Tag: Church

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.”

The Gift of Today

What exactly does each day provide for our leadership? We have an opportunity to:

…reflect on yesterday and decide how to make changes for the day ahead.

…focus on today’s priorities realizing this may be the only day we are given.

…prepare ourselves for the day the Lord returns or we are called to Him.

…share the gospel with others who may never have another opportunity.

…share the depth of our love with those we often take for granted.

Each day is a gift from God. Recognize it and seek ways to live a fulfilling life in service to Him.

Amazed

Amazement is characterized by “overwhelming surprise or shock.” Jesus once healed a demon-possessed man and told him to go and tell his own people what great things God had done for him and how God had shown mercy. When he did, people were amazed.

Consider our influence in the lives of others. When people compare the person we were before with who we are now, are they amazed?

If not, maybe we need to stress more the great things God has done for us and how He has shown mercy.

Our leadership in the home, community, and church should be different when Jesus is part of the equation.

Precedent

A precedent occurs when a previous event or action becomes an example that is used to justify similar circumstances in the future.

Biblically, we find these practices with the religious leaders. The scribes and Pharisees were notorious for binding various practices. In and of themselves they were not wrong to follow, but they were not God’s law.

We need to be careful not to take a precedent of the past, use it to justify current practices, and then bind it as law on the church.

It may be a good practice, but not practicing it may be okay also. The difficulty arises when it is bound on others incorrectly.