I just wanted to throw a few new thoughts that I'm seeing & hearing on leadership lately. I can't even begin to express how much I love and appreciate you as Young Leaders in & around the Next Level & Church Planting World! You guys are truly world changers. Thanks for letting me be one of your "Leadership Inputs" in your life!!!
- Go to iTunes and Search "National New Church Conference". Click on the icon. You should see a whole list of Podcasts come up. These are all from a recent conference they had in Orlando in April. I am just getting into alot of these messages. The one I want you guys to download is by a guy named "Dave Ferguson." It's "Plenary Session 3." I got to meet and hear Dave at a churchplanters.com conference I attended in ATL in February. He shared alot of the concepts in this Podcast in February too! He's got some great things to say!!! (if you need it in an mp3 format, you can just drag it over to your desktop and then to wherever you want to listen to it...)
- On a seperate note, I am beginning a personal study of the book of 1 Timothy. Afterall, it's written to a "Young Leader," and church planter, Timothy by his mentor and "spiritual father" Paul. Here are a few things that jump out at me: First, Notice that Paul calls Timothy his: "True Son in the Faith." Isn't it interesting that Paul uses Familial language to describe his relationship with Timothy. He felt such a bond with the one he was mentoring that he described it in the Father/Son context. Wow. When I think about the relationship that I have with so many young leaders that I am apart of developing, I would say I feel the same thing in my heart. There is this "stronger than friendship" tie that exists. I think it has alot to do with the reality of pursuing a Greater Vision together. It goes beyond, "We have alot in common," or "We like each other," or "we both enjoy the same things." It's a deeper soul connection between people who are on mission together!
- Paul asks Timothy to stay in Ephesus to provide Leadership that was needed. Notice the first thing he asks him to do: Deal with people who AREN'T doing something that is helping the cause. In other words, he asks him to reprimand and bring correction to those around him. Why are we as leaders so reluctant to do this? In fact, isn't it when we have missed the target, that we CAN learn so much? Think back to a time when you learned alot about life or leadership? Wasn't in a hard time, or a time when you made a mistake and either you, God or someone else was able to bring leadership and correction? That's why Paul wanted Timothy to stay. He's basically saying, "You stay here and keep communicating our heart to the people. Help them see things more clearly. "
- Notice Paul makes it clear that "God's work is by faith." It's not something that we can mathematically calculate, or scientifically prove. It's faith. So is Leadership for God. It's us stepping out into uncharted territory and making decisions that may or may not be right with limited information. It's providing certainty in times of uncertainty! That's what leaders do. They provide leadership... by faith... in order that many may do "God's work."
- One more... Paul communicates the Goal of Leadership in verse 5: Love. He wants to make sure that Timothy knows that we don't provide leadership for any reason other than LOVE FOR PEOPLE!!! That's why we do what we do! Because we genuinely love people and want them to reach their highest potential in becoming like Jesus!
Just a bloggish leadership thought,
Matt
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