Tag: Church

Next Generation Leaders

Tim Elmore wrote a book, Habitudes, using images, relatable stories, and experiences that are designed to help the next generation of leaders form the right habits and attitudes.

A couple of questions need to be considered within the realm of spiritual leadership.

What are we doing to make a difference in relationship to the future of the church?

How are we preparing the next generation to lead?

We need more than a conviction of the situation. We need to take legitimate steps to change the crisis we face in the current generation.

Let us lead with that in mind.

Find a Remedy

In the sports’ world, we find more than a few “arm-chair” quarterbacks, coaches, and officials. We often believe we have a better understanding and view of how the game should be played in the comfort of our home.

The church often follows a similar pattern. We can easily find more faults with the church than can ever be solved. However, recognizing areas of concern or fault does not change anything.

Henry Ford once said, “Don’t find fault; find a remedy.” Perhaps it is time we stand up and present a solution.

We might even modify the thought by saying, “Don’t find fault, unless you plan to present a remedy.”

Hope

As leaders, we are messengers of hope. People can endure just about anything if they know there is something better ahead. They need hope something will be better.

The challenge is learning how to help others see that our hope is not based in a promise of a better physical life, but something beyond this life and beyond compare.

This kind of hope was the driving force of the early church, even in the face of death.

Paul indicated that hope of this nature saves us because with it we endure.

Better days are ahead, maybe not in this life, but God holds eternity.

Qualities of Leading

The Bible provides a list of qualities for men who would serve in the role of a shepherd.

These qualities are in place to provide the necessary shepherding to keep the church pure and healthy.

While all Christians should strive for the applicable qualities, one does not have to possess all these qualities in order to be qualified to lead others.

Remember, leadership is about influence. We are striving to influence others for the cause of Christ. As a Christian, leading others is built on the blood of our Savior.

The stronger our faith becomes, the more our confidence grows, and the greater our influence becomes.

Developing Leaders

In the 2013 documentary, “Inside Chipotle,” a very important area regarding leadership was highlighted. Managers in the company are promoted on the bases of how they develop leaders among their employees.

The concept of leaders developing leaders is a highly known principle in most all leadership materials. John Maxwell states, “To grow, lead followers. To multiply, lead leaders.”

Imagine the development of a company where leaders are constantly developing others to lead.

Imagine the growth that would occur within the church.

How amazing would it be for spiritual leaders to consider the benefit involved in developing other leaders?

Learning Teamwork

One of the challenges facing all leaders is the ability to work well with others.

Amy Poehler says, “As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”

When leaders feel threatened by those who think outside the box and are talented / gifted, they cannot achieve genuine success in leadership.

If we really want to multiply the strength of the church, we need to learn the true art of teamwork.

Home

Nothing is more comforting than the thought of going home after being away.

A place where one lives permanently is significant to the nature of home. However, it is the defining qualities of home that make the difference.

While permanent, what makes it special is belonging to a family. Home is the place where we are accepted.

On earth, the church should provide the same expression of home. I am not referring to the physical structure where the church meets, but the value of relationships that bring us together as a family, where we belong and we are accepted.

Preparing Next Generation Leaders

A major downfall rests in the approach to succession planning for the next generation. A number of books address the next generation of leaders and how the future of the home, country, corporate world, and, above all, church requires our attention in this area.

What are we doing to prepare the next generation of leaders? Have we considered the consequences currently experienced in the church because previous generations lacked a plan? Will we passively watch from the sidelines as another generation arises without the proper preparation and tools to lead?

The longer we procrastinate the more difficult the journey becomes to equip the next generation of leaders.

Teamwork #2

Yesterday, we talked about the need for God’s people to work together…as a team. When spiritual leaders understand the value of people using their abilities in a united effort to the glory of God, there is an opportunity to influence the most powerful movement on earth.

God designed the church to be one and for His people to work together as one. If the team mindset exists and we move forward in unison, great things happen.

Let us strive in leadership to encourage others to use their efforts, talents, insights, enthusiasm, and inspiration to achieve success as one…team.

Teamwork #1

In order for the church to function as God intended it to, an incredible emphasis is given throughout His word to the concept of working together. Although the word team is not used, we find similarities between the biblical emphasis, our understanding of teamwork, and the success related to its practice.

Queen Elizabeth II said, “I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”