Lessons for Leaders

Lessons for Leaders One Hard Lesson > God Is Enough! Hard for God’s people, especially hard for Moses (LEADER) No matter how hard a leader tries to get people to TRUST IN GOD more than in him/herself, people tend to zero in on the LEADER instead. EX: Recent battle against the Amalek > Moses’ ability to hold God’s staff high Result: Even God’s leaders start to believe it’s all on their own shoulders > failure to empower others, exhaustion, and collapse of the organization

One Hard Lesson > God Is Enough!

Hard for God’s people, especially hard for Moses (LEADER)

No matter how hard a leader tries to get people to TRUST IN GOD more than in him/herself, people tend to zero in on the LEADER instead.

EX: Recent battle against the Amalek > Moses’ ability to hold God’s staff high

Result: Even God’s leaders start to believe it’s all on their own shoulders > failure to empower others, exhaustion, and collapse of the organization

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Exo 18:1-4 Moses had sent wife & two sons to live with father-in-law Jethro in Midian. Why? Too much going on to have to also deal with being a spouse and a parent (Ever do something like that?) Father-in-law is glad to hear what God has been doing thru Moses but doesn’t think this arrangement is healthy (vv 5-12) Wants to see why Moses thinks it’s more necessary to do his job than to be a part of his family (vv13-14) Spent entire day with Moses. “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” 1967: Liberal parents’ reaction to daughter’s desire to marry an African American man

Exo 18:1-4 Moses had sent wife & two sons to live with father-in-law Jethro in Midian. Why?

Too much going on to have to also deal with being a spouse and a parent (Ever do something like that?)

Father-in-law is glad to hear what God has been doing thru Moses but doesn’t think this arrangement is healthy (vv 5-12)

Wants to see why Moses thinks it’s more necessary to do his job than to be a part of his family

(vv13-14) Spent entire day with Moses. “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

INDISPENSIBLE? Are You Really That

Are You Really That Indispensible? (vv 15-16) Moses’ explained that God had given him an INDISPENSIBLE ROLE in the life of God’s people If he didn’t do it, it wouldn’t happen or it wouldn’t happen as well and the world would come to end! (vv 17-18) Jethro disagreed. Bad plan (in the end, everyone’s going to be worn out). Leading and caring for God’s people is too much for one person, no matter how capable and committed. Redefine the leader’s role Intercede on their behalf with God (pray and catch vision) / v19 Make sure they understand God’s heart & will (preach, teach) / v20 Carefully select and empower the right people to minister to others (observation, delegation, empowerment) / vv21-23)

(vv 15-16) Moses’ explained that God had given him an INDISPENSIBLE ROLE in the life of God’s people

If he didn’t do it, it wouldn’t happen or it wouldn’t happen as well and the world would come to end!

(vv 17-18) Jethro disagreed. Bad plan (in the end, everyone’s going to be worn out).

Leading and caring for God’s people is too much for one person, no matter how capable and committed.

Redefine the leader’s role

Intercede on their behalf with God (pray and catch vision) / v19

Make sure they understand God’s heart & will (preach, teach) / v20

Carefully select and empower the right people to minister to others (observation, delegation, empowerment) / vv21-23)

A Leader Can’t Succeed Without Great Teammates

A Leader Can’t Succeed Without Great Teammates Tour de France: 23 days, 2,200 mile race where teams of the world’s best cyclists compete for the coveted Yellow Jersey Several teams have a star that’s capable of winning the entire race, but not without the commitment and cooperation of teammates Sprinters, climbers, domestiques Protect the leader from attacks, shield leader from the wind Started cycling again in January. Typically ride alone so watching the Tour reminds me that in a long, grueling race, no one—no matter how great—has a chance of really winning. Inspired! (Shaving my legs now) Continue to surround myself with amazing staff members and lay leaders Continue to empower others to make good decisions, to care for the Church, and to take the Good News to the rest of the waiting world My sabbatical: good reminder to me and you that our trust always needs to be in God more than in people. People eventually leave but God always stays.

Tour de France: 23 days, 2,200 mile race where teams of the world’s best cyclists compete for the coveted Yellow Jersey

Several teams have a star that’s capable of winning the entire race, but not without the commitment and cooperation of teammates

Sprinters, climbers, domestiques

Protect the leader from attacks, shield leader from the wind

Started cycling again in January. Typically ride alone so watching the Tour reminds me that in a long, grueling race, no one—no matter how great—has a chance of really winning. Inspired! (Shaving my legs now)

Continue to surround myself with amazing staff members and lay leaders

Continue to empower others to make good decisions, to care for the Church, and to take the Good News to the rest of the waiting world

My sabbatical: good reminder to me and you that our trust always needs to be in God more than in people. People eventually leave but God always stays.