Throughout the years of my life I have learned how much joy comes with anticipating special events. As a child I grew up anticipating birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. As a teenager I anticipated getting a driver’s license and graduation. Obviously, there are events I continue to anticipate as an adult.

It fascinates me to think how often the anticipation of an event is what makes the event so special.

I love the feeling of “I can’t wait.”

A similar idea was expressed by Paul for us as Christians. Several times in his letters to the church, Paul used the terminology “eagerly waiting.” Christians are to eagerly anticipate being with God eternally.

Our spiritual leadership is built on the foundation of helping others anticipate this same event.

Think about the first 5 minutes. Imagine how overwhelming the moment we first see our God and Savior. Consider the sound of His voice. Think about how incredible it will be when we first realize we are there.

I cannot wait! Can you?

Our anticipation is part of what will make the event so special. It is worth sharing with others.

I harp on the idea of making application. It would seem our society and culture have become masterful at telling others what to do. However, we often fall short of telling others how to do it.

It may be we do not know how.
It is possible we do not want to put in the work to know how.
It is conceivable we do not want others to think we are a “know-it-all.”

Regardless, if we are going to lead others, we need to help others see how to do the task we are asking them to do.

We have to put in the work to learn the best ways to accomplish the task.

We need to have a better working knowledge of people and how they are going to work best.

We must learn how to express the application in ways to encourage and excite others to get involved.

Is it easy? No! Will it make a difference in our leadership? Absolutely!

Leading others hinges on making the right application. Good leadership is not simply telling others what to do, but helping them learn how to do it.

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” Plato

The way leaders begin the work has a far greater impact on reaching the overall goal(s) than we might care to admit.

It has been said; “well begun is half done. And ill begun is apt to be wholly ruined.” How we finish is vital to reaching our goals, but how we begin sets the tone for the course we are leading.

The idea applies to every aspect of life and it is certainly true in leadership.

It applies to how we begin a family.
It applies to how we begin each day.
It applies to how we begin a conversation with someone about studying the Bible.
It applies to how we begin a class, sermon or an article / post.

How important was the beginning when God created?
How important was the beginning when Christ came to this earth?
How important was the beginning of the church?

Plato knew the importance of how we begin the work. Perhaps we should place a little more emphasis on how we begin also.

As leaders, how do we recognize the potential of an individual or the congregation as a whole?

There are basically three ways: actions, ability, and attitude.

Is it possible to take these three areas, grow in them, and reach our ultimate potential? Absolutely!!! How?

Do not limit God. Moses learned and Jonathan knew. Never think God “cannot” do something because we “will not.”

Start thinking BIG! God has the power to do far beyond all we ask or think. I can think pretty big. Imagine what God could do through us when we think BIG!

Remind others of the possibilities. A reminder of what can be done is often enough to move others into action. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves.

Develop a plan into smaller sections. How does someone eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The overall plan can be overwhelming, but breaking it down into smaller pieces makes it workable.

Begin NOW! Procrastination and hesitation are killers to our potential. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Potential is too important to wait.

We must first identify what we mean by “unmotivated?” What is not being done we want done?

We also need to ask a few simple questions.

1) Does the unmotivated know they are supposed to do these actions?
2) Do they know how to perform these actions as expected?
3) When was the last time they were reminded?
4) Are the reasons clear why these actions are important, necessary and valuable?
5) Are the guidelines clear of the consequences for not doing these actions?

People are motivated by self-interests. We all want respect. We want to contribute to the team. We desire friendship and social status. We need money and want job security. We must have love. We desire safety and wellbeing.

These are a few areas that motivate the actions of others. We should develop a strategy dealing with such matters. Answering a few questions, and learning to teach others “how” to get from point A to point B, is the first large step in getting the unmotivated motivated.

Respect is a necessity to leadership and respect is a two-way street. Respect is given and received. However, our challenge involves gaining respect.

People resent and resist leaders with questionable habits in their life. They resent leaders who speak in a condescending manner or participate in inappropriate activities.

An iron fist and failing to consider the needs of followers will cost leaders respect.

A few simple ideas can help us gain respect.

Be dedicated to the Lord. Focus on Christ and make the souls of others a priority. Our purpose must be to “pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.”

Be consistent. Our words and our actions must match. Consistency is a virtue worth developing if we are to gain respect. Posner and Kouzes say; “the video needs to match the audio.”

Love people. We need to give more thought to demonstrating love. A deeper understanding of love might help us understand why it covers a multitude of sins.

We could argue whether respect is earned or demanded. However, applying a few simple principles to our leadership will answer the questions.

Leadership is no walk in the park. Why do more not lead? One of the top reasons is because it is difficult. Who would sign up after Paul’s message to the elders at Ephesus, “and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them”?

Would you or I want to lead with this prediction? Yet, we desperately need leaders.

I have heard; “if it were easy everyone would do it.” Well, it is not easy. At the same time, everyone is doing it. We are all leading others. The question is where are we leading them?

We either influence others for good or evil.
We either influence others to build on the rock or sand.
We either influence others to walk in the light or darkness.
We either influence others to be a sheep or a goat.
We either influence others to live for Christ or against Him.

It is one tough job, but it is worth the effort. Leading others to live a better life, sharing in the better promises of Christ, will be worth it all.

“It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed.” Harvey S. Firestone

Spiritual leadership should be based on the great point made in this statement.

John Maxwell says, “to add growth, lead followers. To multiply, lead leaders.”

This approach involves developing others. We must equip and train others to lead. Who will replace you and me? Are we working to prepare them for the work?

Leadership, from a worldly point of view, is inward focused. This mindset begins to think the work cannot be done without “me.”

One must be self-centered in order to make one’s own way. Robert Kennedy said; “people say I am ruthless. I am not ruthless. And if I find the man who is calling me ruthless, I shall destroy him.”

Jesus demonstrated a different application. The apostles were developed for a task they were commissioned to do. The success of their work continues today and will throughout eternity.

The apostle Paul addressed this mindset in writing to the church at Philippi.

The success of our leadership, and the future of the church, rests on developing others.

People believe in some pretty bizarre things. Do we believe “Bigfoot” exists? Do we believe Elvis is still alive and hiding somewhere? Do we believe in UFO’s / aliens from other planets? Do we believe in the theory of evolution?

Not this post, or any other, will be designed to discuss these matters at any level. However, it causes me to wonder about what we believe and why we believe it.

Amazingly, and getting straight to the point, when we believe something, we talk about it to others. We express why our belief is so strong. When we do not believe there seems to be no purpose.

Quoting from the Old Testament, Paul wrote to the church at Corinth “I believe therefore I speak.”

We have opportunity to influence many people everyday. It is fundamental to leadership. Are we talking about what we believe? Do we speak because of the overwhelming nature of what we believe and why we believe it?

The power of communication allows us an avenue to share a belief system based on the evidence of truth. Make it count!

Several years back I was introduced to the weather rock. Somehow, I believe it was connected to a hillbilly forecaster. It worked quite simply.

If the rock is wet, it is raining.
If the rock is white, it is snowing.
If the rock casts a shadow, it is sunny.

You get the point.

While the idea was useless in the realm of forecasting the future, it was great for the obvious.

It reminded me of how Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees and Sadducees how they were able to state the obvious regarding the signs of the weather, but were blind to the signs from heaven.

Our leadership needs to be about both. We need an eye for the obvious. We need to be tuned-in to the environment and present circumstances all around us.

However, we also need a vision for the future. We need to see where we are going and what it will take to get there.

No creative or crafty approach will produce the kind of spiritual leaders God needs today. We need leaders who know the way and point people to it!