Spiritual Leadership

LTCi course 602EBI courses 115 & 224

115 - This course focuses on how to teach and practice the principles of spiritual leadership. Topics include the leader’s challenge, role, preparation, vision, character, goal, influence, decisions, schedules, pitfalls, and rewards.

Section 5 - The Leader’s Character

Group Activity: Create a one-page visual summary of a life that moves others to follow.Study chapter 5 in BlackabyStudy chapters 9-10 in SandersPrint an article on leadership at: http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Bibl e_Answer_Man/Article_Archives.asp

The Leaders Character

More Essential Qualities of LeadershipJ Oswald Sanders, Chapter 8

1 Tim 3:8-10In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

Humor

...is a gift from God - should be clean and wholesome, cultivated and controlled.CH Spurgeon was criticised for including humour in a sermon, someone said of his humour...

“What a bubbling fountain of humour Mr. Spurgeon had! I laughed more, I verily believe, when in his company than during all the rest of my life besides. He had the most fascinating gift of laughter … and he had also the greatest ability for making all who heard him laugh with him. When someone blamed him for saying humourous things in his sermons, he said, “He would not blame me if he only knew how many of them I keep back."

Spurgeon knew the value of laughter and humor...in tough times and sick times, humor was a means for him to deal with his situation. It was a coping mechanism for him. There will always be seasons of sadness and joy for the conscientious leader. But, the leader who learns to balance the two, will learn the discipline of employing laughter and joy in his life. It could very well make a difference in his fulfillment and purpose in his service to the Lord.http://ww.InternetEvangelismDay.com/medicine.php#ixzz1f5G59TaW

AngerIs a leader allowed to be angry - can such a situation be right? Sanders quotes Jesus:Mk 3:5 -He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.Matt 21:13 - Jesus clears the templeThe ultimate source of the anger Jesus felt was the genuine love he had for the people in each situation

William Wilberforce, who did more than any man to abolish slavery in England, did so out of great anger at the injustice of the situation which saw the weak oppressed.Martin Luther claimed that “he never did anything well until his wrath was excited, and then he could do anything well.”We need to be careful too - for anger can be a source of a leaders downfall - Bishop Butler suggests six things that make anger sinful:

- when wanting an argument we imagine an injury done to us- when we make the injury done to us greater in our mind than it was in reality- when without real injury, we feel resentment on account of pain or inconvenience- when our indignation becomes such that we fail to control it- when we take revenge due to pain caused to us- when we are angry or saddened at sin in our own live to such a degree that we “find” it in others

Eph 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,TM v. 26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.Such anger is not selfish and does not focus on the pain you might feel - it has to be zealous for truth with the glory of God as its prime objective.

PatienceThe wrong idea of patience is of someone half asleep, totally passive and utterly submissive.William Barclay says of patience, “the word never means the spirit which sits with folded hands and simply bears things...it is victorious endurance, Christian steadfastness, the brave and courageous acceptance of everything life can do to us, and the transmuting of even the worst that can be done to us into another step on the upward way...

...it is the courageous and triumphant ability to bear all things, which enables a man to pass braking point and not break”Sanders suggests that in relationships patience is most tested:- Paul lost patience with John Mark- Hudson Taylor confessed “my greatest temptation is to lose patience with the slackness and inefficiency so disappointing in those I depend on”

How patient would you be faced with doubting Thomas, Peters reactive nature or the treachery of Judas?Leaders need to ensure they are ahead of the people - but not too far - setting the way but not out of sight, slowing down when necessary - they should be strong and yet still be able to show sympathy in the weakness of those following.Rom 15:1 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Leaders should lead by persuasion not command - and in this patience is vital for when a person is persuaded they “own” the plan - as a leader (often) you wait for agreement and support before you can go on. It was said of Hudson Taylor,“again and again he was obliged to either greatly modify or lay aside projects which were sound and helpful but met with determined opposition...Later, in answer to continued prayer many of these projects were put into effect.”

Friendship“You can measure leaders by the number and quality of their friends”Paul had Timothy stretching across generations and Luke modeling friendship between contemporaries.“No man in the NT made fiercer enemies than Paul, but few men in the world had better friends.”People followed Paul cheerfully knowing he asked for great commitment and that they would risk much.

David was so good with people that even a casual wish became a command to them - 2 Sam 23:15 - they would die for him because they knew he would die for them!Leaders have to draw the best out of people - intellect and Bible knowledge does not do this but affection can.CH Spurgeons biographer wrote of him that “he exercised an absolute authority, not because of his sheer willfulness...but because of his acknowledged worth.men bowed to his authority because it was backed by united wisdom and affection”

David was so good with people that even a casual wish became a command to them - 2 Sam 23:15 - they would die for him because they knew he would die for them!Leaders have to draw the best out of people - intellect and Bible knowledge does not do this but affection can.CH Spurgeons biographer wrote of him that “he exercised an absolute authority, not because of his sheer willfulness...but because of his acknowledged worth.men bowed to his authority because it was backed by united wisdom and affection”

Hugging has been proven to have health

benefits. One study has shown that hugs increase levels of

oxytocin, and reduce blood pressure.

Jesus - Jn 13:1 - Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.One cannot doubt the affection which Jesus gave and received from his own disciples.

Tact and Diplomacy

Tact is the ability to deal with people sensitively, to avoid giving offence, and to have the right ‘feel’ for the words and things to say in any given situation.Diplomacy is the ability to manage delicate situations especially involving people of differing opinions and/or cultures.Leaders need to recognise and reconcile differing viewpoints without compromising their own.

You have to recognise the rights of people and the validity of their argument and still come to a good solution- to put aside your own preferences and work out what is best for all concerned.- to negotiate and bring parties together in harmony.- to rule and overrule others without incurring their wrathJoshua demonstrated this in dividing the promised land (under God’s instruction) ensuring divisions already present did not divide the nation.

Inspirational PowerLeaders inspire others to sacrifice and service - such leaders draw other people to themselves and the vision God has given them.Leaders seem to have an innate ability to sway others, to make them follow and trust them and to be inspired in love and service.Nehemiah changed the minds and hearts of the people - Neh.4:6 - So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

Executive Ability

Executive- Having the power to put plans, actions, or laws into effect- Relating to managing an organization or political administration and putting into effect plans, policies, or lawsIt is worth noting that organising ability can be a poor substitute for Holy Spirit anointing and ability - but at the same time we should organise well.

Looking back at creation it is clear that God is a God of order, who does all things well.We should reflect God’s orderliness in what we do.We depend on the Spirit but plan and act in an ordered, systematic way.John Wesley was a superb organiser - something still seen in the small group structure and processes within the churches bearing his, and Methodism's, name.

Looking back at creation it is clear that God is a God of order, who does all things well.We should reflect God’s orderliness in what we do.We depend on the Spirit but plan and act in an ordered, systematic way.John Wesley was a superb organiser - something still seen in the small group structure and processes within the churches bearing his, and Methodism's, name.

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway consists of two parallel bridges that used to be the world’s longest bridge in total length. This bridge crosses Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. Total length of the two bridges is 23.87 miles (38.42 km) long. The bridges are supported by 9,500 concrete pilings. The two bridges feature bascule spans over the navigation channel 8 miles (13 km) south of the north shore.

The Therapy of ListeningMany people are poor listeners - leaders do not give the answer before the question, or situation, has been stated.Do you genuinely listen with sympathy to a person, do you prejudge them? Do you allow people to simply share their problem at times? Are you too busy to listen?

“To be able to listen to others in a sympathetic and understanding manner, Is perhaps the most effective mechanism in the world for getting along with people, and tying up their friendship for good.”Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Art of [Letter] Writing

In Paul’s day a leader needed to write letters - nowadays phone calls, sms’ and emails are more prevalent - which ever form of communication we use we need to do it in a God glorifying and honouring way.He wrote in pain and tears, not in acidic comments - 2 Cor 2:4

Paul generously apologised for any hurt he might have caused - 2 Cor 7:8-9 - he did not write to win an argument but to see people reconciled to Christ.He was willing to correct people that they might live in truth - Gal 4:16, 20Ensure in all that you write that it is in the right spirit - written communication is limited in many ways, there is no facial contact, no tone of voice.

• Do you think humour is important to a leader - or is it simply a useful gift?

• Can you think of situations and circumstances when anger has been well used?

• How do you tie together in the life of a leader, all of the characteristics suggested by Sanders?