By Rick Warren
Leadership is a choice. The role of the leader doesn't come automatically when we're given a title -- even if the title is pastor."
Rick Warren
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If you want to be a people builder, start by giving people an example to follow. Leadership begins with you and with how you live. At its most basic level, leadership is about being a model for others.
Why? You can only take a person as far as you have gone yourself. That’s why the first audience for your sermons each week isn’t your congregation -- it’s you. You can’t preach what hasn’t changed your life already,
The problem today is we don’t know the difference between being a leader and a boss. They are not the same. Dictators demand. Leaders model. You don’t lead by dictating. You lead by example. The Bible says, “Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care but lead them by your good example.” (1 Peter 5:3 NLT)
Jesus never asked anybody to do anything he hadn’t already done or wasn’t already doing. The Bible says in John 13:15, “I’ve given you an example to follow. Now do as I have done to you.” (NLT) Jesus said he did it, now you do it. In this particular case, he had just washed the feet of the disciples and modeled servanthood. Now he expected his followers to do it. But he modeled it first.
Pastor, what do we need to model to those we serve? Paul gives us five particular characteristics in 1 Timothy 4:12:
Speech. How do you talk to people?
Life. How do you live your life?
Love. Do you really show love to other people?
Faith. Do you really trust God?
Purity. Do you live a life of integrity?
Are you modeling those behaviors for your family? Are you modeling them for your church?
Leadership is a choice. The role of the leader doesn’t come automatically when we’re given a title -- even if the title is pastor. There are plenty of pastors who aren’t leaders. But you can be a leader. It starts by making choices that other people choose not to make and providing that as an example to others. Anyone can be a leader.
The issue is, do you choose to be one?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Writing your kid a letter as he prepares to leave the nest
"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
Ever feel like writing your kid a letter as he prepares to leave the nest? Here’s one I recently gave a young buck:
Dear Bill,
Wow, eighteen years old and the whole world and most of your life before you! What a time to live! What extraordinary opportunities and challenges await you! We live in a very needy world. Imagine the difference you can make in it? Life is too short to be lived in a small way. Grab the brass ring and go for it 110%.
Think about the wonderful home God placed you in! And the first rate education you have been privileged to receive up to this point. I am reminded of Jesus’ statement, “…From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Lk. 12:48) With privilege comes increased responsibility.
Bill, I would like you to consider four concepts:
Intimacy: Christ wants to know you, and you to know Him. Deeply. Personally. But this won’t happen on the back stroke. Regular time with Him in his word and prayer is a matter of spiritual life and death. Make it your intention to travel with a company of strong disciples of Christ. Make the pursuit of Him your number one priority, and you will be astounded at the quality of life He will give back to you. Paul laid it out in saying, “…All the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ.” (Phil. 3:8 – Msg.)
Commitment: Half baked commitment to God – or anything is a dead end street, and a loser’s game. It is God’s intention to enlist you in making a difference in the lives of people for His Glory and Kingdom. So give it your best shot. Here is how Jesus put it: “If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, carry his cross every day and keep close behind me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it. For what is the use of a man gaining the whole world if he loses or forfeits his own soul.” (Lk. 9:23-25 - Philips Translation)
Accountability: Have a blast with this thing we call life. Push out the walls and live it to the fullest. Just keep in mind Solomon’s caution: “You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.” (Ecc. 11:9 – Msg)
Responsibility: Bill, we live in a hurting and confused world. Our country is in crisis both economically and spiritually. By any measure, we as a nation are in decline. Most of the rest of the world is in desperate straits. You and I have the solution: The Gospel of Christ. Whatever profession you choose, from driving truck to running a company, use it as a platform for helping people discover Christ, to feed the poor, to bring hope and solutions to a suffering world. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 Jn. 3:16-18)
As a young man I chose to seriously follow Christ. After 57 years I can tell you it has been an extraordinary experience, worth every second of it! Join me in the adventure!
This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!
R. Dwight Hill
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
Ever feel like writing your kid a letter as he prepares to leave the nest? Here’s one I recently gave a young buck:
Dear Bill,
Wow, eighteen years old and the whole world and most of your life before you! What a time to live! What extraordinary opportunities and challenges await you! We live in a very needy world. Imagine the difference you can make in it? Life is too short to be lived in a small way. Grab the brass ring and go for it 110%.
Think about the wonderful home God placed you in! And the first rate education you have been privileged to receive up to this point. I am reminded of Jesus’ statement, “…From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Lk. 12:48) With privilege comes increased responsibility.
Bill, I would like you to consider four concepts:
Intimacy: Christ wants to know you, and you to know Him. Deeply. Personally. But this won’t happen on the back stroke. Regular time with Him in his word and prayer is a matter of spiritual life and death. Make it your intention to travel with a company of strong disciples of Christ. Make the pursuit of Him your number one priority, and you will be astounded at the quality of life He will give back to you. Paul laid it out in saying, “…All the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ.” (Phil. 3:8 – Msg.)
Commitment: Half baked commitment to God – or anything is a dead end street, and a loser’s game. It is God’s intention to enlist you in making a difference in the lives of people for His Glory and Kingdom. So give it your best shot. Here is how Jesus put it: “If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, carry his cross every day and keep close behind me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it. For what is the use of a man gaining the whole world if he loses or forfeits his own soul.” (Lk. 9:23-25 - Philips Translation)
Accountability: Have a blast with this thing we call life. Push out the walls and live it to the fullest. Just keep in mind Solomon’s caution: “You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.” (Ecc. 11:9 – Msg)
Responsibility: Bill, we live in a hurting and confused world. Our country is in crisis both economically and spiritually. By any measure, we as a nation are in decline. Most of the rest of the world is in desperate straits. You and I have the solution: The Gospel of Christ. Whatever profession you choose, from driving truck to running a company, use it as a platform for helping people discover Christ, to feed the poor, to bring hope and solutions to a suffering world. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 Jn. 3:16-18)
As a young man I chose to seriously follow Christ. After 57 years I can tell you it has been an extraordinary experience, worth every second of it! Join me in the adventure!
This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!
R. Dwight Hill
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