174 Sermon Illustrations on Leadership

An elder is a husband, a father, a son, a son-in-law, a disciple of Christ, and a guardian of the faith. He leaves for work each morning as early as anyone does and returns home as late ... but then he heads for the church building or prepares for evening guests. When the building’s open, he’s there. He leads study groups. He nurtures a young convert. He prepares a Sunday morning class. Then late Sunday evening you’ll often find him still at our building, planning, dreaming, and praying for our common future. Some weeks he devotes parts of almost every day to working directly in God’s kingdom. He’s called on to be a referee, a diplomat, a lawyer, a psychologist, a judge, a sounding board, a friend.

And he bleeds like everyone else! He’s no physically healthier than any of us. His privacy needs are just as strong. He has good days and bad days at home ... and at work. He enjoys no moratorium on parental anxieties. His things break down just like yours. He wonders just like you where the money will come from. His future is no more certain than yours; but somehow by the grace of God he adds to his concerns yours.

At times he feels personally responsible for the whole church and each brother and sister in it. He is saddened by the creases on our brows and the tensions in our voices. He wants to please everyone, but called by God to lead and love us all, different as we are, he simply cannot. He recognizes harmful decisions and agonizes over whether to voice his concern or respect our privacy. He hates confrontation but he knows eternal destinies are at stake. Understanding spiritual realities better than most of us, he feels too often desperately inadequate and vulnerable.

Too often he goes unnoticed. Who compliments him as they may a minister? “Good eldering this week, brother! It really made me think.”

But he may just be the reason you and many you love are still loyal to God’s kingdom. Try to imagine your church without them!

"During the French Revolution, a general looked over his balcony at a river of people rushing through the streets toward the Bastille. Spinning on his heels, he shouted to his aide, 'Quick! My tunic and my sword. I am their leader; I must follow them!"

(Marlene LeFever, Creative Teaching, Chicago: David C. Cook, 1985, p. 89)

Leonard Ravenhill tells of a group of tourists who were visiting a picturesque village. One person turned to an elderly man sitting nearby and asked, "Were any great men born in this village?" The old man replied, "Nope, only babies."

If you were to take the broken bottom of a glass bottle and hold it over a piece of wood in the sun what would happen? Nothing--might see some pretty colors depending on the color and thickness of the glass. What would happen if you held up a magnifying glass? You'll get a fire!

Decision about D-Day. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Only he could make it--scene from "Longest Day." Written

statement he had in pocket: "Landings have failed. Many brave men have died. If there is any blame to be attached, I and I alone am responsible."

THIS WEEK'S HONORARY UNSUBSCRIBE goes to Walter D. Scott. A former

chairman of the NBC television network, Scott presided during the mid-

1960s, when color broadcasting was starting to become popular. No one

really wanted to commit to paying the costs for upgrading the network's

facilities to full time color, but Scott pushed it through anyway,

convincing not only NBC's corporate parent, RCA, but also pressuring

the movie studios to produce more programs on color film. The network's

"color schedule", begun in 1965, resulted in the slogan, "The Full

Color Network". That led to the "NBC Peacock", which still graces NBC

today. Scott died March 12 of pneumonia in Carmel, Calif., at age 84.

"Once, when they asked Helen Keller if there was anything she could think of worse than being blind, she answered, 'Yes, being able to see and having no vision.'"

(From Tony Campolo, 20 HOT POTATOES, p. 31)

Following a brief war against Mexico In 1847-1848, the United States gained control of some 850,000 square miles of territory, including present day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California, and parts of Montana and Idaho. Congress was immediately faced with not only the question of how this land was to be divided and governed, but also what to do with all these vast holdings. Few men at the time appreciated the wealth of these new possessions. For the most part, the new lands were thought to be empty stretches of desert, mountains, and rocky coast. E. D. Mansfield, a historian, labeled California a mere "waste of unbroken mountains and dreary wilds." William Tecumseh Sherman, after living there, declared that he would not trade two good Eastern counties for the whole state. Even Zachary Taylor, elected President in 1848, affirmed in his inaugural address that California and New Mexico were too distant to ever form part of the Union. The rest of the story underlines just how wrong men can be. In 1848 James Marshall's sharp eyes spotted the glint of yellow metal at the bottom of a stream. "Californy Gold" soon lured 100,000 men westward and transformed America's western frontier into a full-fledged state. Western territories proved themselves to be fertile and well stocked with natural resources. Today, we could not even imagine our nation without that vast territory that stretches to the Pacific. Things are not always what they appear to be. Rare indeed is the man that can look at something-or someone-and see it not for what it is, but what it can be!

It wasn't until seven days before he was inaugurated that the people decided what to call George Washington. Originally the official title was to be:

HIS HIGHNESS

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

AND PROTECTOR OF THE LIBERTY.

But on April 23rd, 1789 the Senate decided to designate him simply

THE PRESIDENT.

Most of us are inclined to believe that all presidents are intellectual giants, men if great stature and accomplishment. But that's hardly true. Take Zachary Taylor...he'd never voted in his life. Not even once! When they asked him if he was a Whig or a Democrat, he said he didn't rightly know. When the Whigs nominated him anyway and notified him by mail, he refused to pay the ten cents postage due and sent the nomination back...unopened.

And how about William Henry Harrison...he was nominated because he had no ideas which could either interest or infuriate anybody. He caught cold during his own Inaugural Address, and died 30 days later.

Or John Tyler, who couldn't even get a job after he left office. He finally went to work at a village pound where he tended stray horses and cows.

How about Andy Jackson. When he moved into the White House, he believed the world was flat and spelled Europe, U R O P. Never changed his mind about either, either.

Then there was Van Buren...Martin Van Buren...so vain that when they auctioned off his White House goods, the carpet was threadbare in front of the mirror where he'd practiced his speeches. No one could move in until the carpet was replaced. And the speeches weren't even good.

And THESE were our LEADERS.

No wonder we say, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

In "The Last Day's

Newsletter," Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man

sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, "Were

any great men born in this village?" The old man replied, "Nope, only

babies." A frothy question brought a profound answer. There are no instant

heroes... whether in this world or in the kingdom of God. Growth takes time,

and as 1 Timothy 3:6 and 5:22 point out, even spiritual leadership must be

earned. Leadership p.44 1984 5/2

Leadership is a hot topic in many churches today, according to Gene Mims, but the Bible is not usually the source of discussion.

"The Bible speaks a lot about leadership, but we don't hear a lot about it," said Mims, president of the Church Resources Division of LifeWay Christian Resources.

Mims was the first keynote speaker for the three-day Spring Conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, an event that is co-sponsored by Southeastern and LifeWay.

In his message, Mims focused on the Biblical example of leadership given by Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, in Exodus 18. In the passage, Jethro warns Moses that in order to provide good leadership to the nation of Israel, he must learn to delegate responsibility.

Church leaders today hear a lot about leadership, Mims said, but much of it comes in the form of "discordant voices" from business, industry, and psychology.

Pastors need to return to the Bible, the ultimate source of good leadership skills.

"We don't get our models of leadership from Jack Welch or Bill Gates or people like that," Mims said.

Mims said Godly leaders should be catalysts for change. Moses led the Israelites from being a band of former slaves to a single nation with a goal and a purpose.

"A leader is always involved in change, and a leader is always involved in transitioning people from what they are to God's best," he said.

Godly leaders, Mims said, are also go-betweens -- they stand before God on behalf of their people and before their people on behalf of God. Moses, he said, was willing to beg God's mercy for the Israelites but was ready to preach God's law to them as well.

Godly leaders also know how to choose the right people to accomplish the right tasks, he said. Mims said Jethro was right in advising Moses to seek out godly men to help him with the burden of leadership.

Leaders who try to do everything by themselves are bound to burn out and quit, Mims said.

Leaders also begin and end their days with prayer, Mims said, or they will not be effective.

"A leader's life begins with an intercessory posture," he said. "You'll never lead anybody you don't pray for."

Finally, a godly leader catches God's vision, Mims said. Though he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, Mims said, Moses was responsible for preparing the people to enter the land.

Godly leaders, likewise, should recognize what Jesus has called his church to do. The church does not need new vision statements, Mims said. It has one, called the Great Commission.

Churches need men and women who will lead out in executing the vision, then equipping others to do the same.

"Choose the right people, give them the right task, and then let them do the task," Mims said.

BreakPoint Commentary -- November 17, 1998 Seeing Beyond the Bullets God's Perspective on Leadership by Charles W. Colson As a young man during the Korean War, I was in basic training as a Marine lieutenant. I learned that half of all lieutenants in the war were coming home in pine boxes -- a statistic that marvelously concentrated the mind. My instructors told me that my task was to rally the troops, stand up in the middle of combat, and say "follow me." Of course, the fellow who stands up first is the first to get shot at. So, you wonder, what would persuade someone to do a thing like that? The answer is that leaders act on the orders of their superiors. They see things others do not, and then have the courage to call others to follow. It's the same principle of leadership whether you're a military leader or a spiritual leader. As a Marine officer, I was expected to look past the bullets flying at me. I had to trust that my superiors knew we could win if we advanced ahead, and I believed that if we cowered in our foxholes we'd be wiped out. I had to convey that confidence to my men in order to get them to follow me. The analogy carries over to Christian leadership. The spiritual leader, like the Marine lieutenant, is fighting in a war, but it's a spiritual war, against the powers of darkness, to use Paul's phrase. The Christian leader, like the military leader, has to get his orders from his Commander. He has to get God's vision of things. How do we learn to see things from God's perspective? First, through prayer and studying God's Word. If you don't spend time with God, you will be flying blind against your spiritual adversary. Second, leaders should be accountable to a small group of fellow believers. Brothers and sisters can often confirm or deny God's leading. One of my favorite stories from Scripture illustrates well what spiritual leaders should do. In Second Kings we read that the King of Aram is at war with Israel. One night he sends his forces to capture the prophet Elisha. The next morning, when Elisha's servant wakes up, the servant sees an entire army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. "Oh, my lord," he said to Elisha, "what shall we do?" Elisha says, "do not be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Elisha, you see, could see something his servant could not. He saw the chariots of fire -- God's army -- and they outnumbered the Aramean army. He then asked that his servant would be able to see the same thing. Elisha saw things from God's point of view, and this enabled him to lead. It gave him the authority and the courage to press on -- the same kind of courage Marine lieutenants need to have in the field of battle. These principles apply whether we are leaders of great Christian movements, churches, or leaders in our own homes and Bible studies. To exercise spiritual authority, we need the vision of Elisha, to look beyond the limits of our own narrow, human horizon to see what God sees. And then, we've got to have the confidence to communicate that vision to those around us and say, "Fear not. Those who are with us are greater than those who are with them." (c) 1998 Prison Fellowship Ministries Copyright notice: We encourage liberal distribution of these transcripts through email and print. Please do not post on the world wide web or use this content for profit.

Two children were standing on the deck of an ocean liner looking out upon the great ocean. "What makes this ship go?" asked the boy of his sister.

"Why, the captain, he makes this ship go," answered the little girl, as she looked up to the bridge on which the captain, bedecked in his gold braid, walked back and forth.

"Oh, no he doesn't," said the boy. "What do girls know about ships anyway? You come with me and I'll show you what makes this big ship go."

So the boy took his sister by the hand and led her down to the engine room where he showed her those gigantic engines, and said to his sister, "See, that's what makes this ship go - not the captain but the engines make it go."

A little later as the boy and his sister were walking the deck again there was a cry. "MAN OVERBOARD!" They looked out to the sea and there, struggling in the water, they saw a drowning man. Then all eyes turned toward the captain on the bridge.

The captain called down one of the tubes, "Stop engines!" And the engines stopped. "Reverse engines!" And the engines reversed. "Forward engines!" And the steamer turned in the direction of the drowning man.

"Throw out the lifeline!" The line was thrown to the drowning man. He grasped it and soon was lifted up to the deck in safety.

The little girl turned to her brother and said, "Didn't I tell you that it was the captain that ran this ship?"

- Hymen Appelman, {Pointed Sermon Outlines and Illustrations}

Stay one step ahead of your people and you are called a leader.

Stay ten steps ahead of your people and you are called a martyr!

Gulf war hero H. Norman Schwarzkopf told a group of bankers what it

takes to be a leader, and he didn't need a microphone to do it.

Speaking in a thunderous voice as he strode back and forth on a

stage at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, Schwarzkopf urged his

audience to forget all they had learned about leadership and remember

two Army rules.

"When placed in command - take charge," he said. "Do what's right,

not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will

make you look good."

Schwarzkopf, a retired general, also told the bankers that "there

is no such thing as a born leader. . . . Most great leaders are

ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances."

- {The Courier-Journal, }Thursday, July 25, 1996. A2.

Over a century ago, a colleague submitted to Asahel Nettleton a

list of qualifications to be possessed by those who should be

encouraged to enter the ministry. It read thus: (1) Piety; (2)

Talents; (3) Scholarship; (4) Discretion. "Change the order," said

Nettleton, "put discretion next to piety.

John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach at UCLA, was one of the

great coaches of all time. His teams won an unprecedented ten

national championships in twelve years. Gayle Goodrich, one of his

many players at UCLA and later an all-pro with the Los Angeles Lakers,

said of him, "Coach Wooden's greatest attribute was his ability to

really understand people, to communicate with the players, and to

bring them together as a team."

Understanding others, good communication, the ability to unite

people; those are the keys to being a winner anywhere, anytime, and in

any field.

- Paul W. Powell, {Basic Bible Sermons on Handling Conflict,

}(Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992) 18

There is an old Irish toast we need to remember: "May you have the

hindsight to know where you have been, the foresight to know where you

are going, and the insight it know when you're going too far." Wise

is the leader who knows when he is going too far.

- Paul W. Powell, {Basic Bible Sermons on Handling Conflict,

}(Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992) 41

"One of the most important legacies a leader can give or leave the institution is a smooth transition in leadership where the organizational alliance can be quickly and readily given to the next leader."

________

Ted Engstrom, Succession, Challenges, and Concerns (Tape from National Association Of Evangelicals/Conference 1988).

Purpose-driven churches are led by purpose-driven leaders. I believe purpose-driven leaders balance God's purposes -- not only in their own lives -- but also within the churches they lead.

One way to illustrate this is by telling you about my life verse, Acts 13:36, where we're told David was purpose-driven: “David served God's purpose in his own generation, then he died....”

I cannot image a greater epitaph. Imagine having that statement inscribed on your tombstone: “He served God's purpose in his own generation!” In my opinion, you could receive no greater honor than that!

So how do you do that?

He served God's purposes....

God's purpose for the church is also his purpose for every Christian. As individual followers of Christ we are to use our lives in worship, ministry, evangelism, discipleship and fellowship. The church allows us to do it together. We are not alone in serving him.

That's why I love the church with all of my heart. It's the most brilliant concept ever created. It has outlasted cultures, governments, skeptics, enemies from within and without, and it will continue to do so until Jesus returns.

We must love the church as Christ does and we must teach others to love the church also. “... Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.... After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church -- for we are members of his body” (Ephesians 5:25,29-30).

In his own generation....

The truth is you can't serve God in any other generation except your own! You may want to -- but it's only wishful thinking. We cannot bring back the past. Ministry must always be done in the context of the current generation and culture. Whether we like it or not, we must minister to people in the culture as it really is -- not in some past form that we may have idolized in our minds.

David's ministry was both relevant and timely. He did it “in his generation.” He served God's purpose, which is eternal and unchanging, in his generation, which was the contemporary context for him. He served the timeless in a timely way.

He was both orthodox and contemporary. He was both biblical and relevant. We must be the same.

We must be contemporary without compromising the truth. With every new generation, the rules change a little. If we always do what we've always done, we'll always be where we've always been. The past is behind us. We can only live in today and prepare for tomorrow.

How do you measure success in ministry?

One well-known definition of successful evangelism goes like this: “Sharing the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.” I'd like to adapt that statement and offer a definition of successful ministry: Successful ministry is: “Building the church on the purposes of God in the power of the Holy Spirit and EXPECTING the results from God.”

I don't know how the final chapters of Saddleback Valley Community Church's story will be written but I am confident of this: “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 NIV).

God finishes whatever he starts. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. God will continue to fulfill his purpose at Saddleback and in every other church that is purpose-driven.

Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done to you” (Matthew 9:29). This is what I call the “faith factor” in growing churches. There are many factors that influence your ministry that you had no control over: your background, nationality, age, giftedness. These were determined by the sovereignty of God.

But there is one important factor that you do have a control over: how much you choose to believe God!

As I have studied growing churches for more than 20 years, I have discovered one great common denominator found in every growing church, regardless of denomination or location: leadership that is not afraid to believe God.

Growing churches are led by leaders who expect their congregation to grow. They are people of faith who believe the promises of God, even in discouraging times. This is the secret behind everything that has happened at Saddleback. We have believed God for big miracles and we've expected him to use us -- by grace through faith. That is our choice. It's your choice too.

Sometimes a church's situation looks hopeless from a human standpoint. But I am firmly convinced -- as Ezekiel's experience (Ezekiel 37) proved -- that no matter how dry the bones may be, God can breathe new life into them!

Any church can come alive if we allow the Spirit to infuse us with a new sense of his purpose.

By balancing the five purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and missions in your life and in your church, my hope is that your faith will be strengthened, your vision stretched and your love for Christ and his church deepened.

Accept the challenge of leading a purpose-driven life as you lead your church to be purpose-driven!

I believe the greatest churches in history are yet to be built. Are you available for that task? I pray that God will use you to fulfill his purposes in your generation. There is no greater use of your life.

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[Original illustration at this number was added to HolwickID #2362]

I'm not sure who "Simon" was, but I know a lot of kids - including me - have had to play his little game. You know - "Simon says." Just in case you were lucky enough to escape Simon, it goes like this. One person, often a grownup or another student, stands up in front and gives you commands. "Simon says stand up. Simon says sit down. Simon says hop on one foot. Simon says wave at all the girls in the class." The trick is that in the middle of all these commands, the leader slips in one command without a "Simon says" on it. If you obey that command, you're out. You're only supposed to do what Simon says.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The King Thing."

So that's the game - do something just because someone else says it. We're all grown up now, but some of us are still playing that game. Some of us have a tendency to let someone else do our thinking for us, and we just unthinkingly, uncritically go along with what they say. Especially if it's a Christian leader we really like and respect. Anything he or she says must be right. Not always.

We tend to have what I call this "king thing." It goes back at least as far as God's ancient people in our word for today from the Word of God. In 1 Samuel 8, beginning in verse 6, the Jews say, "Give us a king to lead us." Up to that point, they had been governed by God's direct leading through His appointed judge, Samuel. Samuel didn't like this king idea, but "the Lord told him: 'Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. Warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'"

So Samuel told them about how a king would take some of their money to build his kingdom, how he would take their children to run his kingdom and fight his battles. But the Bible says, "The people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us ... to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.'" Well, they got their king - along with the burdens of having one.

As God's people, we still have this king thing today. We want a human to follow, to fight our battles, to do our thinking. So we tend to elevate a human leader higher than any human should be elevated. Our "king" may be a powerful Christian speaker, a Christian radio personality, a charismatic Christian leader, a compelling Christian writer - or even a great church. Now the Bible clearly teaches that we should honor and respect those who teach us God's truth, who are in positions of spiritual leadership.

But no one's right about everything. No one's right all the time. Every teacher or leader has their flaws, their imbalances in what they teach. That's why, in the Book of Acts, the Bereans were described as being "of more noble character ... for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." God has given us teachers to teach His truth to us, but that doesn't mean we just put away our Bible and stop thinking for ourselves. That's how cults and theological detours get started.

You see, your primary source of truth must always be the Word of God, which you personally, one-on-one with God, examine every day to see what is true; trusting His Holy Spirit to lead you into truth. The "Simon says" approach of doing it or believing it just because someone up in front says it is for children. Spiritual maturity recognizes that only one King is worthy of our total reverence and trust - and that's the King of Kings.

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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“All great leaders have understood that their number one responsibility is cultivating their own discipline and personal growth. Those who cannot lead themselves cannot lead others.”

-- John Maxwell

“A platoon leader doesn’t get his platoon to go by getting up and shouting and saying. ‘I am smarter. I am bigger. I am stronger. I am the leader.’ He gets men to go along with him because the want to do it for him and they believe in him.”

-- Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Leaders make things possible. Exceptional leaders make them inevitable.”

-- Lance Morrow, journalist, B&P 7/28/2003

“The trouble with being a leader today is that you can’t be sure whether people are following you or chasing you.”

-- (unknown), Bits & Pieces, February 4, 1993, Page 8

“Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.”

-- Tom Peters, Wit & Wisdom, 10/13/03

“You have achieved excellence as a leader when people will follow you everywhere if only out of curiosity.”

-- Gen. Colin Powell

“A leader is a person with a magnet in his heart and a compass in his head.”

-- Vance Hainer

“Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.”

-- Coach Tom Landry

Both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush call him one of the American Presidents they revere the most - and he's right up there with Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln on Mount Rushmore - Theodore Roosevelt. He became a national hero, and soon President of the United States, after his heroic leadership in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The objective of his unit was to take this strategic Kettle Hill and then San Juan Hill. Ultimately, his troops would have to advance uphill in the face of withering enemy fire. And his soldiers would long remember the order he gave to launch what turned out to be an historic advance. Unlike many military leaders, Teddy Roosevelt did not say, “Charge!” Instead, he shouted, “Follow me!”

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Life-Changing Leadership.”

What an exciting example of real leadership. Not just pointing people in the way you want them to go, but taking them there! It is, in fact, the leadership style of Jesus. In 1 Peter 2:21, our word for today from the Word of God, it says, “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” That word “example” literally refers to the letters that were at the top of a schoolchild's slate in those days; the models that you copied in order to get it right. For us, that's Jesus.

He didn't just point in a direction and say, “Go for it!” His recurring invitation was, “Follow Me.” That kind of leadership demands a life that measures up to your words. If you're in a position right now where you're trying to move people in the right direction - whether it's your children, your church, your class, your co-workers, your employees - it's important to remember how to get folks charging ahead, even if it's uphill, even if you're drawing fire. You've got to present to them such a compelling model - such an inspiring “follow me” that it will be contagious.

For months, Jesus' disciples saw Him slip off every morning to spend time talking to His Heavenly Father. He never announced He was holding a seminar on prayer for them. But eventually, as recorded in Luke 11:1, the disciples came to Him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” He didn't nag them to that point, He led them to that point by showing them what praying looked like.

Paul demonstrated that kind of lifestyle leadership when he said, “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly ... I urge you to imitate me ... my way of life in Christ Jesus ... agrees with what I teach everywhere.” (1 Corinthians 4:12, 16-17) He could say, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Ultimately, it's not your position that gives you leadership. It's the way you live your life. It's the consistency of your convictions. It's the way you treat people. It's the kind of person you are more than the kind of position you hold that makes you a leader. If you wish things and people around you were different in some way, start being that way yourself! A leader's number one responsibility is to set the climate where they are. Ultimately, it won't be preaching that gets those folks moving, or nagging, or criticizing, or demanding. It will be giving them an example to follow. Remember, it's not “Charge!” but “Follow me!” that gives life-changing leadership!

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #5812]

The book is called “Good to Great” - it's a thought-provoking book on management written by Jim Collins and a research team he headed. They identified eleven of the most effective companies in the United States over the last quarter century and then they pursued this question: “What specifically makes these companies so different?” This research actually challenged many of the author's preconceptions - there were actually lots of surprises. Interestingly, the first thing Collins and his team point to as common to every one of these consistently successful companies is this, and it's a surprise - the modesty of the various CEOs who led them. They suggest that the starting point of a great company is a humble leader - highly focused, sometimes driven people - but known for being gracious, self-effacing, understated. I guess in a word, humble.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Surprising Secret of Greatness.”

If you've listened much to what Jesus says about leadership, these recent “discoveries” shouldn't be a great surprise to you. In Mark 10, beginning with verse 42, our word for today from the Word of God, Jesus presents what most people believe about being a leader - and then the truth according to Jesus.

He says: “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them ... not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” Then Jesus backs it up with the way He lived His own life: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus believes that you earn your authority in people's lives by serving them, by putting them first, by helping them succeed. And, sure enough, the most contemporary research only reinforces the importance of humility in leadership. The “Good to Great” authors illustrate their conclusions in this area with what they call windows and mirrors. When these successful CEOs do something right, they walk over to a window and point to all the reasons out there (especially all the other people) that are the reasons for their success. When they do something wrong, they walk to a mirror and they assume the blame themselves. Less effective leaders, the authors say, do it just the other way around - when things go wrong they point out the window for excuses and explanations; when things are going right, they go to the mirror to admire the one who deserves the credit.

Whether you're in a position to lead your children, or a business, or a staff, a church, a project, a ministry, don't fall for the popular lies about leading people - that success means being pushy or punishing, pulling rank, playing politics, manipulating, promoting yourself. No, it's humble servanthood that is the surprising secret of success. That's humility as in always being teachable ... courteous ... vulnerable ... willing to accept responsibility rather than place blame ... caring about the person, not just the project.

Attorney General John Ashcroft's godly father tried to prepare him for life in the Nation's Capitol after his son's election to the United States Senate. He said, “John, the culture of Washington is a culture of arrogance...” - by the way, most power-centers are - “...the culture of Jesus is a culture of humility. Don't get sucked into the culture of arrogance.” That's good advice for any of us who have someone to lead. Remember, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

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Resource: “CEOs in the Mirror” by Joel Belz, WORLD Magazine, November 16, 2002, p. 5.

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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A version of the opening illustration by Mark Merrill (Wit&Wisdom, 6/21/07):

There’s no doubt doing your job and doing it well has a significant, positive impact on your family. But what is essential in climbing that corporate ladder?

Management guru Jim Collins studied 11 of the most successful American companies over the past 15 years. These businesses averaged over 7 times the stock returns of the general market. The most significant attribute about these businesses is that every one of them had modest CEO’s.

Collins shares that the starting point of a great company is a humble leader. So if you want to succeed at work and at home, start with humility. The last shall be first and the first shall be last.

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[Original illustration at this number was added to HolwickID #19235]

[Thoughts on leadership from a motivational speaker.]

In the 21st century our leadership talents will be constantly tested and challenged. Whether you are leading at work, in the community or at home, the courage to explore your attitudes and aptitudes will be one of your most influential qualities. Courage and change go hand in hand when it comes to increasing your effectiveness as a leader,

As you review these ten statements ask yourself, "Where do I need to change, grow and stretch to reach my full capacity?"

1. The courage to seek the truth. I am willing to seek out unpleasant truths, even when they may conflict with things I have a great investment in, or when the truth may threaten my physical, intellectual, or emotional security. I recognize that my personal freedom depends on my ability to seek and find truth.

2. The courage to lead an ethical life. In a cynical, sometimes dissolute world, I realize that it takes courage to be ethical. I resist the temptation to be less than ethical, even when "everyone is doing it." I regard honest people as heroes, not fools.

3. The courage to be involved. Apathy and indifference can be more devastating than any natural or man-made disasters. Despite occasional compassion fatigue, I remain committed to making a difference and getting others involved. I refuse to look the other way.

4. The courage to reject cynicism. Cynicism is a comforting and protective refuge, but one I resist vigilantly. I know that trust and optimism, essential to a productive life, are impossible if I give in to the cowardice of cynicism.

5. The courage to assume responsibility. I alone am responsible for my actions, whether they lead to success or failure. I refuse to waste time on making excuses, harboring unrealistic hopes, or placing blame. I am willing to share responsibility and accountability with others, and back them up 100 percent if things go wrong.

6.The courage to lead at home. I know that my home and family are my most powerful legacy for the future. I mentor my children, giving them equal love and discipline. I'm there 100 percent for my partner. I honor my parents and older relatives, even if advanced age, ill health, or different values make communication seem difficult and unrewarding. I live each day with my family and won't think, tomorrow I'll have more time.

7. The courage to persist. I have the courage to delay gratification, to endure the long haul, and to make sacrifices when necessary. I frequently visualize the next few years and anticipate the results of my actions. I summon the inner resources to stay on track by keeping my eye on this big picture.

8. The courage to serve. In an ego-driven, success-driven society, I have the courage to put myself second. I realize that the loftiest leader is the one who serves others best. My job, no matter what the description or title, is to provide satisfaction, solve problems, fill needs, and find answers in a way that enhances and empowers those around me.

9. The courage to lead. Few people are willing to stand for something, or even to clarify what they would stand for if they could. Others criticize without offering solutions, but I concentrate on what I stand for, on solutions and goals, and on how I can motivate others to action. I'm not content to wait for someone else to take charge and point a direction.

10. The courage to follow. Unlike leaders of image, a leader of substance knows when and how to follow willingly. I have learned the benefits of being a good follower, of welcoming the ideas and contributions of others without feeling that my position or integrity has been challenged. By sharing power, I increase my own personal and professional power, and make myself aware of the challenges that others face every day.

Having the courage of your convictions will help you boldly meet today's challenges. Believing in your physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual standards and values enables you to apply your resources and creative energy when faced with problems. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the thing you cannot do," General George C. Patton said that courage is "fear holding on another minute." Examining your courage and making changes as you grow in your leadership capacity is the example that enables others to have the courage to follow.

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