tell me about the king.
I will tell [you] what a king is. A king does not abide within his tent while his men bleed and die upon the field. A king does not dine while his men go hungry, nor sleep when they stand at watch upon the wall. A king does not command his men's loyalty through fear nor purchase it with gold; he earns their love by the seat of his own back and the pains he endures for their sake. That which comprises the harshest burden, a king lifts first and sets down last. A king does not require service of those he leads but provides it to them. He serves them, not they him.(Gates of Fire, Steven Pressfield)
A description in reference to a human king, a warrior. I am struck by how true these words are of our great King of all kings, Jesus Christ.
'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.' Mark 10.45
Labels: gospel, leadership
it starts with one
A question that we're asked a lot is:
'How do we get our people/church/youth/adults to "get" discipleship?'
How do we show people it's important, how do we make people passionate, how do we encourage them to do it?
In talking with Randy Smith of Grace Church of Sebring yesterday, we heard a great answer:
'Just find one person, and do it.'
If you are the only person in your whole church that wants to be involved in discipleship, find someone younger who wants investment, and do it. Just do it. Be the example. Live it. Let the passion spread, grassroots. It will. Then when people ask why disciple, or how to disciple, you will have answers. You'll have answers because you'll be living it.
I'm not trying to oversimply the fact that you may be struggling to find other who want to be involved in discipleship. But if you aren't doing it, how can anyone else follow?
Lead. Disciple.
What's the worst that could happen?
Labels: discipleship, leadership
leadership: an honorable ambition
Starting
Spiritual Leadership by J.Oswald Sanders today.
All Christians are called to develop God-given talents, to make the most of their lives, and to develop to the fullest their God-given gifts and capabilities.
Desiring to excel is not sin. It is motivation that determines ambition's character... Ambition which centers on the glory of God...is a mighty force for good.
These sentences in this first chapter reminded me of the
BCS championship game yesterday.
(oh my gosh I love college football. So much. Especially THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Rose Bowl champs this year, in case you missed it.) Anyway. If you missed the game, Alabama (#1) played Texas (#2).
Colt McCoy, Texas star quarterback, was injured in the first drive of the game and was out for the whole game. And while Texas gave a great effort, they ended up losing the game.
In his interview after the game, McCoy spoke clearly of his faith:
I'd say his ambition is pretty well centered on the glory of God. And is certainly a mighty force for good.
Thanks for exemplifying great leadership for us, Colt McCoy.
Labels: BCS championship, Colt McCoy, leadership, Sam Bradford, Texas
giftedness. character.
It’s said that giftedness is what gets you places, but character is what keeps you there. We need to focus on the character of people and intentionally think through whether or not giving them a leadership position (in any capacity) is best for their long term character development. We don’t usually think about it this way. We see the gifts someone has and then typically release them in ministry. But often times this can lead to a damaged heart and potentially one filled with so much pride that it causes their ministry to come to an end.
Chuck Bomar said this on his blog this week. I've been reading and rereading it.
- Thinking about the students that I know. Literally students all over the country, in various stages of high school and college, with more opportunities to lead and serve than I could even tell you about.
- Thinking about students that I personally have pushed or placed in leadership.
- Thinking about students that have succeeded tremendously.
- Thinking about students that have fallen apart.
- Thinking about my own successes.... my own failures.
I can identify a kid with 'leadership potential'. Potential that is wrapped up in their gifts. And, to be honest, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. The Lord gifts us in different ways, and leadership is certainly a gift. (Not that you can't lead at all without the gift of leadership... but that's another conversation entirely.)
But how do I develop leaders? Do I spend so much time and effort on their skills as a leader that I miss their character?
And, more personally, do I do that with myself?
...Sometimes, yeah. I totally do. With myself, and with others.
There are huge implications here. This is something that deserves some attention.
Labels: character, Chuck Bomar, leadership
mark batterson strikes again.
Sometimes people just speak right to your heart. Or communicate your heart for you without even realizing they're doing that. Read another blog by
Mark Batterson that is SO important -- to discipleship, to leadership, to believers in general.
Spiritual Hunger
How hungry are you?
Spiritual hunger is the key to spiritual maturity. When you lose that spiritual hunger you stop seeking, asking, and knocking. You stop growing.
As leaders, this isn't something we can "give" to people. But we need to salt the oats so to speak. And we need to set the example. You know what you owe God and owe your congregation as a pastor? A deep spiritual hunger to know God more!
I remember when I first starting seeking the Lord. It was between my freshman and sophomore year of college. I would stay up late reading my Bible. I'd get up early to pray. I went to sleep and woke up thinking about God. I was hungry. And I'm still hungry. I know it waxes and wanes, but how hungry are you?
If I could pray for one thing for you it'd be this: an insatiable hunger to know God more. There is no substitute for spiritual hunger.
Deuteronomy 4:29: "Seek the Lord and you will find him, if you search for Him with all of your heart and all of your soul."
God reveals Himself the most to those who want to know Him the most.
Labels: discipleship, leadership, mark batterson
calling out their gifts
On Operation Barnabas, our high school students get to experience a wide variety of ministries. Children, youth, adult, senior citizen, homeless, local church, manual labor, dramatic arts, music, preaching/teaching... the list goes on.
One of my favorite things is to see a student come alive in one of those ministries. You know what I mean? Like, they are in a situation where they are using their gifts ad their strengths and they are flourishing. And, they are probably loving it.
What's shocking to me is that so many of these kids don't even recognize their strengths, their gifts. They have no idea they are leaders, encouragers, administrators, servants, teachers, preachers....
Why? Because no one has ever affirmed them. No one has pointed out their gift, and then helped them find ways to use it and to continue refine it.
We need to speak prophetically into each other's lives. We need tocall things out--gifts, passions, goals, dreams, desires. Isn't that what Jesus was so good at? He saw the martyr in a denier named Peter. He called it out by calling him "the Rock."
Prophets call things out of the people. It's also called leadership. I'm thinking of this today because I read a manuscript an aspiring author sent to me and he definitely has the gift. I emailed him back and called it out. I want to call the best out of others the way Jesus did. That's leadership. That's discipleship.
Who do you have the opportunity to call out? Do it. Today.
Labels: discipleship, gifts, leadership, mark batterson
Borrowed....
There is no such thing as "best idea wins."
There is only "best idea plus most influence wins."
Great ideas have enemies.
Enemies like naysayers, laggers, tradition, chain-of-command, poor taste, money, critical mass...
For a great idea to succeed, it must have a platform.
Innovators have to be multitude makers.
I love it. Innovators have to be multitude makers.
Just sit on that for a while.
Labels: ben arment, leadership
