Category: Daily Leadership

Walk

Take a moment in a crowded place and watch people walk. Some walk slower or faster than others and most carry something.

Where are they walking? What do they think about as they walk?

Figuratively, walking is a way of life that characterizes the whole of leadership. Leadership is not about a one time event or activity. It must be a way of life demonstrated in our conduct, lived in a way that influences the direction of others.

When someone tells us to go for a walk, perhaps we need to consider changing our conduct of life to lead as God wants us to lead.

Undesirable

A few years ago, I heard about a leader who simply prayed, “Lord, bring us all those that nobody else wants.” Imagine the response when one by one several, often classified as undesirable, showed up.

If we believe the gospel is for all, then do we work to see that all have opportunity, not just to hear the gospel, but see it in our actions?

The path is not an easy one to walk. However, we are not called to lead only those who are lovable, but those often considered unlovable.

Think about Jesus and the ones He reached out to serve. Are we listening? Will we follow?

Change…Hope

While there are many reasons people fear change, one is associated with loss. With change comes loss, generally the loss of something held dear: freedom, comfort, position, ego, etc.

Linda Ellerbee said, “What I like most about change is that it’s a synonym for ‘hope.’ If you are taking a risk, what you are really saying is, ‘I believe in tomorrow and I will be part of it.’”

What if change represented hope concerning our faith in tomorrow? Change is inevitable. Not all change is good, but not all change is bad either.

Leaders should instill hope in others, and it will involve some level of change.

Hard Questions

Answering questions can be challenging. Some questions make us very uncomfortable, at least they do me.

How will we answer for our leadership? To whom will we answer?

Are we leading others to a better life in relationship to God?

Do our words and actions provide a leadership of hope?

Will others view our leadership as serving others or serving ourselves?

Why are we leading?

Leadership is not intended to be disheartening or discouraging. We are challenged to lead in the greatest arena, with the greatest motive, for the greatest cause.

Where will we lead?

Paul…Part 3

Three more qualities stand out as it relates to Paul’s leadership.

Confident: Paul’s confidence was not based on who he was, but Jesus and what Christ had done for Him.

Disciplined: Paul spoke about discipline to ensure the message of the gospel aligned perfectly with the example of his life.

Faithful: Christ considered Paul faithful. Although his past was an example of blasphemy, persecution, and violence toward the church, the Lord saw something greater.

Paul exemplifies many qualities needed for leadership. If we emulate them, God will use us in powerful ways to make a difference.

Ambition

Our ambition must have a spiritual focus, pleasing the Lord!

When our leadership is about pleasing the Lord it changes our approach to every area of life.

Relationships within our families are shaped by Biblical principles.

Our conduct on the job is influenced by a God-fearing attitude.

Approaching people outside of Christ is filled with a greater level of patience and compassion.

Beyond everything else, we worship with a greater understanding of our sovereign God.

When our leadership is driven by this kind of ambition the church will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior.

Team

A leader is one who leads a team in one form or another.

The benefits to leading and working together as a team cannot be listed in one post, but here are a few to consider.

1) More work can be achieved more quickly.
2) Each person on the team can focus on using their abilities.
3) Everyone can use their abilities more efficiently.
4) Ideas are abundant when several work together.
5) Opportunities for encouragement are greater.

Within the church it takes those who specialize in cooking, cleaning, teaching, preaching, singing, praying, serving, shepherding, and the list goes on.

When everyone works together the result is growth!

Paul…Part 2

Paul presents many qualities of leadership, some we looked at previously.

Consider a few additional qualities:

Humble: He considered himself the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, and he was the chief of sinners. He certainly understood and exemplified humility.

Dedicated: Paul was determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Co. 2:2-5). He was dedicated to do whatever necessary to preach this message.

Compassionate:
His love for all who were lost and his intense concern over the church is an example of true leadership. He wanted nothing more than for people to be saved.

Accountable

Leaders are accountable, but what exactly does this word involve for spiritual leadership?

There is the implication of what is required. As spiritual leaders, we are required to be trustworthy, faithful, examples, and people of integrity.

There are certain expectations. People tend to meet whatever is expected of them. When leaders make decisions, there is an expectation they will be held accountable.

There is an understanding of responsibility. There is a level of responsibility connected to the decisions and actions taken by leadership.

Leaders will answer to God for the direction of their leadership of God’s people.

Evaluation…

Spiritually, if we do not continually return to the blueprint of God’s word to ensure we are following the plans…well, the result is what we have witnessed in our world today.

The problem can be summed up in the lack of leadership returning to the blueprint to evaluate the plan given by God.

Only when we return to evaluating the plan and implementing the mission of God, will we be able to resolve the issues of division and renew our efforts of outreach.

The task falls to us as leaders to learn the value of evaluation.