My Epic Journey

Came across this in a post I was reading and thought it worthy to pass along.

7 Non-Negotiables for Effective Spiritual Leaders

Perry Noble

As I have been thinking through my personal leadership journey lately and trying to figure out who God has called me to be and what He’s called me to do…I have narrowed my focus down to seven areas that I believe are essential for effective leadership in the church.

#1 – Passion

I’m not talking about false excitement over an event that you would not attend if you were not on the payroll at the church!

But rather raw, unfiltered, emotional and unapologetic passion…a white hot fire inside that consumes, controls and configures us into who Jesus has called us to be and what He’s called us to do!

Be warned-passionate people make for easy targets because no one has to guess what they stand for! However, passion, if handled correctly, can be one of the best friends a leader can have.

#2 – A Desire to Please God

One of the first verses I ever memorized was Galatians 1:10. I remember reading it and feeling like it literally jumped off the page…and something inside of me kept screaming, "You are going to need this verse for yourself if you are going to be truly successful in ministry."

A true leader in church would understand that God is our Leader…and in a passionate pursuit to please Him you and I will often disappoint people.

We can’t please committee’s and Christ-a choice must be made.

#3 – Wisdom

James 1:5 has been a verse that I have also had to cling to as a leader! What a promise!

God has called us to wisdom…so…as leaders I feel that we need to be doing as much as possible to learn…that means going to conferences, reading books…and not being afraid to meet with and learn from people who "aren’t like us!"

What are you personally doing right now to grow and develop yourself as a leader? To add to your wisdom?

I am in the process of connecting with other church leaders…in the past several weeks I’ve been involved in numerous learning environments with people who know SO MUCH MORE than me…and God has used each experience to shape me in an awesome way.

If all we tell our people is what we know…and we lead out of our limited knowledge, never seeking wisdom from others or God-then we will raise up some very shallow people.

#4 – Courage

I don’t think the tag "leader" should be put on anyone who hasn’t had to make tough decisions on a consistent basis.

I once heard Andy Stanley say that a leader isn’t necessarily the first person to see an opportunity, but rather the first person to act on what they see.

So true! There are lots and lots of people who see what is wrong with the world, church, etc…however, very few are actually willing to do anything about it.

Leaders step up and make the hard calls…even when it’s unpopular.

On a side note-courage is NOT the absence of fear! There have been so many situations in my leadership journey here at NewSpring that have just about caused me to pee my pants!

However, courage is KNOWING what God has called you to…and then DOING it…not knowing the outcome…but KNOWING who is in control of the outcome!

#5 – Humility

This is a tough one because…well…one cannot actually brag that they are humble!

Too many times in the past I know that this was a quality that was NOT in me! I wanted the credit for all of "my ideas!" If something went right and I was involved-I wanted people to know about it. If an element of service programming went well and it was my idea…I took the credit.

And then one day I had a conversation with John Maxwell that ROCKED MY WORLD…he said to me,

"Perry, you are where you are for two reasons. The first is the favor of God. The second is the giftedness of God. And Perry, please understand that God didn’t owe you either of these. You are where you are because of Him!"

DANG! When it comes right down to it…I don’t have good ideas-God gives them to me. I don’t have the ability to think or act…OR LEAD…unless HE leads me!

John 15:5 is SO true…and I have no right to boast in anything that I feel like I accomplish!

If a leader doesn’t care who gets the credit…but is obsessed with God getting the glory-awesome things can happen!

#6 – Honesty

One of the things the corporate world has seen lately is a lack of integrity…and the lie that "this is my life and how I live it doesn’t really impact anyone else" has been exposed over and over and over again!

As leaders-we’ve got to be honest with…

* OURSELVES – how are you doing? Really? Can you keep up the pace you have right now? What changes need to be made?

* OTHERS – is everyone around you doing a good job? Is there a tough conversation that needs to be had-but you won’t because you are afraid of the outcome?

* GOD – Is life and ministry REALLY "all about Him?"

#7 – Simplicity

I once heard Ed Young say, "If you want to impress me as a leader-don’t tell me what you’re doing, tell me what you’re NOT doing!"

DANG!

I think a leader who is worth his (or her) salt will admit that they are not good at everything…and as a result they will stop trying to be.

Reality is that everyone of us only do a few things well…and our leadership will be maximized when we focus on what God has gifted us and called us to be rather than what everyone else in the church expects us to be!

I can’t do everything…but I can do something…and the something that I can do…I will do!!!

What is on your plate that you KNOW you aren’t good at? You hate it? Go ahead and admit it because everyone around you already knows it and are probably praying that you will stop it anyway!

Perry Noble is the Senior Pastor of NewSpring Community Church with over 4000 in attendance each week. New Spring is one of the 100 Fastest Growing Churches in the U.S

Colts/Browns Lesson #2

The excitement leading up the game was almost unbearable.  The boys and I (with MUCH help from Mom) put together what we would wear for the game.  We tried to find as much blue and white we could get our hands on.  Face Painting wasn’t out of the question, for that matter, not even BODY paint was tossed out.  We discussed what we were going to see, hear and smell (after all it IS Cleveland!!).  We fought our way through a SEA of like-minded people into the stadium.  We were excited to see the players, especially Peyton Manning, storm the field and displayed that excitement by cheering at the top of our lungs and acting like fools

Of course, none of this was abnormal because we are, after all, HUGE Colts fans and that is what a fan does, right?

And then I found myself on the way home struck with all the effort I had put into ONE football game.  And not only for my own sake but for my children as well, I had spent many hours dreaming of what it would be like to see the game “in person.”  I had even taking some time to convert those around me into Colts’ fans.  Why?  Because I LOVE the Colts!!!!

And then the question popped into my head, “Do I love God as much”?

Of course I do!!!!  That is an absurd question to ask!!!!

But I began to mull over this in my head all the way home (4 hours thanks to traffic), and became overwhelmed with how much effort I put into the Colts and how LITTLE I put into being a FAN of God’s.

Now I know it would be strange if I showed up on Sunday morning with J-E-S-U-S painted on my body or if I whooped and hollered when Pastor Terry took the stage.  But I am not talking about that.  Am I an OBVIOUS fan of God throughout the entire week and entire day?  Is it event when people see me that NO DOUBT I am a God’s fan?  Do I look, act, sound, and smell the part?

Even more telling, do I invest as much interest in God than the Colts to my own kids?  Do I talk about God’s stats to them and paste posters and memorabilia around their room that’s not just blue and white?

The answer is alarming to me–NO I don’t!!!  I like to think I do, but if I am honest, I am not putting the focus on God to others, especially my family, and to myself.  I would have to say that the average person on the street WOULDN’T know I am a fan of God by how I look or act.

So how do I change that?  How do I become God’s #1 fan?

1. I must read up on His Bio and stats.  Simply meaning, I must be reading the Bible.  If I don’t know who He is then I can I be truly excited about Him?
2. I must show my COLORS.  I am not afraid to wear blue and white to display my love for Colts but I am a little more hesitant to wear a “God” shirt or carry my Bible around.  I think others might see me as a freak so I just look like everyone else.
3. I must talk the talk.  Are the words coming out of my mouth different from everyone else?  Am I just as critical, negative and sarcastic?  Or do my words bring hope, love and grace like the words of Christ?
4. Last, am I passing this passion on to my children?  Are they just as excited to talk about God as they are football because they know God is a favorite topic of Dad’s?

I have a lot to change, but my goal is that other may see that I am God’s #1 fan and in turn “jump on the bandwagon.”

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  –Matthew 5.16