Chuck Swindoll's 10 Lifetime Leadership Lessons

 

1) It's lonely to lead. Leadership involves tough decisions. The tougher the decision, the lonelier it is.

2) It's dangerous to succeed. I'm most concerned for those who aren't even 30 and are very gifted and successful. Sometimes God uses someone right out of youth, but usually he uses leaders who have been crushed.

3) It's hardest at home. No one ever told me this in Seminary.

4) It's essential to be real. If there's one realm where phoniness is common, it's among leaders. Stay real.

5) It's painful to obey. The Lord will direct you to do some things that won't be your choice. Invariably you will give up what you want to do for the cross.

6) Brokenness and failure are necessary.

7) Attititude is more important than actions. Your family may not have told you: some of you are hard to be around. A bad attitude overshadows good actions.

8) Integrity eclipses image. Today we highlight image. But it's what you're doing behind the scenes.

9) God's way is better than my way.

10) Christlikeness begins and ends with humility.

http://images.army.gov.au/fotoweb/archives/5003-All%20Army%20Imagery/DefenceImagery/2015/AIA15_S028/20150226raaf8227810_0320.jpg.info (18/10/17)

Article from http://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2009/october-online-only/chuck-swindolls-10-lifetime-leadership-lessons.html (18/10/17)

What I'm Reading: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

Written by Nabeel Qureshi, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is the written journey of a zealous and devout Muslim seeking to know the truth.

Raised in a fundamental Muslim home by sincere and loving parents, Nabeel Qureshi learns the Islamic faith thoroughly.  As a young man transitioning to tertiary study, he sets out to passionately defend his faith amidst new life challenges, an education system that challenges his faith, and alongside his two best and most faithful friends; a Christian and a Buddhist!

Qureshi's book sets out three purposes which he outlines in the introduction, summarised here:

1.  To tear down walls by giving non-Muslim readers an insider's perspective into a Muslim's heart and mind... to help Christians understand Muslim neighbours and love them as Jesus loves them...

2.  To equip readers with facts and knowledge, showing the strength of the gospel contrasted with the case for Islam...

3.  To portray the immense inner struggle of Muslims grappling with the gospel...

Clearly a highly intelligent man, a Doctor of Medicine, Master of Christian Apologetics and a deep thinker, Qureshi narrows his investigation of Christianity down to three questions:

"If we can determine that Jesus claimed to be God, that He died on the cross, and that He rose from the grave, then that would be a good case for Christianity."

"And now I had found the path of my pursuit: assess the historical case for Jesus' death, His deity, and His resurrection."

Qureshi took an evidence-based approach to researching his Islamic belief system.  What he found stunned him:

"I was shocked motionless... I stared at the book in disbelief.   Far from a noble call to prophethood, Muhammad was violently accosted by a spiritual force that terrified him, driving him to contemplate suicide on multiple occasions.  And this was not just any book, this was Sahih Bukhari, the most trustworthy book of hadith."

"The mental dissonance was too much to bear.  I could not process it, could not think, could not even get myself to move, in fact."

"Where was the truth?  Why did no one deal with the difficulties in Muhammad's past?"

Qureshi writes in a relaxed but informative style and includes definitions of Muslim words and phrases that help non-familiar readers understand the basis of Islam.

He explains how people from Eastern Islamic cultures generally assess truth through lines of authority, not individual reasoning like in the west, but Qureshi himself had a leaning to reasoning.  He did not subscribe to blind faith.  He also explains how Muslims believe that being Christian is a cultural identity, not a faith; he was told that there are Christians who simply do not believe in God.  He says,

"If they were to intimately know even one Christian who lived differently, their misconceptions might be corrected, and they might see Christianity in a virtuous light."

Nabeel Qureshi's journey is an exciting and intriguing story and I would encourage you to read this book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus.

Qureshi can have the closing word:

"As I studied Islam carefully, what I learned shook my world:  there is no good reason to believe that either Muhammad or the Quran speaks the truth about God"

I bought this e-book on Amazon.com.au.   At the time of publishing this blogspot, it was $12.99 sold by HarperCollins Publishing Australia.  Qureshi also wrote other books including No God but One and Answering Jihad.

Adapt or Die

Does it ever concern you that the local church is not moving with the culture?   If the local church is not relevant, it may die out.  It's not unhealthy for a local church to fulfil its purpose and die, just like any other organism, but it needs to give birth to new life first!

Moving with the culture is a biblical concept, as long as it is done without compromise of God's Word.

In the Steve Martin version of the famous movie, Pink Panther 2, we see a striking parallel:  the incompetent, bumbling, bungling but brilliant Detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau is confronted with a changing world when he sees media contingents excited to report the theft of the Pink Panther Diamond:

Clouseau says in his French-accented English, 

"Why are they cheering?  This is a national tragedy."

His faithful partner, Detective Sergeant Ponton replies, 

"We live in a media age.  You must learn to adapt."

A quick learner, Clouseau replies, "Then adapt I shall", and proceeds to do a very animated media release, looking straight down the TV cameras and speaking to the thief, "Tornado, I'm coming to get you", then to the media, "There's your one!"

Do we actually embrace the opportunities in our culture to further our commission of Matthew 28:19-20, or do we resist the culture itself?

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.  (Mt. 28:19-20, ESV)

Embracing culture does not mean we have to compromise.   Paul embraced culture:

Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. To those who are without that law, like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.  1 Cor. 9:19-23 (HCSB)

Paul himself considered the angle of compromise and addressed it in verse 21 - reaching out to those without the law, he could be like them, yet within Christ's law himself.

What distinguishes the 21st century from previous centuries?  What distinguishes this generation from others?  How can we embrace these changes in a positive gospel-embracing way?   Here are a few very limited observations to think about:

• We live in a world of idolatry.  Love of self, self fulfilment.
• Sensuality; we are bombarded with sensuality.  Sex sells.
• Self absorption; addiction to technology, gizmos and gadgets
• This is a generation of entitlement:  "You deserve it!"
• Media-driven political agendas, Facebook and Instagram
• False-assurance.  Children are rewarded for coming last.  Failed parenting.
• Tolerance.  Anything goes.  Do what you like.  Whatever feels good.
• Travel:  it's easy to travel anywhere in the world.
• Millenials:  born 1984 onwards.  This generation has a high sense of entitlement.

What does the gospel offer that the culture is missing but desperately needs?  Here is the missional opportunity.
 
Churchleaders claims there are 8 reasons why the local church isn't reaching people.  Although I don't entirely agree with their reasoning in factors 2,3 and 7, there are some valid points in the article.  The article focuses on ministries of the church, but as you read this excerpt, I encourage you to think in terms of personal ministry too:

#4 – Your ministries don’t match the needs of your community.

Across the nation, communities are changing.   Wise churches pay attention to these changes and make sure their ministries match.  As the community changes, the ministries of the church need to change to adapt. It’s possible your ministries meet the needs of the community 20 years ago, not today. Listening to the community may not be as important as listening to God, but it’s right behind...

On one hand, we bemoan the busyness of our culture, but on the other, we keep planning events... Are those really the needs of the community?
If they are, then by all means, move forward.
But it’s possible you might need to do more homework.
If you want to know the needs of the community, ask people.   (my underlining!)

Ask people.  That's a fair point.  Observe the needs of the community.   Consider your strengths; your spiritual gifts; your interests and skills.  Ask yourself how these can all combine to present ministry opportunities.  Think strategically.  Pray strategically.  Be intentional in your mission.  Get involved.  Work within the culture to achieve these things.


References:

Pink Panther 2, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Robert Simonds Company, 2009, USA

https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/310590-8-reasons-church-isnt-reaching-people-church-fuel.html