Category: Leadership

I have just spent the last two days attending the Leaders Summit. Must say, it is fantastic, practical, challenging, but going to requires growth as it stretches me to become a better leader. I am excited to see what it looks like for me and our ministry. You can take a free online assessment. If you can attend one of their two day conferences it will be well worth the money.

Right now my brain feels fried, a lot of thoughts going on as i process through the material!!! Definatly will have to go back through this book.

Here are the main things the conference covers:

I have to apologize, for my lack of discipline in getting through this book. The book started out really good, but then seems to be redundant as we glean in-depth insite to the passage. At times, I feel like saying “I got that already”. We are getting ready to look at what Paul says is leadership in the next couple of chapters in the book. So that will be nice. Here is what I underlined from chapter 4:

*** True leadership is tested and proved in crises. The real leader is the one who can handle the stress. He is the one who can solve the problems, bear the burdens, find the solutions, and win the victories when everyone else is merely flustered, confounded, and perplexed.
* Leadership Principle #7 – A Leader Never Compromise the Absolutes!
*** When God has spoken, there can be no compromise.
*** The person who refuses to compromise under any and every circumstance is obstinate, unreasonable, and selfish. That sort of strong-willed inflexibility is sinful and has been the ruin of many relationships and organizations.
*** But when it comes to matter of principles – moral and ethical foundations, biblical absolutes, the axioms of God’s Word, God’s clear commands, and the truthfulness of God Himself – it is never right to compromise. The true leader understands that and knows where to hold the line.
*** Too many people are timid and fearful of confrontation in circumstances like these. Not the real leader. Real leaders have a clear understanding of what is absolute and what is negotiable, and they hold the line on the principles that truly matter.
*** For the spiritual leader, the absolutes are established by the Word of God. A leader who applies all the other principles of leadership can perhaps achieve a measure of pragmatic effectiveness. But this principle will test your true mettle as a leader. No one can be a truly effective spiritual leader unless he understands the essential truths of Scripture and refuses to compromise its absolute authority. This principle applies, I am convinced not just to pastors and church leaders, but also to Christians in any walk of life who desire to be good leaders.
* Leadership Principle #8 – A Leader Focuses on Objectives, not Obstacles!
* Leadership Principle #9 – A Leader Empowers By Example!
*** Paul’s triumph was the triumph of great leadership. Tested in the crucible of crisis, he stepped up and showed how a true leader acts. He was decisive. He was determined. He was clear thinking and levelheaded. He took control when things were otherwise out of control. And God honored his efforts with amazing success. He didn’t compromise the absolutes, nor was he distracted from his objective by the obstacles. And he led by example.

Taken from John MacArthurs book, “The Book On Leadership”

Finished Chapter 3 Of John MacArthur book on leadership. There is some good stuff in here. The insight to Pauls journey was insightful but felt like the insight dragged on. Here are the things I underlined:

– A LEADER SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY
— All of this means that a leader must know the Scriptures. He must believe with an unshakable conviction that God’s Word is true. And he must be able to communicate the truth of God’s Word with confidence and conviction.
— The voice of authority must convey strength and power. Unless you really know what you’re talking about, you can’t speak clearly or with authority.
— People are looking for authority they can trust. And people who love the truth will follow someone who communicates God’s truth with authority. There’s no need to tiptoe around facts, evade hard issues, or equivocate on clear matters. If you know the truth, speak it with authority. That’s what true leadership does.
– A LEADER STRENGTHENS OTHERS
— A real leader’s aim is to make everyone around him better. He makes them stronger, more effective, and more motivated.
– A LEADER IS OPTIMISTIC AND ENTHUSIASTIC.
— Optimistic enthusiasm inspires followers. People will naturally follow a leader who arouses their hopes, and they will just as surely back away from someone who is perpetually pessimistic.
— You cannot be an effective leader and be pessimistic. People who are cynical and gloomy debilitate everyone they speak to. They’re like bloodsucking leeches. They make people pale, weak, and passive.
— On the other hand, optimistic enthusiasm creates energy, excitement, and hope. We who know the truth of God and have the promises of God should of all people be optimistic and enthusiastic. (Philippians 4:4)
— Paul saw these circumstances as an opportunity to introduce unbelievers to his God.

This chapter looks at Paul’s ship ride found in Acts 27 from Sidon to Malta. A lot of detail to the ride itself but some good leadership nuggets. Here is what I underlined:
– A leader Takes Initiative.
— Leaders rise in times of crisis by taking initiative.
— A leader never says, “We might have a problem over here. Somebody ought to do something about it.” The leader says, “Here is the problem, and here is how to solve it.”
– Learnings from Nehemiah
— Identify the Problem
—- The problem was not that God was unfaithful; but rather that His people had been unfaithful.
— Come up with a Solution
—- The only kind of starting power that make true leaders is that which starts the ignition, but also drives to the end of the journey, organizing and mobilizing people along the way.
— Delegate Responsibility
— Know how to Motivate People
—- He did not do it by sheep hype, manipulation, or theatrics. But he shared his vision in a way the people could grasp.
—- He helped them see that this was a work of God.
—- He showed them the spiritual importance of it.
—- He was sincere and believable.
—- His enthusiasm was infectious. His optimism was contagious.
—- They caught the vision.
– Work along side the people
– A leader uses Good Judgement
— The fastest way to loose credibility as a leader is to make a foolish decision that leads people down a blind alley or off the end of a pier.
— Too many young men in ministry make impetuous and ill-considered decisions. They lead without looking where they are going. They don’t count the cost. They aren’t cautious enough.

This chapter focuses on Paul’s journey from Caesarea to Rome found in Acts 27. Here are the things that I underlined from this chapter:

-REAL Leadership is in seriously short supply.
– In a sense, however, the leadership vacum presents a tremendous opportunity. The world is crying out for leaders – great heroic, noble, trustworthy leaders. We need leaders at every level of the social order – from political leaders in the international real to spiritual leaders in the church and family.
– The problem is that we live in an era where the very definition of CHARACTER has become fuzzy. People bemoan the loss of integrity in general terms, but few have any clear idea of what “integrity” entails anymore.
– If godly men and woman will step out and LEAD, people are prepared to follow the right kind of example. Hostile times and adverse circumstances are no impediment to a true leader. In fact, great adversity can be turned to great advantage by the power of an influential leader.
-The first principle of leadership: A LEADER IS TRUSTWORTHY
– A leader is not someone who is consumed with his own success and his own best interests. A true leader is someone who demonstrates to everyone around him that their interests are what most occupy his heart. A real leader will work hard to make everyone around him successful. His passion is to help make people under his leadership flourish. That is why a true leader must have the heart of a servant.
– Here’s how you can easily recognize genuine leaders: They are the ones surrounded by gifted, capable, diligent, effective people who are devoted to their leader. That devotion reflects trust. And trust stems from the self-less way the godly leader uses his own energies and his own abilities in a sacrificial, selfless way. If you show people you truly have their best interest at heart, they’ll follow you.

Good stuff! Things to implement and evaluate about my own leadership that’s for sure. Father give me a teachable spirit and grow me as a leader! Allow me to see the areas I need to improve in, and encourage me in the areas that are strengths!

I just started reading this book by John MacArthur. So far so good. Here are the things I underlined from the Intro:

What makes a leader?
-According to Christ, then, the truest kind of leadership demands, service, sacrifice, and selflessness. (Matt. 20:25-28)
-They will exemplify sacrifice
-Leadership for the Christian always has a spiritual dimension
-All Christians in every kind of leadership are called to be spiritual leaders
-Every leader who is also a christian – inclueding the manager of the widget factory, the football coach, and the public-school kindergarten teacher – needs to remember that the leadership role is a spiritual responsibility, and the people we lead are a stewardship from God, for we will one day be called to give an account (Matt. 25:14-30)
-A true leader inspires followers
– Leadership is influence. The ideal leader is someone whose life and character motivates people to follow.
–Real leadership seeks to motivate people from the inside, by an appeal to the heart, not by external pressure and coercion.
-For all those reasons, leadership is not about style or technique as much as it is about character.
-True spiritual leadership is about character, not style
-The real leader is an example to follow. And the best example to follow, as Paul knew, is the one who follows Christ.
-Biblical principles of leadership are not principles for the church only. In fact, Christians ought to be the trend-setters for all secular, corporate, and political leadership, rather than thoughtlessly borrowing from the world whatever seems to “work.”
-Every Christian is called to be a leader of sorts, at some level, because all of us are given a mandate to teach and influence others.
-Clearly, then, all Christians are called to influence others and teach them the truth about Christ. Therefore, no matter what your status, position, giftedness, or occupation, you are called to be a leader at some level.

If you want to know more, click here to buy the book! Or check back later as I share the things I underline from each chapter!