For Christians, hope speaks of a desire that includes expectation. When considering the promises of God, Christians know there is fulfillment.
Spiritual leadership is about hope. Our leadership must be characterized by a strong desire with expectation.
Listening, confident, learning, and conscientious leaders provide hope.
The very idea of “spiritual” leadership should exemplify the hope Christ came to provide all who would follow.
The most valuable commodity we have is time. The greatest gift we can give is our time. Leading people requires time. We all have the same amount. How we use it determines the difference we make as leaders.
Solomon said there is a time for everything.
From birth to death, Jesus was on God’s time. Paul wrote “in the fullness of time God sent forth His Son.” Approaching the final days of His life, Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come.”
Paul instructs Christians to use their time wisely because the days are evil.
In this crazy, busy, scheduled life we live, how are we using our time?
Improving others is one of the greatest keys to successful leadership.
Jim Rohn said, “A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better.”
The quality identified in this act is simple. We are talking about genuine love.
When leaders care for and demonstrate love for others they will always work to serve, placing the needs and desires of the other person above their own.
This attitude was beautifully exemplified in the life of Jesus and, as Christians, we have a responsibility to help the world to see Him in us.
The year is almost half over. How are you doing with your goals?
Our goals must be important and, at times, urgent?
If we have been procrastinating the necessary actions to accomplish our goals, we have no time to waste.
If we are waiting to decide what is most important, we have no time to waste.
With so much to do, people to lead to Christ, Christians to strengthen in faithfulness and personal growth, time is of the essence. No commodity is more valuable than our time.
Let us use the time God has given us wisely and never be known for wasting it.
What is a movement?
First, movements are made up of individuals and independent groupings that come together to achieve a common goal.
Second, what holds these individuals and independent groupings together are personal, structural and ideological ties.
Third, committed individuals at all levels use existing, significant social relationships to recruit others.
Fourth, members of a movement have had an identity-transforming experience that brings about a lifestyle change.
Fifth, overall unity in such a diverse collection of people requires a common ideology.
Sixth, opposition is part of the glue that holds this diverse collection together.
Consider how these thoughts bind us together as Christians and how it can change the world.
A visionary leads with the future in mind. From a spiritual perspective, nothing is more important than what the eternal future holds for Christians.
More pragmatically, leaders must consider what the future of their leadership looks like.
Will the future hold growth and development for the church?
Will the future be a place where vision points to a stronger leadership?
Will the future exist because of our visionary ability?
The future of leadership must be built on prayer, and leaders should prepare for the future with God’s word as a guide.
Tomorrow’s leaders must be encouraged today in order to be ready.
We live in a society that thrives on image. There is great concern for the appearance of things, how others see us.
Sadly, many people render service only to an earthly image. The concern is limited to doing the least possible rather than excelling beyond what is required.
The beauty of godly leaders is demonstrated when they constantly strive to please the Lord.
People always watch: our families, people at work and our neighborhood, as well as fellow Christians. They all watch.
When we consider our conduct before others, is it because we want to please those who are watching or is our motive to please God?
When we consider what’s on the line as it relates to leadership, we begin to understand the urgency.
Throughout the Old and New Testaments we find God’s provisions for leaders. He positioned individuals to lead.
God designed His church to function with leaders. Their function is outlined in the letter to Ephesus (Ep. 4:11-13).
People need someone to follow. Christians should provide an example of leading in the family, workplace, and community.
The breakdown of the family indicates an urgency for husbands, wives, and parents to keep a more biblical focus.
May God bless us with the courage and boldness to fulfill our responsibilities.
The only time when Jesus said, “I gave you an example,” is in John 13 where He emphasized the need to be a servant, and the mark of our discipleship comes from the way we treat one another.
Paul encouraged Christians to follow his example (1 Co. 11:1). He told Timothy to be an example of the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity (1 Tim. 4:12). The world needs Christians to be an example in marriage and parenting, in ethical business conduct, and being a good neighbor.
We can provide no greater gift in leading others to Christ than setting a good example.
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth….you are the light of the world.”
Salt and light make a difference when present. The analogy for Christians indicates that our influence should make a difference for good.
Outside of the Gospels, the word salt is used only twice and both times (Col. 4:6; Jas. 3:12) it directly speaks to the influence of our words.
The use of light addresses our conduct (Mt. 5:16). Peter spoke about the type of conduct that contributes to the salvation of others (1 Pe. 2:12).
Let us use our influence (words and conduct) to lead others to Him.