Wednesday night, Pastor Heinze gave a message on leadership. It impacted me on several levels, and I wanted to share his points with you. Whether you are in a titled position, a youthworker, a pastor or “just” a church member, you are a leader of some sort or another. People watch us whether we know it or not and we need to be aware of what they see. Hopefully these points which are gleaned from biblical principles will help you shape your life after the greatest leader ever known to man, Jesus Christ.
I. The Definition of Leadership: Influence
- Leadership is not necessarily attached to a position. Real leadership is influence, i.e. – mothers, teachers, fathers, etc.
- Every time you influence someone you are assuming leadership. 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example (leader) for the believers in speech, lifestyle, in spirit in faith and in purity.“ Age and experience have their advantage, but you can be influential at any age – for good or for bad.
II. The Test of Leadership: Followers
- If you want to know whether you are a leader or not, simply look over your shoulder, look in your rearview mirror. John Maxwell says, “He who thiketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk.” If you have to remind people you are the leader, you aren’t effective. You can lead by fear for a short time, but long term, you must lead by example.
- Remember the story in Judges of Deborah and the prophetess? (Judges 4 & 5)
III. The Foundation of Leadership: Character
- Your behavior is determined by one of three factors: the crowd around you, the circumstances influencing you, or the character within you! “When one’s visible behavior contradicts one’s stated character it creates insecurity for the followers. When one’s stated character compliments one’s visible behavior it creates integrity.” Charisma without character will eventually lead to the “bottom dropping out.”
- Proverbs 20:6 “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?“
IV. The Challenge of Leadership: Growth
- When you stop learning you stop leading. Learning to be a leader is a lifetime commitment.
- Philippians 4:9 “Those things, which ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Leaders must DO!
- Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.“ This verse does not mean the people of the day thought John and Peter were stupid, it means they were quite surprised at their leadership capabilities since neither men were formally educated. It was because they had spent so much time in the company of Christ and put into practice what they had learned from Him. We need to do the same. You are influencing someone, develop and exert your leadership for the glory of God.
I hope these notes will be of help and encouragement to you. In this fresh period of the new year, most of us are intent on making some change or changes in our lives. We must take the right steps in making these changes stick. These principles will go a long way in helping each of us be more Christ-like in everything we do. Remember, someone is watching!
Marissa
