Emerge Session 1 Leadership

Transcription

1 Emerge Session 1 Leadership What is leadership? Flipchart (Influence, Followers, Servant leadership, Empowerment, Fathering) Leadership is influence - influencing others in a worthwhile cause. Not dependent on title or position. Catching a vision from God and getting others caught up with you! Think about Israel in the time of the Judges. Moses has rescued them from Egypt, 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua has taken them into the promised land, but not finished the job. Desperate period, where Israel has lost its way. Cycle of falling away from God, enemies invading, crying out to God in repentance. God raises up a leader who sorts it out, leader dies, cycle repeats itself. Summed up in the last verse of 1 Sam 21:25 "in those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Chaos - no accountability of authority Enemies surrounding them

2 No money for vital tasks Nations influencing with paganism No momentum No morale. Does that describe your workplace? Vital good leadership raised up Church - I hope not! The Church is breathtakingly beautiful Courageous Leadership p17-18 Hybels says it best Great churches aren't great because of good preaching, good worship music, good location or good programmes. Great churches are led by by leaders who are developing other leaders. Eph 4:11-16 Leadership starts with a need Everyone can spot the need, criticise, mock, tweet or share on FB. Leaders see the need and want to do something about it. In Judges Othniel: Israel surrounded by Mesopotamia - he stepped up and led an army to defeat them and gained 40 years of peace. Ehud: my favourite judge. Stabbed the Moabite fat king Eglon in the stomach so far the knife disappeared and then started an uprising to rescue his people - led to 80 years of peace. Shamgar: stepped up against Philistine oppression, killing 6000 to inspire the army to victory Leadership starts with a need then getting passion to do something about it! And getting others to join you. The Gateway has grown from 35 adults to 80 in the last 12 months. So what do you see as the need in the Church. Where are we creaking?

3 Leadership is a gift Rom 12 lists leadership as a spiritual gift with the challenge to do it diligently. Some are born leaders, some get it as a gift from the Lord, so are more reluctant to start! Samson - spiritual gift Deborah - natural talent Gideon - acquired skill, reluctant starters! Leadership is not about being a charismatic personality, eloquent speaker. Good to great book - companies that performed best long term were not led by charismatic CEOs - humble and tenacious, often shy! Moses - stutterer, Paul small weak man in person. Eagerly desire the spiritual gift of leadership Grow diligently in leadership skill too. 5 levels of leadership 1) Position - given a title, rank or job. People have to follow you What qualities are needed to succeed at this level? Know and do your job description, do it well, over-deliver 2) Permission - People follow you because they want to, relational

4 What qualities? Love people, make followers more successfull, see through others, love people more than programmes and procedures, win-win, include others 3) Production - people follow you because of the results. There's momentum What qualities? Grow! Mission statement, accountability for results, do the best not the good, make the tough decisions 4) People development - people follow you because you develop them. Great leaders aren't afraid of people who are better than them, or to train them to do their job - promotion comes in great companies and the Church. Stupid companies will sack you! What qualities? People are the most valuable asset, develop people, model to follow, 80,20; growth opps for leaders around you 5) Personhood - people follow you because of who you are and what you represent. rare - Terry Virgo, Billy Graham, Mother Theresa. None of the Judges were level 5, didn't pass it on to the next generation. You will be at different levels in different situations. Leaders have spotted the need, got some out of gift to want to lead and next have a passion Leadership involves passion Passion is compelling to others, it spills out of your pores. Not "Someone ought to do something about that!" Passions comes from Burdens - interests and concerns (me the nations, Crystal orphans, Andy K the poor) Convictions - values, principles and beliefs Gifts - the things God has imparted to you Needs - your desperate circumstances (Fatal RTC story) Opportunities - the opportunity to step up Passion makes up for a lack of resources. Stop moaning about not enough money. Never will be enough, or people! Convinced the Lord has given us leaders for the next stage. Why you are here! Stockdale Paradox - Admiral, highest ranking POW in Vietnam War for 7 years. Stockdale paradox = Retain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND AT THE SAME TIME have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.

5 He said that the POWs that didn't make it were the optimists. We will be out by Christmas. Leaders look at the current situation, know what it should be like and know you will get there with God! Leadership is influence Crux is attracting and empowering other to the passion you have. Gideon - got too many! Deborah - Barak followed her. Samuel - best of the judges. Best leader between Moses and David, whose leadership spanned two generations Leadership is pursuing a purpose Tenacity about leadership Jesus - set his face to get to Jerusalem Paul - all things for all men to win some, planting churches and getting to Rome. What's your purpose? Why are you alive? What burns within you? We have identified some of the needs in The Gateway. I can see a gift in each of you, a passion and an ability to influence. What will you do about it?! Recommended Books Courageous Leadership Bill Hybels 8.74 on Amazon.co.uk By far and away the best book on Christian leadership

6 Good to Great Jim Collins 6.19 on Amazon.co.uk This is a business book about how a few companies transition from being good to great lots to apply in church leadership too.