Leadership...

Our church's Discipleship Team is plowing through some stuff about leadership. What makes an effective Christian leader? What makes an effective Christian team? One of our team members used the word "inspiration" to describe it. A good leader is inspiring. Another team member used the word "instructive". A good leader is a good teacher/motivator.

I just read a short but good book entitled "The Management Methods of Jesus" by Bob Briner. Here is my summary:

1. (Direction) Jesus had vision...He knew what God was calling Him to do and worked for it unswervingly. He never lost sight of it or got bogged down in minutia. He also insisted on absolutes, knowing that a vision is unblurred and the direction to get there is unblurred as well. Some things just cannot be tolerated and He knew it. He never tried to serve two masters. He was inspirational...because He let the Holy Spirit spill out from Him and all around knew it. He was a constant evaluator.

2. (Teamwork) Jesus surrounded Himself with trainable people who had vision...He knew He couldn't do it alone. He chose people of vision and of potential, not people who had "arrived" or even thought they did. And Jesus taught at every turn...He was constantly instructive!!!! He "field-tested" His people...giving them opportunities to grow into their calling...He said thanks and shared the glory with His disciples...He was humble and insisted on humility from His team. Again, He never tried to serve two masters. God was His master, not the disciples...when the choice had to be made to honor God or the disciples, He made the hard choice to honor God. He established His authority and maintained it in love.

3. (Pace) He had a great sense of timing...He knew when to confront and when to forgive...He cut His losses and moved on when appropriate. He knew when to work hard and knew when to stop and pray.

What do YOU think? More importantly, what does GOD think?