Tag: SIBI

Who Shall We Lead?

What do followers look like and where do leaders find them? Consider those who live on the fringe and are often overlooked.

They live everywhere, but often have nowhere to live.

They have nothing to give, yet often give all they have to help someone else.

They scrape by with little hope, yet hope is often all they have to scrape by.

Our leadership is needed to give hope for a life that is better now and in the future. We must provide genuine friendship without ulterior motives, where we develop an intimacy that goes beyond the surface.

Guaranteed Leadership…

“There are no guarantees.” We’ve all heard it. Yet, a guarantee simply involves a promise or assurance that certain conditions will be fulfilled.

The problem we often face is that we want to use and abuse a product with the guarantee it will still look and function like new. If this is our thinking, then there are no guarantees.

Sadly, we do the same with leaders. We use and abuse them expecting them to look and function like new, but it will not work.

Leaders need support and encouragement. When they receive it they tend to function in the best interest of followers.

The result provides a guarantee worth following.

Who Leads?

At a very early age, children learn how to manipulate (for a lack of better words) situations within their family. They learn how to get what they want or need.

The question for parents is, Who is really leading who?

We know parents are responsible for leading their children, but in many situations children lead their parents.

We often see the same within the church.

Leaders often allow followers to do the leading. Why? Leaders may be afraid someone will be offended. It may be they lack the knowledge to address the situation appropriate. Perhaps they do not understand their role.

We could speculate all day, but leaders must approach this God given task with the earnest desire to lead, and lead as God has directed.

Lead to Freedom…

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela

Mandela spoke about the physical freedom from oppression and poverty, but consider a spiritual application.

Our freedom from the consequences of sin is not about casting off our own chains. We need to live in a way that demonstrates respect for others and assists them to enjoy the same level of freedom.

This is leadership.

The death of Jesus is foundational for our life and for all who come to Him. Let us lead others to the true freedom.

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.

Leading Unconditionally…

Reaching out and leading with unconditional love is difficult. 

We must be vulnerable emotionally, mentally, and physically. We must develop a compassion for the pain of others and a greater desire to get involved. 

The difficulty is learning to be genuine in our care for those who are not like us..

Loving unconditionally means there is nothing you can do or say to make me love you more and there is nothing you can do or say to make me love you less.

Unconditional love is what leads others to the Savior! When we demonstrate it, we lead with a God-given example.

A Unique Leader…

Being unique applies to almost anything or anyone.

The more unique the more desirable, valuable, and popular.

What about our leadership is unique?

Potentially, our purpose is what makes leadership unique. In reality, it is the only part of leadership that is unique.

Spiritual leadership has one purpose unlike anything else, special and unusual. This purpose was born out of the unconditional love of the Creator for His creation, a purpose to be demonstrated one to another. 

This purpose is what keeps us focused and leads to the only hope for all of humanity. Helping others find this hope is what makes a unique leader.

People, People, People…

People are everywhere. Who are they? Where do they live? Where are they going? Do they believe in God?

The only way to know anything about people is to get involved in their lives. How can we lead them to Jesus without this connection?

We need to overcome fear, but what are we afraid of most? Rejection? Failure? Making a mistake? 

The application is true whether talking to a stranger at an airport or a neighbor across the street. 

Leading anyone to Christ involves moving past our fear and connecting to their lives. As challenging as it may seem, the connection of genuine love makes the difference.

Leadership and Failure…

How many times have people referred to themselves as a failure? When they do not succeed at a specific task or achieve something else desired they tend to see themselves as a failure. 

Zig Ziglar reminds us that “failure is an event, not a person.”

Sadly, we can view other people the same way. When they do not live up to our expectations or desires, we see them as a failure.

Leaders take note of the opportunity to learn from their failures in life and build their own character and the character of someone else to ultimately succeed.

Who Are We Leading?

Numerous stories describe the challenges of reaching the more affluent in our world today.

As difficult as it might be to admit, we know this is true.

Why the concern? If God chose the poor in this world to be rich in faith, and they are receptive, why do we not make greater efforts to share the gospel with them?

Why do we spend so much time focused on those who seemingly feel they do not need God because of their abundance?

We need to lead those with little or nothing in this life to a greater understanding of what God has prepared.