A great leader will always have a desire to grow his ministry (If you don’t have that desire you need to get some rest or get out…rest is usually the answer). At times I have worked so hard at growing the people in my minister that I forgot to grow the most important person in my ministry… me.
Remember, maturity, teaching, and leading can only come from an overflow. I would wager if your ministry isn’t growing (spiritually and numerically) your personal growth development is lacking.
How is your reading? Most importantly the Bible; however are you reading books by other Godly inspired authors. Minimum of 1 book per month outside the Bible would be a healthy goal to start with
What about prayer? Is it so dry, repetitious, and seldom, or is like a conversation with a best friend setting next to you
Do you have a “think time”? Not a prayer or scripture mediation, but a time to sit and think and let the Holy Spirit speak to you, brink thoughts and actions to you about the people and the circumstances in your ministry.
We are reminded in Matthew 6:33 to “…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.
Grow yourself first and your Ministry will grow

“How many loaves do you have? Seven they replied”…Jesus on the day he fed thousands.
Great leaders always teach their followers to use whatever they have on hand. As a leader I have also learned the best way to grow God’s people is not for “me to do”, but to allow “them to do”, with what they have (Their gifts).

Paul gave resume requirements for Timothy and Titus as they were enlisting leaders (1st Timothy 3:2-4). When considering a leader in your business, or a LifeGroup, youth ministry, children’s ministry, whether paid or volunteer, the first thought should be, “How is the home life”. If a person doesn’t understand how to lead their own home, how can they lead others (1st Timothy 3:5).

Good leaders will embody, not merely teach what they believe, and that can been seen, good or bad, through their home life.

Over the years of hiring staff, the comment made most about the last leader they worked for was, “They just didn’t care.” – not, “They were bad.” In fact, most of what they said was very positive, simply that there was no intimacy, and that was what they wanted more than anything else.

I’ve seen more times where leadership fails from lack of intimacy than from any other cause. I had a Worship Leader tell me after 5 years working for a Pastor as his last church, the most intimacy he had was one dinner out. (more…)

The best leaders are not “lonely”, because they have developed close relationships with those that are following them. The only way to develop other leaders that will sustain you, and the vision, is to have them “with” you.

I agree with the idea that leadership is influence (John Maxwell) and everyone is a leader to some degree, good, bad or otherwise. Whether you are a CEO, a parent, or ball player at the local high school you have influence with someone and therefore you are a leader. The key is being a good leader, not a lousy one.

Over the years and after reading the Bible many times and several outstanding books there seems to be seven very important principles that come to the forefront in being a good leader (in scripture the number 7 symbolizes being complete). Amazingly all of them will apply to the work place as well as with the family and are Biblically based (Imagine that, we can learn how to be a leader from the greatest leader of all time; Jesus Christ)

Let’s look at number one: Know The Condition Of Your People. What does that look like in the everyday work place? (more…)

We have been talking about seeing and hearing from God in everyday life. How about God speaking through Sports Talk Shows. Yes, men, now you can tell your wife, “Honey we can’t change the channel, God might speak to me.” Let me explain before you hit the delete.
A sports show aired recently that was discussing pro football and the pending playoff match-ups. The main focus was “what it takes”, the priorities, the discipline, and the focus to be a constant playoff contender year after year.
Of course the Indianapolis Colts and Payton Manning came up. (more…)

Too often we promote the idea that as Disciples of Christ, life is all fun. In years past; yes I had fallen into mode of thinking we need to be “Seeker Sensitive”. I am sure that most preachers and teachers like me had the intention of making it easy for the lost and the unchurched to seek out a relationship with God.
The idea is Biblical; coming into a relationship with Jesus is easy, but somewhere in the translation, “seeker-sensitive” became “YOKE-FREE”. (more…)

If you are reading this you are the exception, most would never read past the title. Why? Because most never consider themselves to be leaders, least of all great leaders. The fact is everyone that has influence is a leader. Are you a parent, you area leader. Do you have anyone under your authority at work; you are a leader. Are you the bully on the play ground, you are a leader. (more…)