Thursday, August 11, 2016

August 12, 2016


Think about this for a moment: "Jesus built His brand in three years and has hundreds of thousands of franchises all over the world without racking up a single frequent-flier mile!" - Andy Stanley -

That's very impressive isn't it?

It takes a good leader to do that! No, actually it takes a GREAT leader to do that!

When you think of great leaders past and present would Jesus be on your initial list that comes to mind?

Me neither! Until I studied for this message, that is.

He probably stays off most leadership guru's because His leadership approach is so unorthodox. Unorthodox, sure, but obviously very effective!

So, what is this leadership style that turned the world upside down?

Jesus led by serving!

Jesus didn't lead by leveraging His authority although it was immeasurable.

Jesus didn't lead by leveraging His knowledge, although it was infinite.

Jesus didn't lead by leveraging His wisdom, though it was impeccable.

Jesus didn't lead by leveraging His power, although it was immense.

Jesus led by leveraging Himself. He used all that He had available to serve the needs of others! 

Jesus led not by asking, "What can I get from you?" but by asking, "What do you need?"

Jesus led not by asking, "What will you do for me?" but by asking, "What can I do for you?"

Which brings up the question, "What DO you need from Jesus?"

Jesus came to lead the world to His Father's love by offering Himself to anyone who would receive Him. AND, He came to teach His followers how to lead like that!

If you claim to be a follower of Christ this is how you should be leading!

Imagine what could happen in your marriage if you began leading like this.

Imagine what could happen in your parenting if you were to start leading this way.

Imagine what could happen in your church if began leading like this.

How would this impact your workplace if you leveraged your authority or your influence in this way?

Jesus changed the world with His servant leadership! He has changed your world with His servant leadership!

If you are following Him then lead like this!

August 11, 2016

"Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you....." Mark 10:42-43

Not only do Christ-followers live quite differently from those who don't follow him but they also lead very differently.

Just 88 days away from a Presidential election it is a good chance to focus on leadership since both candidates are finding their leadership under careful scrutiny on a daily basis. 

I came across this article this morning that illustrates the sort of leadership Jesus was referring to as a contrast to the new standard of leadership He modeled and introduced to His disciples:

10 Signs You’re Just a Jerk…Not a Leader

“Leaders who become jerks not only destroy others, they ultimately destroy themselves.”

So you lead. You’re in charge…at least you’re in charge of something or hope to be one day.

But how do you know you’re leading effectively…and that you’re not, well, a jerk?

I mean we’ve all been around leaders who are extremely difficult to be around.

Think about how badly leaders are often viewed.

Over the years, boss has even become a bad word. If you’re a pushy kid, you get labeled as bossy and people stay away. Hollywood simply needs to put the word “horrible” in front of the word “bosses” in a movie title and everyone smiles because they can relate. Who hasn’t had a horrible boss?

And yet, sometimes there’s a fine line between being an effective leader and being a jerk. The strength required to be a leader can sometimes push you up against the hard edges of your personality.

When you reach that point, you fail. You not only destroy others, you ultimately destroy yourself.

Here are 10 signs you’re actually being a jerk, not a leader.

1. You’ve made the organization all about you


Leaders, after all, make things happen.

If you want to be a jerk, make the organization about you.


Just think of yourself as undervalued and indispensable. Jerks, after all, think it’s all about them.

2. You think that people work for  you

If you’re a jerk and not a true leader, you’ll believe people work for you. 

They prefer to serve rather than be served.


3. You never say thank you


Jerk leaders rarely take the time to tap someone on the shoulder and tell them they noticed the difference that team member made today.

And why thank the employee who worked late to get the project done? After all, shouldn’t they just be grateful to get a paycheck?

Great bosses often take the time to hand-write a thank you note.

They high-five people.

They look team members in the eye and tell them how much they appreciate them.

They put their arm around people and say thanks.


4. You’re demanding

One sure way to be a jerk is to demand things of people.
It’s one thing to have high standards (great leaders have high standards), but to remain a jerk, make sure you always communicate those standards in a way that demeans people.
Always focus on what you want from people. Never think about what you want for people.

5. You keep the perks of leadership to yourself

Leadership does have perks. Maybe you know some people other folks would love to connect with.

Maybe you get the nicer office or have a slightly bigger budget than others. Or people send you gift cards once in a while because you’re the boss man. Or you have a nice parking space (which you shouldn’t by the way…here’s why).

To stay a jerk, just make sure you never share anything with anyone. Keep it all to yourself. Whatever you do, don’t be generous.

6. You keep yourself front and center

If you’re a jerk leader, you think you’re so valuable to the organization (see point 1) that you do whatever it takes to be at the center of everything at all times.

You don’t develop young talent. You’re too insecure to share your platform with others. You never push other people into the spotlight. (Insecurity causes a lot of leadership problems by the way. Here are 5.)

You’re never going to retire anyway, or even if you do, it doesn’t really matter if the organization crumbles when you go, does it?

Besides, no one else on your team has dreams, gifts or hopes. Why would you pay attention to that?

Think about it: Great leaders don’t build platforms; they build people.

7. You take the credit and assign the blame

If you’re a jerk leader, there are two surefire ways to anger your team.

First, take all of the credit for anything good that happens in your organization.

Make sure you mention how it was your idea, and whatever you do, don’t mention your team or how hard they worked on the project.


Look surprised and then appear concerned.

Blame something else.

Blame someone else.

Blame anything else.

You weren’t responsible anyway. Except for all of the good things, of course.

8. You never have your team’s back

Is there really any value in public loyalty? Didn’t think so.

If you want to alienate your team, speak poorly of them when they’re not in the room.

For example, when you disagree with a decision a team member made, make sure you tell anyone who will listen how much you disagreed with it.

And when someone complains to you about what a team member did, make sure you pull them aside and in hushed tones tell them how disappointed you were with their decision too, and that you don’t understand why they would do that.

For bonus points, never privately speak to the person with whom you disagree. Just smile when you see them.

Great leaders don’t always agree, but they always disagree privately behind closed doors and they support you publicly, no matter what. That builds a team.

As Andy Stanley says, great leaders realize that public loyalty buys you private leverage.

9. You make all the decisions

One sure sign of a jerk leader is that you infuriate other leaders on your team by personally making as many decisions as possible.

You never let them exercise their leadership gifts or become thinkers in their own right.

And when they do make decisions on their own, you meddle frequently.

You even pull out your pocket veto regularly. Especially if you’re acting on partial information and don’t have the whole story.

10. You act like a martyr

When your team is angry with you (as they should be), one sure sign you’ve moved to the jerk column is that you pull out the martyr card.

Nobody has it as hard as you do. True?

Nobody is as misunderstood.


Nobody. Of course.

To keep jerk status, make sure you tell everyone how hard you work, how lonely leadership is and how you haven’t taken a vacation in X years.

Great leaders realize leadership has a cost, but they don’t expect others to share it. This is exactly why many people are willing to share the cost with a great leader.

In response to this style of leadership Jesus would say, "Not so you....."