12 Little Lessons for Ministry Leaders

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In the same way that every minister must apply the message to themselves, these lessons are first colored in the depths of my own soul. 

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Faith & Certainty: Knowing God’s Will

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Have you ever wished for a compelling experience with God, whereby you could hear a voice from Heaven with clarity?

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13 Little Lessons on Leadership for Servants of God

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Serving in God’s Kingdom can be both challenging and a blessing.

To be used by God in His Church is not simply a job for which you apply but rather a calling to which you submit. With experience, reflection, and God’s help, you can grow in this calling. I suggest you save these baker’s dozen of little lessons about how to be better in the work of God.

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This topic has been a subject of personal study for over half of my life. Like most speakers and writers, the books, blogs, and sermons I have read in my life are baked through my mind. Since I’m not claiming originality, feel free to have a few bites and cite the source baker if you recognize their works.

I’ve not listed these in any particular order. So, Christian, you should ask the Holy Spirit to show you which of these you need to rewrite in your own words and prayerfully focus on improving. In a few weeks, you can come back and grab a couple new ones to focus on.

  1. A married leader should improve their spouse’s life.
    A husband should believe in his ability to provide, protect, and parent because of his wife’s respectful and life-giving leadership. Because of her husband’s loving leadership, a wife should like herself, have confidence, and have a sense of destiny.

  2. A parent who fails to provide godly discipline becomes an accessory to their children’s destruction.
    Pastoral parents need to prioritize their home leadership above other responsibilities.

  3. Be ready to be told what to do and be taught by others all your life.
    You will never outgrow the need for submission and teachability.

  4. If you desire to serve in leadership, learn to follow written and verbal directions at your current post.
    God loves to use leaders that have learned to follow.

  5. Leaders should never assume that followers know what they know.
    Write the vision and make it plain because they cannot see what you see unless you clearly communicate it with them.

  6. Good leaders speak clearly at the right volume at the right time.
    You need to learn how to enunciate with the right tone to be understood.

  7. Practice hospitality by making others feel welcome.
    Good leaders make you feel welcome in their presence (home, office, and church services). Receive others and treat them as you’d like to be treated.

  8. In times of suffering, people don’t need your cliché Christian sayings.
    They look good on t-shirts and bumper stickers, but they can seem patronizing and are not always theologically sound. Instead, lend a hand to help, a shoulder to cry on, and by all means, pray for those who are suffering.

  9. If you resent being a servant, you will not become the leader you were meant to be.
    Servanthood is your calling.

  10. Competency without character is useless.
    Regardless of how gifted you are, you can’t be trusted without godly character.

  11. Tame your tongue or be left behind.
    If you stay in trouble with your tongue, you will not go far in leadership.

  12. Jesus’ followers are to be known by their love for each other.
    He never said that we should be known by how we judge one another. Do your best to reflect His love for others in your daily behavior.

  13. Truly great leaders do not seek after power.
    They have power thrust upon them as a result of destiny. You should cooperate with God’s plans but do not insist upon power.

To be honest, this baker’s dozen has kept me busy most of my life. 

Rest assured, there’s never been a day when I really had it all together with no need to work on at least one of these. Some days my leadership appears to be half-baked.

What about your leadership?

Did one or two of these stand out for you as something you need to work toward doing better? Comment below these cookies, and let’s help bear each other’s burdens.

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What Does it Mean to Be a Christian?

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The simplest meaning is best for me. A Christian is a follower of Christ. This is what the first disciples were and this is what we must be. However, the word Christian is a fallen term in America.… Click the source link to read more…

Source: What Does it Mean to Be a Christian?

This Changes Everything

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The light of God’s grace has been shining ever since the birth of Jesus Christ.

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As the light filters through my window, even with the blinds pulled shut, I am reminded of the power of light.

It changes everything.

Perhaps similar thoughts rushed upon Simeon as he sensed the Spirit leading him into the temple on that grand day. The revelation had already been given to him that he would see The Lord’s Christ, and he was merely walking in that light. Or, more aptly described, he was waiting for the Consolation of Israel. And then it happened! The earthly parents of that great light, the Child Jesus, brought Him into the temple. I imagine that Simeon rushed over so quickly that it could have startled the new parents. But Simeon was acting in the light of God’s Word, and he now found fulfillment. With great blessing, this devout man of faith held up the Child and declared,

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel” (see Luke 2:25-35).

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel.

Yes, Simeon, this changes everything.

From now on, the power of the light will infiltrate every corner of every heart. Even where the blinds have been pulled tightly shut, this light still penetrates and finds a way to influence the darkest of lives.

Ever since that beautiful light brought revelation to my heart and I was translated out of the darkness and into the light, my life has not been the same. It is forever influenced by the light of Jesus Christ. And since He is also the Word, as John teaches us in his Gospel, I can also say that, like Simeon, my life has been forever altered by the light of God’s Word. The revelation of God’s Word brings great light. Through the person of Jesus Christ, who is the expressed living Word of God, and the written Word of God, I never have to walk in darkness. Indeed, my Savior is “the true Light, which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9).

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We are influenced as we walk in that light from the moment of conversion throughout our everyday life. This “true Light” brightens our day and influences our decisions more often than we even realize.

Walking in the “true Light” becomes a part of our everyday expectation, knowing The Lord will guide us through each day regardless of its trials and pitfalls. Many times, a believer will have a good idea that never would have happened had it not been for the influence of this “true Light” upon their mind. Oftentimes in my own life and ministry, the influence of this “true Light” has been manifested as spiritual discernment. This surprise gift, whereby I have just known things that I could not explain why I know them, was not just human intuition. Indeed, He Himself has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (see Hebrews 13:5).

During this season of the year, our days have fewer daylight hours. Therefore, we have more hours of darkness than what we see through most of the year. This cyclical nature of life reminds me that our adversary, the devil, might leave us for a season, but he will return. And with that in mind, let me encourage you to allow the “true Light,” which is Jesus Christ shine brightly throughout these holy days.

Take advantage of less daylight and more hours indoors by allowing the light of His Word to permeate every corner of your heart.

You will soon understand the Psalmist’s confession: “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Lisa and I wish you a hearty Merry Christmas as you contemplate the “true Light” and the only reason truly worthy of celebration. If The Lord wills and we enter into a new year together, we encourage you to do so by the light of His Word.

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