What Does the Bible Have to Say About Effective Leadership (Part 5)

In the 5th installment we are going to look at " An Effective Leader Confronts with Authority."

I hate confrontation. I used to do anything to get out of it, but I have learned, if I want to be an effective leader, especially leading a Church movement, I have to be willing to confront. Hopefully, this will help you as well. These leadership principles are taken out of our manuals we use for our leadership development classes called NorthwestPassage.

The Effective Leader Confronts with Authority

Whenever God encourages His people to do something to expand the Kingdom, it seems like the potential for conflict follows behind. The leader is responsible for helping to maintain the unity and connectedness of those being led, and so chaos, conflict and evil must be confronted in the authority of the Spirit.

In Titus 2:15, Paul challenges the young pastor to "Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you."

Paul wanted Titus to be bold in confronting sin. And we are called to do that, if we are called to leadership. But to clairify, this does not mean that you as a leader have the right to equate, "opposition to the vision" with "evil." We need to be appropriately humble about the vision we believe God has given us, to be open to guidance from those who are wise, to make appropriate amount of room for those who might disagree with us. 

Does this mean that we should doubt the direction we believe we are receiving from God every time someone disagrees with us? Of course not. But we must realize that disagreement is not the same thing as sin. That being said, once people move from simply disagreeing to gossiping, quareling, and causing great pain to others in their quest to "be heard," we will need to be ready to confront and, in doing so, properly care for those whom God has given us responsibility.

NEXT UP: Part 6: The Effective Leader Pays Attention.

For more information, check out NW Passage or VantagePoint3 or send me an email.

 

What Does the Bible Have to Say About Effective Leadership (Part 4)

In the fourth installment we are going to look at " An Effective Leader Provides Direction." We are just getting ready to launch another year of NW Passage. This has been one of the most beneficial things we've done for Whipple Creek and for the individuals. The 9 month process has helped each person learn more of who God is, who they are and what God wants to do in and through them. 

We challenge with questions and statements. One of the things we look at is Christian leadership in the Church. Here is our fourth statement. Do you agree?

The Effective Leader Provides Direction

The effective leader is the sort of person who, guided by faith, uses goals and strategies to chart a course of action. Effective leaders help their people find methods to accomplish the vision, which they believe God has given to them. Jethro illustrated this principle in Exodus 18:14-23 when he advised his son-in-law, Moses to delegate some of his authority to others and focus on the sorts of issues that only he could address (and boy am I learning this one!). 

Jethro recognized the need and then outlined a strategy that would allow Moses to be faithful to his God-given responsibilities. The capacity to offer this sort of guidance is a skill that must be developed. If wise action is to be linked to good vision, then strategy must be developed.

NEXT UP: Part 5: The Effective Leader Confronts with Authority.

For more information, check out NW Passage or VantagePoint3 or send me an email.

 

In His Grip,

 

Brett

What Does The Bible Say About Effective Leadership (part 2)?

Sorry this post has been so long in coming, I guess you could say I got sidetracked by life a little bit. It's all been apart of me being a more effective leader. I lead a group of emerging leaders through a real cool process this past year (my 5th year doing it). I'm proud to say, leaders have emerged from that process who are now leading another 15 leaders through the same process (duplication, I love it!)

One of the things we always address is "What does the Bible say about leadership?" So, here is the 2nd thing (out of 10) the Bible says about effective leadership (that is a leaders who leads Christianly) that comes from what we are studying and reading (thanks VantagePoint3).

Do you agree?

The effective Christian leaders sees the way to go.

An effective leader is said the sort of person who inspires and motivates others toward a Godly vision. Look what Jesus in John 10:3-4,

"The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."

Jesus was speaking about himself in this passage, but the responsibilities of a Christian leader are no different in that all Godly leaders are called to "know the sheep" in order to communicate a vision (a preferred view of the future), which in turn inspires follower-ship.

People are hungry for leadership, and because of this we are easily manipulated. Many worldly leaders take advantage of this susceptibility for their own profit, but Godly leaders always call their followers to a vision that glorifies God. They see God's way to go.

NEXT: Effective Christian leader proclaims truth.

What Does The Bible Say About Effective Leadership?

I have been leading a group of emerging leaders through a real cool process this past year (my 4th or 5th year doing it) and one of the things we always address is "What does the Bible say about leadership?" So, here are 10 things the Bible says about effective leadership (that is a leaders who leads Christianly) that comes from what we are studying and reading. Do you agree?

1. They model a Christ-like lifestyle.
What this means is that the they seek to serve out of an intimate relationship with God, and in doing so, invites others into the same sort of relationship. The most important thing is to understand is that "who you are" and "whose you are" are infinitely more important than "what you do."

The world says, "lead because you've got what it takes. You've got the skills, the charisma and you've got the drive. You go out there and make it happen, because it's all about you and then you'll get what you have coming to you."

Paul says in Galatians 2:20 "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Paul knew that the "Christian" leader follows Jesus first, dies to self, and lets Jesus have control in order that others might find the same path. 

If we are to lead effectively and faithfully, we must pay attention to how our modeling influences. For ultimately who you are is what others will receive and respect and follow, not simply what you say or command.

Next: They See the Way to Go