was gone. God caused the Arameans to hear the sound of an army and they fled, leaving everything.

The lepers began to enjoy the spoils, but then realized how wrong it was to do so while their own people were dying. It was a day of good news. Punishment would result from their silence.

What a great lesson for us! This day is a day of good news. The message of Jesus is too great to remain silent. If we do, surely punishment will overtake us. THINK SOULS!

Most businesses offer some type of rewards program. The intent is to gain customer loyalty.

God also has a rewards program.

However, we cannot fly enough miles, buy enough electronics, eat enough at the same restaurant, or burn enough gasoline to earn what God offers through His Son. The power of God’s grace is about receiving what we do not deserve.

From a leadership perspective, we simply strive to help others see the magnitude of God’s love. The natural result should be our desire to follow Him.

Consider His reward, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things…”

Languages are not a strong suite for most of us. Imagine the difficulty of communicating within the multiplicity of languages around the world.

However, the key to communicating effectively involves understanding.

The ability to communicate so others understand is vital to our leadership.

Goals must be communicated in ways everyone understands.

Plans should be communicated effectively.

Roles and responsibilities must also be understood.

Above all, leading others to Christ demands communicating the message of the cross in ways they can understand.

Effective leadership should be immersed in learning. John F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Our life is about learning.

There is no question about our leadership. We are going to lead. Now we need to know how vital learning is as part of our leadership. As we grow in our learning, we gain a greater understanding of others and our leadership of them. 

How and what are we learning to improve our leadership? Read any good books lately? The Bible would be a great place to start. I recommend it!

Nearly 2,000 years ago this question was asked by a governor with the power to deliver or destroy. Sadly, the influence of the Jews and fear of allowing a threat to Rome go free moved Pilate to crucify Jesus.

How we answer this question becomes foundational to our influence in several areas of life.

Family:Let us lead our family to heaven.

Job:Work to please Christ, not men.

Worship: Meet with God and bring a gift.

World: Be the influence our world needs.

What will we do? Our answer makes the difference in others seeing the influence of Jesus.