Follow the Leader! (The 40 Year Old...Part 4)

I know it's been a little bit since the last post of this series, but a lot has gone on since then...like I got stinking MARRIED!!! (That's another blog)  Anyway, here's Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

I think one of the most important things that a man needs to do is lead is to lead by example.  In the military we have a saying that goes, "Lead from the front".  The implication being that a leader gets out in front of those following them and leads the way.

As men we are called to lead.  That leadership must be one based on God's word and geared toward leading others, by example and in righteousness, to Christ.  In Titus 2:7 Paul directs Titus and all of us in this by saying, "And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching."


Also in his letter to the Thessalonian church Paul, in talking about living an idle life, says, "For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you." (2 Thes 3:7)


We are called to be Christ's example to the world.  We are called to live lives worthy of God, righteous and set apart as His.  We are called to holiness.  We are called to be different than the world.  The important part about this idea is that this isn't about legalism.  It isn't about blindly following a list of rules that make you look different.  This is about BEING different.  It starts by allowing Christ to change our hearts, transforming and conforming us into His image.


In that we become different from the world...set apart as God's holy nation.  And it starts in our homes.  The way you live your public life should simply be a reflection of your private life.  What your wife and kids see at home (or your parents, other family, roommate) should be the same thing that people see in public.


If your kids never see you open the bible and read it, will they?


If you never pray with your wife, will she know that she can trust you in EVERY part of your marriage?


If you never ask forgiveness from your wife and kids, will they know what responsibility look likes and how grace works?


That's just three of the many questions you should be asking yourself.  Leadership starts in your home and has to be by example.  And our best example died to save us and resurrected so that He could lead us to the Father.


Leading by example,
Bruce

Pastor Tim Ross - Are You Worth Following?

Now that I got that suffering stuff out (by the way, that is not the last post on suffering or brokenness. There is so much more to it, but that’s many other blogs.), I want to focus on some of the leadership stuff from RightNow ’09. Pastor Tim Ross, The Potter’s House, spoke a few times at the general sessions and I went to a couple of his break-out sessions. Pastor Ross had some great words from God about leadership. The first topic he spoke on focused on Philippians 3:17-19 and was titled, “Are You Worth Following?” Pastor Ross had so many important points; I’m just going to list them in a bullet format. Here’s the verse:

17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

- Paul is a confident leader. He tells others to follow him (imitate him). He’s telling them that if they want to be like Christ, then do what he (Paul) does.

-- This begs the question: If you told people to follow you, would they get to Jesus or something else?

- Unfortunately, there are people in the church that call themselves leaders, but their actions don’t match what they’re saying.

- Paul was unarguably a great leader and man of Christ. But what about his past? His past was horrible. It was riddled with bad stuff, stuff that was specifically directed at persecuting Christ.

- So what made him a good leader? What was different about Paul? Paul was different because his past propelled him forward. It didn’t hold him down or back.

- Paul was very honest about his past, he hid nothing. This drew people to him because they knew he was genuine and they could relate to him (and vice versa).

- What does that mean for leaders in the church today? It means we need HOT leaders!

-- Leaders that are Honest – Open – Transparent.
-- The truth is, whatever you are hiding, your followers can handle it. They are not fragile and they won’t be surprised at you past.

- How can we, in good conscious, pick up the Bible and find weakness in any of those leaders, but not see ours?

- Leadership is a calling!

-- If you are not called to it, it will kill you.
-- If you are called to it, it will kill you (it will kill who you thought you were).

- Being a leader in the church means you have to be an ally of the cross. Paul was an ally of the cross regardless of his past. Paul allowed the cross to transform his life.

- Part of having a transformed life does NOT mean omitting that you have wounds.

- When your followers see that God used you in spite of your wounds that gives them hope that He can use them.

- It’s an upside down kingdom. People don’t want to follow someone that they think can’t relate to them. Your followers want to know you’re wounded too, so they know you can relate to them.

Pastor Ross led a great discussion. There is absolutely nothing I could even feebly attempt to add. I’ll leave it with this, God became a man and suffered and was wounded. He didn’t need to go through everything He did. He’s God, He could have done it anyway He wanted to. But He chose that way. He did it so we could know that He could relate to us. He did it out in the open, for all to see, so we could know that He understands what we go through. He did it so we would know that our King can relate to us and us to Him. What makes any church leader today different?

Learning to Learn

I've recently been challenged on what it means to be a "leader" in ministry. Now, I have no doubts that God is calling me to the college/20-somethings age group, but I really didn't have a very strong idea about what leadership should look like, especially in that group. It's hard to discern sometimes because just starting in ministry I kind of fumble over myself at times. And hanging with college age adults is quite different than 1st - 5th grade kids.

If you know me or have read any of my blogs, you've probably figured out that I'm a bit of a talker. I actually had a counselor tell me that I talk a lot...isn't that the point in counseling??? With that said, my new found desire to intimately know and build a relationship with my Lord has only served to enhance that trait. So I talk way more than I used to. Not that I think I have a whole lot of profound wisdom to share, on the contrary, I have been trying to learn as much as possible and I feel like I have to share all this new stuff. I feel like I am learning all this new stuff that no one else knows and I have to get it out. Part of it may also be that I keep trying to rush God's plan for me. It's not that I don't think he can handle it, I fully know he can, but I am just too excited sometimes to resist pressing forward.

Regardless of all that, I was able to talk with a friend recently about what that "leader" role really means in the beginning of dedicating yourself to a ministry. What it comes down to is...being quiet. Not a virtue I hold close at all. The bottom line is most people, especially the college age group, are not looking for answers. Most people just want someone to listen, understand and love them. They want your ear and your time, that's it. That is what will build that relationship/connection. Then that will develop into respect and trust, then it's real. At that point they don't come to you for guidance out of obligation because you're "their pastor", they come to you because you're their friend and because you love them.

The biggest thing I was able to take away from our conversation (which I already knew, but need to be reminded) was that I'm still learning too. I was able to talk with another friend recently that is actually considerably younger than I. Now, with my impending divorce, it's no secret that I'll be single again and I have thought a lot about different scenarios that come with that territory. It's probably worth mentioning, if for nothing more than an accountability thing, that I fully intend to remain pure until I find the woman that God has for me and I'm married to her. I want to be fully consumed by Christ and have that relationship right, before I even attempt another Earthly one. That's one of those issues that I've gone over, it was a difficult decision, but one that I'd make all over again. But I digress, the point is I'll be single soon. This friend of mine is dealing with some of the same scenarios that I already assumed I'll deal with. Let me just say how super awesome he's handling those issues. Not only did he teach me a thing or two, but I was just awed in admiration for his dedication to following Christ. I want to be like that.

The wrap up is this: Leadership is Love and Love is Christ, they go hand in hand. People don't need or want answers, they want your time. I am learning a ton, still have tons to go and I'm loving it. I've said it before, but I'll keep saying it a million times - I love having the group of friends and family that I do. They keep me accountable, they're there when they're needed, they care and they're kinda fun to hang out with. I'm truly blessed and constantly amazed by His goodness.

Blessed and Amazed,
Bruce