Hello all,
I thought that I would share with you all what we are learning here at Saddleback Church for the Student Leadership Conference. We took 4 students along for the trip to deepen their faith and take them to the next level of leadership. I have to say even though its been less than 24 hours I am very impressed with how open and enthusiastic these four students are. They all go to different high schools and have different personalities. But they are all here for one thing, to become better followers of Christ. On day 1 Doug Fields asked the students to think of the definition of what it takes to be a leader in Christ. After a few people shared their answers Doug shared with them his “Makeup of a Leader”. According to Doug a leader has 7 essential body parts:
1. A Leader must have Hands of Service
– Matthew 19:27 – Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”
A leader is someone who is a server and not a consumer. A leader is someone who sees someone in need and puts themself at service.
– Matthew 20:26-27 – Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
2. A Leader must have a Heart of Faith
– Matthew 22:37-39 – He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
A leader is someone who understands the importance of worshiping and honoring God. A leader is someone who is willing to serve and love others as much as he or she is to love God. How much of your life and your heart is dedicated to God? Is your leadership for show and for youself or is it to lead others to God?
– Matthew 23:25-28 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
3. A Leader has Feet of Integrity
– Proverbs 10:9 – He who walks honestly walks securely, but he whose ways are crooked will fare badly.
A leader is someone who not only talks the talk but walks the walk.
– Proverbs 2:7 – He has counsel in store for the upright, he is the shield of those who walk honestly
A leader is someone who is honest. A leader is someone who is strong in his faith and will not waiver. A leader is someone who is sincere.
– Proverbs 11:20 – The depraved in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those who walk blamelessly are his delight.
– 1 Chronicles 29:17 – I know, O my God, that you put hearts to the test and that you take pleasure in uprightness. With a sincere heart I have willingly given all these things, and now with joy I have seen your people here present also giving to you generously.
4. A Leader has Eyes and Ears to Capture Needs
– Ministry is meeting needs with love, meeting needs with a servant’s heart will always make us greater followers of Christ.
5. A Leader has Mouth of Encouragement.
– Matthew 12:35 – A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil.
A leader is someone who builds up others, not tears them down. A leader is someone who keeps others going, not just the ones below him, but also the ones above him.
– It takes a small sacrifice, it meets a big need, it makes a deep impression, it multiplies to wider numbers.
6. A leader has a Mind of Purity
– Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
A leader is someone who not only speaks the morals and values of Jesus but lives them out as well. What do you listen to? What do you watch? What do you explore on the Internet? Are you living a pure life?
– Timothy 1:14 – Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us.
7. A leader has a Stomach for Criticism
– Matthew 9:1-8 – He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” –he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.
Even Jesus took criticism and He is the son of God. A leader is someone who can take the criticism and can continue to do God’s work. As a Christian leader we will be teased and put down, it’s important for us to remember to be loyal to God and to have faith.
– Matthew 10:14 – Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words–go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.
These were the 7 Body parts that make up a great leader. I feel that this isn’t just for student leaders but for all leaders. How are your Hands of Service, Heart of Faith, Feet of Integrity, Eyes and Ears to Capture Needs, Mouth of Encouragement, Mind of Purity and Stomach for Criticism. Doug had students and adults grade themselves on how they are doing with each Body Part and then challenged us to improve those grades.
It seems as if this will have a great impact on our students, keep them in your prayers that this experience will open their minds and hearts to strengthen them in their faith.