Basic attitudes we all must have to be in any form of Leadership ..

Leadership; a word that I think may best be defined as being simple influence. There is a lot of acrimonious attachments but the basics seem to lie in the act of influencing people to do something. In the 70's there was a t-shirt that said "Every one has a role in life. ... Mine is to be a bad example" most of us influence more people than we realize. a non-public, non-people person will have well over 10,000 life contacts during his stay on earth. We have to determine how we will use each of these contacts. Will we be a good influence or a bad one.

Leadership according to the bible in Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

This leadership idea carries with it the idea of an ever present accountability. This accountability is not just ourselves but what did we do with that which God has given us to care for.. I dont think God will be saying "well you certainly nailed it that meeting didn't you"? I think probably "look at how those you trained have excelled..." (I hope that is what i hear)

In the story of the talents could we be thinking amiss if we limit that story to our own personal talents only.

Mathew 15:14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

I fear there are many of us would be leaders who are in for a shock on judgment day. When the master returns, he will ask us 'what we have done with the talents I had entrusted to you'. I believe those talents are not our personal gifts but the talents are those who he gave us to lead, to influence, to train up for the work of the ministry..

Ephesian 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming

We all want things to be done right and correct. We all want our ministries to be picture perfect. Our hope is that ministry will always take place where there is no excesses or lacks, we nver say hurtful things, and of course everything is done with passion. These are unspoken judgments that we must perform perfectly in order to maintain acceptability and position. The down side of this thinking is we fear to release, correct and retrain We just do it ourselves. As compared to the angelic hosts our worship is lacking, as compared to the power of his throne our ministry is pretty shallow. So why do we hold our small piece of ministry as if we are the only ones who have the keys to successfuly ministry? We fear to allow others to make a mistake in public setting as it would reflect directly back on us. (like God is that impressed with how we are currently representing him anyway.)

To be a Godly leader we must first train and then model, and then release. If Jesus is our model we will leave a group of very scared imperfect people to fulfill the task of saving the world. As leaders we are in need of trusting the Holy Spirits ability to teach us and those we lead all that is needed.

Leadership must.

#1. Not take our selves so serious. WE are all sheep according to scripture. If I read the book correctly and see from life. WE are all wounded sheep. That certainly includes those who have a leadership role. I have not seen any perfect person, with perfect doctrine, or relational skills, communication skills, or the ability to love like Jesus loved. Basically we are all in transit to the goal of becoming Christ like. So breath deep and realize we all are in process and thus all going to make mistakes along the way.

#2. We must be humble enough to realize number one is really about us too. If we look at us, verses them, and feel our mistakes are tools in which "they" can learn from. ouch.. To many casualties in the body of Christ because of proud and hurting leaders.. Admit it when we blow it.. it is hard but actually if your like me.. you do it so often it gets easier. sad indictment on myself I know.

#3. Realize we will give account for the lives, and ministries God has entrusted to us. It is not about our ministries it is about What is to be trained, release, and supported from us. Our main goals as leaders ought not to be great; but to make others far better and go far further and impact much more than we ever could and ever will.

Obviously this is only the beginning but this should be enough to get the proverbial ball rolling..

P. John

Starting a blog seems similar to talking to yourself. At first it seems redundant, even irrelevent, and then hopefully you begin to believe you are making sense. I am definatly at the beginning stages of this process. [though i have been talking to myself for years]

Why the topic of leadership in the church? Well for many years of working in the world of software development and systems designed I saw good, bad, and indiffernet leaders. In the church I see a group of people who have a common goals. Most have a longing for decisive leadership and willingness to follow clear distinct directives. The cost of poor leadership is eternal loss. The cost of good leadership is exponential growth and eternal salvation.

We have all experinced poor leadership. Abuse, neglect, arrogance, and ruling by public opinion, are some of the things we have endured or fear to endure. Most of us are looking for some sort of decisive, positive influence in their lives.

I see this blog as an opprotunity to vent, and to communicate to those who would have such extra time on their hands as to bother to read these rambelings. Those in leadership in a local church have a unique opprotunity to work with an all volunteer workforce while not loosing the goals or distinctives of the organization for the individuals assisting. A challenge yes, but definately worth the time, effort, and frustration leadership will exude from us.

I also see this as a way to communicate to the up and comming leaders within our local church as well as those within the community of belivers at large.

comments, questions, or concrens will be greatly appreciated