Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6Everyone is a leader, and everything rises and falls on leadership. More than anything else, the leadership of any group or organization (including families) will determine its success or failure. You can see the impact of leadership frequently in the Bible. In ancient Israel, when God’s people had a good king, all was well with the nation. When they had a bad king, things went poorly for everyone. Because of the importance of leadership, Scripture teaches that without a vision the people perish. This applies all areas of life – the people in our nation, in your church, in your business, or in even your family. Without good leadership, they will perish.The call to leadership is a constant pattern in the Bible. When God decided to raise up a nation of His own, He didn’t call upon the masses. He called out one leader - Abraham. When He wanted to deliver His people out of Egypt, He didn’t guide them as a group. He raised up a leader to do it - Moses. When it came time for the people to cross into the Promised Land, they followed one man – Joshua. Every time God desires to do something great, He calls a leader to step forward. Today, He still calls leaders to step forward for every type of work: at home, in the marketplace, in His church, and in government. A follower of God should be a leader of people. That’s more than just being the “boss” or having a leadership position. And it certainly doesn’t mean being pushy or in control. Jesus taught that leading means serving others. All believers are called to exert their influence in a Christ-like manner. Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less. If you are being salt and light as Jesus commanded, then you have begun to obey God’s call to leadership.One of the most important leadership principles is the principle that, “Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness.” That is key when working with others. Greater than resources, money, talent, or intelligence, leadership makes the difference when it comes to making an impact. Consequently, the key to increasing your effectiveness is to increase your leadership ability. And since Jesus was the greatest leader that ever lived - having impacted and influenced more people than any other - to become more Christ-like you need to think and act more like a leader. If you desire to have an impact on others and to leave a lasting legacy, you must become an impactful person of influence – a leader.We live in an age of tolerance, where protecting feelings is more highly valued than proclaiming the truth. People look with suspicion upon anyone who desires to influence others to embrace their beliefs. But as Thomas Jefferson proclaimed, “In matters of fashion, swim with the current. In matters of conscience, stand like a rock.” Become a dedicated student of leadership – if you aren’t already one. Becoming a good leader will guarantee that you will leave a spiritual legacy for future generations. The principle of legacy states that, “True success is measured by succession.” A legacy that does not include people has no eternal value. That is why leadership is critical. We must all learn to practice truly transformational leadership, where people’s lives are changed from the inside out. That kind of leadership is based on character, conviction, and Christ-likeness. In other words, transformational leadership follows the pattern laid down in Scripture.The need of the hour is great. Faith-Based Leadership Development small groups are forming now. My hope and prayer is that you will join one of these groups and be transformed by studying the principles of leadership as illustrated in the Bible. The truths, principles, and examples drawn from the Scriptures have been formulated into case studies, profiles, and lessons on the 22 principles of leadership, the 21 qualities of a leader, and the application to over 80 issues leaders deal with at home, as well as in the marketplace and the various other spheres of our society. No matter how weak or strong your leadership is, you can improve and reach your leadership potential for the glory of God. Whether you are a follower who is just beginning to discover the impact of leadership or a natural leader who already has followers, this program is designed to ensure you become a better leader and help others do the same. The greater the number of principles you learn, the more leadership qualities you will acquire, and the more adept at dealing with leadership issues you will become. Each principle is like a tool, ready to be picked up and used to help you achieve your dreams and add value to other people. Learn one, and you become a better leader. Learn a few, and people will gladly follow you. Learn them all, and you will become a transformational leader that leaves a lasting legacy.The small groups will meet twice a month for 60-90 minutes (each meeting). The meetings will contain the following agenda: 1. A review and discussion of the curriculum materials sent out in advance of the meeting. The topic will be sent out along with the assignment for reading and questions to be answered. Each participant will be asked to apply the material to their own life / vocation and to come prepared to discuss not only the material, but also the application. 2. Roundtable discussion of issues members are struggling with each month. 3. Monthly member focus – an opportunity for one member each month to share an issue in greater depth and for the group to serve as a godly board of advisors to him/her. 4. Goal setting, accountability, and prayer. I am inviting you to be a part of this remarkable opportunity. Local groups will meet in person. For those who are not able to meet in person, virtual groups are also forming that will meet by phone and online. I will merely be your humble guide and facilitator. We will all learn from God, His servants, and each other. If you are interested, please respond to this email or call me at the number listed below and I will provide you with more information. In all my experience as a teacher, coach, and mentor, I have never seen such a powerful course of study, that could assist such a broad group of people (remember, we’re all leaders), at a time of such urgent need.If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, I’d love to talk to you personally. Either email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com or call me at 248-396-6255. If you receive value from these blogs, please consider donating to keep this blog site up and running. This ministry cannot continue without the generous donations of its readers. Just click on the "Donate" button in the upper right.