LEADERSHIP

What is leadership?

Leadership is the ability to inspire and influence a group of people to achieve a worthwhile goal.

Qualities of a Leader

Courage to put oneself at risk.Passion to make a difference with others.Dissatisfaction with current reality.Taking responsibility while others are making excuses.Seeing the possibilities in a situation while others see the limitations.Willingness to stand out in a crowd.An open mind and an open heart.Ability to submerge your ego for the sake of what is best.Evoking in others the capacity to dream.Inspiring others with a vision of what they can contribute.Capacity to care, and in caring, to liberate the ideas, energy and capacities of others.

Introducing Spiritual Leadership -Key Issues 1Tim.3;1-13.Can we be spiritual leaders if we have not experienced the transforming power of the gospel?Can we lead those who have not experienced the gospel?Can we lead effectively those who are spiritual if we ourselves are not?Can we effectively lead those who are not growing as disciples?How do we make the gospel a priority in our leadership?

Spiritual leadership within the church is the ability to influence a group of people to accomplish Gods mission, while lifting them to a higher vision and a closer walk with God.The primary goal of spiritual leadership is to empower people to develop and utilize their God-given gifts to fulfill Gods purpose for them as part of His family.

The primary task of a spiritual leader is to: develop leaders, not just followers.The vision of the spiritual leader is:

Connected to Christ and Spirit empowered.Developing successors.Focusing on peoples strengths.Investing position and power in others.Asking for great commitment.

Derived from Gods vision for His church.Articulated in contemporary context.Responsive to the real needs of those being led.

Foundational spiritual leadership principles;Spiritual leaders know and implement their priorities:

Spiritual leaders have a connection with Christ.They create a growth environment by growing and encouraging others to grow.They facilitate and enhance the spiritual growth of those they lead.They coach the personal development of followers.They transfer ownership to growing leaders who perform the work.Vision-castingCommunicatingPersonnel/ leadership developmentLeading

Identifying marks of a spiritual leaderHas been to Calvary.Derives vision through prayer and from Gods Word.Integrates the Gospel into leadership style.Focuses on building the kingdom of God.Focuses on equipping people for their ministry.Recognizes the inherent sinfulness of others but accepts them in Gods grace.Allows the Holy Spirit to be the primary motivating force in ministry and lives of others.Leads from the perspective of Gods abundance, not human scarcity.Focuses on building consensus instead of convincing a majority.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in LeadershipSpiritual leaders build a partnership with the Holy Spirit:Claim His presence by faith.Rom.8;14-16Accept the Holy Spirit as an organizational reality.Lead spiritually, not just administratively.Listen to convictions and burdens the Holy Spirit places on their hearts.Trust the Holy Spirit to convict others.Integrate the Holy Spirit into leadership processes.Surrender Gods church and His people into His hands.

The Role of Prayer in LeadershipSpiritual leadership is about prayer [Acts6:1-4]Prayer is the spiritual leaders primary work.For opening of self to God.For confession, surrender and intercession.For wisdom [James 1:5].For power [John 14:11-20]. Prayer is NOT preparation for the ministry it is the ministryPrayer evangelism---praying with people and inviting them to pray in the name of Jesus.Praise and worship is a powerful form of spiritual warfare.Prayer empowers leadership to:place leadership in the context of Gods kingdomcall followers to prayermodel prayerbuild reliance on God unite people in Godrally others to Gods cause