What about Leadership?

How do you challenge a leadership team? What are a few thoughts to say to Christian leaders that will help them make good decisions, listen to the voice of God and make plans for next year?

Tonight I had that chance. I was speaking to 50 leaders from 12 schools throughout VA, NC & SC. I didn't want to give them a 'How-to' list on what they should do. So I just gave them a couple principles to start with.

First principle: working with a Christian Leadership Team is like the TV show "24" you never know what to expect. The Good Characters often become the Bad Guys. And the difficult characters often become the heroes. "Perfect" leadership teams often get less than perfect results, the "weaker" leadership teams often excel beyond their limitations. The Lord will frequently use our weaknesses for His strength. Conversely, the "evil one" will use our strengths for his purposes. I Corinthians 1:18-31.

Second Principle: You were chosen as a team by Jesus Christ. The primary reason for a christian leadership Team is to be with Jesus. Mark 3:14 says "Jesus called 12 Apostles that they might be with Him." Doing ministry was secondary to being with Jesus. As you work through your team issues and developing your plan and strategy remember the primary task is to be with Jesus.

Third Principle: Make sure that Jesus stays on the Throne of your personal life and your team - ALONE. When I shared the Gospel with Mike White (A High School student, back in the YL days) He asked me if there was any way that he could be on the throne with Jesus. Jesus doesn't allow for shared responsibility. Rom 8:28 - All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes. He is the center all power, vision, decisions flow out of that consistency. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and ALL these things will be added unto you."

Fourth Principle: Make sure you are living on the Right side of the equation. G+0=RSWG. The Left Side is G+0, means Grace plus nothing. If I am living on the left side of the equation it means that I try to help God out by adding to the ZERO. Things like daily quiet time, attending church, leading a small group, etc. Really, God doesn't need the help if it is seen as some kind of 'duty'. But living on the Right Side of the Equation means because of His love for me, the Grace He provides through death on the cross, I have the ability to have a right relationship with Him - that is RSWG=Right Standing With God. So as you do things for God - do not do them out of a duty or attempt to help Jesus - but out of a relationship with Him. It's about relationship. Like marriage for instance, if I had married Carolyn and had gotten to the end of the aisle and said: "That was nice, let's do it again sometime." or "Why don't we meet back here in a year and try this again" That would have been silly. Our relationship began at that point, eventhough we knew each other before. That's the same with Jesus. If you are living on the right side then things you do are because you GET TO not because you SHOULD or you HAVE TO.

Fifth Principle: Don't be too BUSY for the people in your chapter. If you love them you will be available to them, regardless. Take BUSY out of your vocabulary. It seems to have become the Key Word for those of us in ministry. It's like if I'm busy then I am more important in the Kingdom of God. That is pride. How many times did you see Jesus in the Gospels - going a way for a rest, praying early in the AM, taking the Disciples away for some quiet. He prioritized time with His father. Then out of that comes a compassion for the people who were following Him.