Leadership Skills

Squared off to Bunt (part one)

In some sectors of the church today there’s great momentum, clarity of mission, risk-taking experimentation, courageous leadership, and fresh reliance on the Holy Spirit for direction, empowering, and transformation. Churches are breaking out of the attractional paradigm and are moving their ministry focus off their facilities and into the community where those who need Christ […]

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The Long View (part three)

How does a minister develop tenacity … particularly when the surrounding culture is increasingly committed to relieving tension—in the short run—without regard to the long term consequences? Tenacity is defined as the capacity to stick—like super glue—to one’s commitments.  The word comes from the Latin tenere which means “to hold”. In a culture that, over the

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The Invitation (part three)

We’re looking at distinctions employed coaching pastors and Christian influencers.  I hope coaches find these helpful with their clients. Pastors read this blog to more effectively lead those God’s entrusted to them. So, whether you’re a pastor, a coach to leaders, or both, this is for you. Christian ministers have a tricky leadership challenge. With

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The Invitation (part one)

Have you noticed that some people consistently attract what they don’t want?  Maybe it’s true for you, too. It’s as if you’re wearing one of those sandwich boards — visible to others, but not to you.  And, the distinction between what you invite and what you want may be subtle. Years ago I attended a

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Compendium (part ten)

Leadership Courage Series # 44 Go first! Leaders go. They take action. They leap. Managers, strategists, futurists, idea practitioners, educators, and visionaries can all get by without going—and particularly without going first.  Leaders, however cannot. Leaders lead.  It’s just what they do.  That what Jesus did.  The apostles, too. Somehow, as Christianity has passed from

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Compendium (part eight)

Leadership Courage Series # 42 The seventh of nine leadership characteristics needed in the Church today: Disengage from an unreasonable faith in reasonableness.  Let me ask you: How reasonable was Jesus when confronting opposition,  faithlessness, and cowardice?  Consider his arrest, in Gethsemane.  Jesus is betrayed with a kiss by one of his closest confidants, an

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Compendium (part seven)

Leadership Courage Series # 41 The sixth leadership characteristic needed in the Church today is: Undermine the 80/20 Rule. 80/20 is another evidence that cowardice is thriving in much of the American Church. A week ago, my pastor announced that last year’s tithes and offerings – totaling more than $5 million – came from 15%

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Compendium (part five)

Leadership Courage Series # 39 The fourth trait to lead effectively in a Church caught in a culture of cowardice: Stand, as an exemplar, in the sabotage and backlash that must come. A Christian leader is not simply someone who gets things done or who gets others to behave in desirable ways, in a religious

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