Tag: Christians

Seeking the Mind of Christ…

Biblical leaders seek the mind of Christ.

Paul’s letter to Philippi expresses a number of key thoughts in relationship to the mind of Christ.

A Christlike motive, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit.”
A foundational attitude, “With humility of mind.”
A concluding activity, “Regard others as more important than yourselves.”

These three thoughts help us understand what Paul meant by the mind of Christ that must be emulated by all Christians. However, understanding the mind of Christ must be coupled with seeking the mind of Christ.

Biblical leaders are dedicated to understanding the mind of Christ and following His example.

Surviving Leadership…

Few areas are more significant than the need for and priority of survival.

Leadership survival is a matter of extreme urgency for the church today.

Leaders struggle to survive challenges in matters of faith and practice.

Leaders must survive false accusations to their character by dissenters.

Leaders must develop survival skills against forces that would divide Christians.

The idea is often expressed, “Its lonely at the top.” While spiritual leadership is not about being at the top, leaders in the Lord’s church still face a measure of loneliness.

Perhaps this is why so few are willing to accept the role and responsibility.

Guarding Against Materialism…

The most prevalent way to meet Satan head on is knowing how he attacks. One specific area he uses to destroy the faith of Christians is materialism. We’ve all seen the affects of materialism in our own lives and in others.

The struggle and desire for “things” is a universal epidemic. Sadly, it creates other sinful attitudes and issues. We can easily develop envy, jealousy, greed, and become idolatrous.

Leaders must rise up and guard the faith of Christians. They must set the example and seek ways to assist others who struggle in this battle. 

Perhaps the first step would be to seek God’s help.

Leaders and Followers…

A blueprint provides exact details for any structure. The greater the detail, the better the opportunity it will last. However, this only happens when the blueprint is followed. Deviating from the blueprint increases the chances for disaster.

Good leaders are good followers. Jesus exemplified this principle, as did the apostles and early Christians.

If we are unable to follow the blueprint, can leadership achieve success?

When someone decides they know a better way than following the plan of our Lord, problems are on the horizon.

The better we follow the blueprint our Lord has provided, the greater our success as leaders in the kingdom.

A Destructive Tongue…

Guarding a Christian’s faith is difficult for any age and culture. One of the challenges we face is the use of the tongue. 

James says the tongue is an “unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Remember, he is writing to Christians.

When spiritual leaders participate in gossip, ridicule, or speaking against brothers and sisters, then we can destroy the faith of others.

We must rise up, guard, protect, and overcome his attacks and keep Christians from destroying each other. Whether through Facebook, texting, face to face, talking to others, or some other means, the use of the tongue in such destructive ways should not only be discouraged, but stopped.

A Grateful Leader…

Families and friends will soon gather to enjoy Thanksgiving.

We would all agree with the need to express our gratitude daily.

The God-given responsibility of leading can be a heavy burden, but the rewards are rich in eternal blessings.

A few are listed below.

An incredible God who created us, loved us, and was willing to die for us.
wonderful opportunity to work with the greatest people on earth.
The generosity of trust from faithful brethren who make our work possible.
Abundant physical and spiritual blessings.
A perfect Word that provides direction, strength, hope, and promise.

May leaders always express gratitude.

Why Leaders Learn…

We can learn from the mistakes and successes of others. We can learn from people with academic credentials and those who only have experience.

Learning is not the issue. We learn something everyday from someone. We cannot help it or resist it. Everything connected to our senses creates a learning situation.

However, what we learn is what makes the difference.

From a spiritual perspective, are we learning more about God and each other as Christians? 

Learning what matters spiritually provides a foundation for lasting leadership. When we consider the importance of learning, remember it is what we learn that is most important.

Do We Make People Better?

“Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.” Marvin J. Ashton

One of the most endearing and powerful qualities of good leaders, and Christians in general, is the ability to make the lives of others better.

Our world is one that promotes more self-centeredness than anything else. The concept and practice of seeking the best in other people and putting their needs above our own is rare. Yet, this is exactly what God did in sending His only Son to die on our behalf.

We do well to follow the example in our relationships with others.

One of the most important lessons from years past is that when something is borrowed, always return it better than you received it. What a great idea for our relationships with others. God entrusted us with the lives of people around us and nothing more enduring can be done than to make their lives better than we found them. This is great leadership!