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Leaders are evaluators, critics, and thinkers. They absorb ideas and process them.

Leadership is born the moment that a person looks at a situation and says, “I could do that better!”

Christian Leadership is born the moment that a person looks at a situation and says, “I could help change their lives!”

Vision comes from trial and error, trying to meet the needs of others.

Vision dies when our heart loses focus on the need that drew us into the situation or stops experiencing the love that first called it to want to extend love to someone else.

The calling of leadership is also the curse. Filling the need in others lives is messy business…and it always drains more than it fills, though there are moments of great joy. In order to serve others effectively, you must have love poured into you from the source that cannot be exhausted. If God doesn’t pour in, you may continue to serve needs, but you will do it with a bad attitude, one that will eventually do as much damage as good as you try to help people.

Leaders encounter challenges when they go from leading others by helping them,

To leading a people who are also helping others. They move from coaching to head coach. It’s a role the requires an entirely different skillset.

In Scripture, Saul was a good leader when it came to helping people, but he didn’t do well at being the head coach. He led armies to free people, but he couldn’t get anyone to fight if he wasn’t fighting—he couldn’t empower a hero to defeat Goliath. David was able to raise up an army that won battles when he wasn’t present, and heros that became greater than he was. Solomon surpassed them both, building the nation in ways no one had ever seen. Solomon’s influence far surpassed Saul or David…that doesn’t make them worse or less special in the way God worked through their lives…but when a desire to lead grows, you need to grow yourself to lead at a higher level.

Jesus didn’t just serve—he empowered and trained the disciples to serve: to preach, do miracles, and love others.

We need more high level leaders. We have churches to plant here and across the world. And leading a church requires skilled leadership. Passionate service, and a heart that is deeply connected to Jesus. If God is calling you to serve…dream big. Grow, and grow, and grow. Let God use you to the fullest extent possible. When its time, step up in leadership. Don’t be content simply to serve a few. Lead a team that serves more.

Scripture:

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Matthew 9:35-28

 

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31: 8-9

 

“Be shepherds of God’s flock, the believers who are under your care. Serve as their leaders. Don’t serve them because you have to. Instead, do it because you want to. That’s what God wants you to do. Don’t do it because you want to get more and more money. Do it because you really want to serve.”

1 Peter 5:2 (NIRV)

 

For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

1 Timothy 3:5

 

Select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Exodus 18:21 (NIV)

 

A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

Matthew 24:45-47 (NLT)

 

Read Matthew 10

 

Good Discussion Questions/Homework to write about:

  • What Has God broken your heart for in the past? How did He do it?
  • How long has it been since you have felt that hurt and desire to see others in a better place?
  • Are you serving others in a big way now?
  • Have others joined you in serving others? And if so, how can you lead them better?
  • Have you ever managed other people? Where did you do well, where did you fail?

 

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