Intriguing title? Throughout the Bible we read about the dread of leprosy. It was contagious and often terminal in nature. Lepers lived outside the city in their own commune rejected by others.

However, we can learn several lessons from lepers. One particular situation involves four men. This is the “cliff notes” version. Read the whole story in 2 Kings 7.

Amidst a famine, these four lepers decided to go to the enemy. They figured death was eminent either way. Perhaps the enemy would have mercy. When they arrived at their camp, 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 people were dying. It was a day of good news. To remain silent was wrong and would result in punishment.

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 should overtake us. THINK SOULS!

It seems everyone these days is offering a rewards program. The intent is to win our business and loyalty. Companies believe if they offer customers reward benefits they will purchase their products.

If you read my posts very often, you are probably already ahead of me.

The benefits God has provided to the world are far greater than anything invented or intended on the part of the world.

We cannot fly enough miles, buy enough electronics, eat enough food at the same restaurant, or burn enough gasoline to earn what God has given through His Son.

The power of God’s grace is about receiving what we do not deserve. Now there is reward program were looking into.

From a leadership point of view, we are not trying to win anyone’s business. We are simply trying to help others see the magnitude of God’s love. The natural result should be our desire to follow Him.

The reward will be found in the words of God, “well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things…”

Each time I travel overseas, I am reminded of the challenges of communicating. Linguistics is not a strong suite for me. I struggle with trying to communicate in English. You can imagine the difficulty of listening to the multiplicity of languages around the world.

The key to communicating adequately is understanding. Obviously, understanding is unattainable when we are not speaking the same language.

However, the same can be true even when we speak the same language. It is not always easy to communicate in an understanding manner. The ability to communicate so others understand is vital to our leadership.

Goals must be communicated so everyone understands.
Plans for reaching the goals must also be communicated adequately.
Roles and responsibilities must be understood.
Above all, leading others to Christ demands communicating the message of the cross in ways others understand.

This is the power behind training men in their own language, in their own country, to preach the message to their own people. Extension training is making a difference. You can read more at our website.

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” John F. Kennedy

If there is one thing I can say about leadership, it would be that I love learning about it. I love reading about leadership, listening about leadership, and observing those who are leading.

When I first read this quote by John F. Kennedy, I thought how appropriate and applicable to spiritual leadership.

Our life is about learning. We must hunger and thirst for righteousness. We must be diligent to present ourselves approved to God. We must always be ready to make a defense and give an answer for the hope within us. We must grow up in all aspects. We must press on to maturity.

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

Effective leadership should be immersed in learning. 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 caused Pilate to crucify Jesus.

We must all answer the question.

Our answer provides a foundation for our influence as spiritual leaders.

Family: Leading our family to heaven should be the number one task. Being consumed with self causes us to lose sight of leading as God directs.

Job: Our conduct on the job must be driven by Paul’s words to the church in Colossae. We work to please Christ, not men.

Worship: We need to understand worship. Worship is a meeting with God where we bring a gift. Too many approach worship to “get” something. Worship is to God, not from Him.

World: Jesus explained we are in the world, but not of the world. Our lives should never be influenced by the world. Rather, we are to influence the world.

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

Nearly everywhere we look we see signs with the disclosure “authorized personnel only.” Who are these people? Would we recognize them if they walked by us?

We may not know them specifically, but we do know if we are one those authorized or not.

The idea speaks of authority. Those who have been given authority to enter may go through the door. All others are forbidden or restricted from entering.

God has established a chain of authority. The first link in this chain (if you will) is Christ. Jesus clearly stated “all authority has been given to Me, in heaven and on earth.”

If Jesus has been given “all” authority, then only those given authority by Him may enter. Is this not what Jesus claimed? “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Jesus has the authority to grant entrance because He was given the authority.

Our job is to lead others to Him, because He alone grants entrance into the eternal home. How are we doing at our job? THINK SOULS!

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.