Posts with the category “leadership-lessons”

I have discovered there are three types of people in every church—customers, owners, and investors. Your members will be motivated based on the group to which they belong.Customers – When we think about customers, we first think about a consumer who never wants to contribute. However, a customer is simply a person who comes to church for what is in it for them and their family. When searching for ...  Read More

In 1 Corinthians 15:14, Paul says“…and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” The word preaching is an interesting choice of words. Paul and the other writers of the New Testament could have used several other words to define their communication of the gospel, but they chose the word preaching which comes from a word meaning to herald. In New Testament...  Read More

The moment you received Christ into your heart, you were born again. At that moment, God loved you as much as He ever will love you. Because His love is perfect, His love for you will never be any more or any less than at that instant you gave your life to Him. Yet, at times it is difficult to trust His love.Some time ago, a lady came into my office, brokenhearted over marriage issues. In spite of...  Read More

You want to move forward with courageous faith. When you have the strength and spiritual balance you need, you begin to have the courage to do something. The problem arises when we don’t do what we need to do—right now! Whether it’s beginning a new ministry or business, serving others, or simply spending time with God, chances are, if you procrastinate, you will never do it. In my book, Overcoming...  Read More

It’s been said that everything rises and falls on leadership. Leaders often say this when the organization is going well—seldom said when it’s struggling. I know that we have a tendency to make excuses for shortcomings or failures in leadership. We want to blame others, the economy, or the culture. Still others, however, feel a load of guilt, a sense of failure, when their organization is struggli...  Read More

We live in a society that is essentially non-confrontational. Their motto appears to be “Live and let live—your beliefs are true for you, and my beliefs are true for me.” In application, opposite or conflicting beliefs cannot be all true, and as a result, the claim is that there is no absolute truth. Consequently, having no firm beliefs leads to little or no conviction in the heart.Conviction prod...  Read More

"The people you call around you will greatly determine the level of your success." (John Maxwell) In his book, "From Good to Great", Jim Collins states that one of the central ingredients for the businesses that have gone from being a good company to a great company, is that the leader has placed the right people (staff) on "the bus". Much like a football coach needing to hire his assistants, the ...  Read More

I've heard it said that "money flows to good ideas". Or..."God's work, done God's way, will never lack for God's supply". Are these statements true? How many good churches hurt for money? How many growing churches need to add staff or build a new building, but they cannot afford it?Pastors often take the attitude "I don't feel comfortable preaching on money, it will offend people". Laymen sometime...  Read More

Once the Pastor has cast the vision, there must be a strategy to reach that vision. In Nehemiah 2, Nehemiah cast the vision and rallied the people to rebuild the wall. Afterwards, however, he had to organize the troops to accomplish the task.The first step is to establish objectives under your stated vision. These can be broad or unending tasks you want to be accomplishing until Jesus comes. One o...  Read More

Vision is a deep impression on the heart, an invitation to get involved in what God is doing.Proverbs 29:18 states, "Where there is no vision, the people cast of restraint." Vision defineswhere a church and organization is going. It describes, in general terms, your uniqueness inGod's ministry.George Barna has said that 98% of pastors have never articulated a vision to their church. Once a pastor ...  Read More

Once a pastor has helped the church define who it is and has established a relationship of trust (see last article), he is ready to cast a vision. Proverbs 29:18 states, "Where there is no vision, the people cast of restraint." Leadership magazine says, "Every great work and every great person has come under the influence of a vision that changed them, and therefore, changes others."How important ...  Read More

Vision is a hot topic today. However, a church cannot give direction for the future until they define who they are. John Maxwell has stated that the first job of a leader is to give purpose to the organization. Since we are the Bride of Christ, and Christ is the head, I want to be involved in His purpose.In Luke 19:10 we read, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." ...  Read More

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came, and the disciples were in one accord (Acts 2:1). The key to church growth is the Holy Spirit working in the church. A necessary ingredient for the Spirit to move is unity. As I stated in my last article, I have never witnessed the Holy Spirit moving in a divisive church.If "everything rises and falls on leadership", the Pastor is the one who sets the ...  Read More

Have you ever seen a divisive church grow? There is no true church health or growth without the moving of the Holy Spirit, In preparation for Pentecost, the Bible teaches that Jesus' followers were of "one mind" (Acts 1:4). John teaches that the Spirit is like the wind - no one knows where the wind will blow next. Likewise, it is with the Spirit.Personally, I have seen God overcome some bad decisi...  Read More

An older pastor once told me, "If you love your people, they will forgive you for a lot of bad sermons". This was some of the worst advice I ever received. Not all will go through a crisis during your tenure; however, everyone will hear you preach - and expect to be fed.We read in the Bible, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and tha...  Read More

It's been said there are three types of leaders: risk takers, care takers, and undertakers. Few things in life are more risky or difficult than bringing about a new order of things. George Barna says, "Church growth is not so much a formula as it is a series of creative and sensitive responses to a changing environment".Most people reject change of any kind. John Maxwell said recently, "Leaders ha...  Read More

Leaders Who Last: A security found in ChristWe have been in a series of leadership lessons on what it takes to have longevity in a ministry. We have said there are two areas we concern ourselves:The inner life of the pastorThe relationship with the congregationIn the first area, we find six principles:A calling to ministryA mission with that callingA godly definition of successA disciplined lifeA ...  Read More

Leaders Who Last: A willingness to changeWe have been in a series of leadership articles on “Leaders Who Last.” It’s been said that a person changes every 4-7 years. If a pastor is going to have longevity in ministry, he must reinvent himself several times.Pastors, we often lament on our church’s unwillingness to embrace change. There are articles and books written on the challenges and steps to b...  Read More

Leaders Who Last: A disciplined lifeWhat is the secret of longevity in ministry? After 31 years, I can say, “I am a hard guy to run off.”I am often asked, “What is the one thing that makes longevity possible”? There is no one thing. It’s like after getting a fly wheel spinning at a high speed asking someone, “What was the big push that made it go that fast”? There is no one push. There are several...  Read More

Leaders Who Last: A Godly definition of successWe must define the win. If the win is defined by the world, such as, money, fame, numbers (alone), your sense of mission will wane with time and pressure.John 15:4,5 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Wh...  Read More

Leaders Who Last: A mission within that callingAfter 31 years in the same church, I am often asked the secret to longevity in the ministry. There is no “magic bullet,” but I see 12 principles that are true in my life; six center around my personal life and six center around my relationships with others.Personal lifeA calling to ministryA mission within that callingA Godly definition of successA di...  Read More

Leaders Who Last: A calling to ministryAccording to a recent survey by George Barna, 38% of pastors have considered quitting in the past year. It seems ministry is harder than it needs to be. However, leaving or running to another problem situation is not the answer. After all, if your church did not have problems, they wouldn’t need you.After 31 years at the same church and 9 at my previous churc...  Read More

Leaders Who Last: IntroductionHow tough is the ministry? Dr. John Bisagno told the story of listing the over 100 young men called to the ministry when he started pastoring. Of those 100, plus friends and acquaintances, only 4 of them retired as Pastor. In a recent George Burns survey, 38% of pastors considered quitting the ministry over the past year.When we are first called to ministry, many will...  Read More

We nned to show both security and strength in tough times.  Read More

Character answers the question- will you?  Read More

Jesus prioritized His life and ministry throgh the lens of His purpose.  Read More

"the greatness of an organization will be directly proportional to the greatness of the leader"  Read More

There is a paradox in servant/leadership. Taking the example of jesus, we can navigate this paradox.  Read More

“8 Principles: Define the Boat”We are looking at “8 Principles for Growing a Healthy Organization.”3. Define the boatThe boat is basically what you are about. With  a fishing boat there can be many poles in the water catching one fish at a time. There could ne nets catching many fish at once. If you sacrifice a pole or net, you can still survive. You cannot survive without the boat. May organizati...  Read More

Who are you as an organization? What is the score? Are you succeeding? Where do you need help? Many organizations want to define who they think they are, or what they hope they are -and it does match the truth.  Read More

When choosing a leader for your organization, there are 3 things I look for: a. Compatibility b. Character c. Capability None are more important than compatibility. Look at the recent problems with businesses like ‘Target” or “Cracker Barrel” when a chosen CEO was not on the same page with the business or its customers. In the area of calling a Pastor, there must be a good marriage between the pastor and congregation. How difficult is it for a church to find the right Pastor?  Read More

It has been said that “the road to success is dotted with many parking places.”   Read More

An entire generation has been told they could be anything they wanted to be- just believe in yourself! That generation has grown up and become a most disappointed and disillusioned generation  Read More

,” Success is 87% people knowledge and 13% product knowledge.”   Read More

Passion fuels the work.  Read More

J.C. Penny once said “ Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I will show you someone who will make history,. Give me a man without a goal and I will show you a stock clerk.” I recently read that only 5% of Americans set goals and they are the 5% highest paid people in America.  Read More

Getting ready is the secret to success. But what do we need to prepare  Read More

Its been said that the most important day in your life was the day you were born and the second was when you found out why. Last week we began a series of lessons on 7 Principles of success. Each of the next 7 weeks we will look at one of those principles. This week’s principle is purpose. Why are we here? Purpose is necessary for success as you need to know what area you are trying to be successful. Purpose answers the question “why?”  Read More

Everyone wants to be successful. Whether its career, church, marriage, parenting, etc., we all want to succeed. However today In spiritual circles, the term “success” often has negative connotations. Yet the Bible speaks of God wanting our success.   Read More

Physical vertigo is a condition where your brain cannot process what your eyes see. Spiritual vertigo happens when our faith cannot process what we see, hear, or experience. We become spiritually disconnected, off balance, and doubt our faith in God. What are the causes of spiritual vertigo?   Read More