The need for leadership continues at an urgent level. God’s design indicates a plan for strong leadership in every church. Timothy and Titus were directed by Paul to appoint elders. The qualifications for elders are listed accordingly.

While we understand the primary role of elders to involve the work of a shepherd, we also find that part of this role points to the responsibility of maintaining doctrinal purity.

Notice Paul’s words: “Hold fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

In our current world, it is doubtful there could be a greater need. However, the lack of leadership development in years past has created a vacuum where the majority of congregations do not have elders and congregations with elders have too few to deal with the challenges.

Most locations recognize the problem, but what should be done? The answer lies in our return to God’s design, which means we need to initiate a plan for encouraging, promoting, and preparing more to lead. More tomorrow…

A description of the need to study leadership covers a wide spectrum. God’s design is the overarching premise by which we understand the necessity of leadership. Discovering the unfolding of a husband’s responsibility to lead in the home is a foundational component of this study.

As we continue to explore the reasons for this study, we must turn our attention to the church. One does not have to look far to recognize the urgency of the situation. The lack of leadership, or the  representation of poor leadership, is plaguing the church.

Decisions are left to the majority vote in a men’s business or congregational meeting. Sadly, the minority generally rules when this occurs.

Beyond challenges of this nature, the greatest consequence is found when congregations are led down the path of doctrinal error. According to God’s design, elders (leaders) were appointed to refute biblical or doctrinal error. The consequence of departing from or ignoring God’s design leaves congregations subject to misdirection and, ultimately, apostasy.

Tomorrow, we will continue to examine God’s design for the church in this area of leadership.

We live in an extremely reactive culture. We tend to react to something said or done without giving appropriate thought to the impact of our reaction.

To weigh out our words and the nature of them is an art long past forgotten, or perhaps, abandoned.

Recently, our oldest son dealt with a leadership issue on the job. His thought, as it was expressed to the individual involved, was significant enough it deserves repeating: “Every conversation is important. When a specific wording is missed or an inappropriate judgment made, it can temporarily or permanently stunt another person’s potential to grow in leadership.”

If we understood how our words might promote or hinder the leadership potential of another person, would we give more careful thought to what we say?

Solomon reminds us that the power of life and death are in the tongue, and the book of James reminds us of the unruly nature of the tongue. With our words we either build up or tear down.

We must not allow anything to influence our words in such a manner that would discourage someone from reaching their leadership potential.

If we only had one opportunity to change someone’s eternity by knocking on their door, would we knock?

If we knew there was only way to change our lives, would we change them?

If we only had one day left to live, how would we spend the time?

If…

I am constantly amazed how often I think about hypothetical situations. What if…?

We can spend time thinking about the possibilities, but leadership needs to take the possibilities and turn them into realities.

Leaders must eliminate the hypothetical “what if…” and ask the “when…?” and “how…?”

Until we start taking action, what if will only allow us to think about the possibilities.

Only Jesus / God could know what would have happened if the cities of Tyre and Sodom had witnessed the miracles rejected by the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida (Mt. 11:21).

Our leadership will be served well -if- we are willing to consider how we can move beyond the hypothetical and create the reality.

If may be conditional as it is used within the structure of the English language, BUT, what would we do if we knew we could not fail?

We often make promises or statements of affirmation based on the condition of if. For example, if everything goes according to plan, then we will follow through.

The challenge of our question, in this world according to if, is to see a much bigger picture. Consider the following:

Would we talk to the neighbor across the street if we could not fail?

Would we set greater goals for reaching the lost of our state or country if we could not fail?

Would our approach to world missions take on loftier efforts if we could not fail?

I realize this could get redundant, but give it thought. I say this because we cannot fail! The Bible reminds us not one of God’s good promises ever failed.

He has promised to be with us and never forsake us. He has promised to listen to us and counsel us. He has promised to give the increase.

Why are we waiting?