Tag: Church

More

We have all heard ads for products followed up with, “Wait, there’s more.” At this point the offer is usually doubled in some manner.

Considering our leadership, what more is there? 

Leadership is more than power.
Leadership is more than position.
Leadership is more than a title.
Leadership is more than influence.

There will always be more regarding spiritual leadership. If we approach the task with humility and love, we can realize growth in the church and bring glory to our God.

But there will always be more! 

If we act now, more souls will enjoy the beauty of heaven.

Advocate

A champion, upholder, backer, supporter: Everyone needs an advocate.

Jesus is our Advocate. As an advocate, He comes alongside and stands in our place.

Consider our position as leaders.

When people struggle in their faith, deal with the challenges of life, or step out to accept responsibility, will we be an advocate for them?

During a time of temptation, personal trial, or spiritual growth, leaders must be an advocate.

The necessity is vital to the development of the Lord’s church. Christians need to know the Advocate we have in Jesus and they need to know the advocate they have in our leadership.

Promised Land

We’ve heard about the land God promises His people. In the Old Testament it was a “land flowing with milk and honey.”

Today, we live with anticipation of a land God has promised, a land beyond anything we can comprehend.

This land will be one of rest where there will be no sickness or death.

Two great truths:

One, we live in a world enslaved to sin. They need someone to lead them to a better land.

Two, God’s people need leaders who will help them keep their focus on this promised land.

The world and the church need leaders who can see the promised land and are willing to lead others there.

Globalization

No longer is it a matter of if or when, globalization is here, and now!

We often hear people say, “It’s a small world.” Why not? Since the touch of a button can send messages to the other side of the planet.

We need to ask a few questions.

Are we aware of the changes globally? Economically? Politically? Socially? Religiously?

Have we considered how to embrace these changes?

Does our current plan involve a domestic or global approach?

How are we preparing spiritual leaders within a global context?

We need to answer these questions as the Lord’s church, and take steps to lead with a global perspective.

Negativity

Negativity is a powerful influence. Whether age, circumstances of life, challenges within the church, or any number of areas, we can easily become cynical.

We cannot and must not allow daily external situations influence our efforts in making change.

We not only have a reason to live, but a reason to have joy in this life, as we anticipate the coming of an eternal one.

Our efforts as leaders must be to make a positive change. The external circumstances will always exist and challenge the core of leadership. However, we must arise above it and lead to make a positive change, beginning with us.

Extremism

How many times in the political arena do we hear the thought expressed of someone being extreme left or extreme right?

Being extreme, however, is not limited to the political arena. We quite often find the beast of extremism within the church.

Our responsibility is to learn the difference between biblical doctrine and personal opinion.

Spiritual leadership is about finding the proper balance to maintain the unity needed with the Lord’s church.

In a time when people are trying to prevent the world’s influence on the church, let us not become so extreme that our actions portray what we are trying to prevent.

Facing Challenging Changes

In our lifetime, the church has experienced several changes. Some changes have been good and some destructive. While changes occur today, it is safe to say, more changes will come.

Paul Harvey said, “In times like these it is good to remember that there have always been times like these.”

Solomon originally expressed it this way, “There is nothing new under the sun.”

Leaders will always face challenges. It may be a different generation, culture, gender, age, or time of day, but challenges will come.

Let us seek God’s counsel and listen to His word. Here we will find the true answers to solve the challenges we face.

Change

Generally speaking, leadership involves changing others. From a spiritual perspective, the purpose of our leadership is helping others change.

However, change must begin first within ourselves. It is easy to ask others to do what we are either unwilling to do or have not yet done.

The power of change, however, starts with us. When we make changes in our own lives first, we set an example for others to see why they must change also.

As leaders in our homes, communities, and the church, let us first work on changing ourselves and then seek opportunity to help others change.

A Normal Leader?

The thought sounds crazy, right? Can a leader be normal?

Maybe we should define normal first. Regardless of how we define it, there is nothing normal about spiritual leadership. Why? 

Because spiritual leaders…

are concerned about their influence inside and outside the church.
consistently live what they believe.
know God’s mission involves helping people get to heaven.
work for a cause greater than themselves.
share in planning and developing goals for spiritual maturity.
produce results that glorify God and fulfill His will.

Therefore, spiritual leaders are those who live consistently, knowing the work they share in produces God’s desired will. Does that sound normal?

Transparency

Transparency in leadership is often challenging.

Transparency means we take instruction and make application to ourselves first, without an emphasis upon others.

Transparency instills confidence in others that our efforts, both personally and professionally, are always for the good of the whole.

Transparency involves an openness in our communication, laying everything on the table, good or bad.

We need more transparency in leadership. This is the example we find in Jesus, and it is exactly how we should approach leadership in the church today.