Jesus Christ is the greatest Leader of all time. Remember His words to Simon and Andrew: “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” … he called them, and us, to follow Him and lead others to Him: follow, lead, follow, lead ... get it?

What makes a good Leader?

”A leader is a person with a compass in his head and a magnet in his heart.”  Dr. Howard Hendricks (Dallas Theological Seminary professor and author).

The compass in your head provides direction and values, including ’True North’ which on a map always points UP. This reminds me of the Lifeshapes triangle, which illustrates the importance for us as individuals and as a church to keep our relationships in balance – UP (with God), IN (with the church) and OUT (with our neighbors). Our relationships with (our influence over) other people will only be as strong as our relationship with God, as we follow Jesus.

The magnet in your heart attracts people to follow you … often opposites like your spouse, or non-believers (as Jesus did during his entire ministry). With this power, we can attract others onto the same path as us – hopefully the right path.

But just as a compass loses it’s true north direction and needs to be re-calibrated, we lose our way, and need to get back on course … so we can have a head like Jesus.

And just as a magnet loses it’s power and needs to be recharged, we can lose ours if we don't stay plugged-in to Christ (In Him), and constantly refilled by the Holy Spirit … so we can have heart like Jesus.

What do I do as a Leader?

So, are you getting this? Think you might be a Leader after all?! Here are 3 questions I ask myself often (try them yourself):  Who am I leading? Where am I leading them? Who am I following?  The answer to question 3 determines the “where” in question 2.

I love music - God speaks to me all the time through music (thanks to Gwen and the band for your great work every Sunday!) Do you remember Harry Chapin’s song “Cat’s in the Cradle” and the son’s words: "I'm gonna be like you, dad. You know I'm gonna be like you"?  Well Phillips, Craig and Dean wrote the Christian alternative version … “I Want to Be Just Like You”.

The song begins with the father looking at his young son, who (like Harry Chapin's son) wants to be like his Dad.  Then the chorus goes:

“Lord, I want to be just like You

'Cause he wants to be just like me

I want to be a holy example

For his innocent eyes to see

Help me be a living Bible, Lord

That my little boy can read

I want to be just like You

'Cause he wants to be like me”

… and the final verse includes:  “and the Jesus he finds, will be the Jesus in me!”  Do you want people to find Jesus in you? Do they?

Lead Like Jesus

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” (John Maxwell) 

Embrace the fact: you are one! In that case, you need to decide: are you going to lead like you, or are you going to lead like Jesus? I know my choice, and it's not "like me"!

Lead Like Jesus (by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges) is a great book that can help you and me. I want to help you too, so let me know if you share my heart for developing as a leader, and for helping others develop.

Who are you going to Lead?   Where are you going to Lead them?  Who you are you going to Follow?

You are only as good a Leader as you are a follower of Christ, so follow the advice of your Elders on September 3rd (about your heart, about prayer, fellowship and quiet time, about leadership) - listen to us in Sunday Messages, and learn to Lead like Jesus.

As you lead, remember God's words to Joshua when he called him to lead the Israelites into the promised land: “be strong and courageous”. And know that Jesus “will never leave or forsake you.”  May God BLESS your efforts to lead like Jesus.

More next month ...                                          ~ Leadership ~