Friendship is for a lifetime. Few people can be identified as true friends. We have acquaintances. We have co-workers. We may even have those who are associates. But, the idea of true friendship goes far beyond.

We have all heard quotes about friendship and we have people in our lives we consider friends.

How does friendship impact our leadership? Are there areas of friendship we can provide to help improve our leadership?

Friendship judges by investigating to know the heart and intent behind the action.

Friendship allows for mistakes and creates an atmosphere of expression with a mindset of helping overcome the challenges.

Friendship seeks to know and pursue truth in all things, even if it means risking feelings.

Friendship understands the ultimate goal is do what is right before God.

Spiritual leaders face many challenges. Leading and friendship will often create challenges in and of itself. However, if our focus is spiritual, then the friendships we establish will be built on principles of godliness.

“In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock.” T. Jefferson

No post is going to address the depth of difficulty spiritual leaders face daily. There will be personality conflicts, trivial matters, life changing decisions, and numerous other areas that weigh heavy on the hearts of those who lead.

For leadership, there will be times when flexibility needs to be demonstrated. However, there are other times when one must make a bold stand for what is right. Sadly, we often see the opposite, leaders who are flexible on principle and immovable on their opinions.

Jefferson provides a good “rule-of-thumb” to live by. In spiritual language perhaps we could say it this way. “In matters of opinion, go along. In matters of doctrine, stand strong.”

The idea is connected to nearly every sporting event and level. Teams with the best records begin a chess match of skill and execution to reach the final round of the playoffs. The two top teams then compete in pursuit of a championship.

Several qualities stand out with an organization in order to be crowned as a champion.

They must be a team. As many have said, no man is an island to himself. People must work together for a common purpose in order to win.

They must be dedicated. Dedication is a quality of commitment to the task or purpose. When the goal is clear, people are committed, and plans are executed properly, victory awaits.

There must be ability. The ability of people must be matched to the needed role. Combining role and ability encourages the morale of everyone involved.

There must be leadership. Teamwork, dedication and ability alone are not enough. People need someone to provide leadership.

We are in a spiritual playoff. We are a team, dedicated, and abounding in ability. The need is for spiritual leaders to step up and provide the missing link.

I am not sure the origin of this phrase. However, it is generally connected to gambling, when a gambler pushes all of their available assets in for the bet.

The approach runs great risk and is usually an effort to 1) bluff for survival, 2) cash out and go home, or 3) win big because of the confidence to win.

Spiritual leaders are not bluffing to survive. We are not trying to cash out and go home. We need to have the confidence to win, and win big.

This is the power of our relationship with God, as the writer of Hebrews teaches.

We know the anchor is secured through Christ.

The plan for success is outlined through the working of the Holy Spirit.

Our support system surrounds us past, present, and future.

We win! Consider then, what would we do if we knew we could not fail.

Leadership is not a part-time, halftime, when I’ve got time, or it’s a convenient time responsibility. The role of spiritual leadership challenges us to step up to a greater level. We must be “all in.”

Will the idea of a leadership crisis characterize our generation? At every level and venue, leaders are in high demand. From the political to the spiritual arena, we need leaders.

In time of crisis what should we do? There are several possibilities.

1) Do nothing.
2) Deny there is a crisis and continue the same course as though no crisis exists.
3) Ignore the crisis hoping it will take care of itself.
4) Procrastinate addressing the crisis and allow the wrong leadership to take control.
5) Address the crisis with a plan of action to change the direction of the future.

The obvious solution is to address the crisis with a plan of action. Developing a plan of action will require us to account for the following.

1) Acknowledge the problem(s).
2) Examine the severity of the situation.
3) Remove the element(s) poisoning the group.
4) Develop a support system for the current leadership.
5) Begin an immediate course of preparing leaders for the future.

We can change the future, but we must act and we need to act now!

Spring offers wonderful thoughts connected to leadership. Three specific words are connected.

Change: Change can be good or bad. Change is necessary to reach our goals. Change is Biblical. Both in becoming a Christian and in our walk as a Christian, a necessary element is repentance (change). As the harshness of winter subsides, the change brought with the coming of spring is beautiful and necessary.

Instability: Instability generally results from the changes winter ushers in with spring. The recent devastation brought on by tornadoes throughout the south demonstrates this fact. Transitions introduced by spiritual leaders bring change, and it is not uncommon to see instability. Change does not come quickly, easily or without resistance.

Life: However, the most beautiful part of spring is seeing all of nature regain life through this change. After a dormant winter, spring rains and sunshine bring life. It is powerful to see the change, even through the instability often produced.

Our leadership should provide stability to give assurance through the changes producing spiritual life.

More could be said, however, spring should introduce a wonderful approach to our leadership.

“It’s wonderful when the people believe in their leader… but it’s even more wonderful when the leader believes in the people.” – unknown

Consider what could be accomplished with a group of people following this kind of leadership.

When leaders think and speak more in terms of “I” or “me” the results are destructive. In the end, people will not follow because there are questions of the leadership having a genuine concern for the best interest of the people.

Leaders must believe in people and invest in people. No one individual or group of individuals will be greater than the work of our Lord. One of the most powerful lessons we learn from all of scripture is “we can’t make it on our own.”

We need each other and we need our God. We need to believe in each other. Nothing could be more true for spiritual leaders.

An echo is the sound reflected back from the surface of another object based on the right conditions. Its what you get back.

What is being reflected back in our leadership?
Are we listening to those entrusted to our leadership?
Do we know, understand, and meet the needs of the group?
Is there a spiritual focus or material emphasis to our purpose?
Look at the results of working the plan to reach our goals. What are we getting back?

What we get back will directly reflect what we are investing through our leadership. The very purpose of investing in our leadership is because of this echo.

The greater the investment, the greater the return. The joy of leadership is found in seeing the investment grow to greater dividends, knowing what we get back multiplies.

It is the law of harvest. The Bible speaks of reaping what we sow, if to the flesh, we reap corruption, but if to the spirit, then we reap eternal life. Now this is an echo worth the investment.

Well, what would you say? We have all been asked questions challenging the core of our Christianity and our spiritual leadership.

Do you believe you are the only ones going to heaven?
Why don’t you have a piano?
Why do I have to be immersed in water to be saved?
My grandmother was one of the best people I have ever known. Do you think she went to heaven?

Obviously, these are only a few of the questions people have and continue to ask. Not to complicate the list, but what would you say?

We can easily find ourselves seeking a way to avoid answering directly. We become ambiguous or elusive in our answers.

Leaders will face times when they must answer tough questions. What we often fail to remember is  the importance of not only what we say, but how we say it.

Based on my limited experience, it is one thing to watch others face challenges and give advice. However, it is another to face those same challenges, personally.

Opinions are plentiful and quite common. Truth and the manner in which truth is spoken is needed. What would you say?

Discipline is an often misunderstood subject. Generally, we think of punishment. However, discipline goes deeper and involves much more. Discipline is found in several areas throughout scripture.

Fathers are to train up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
God disciplines those whom He loves.
The church is to exercise discipline to keep the church pure.
Just as important is the need for us to develop self-discipline / control.

Spiritual leaders must exercise this type of godly discipline.

Notice how godly discipline is built on the instruction of our God who loves us. This discipline keeps us pure. Developing discipline / self-control will allow leaders to demonstrate the kind of character to lead others to our God.
Isn’t leading someone to Christ worth developing godly discipline?