Tag Archives: leadership

Gospel Confidence

by Leadership

Guy Mason on gospel confidence:

Gospel confidence is the living and certain trust that Jesus’ gospel is powerful to save. This is sharply distinct from self-confidence, which looks in the mirror and says, “I can do it.” Such an attitude leads to either pride at one’s “achievements,” or despair when difficulty comes. In contrast, gospel confidence finds courage not by looking to culture or to self, but to God.

Gospel confidence—God has been growing me a great deal in this area over the past several months. For me, self–confidence tends to lead to insecurity. You see, I’m keenly aware of my inability to achieve God’s purposes on my own. This is especially true in the context of leadership. Insecurity, then, gives birth to all kinds of ugliness: posturing, false humility, defensiveness, and perfectionism to name just a few.

Thankfully, I don’t have to be self–confident, reliant upon my own talents and abilities. Rather, I must simply lead with confidence rooted in the great I AM and his ability to achieve his purposes.

Mason ends his post in this way:

God is lifting our eyes to him. He is giving each one of us a big vision, which requires complete dependence, for when God is required for all we do, he is guaranteed to get all the glory.

All the glory, indeed.

Link List for May 24, 2013

by Uncategorized

Echoes of Eden: Reflections on Christianity, Literature, and the Arts (eBook) | Ebooks | Crossway

The digital version of Jerram Barrs' new book, released this month, is on sale for just $2.00. Through Crossway only.

#055: How to Read a Non-Fiction Book [Podcast] | Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt offers ten great tips for reading non–fiction books quickly. For example, don't feel like you need to finish every book you start. Some books, Hyatt argues, simply aren't worth finishing. Good advice from someone who spent years working in the publishing industry.

Leadership from the Heart – Posts – "Twenty Points On Leading Twentysomethings."

Twenty takeaways from Brad Lomenick’s new book, The Catalyst Leader, for those who lead and work with twentysomethings. I haven't yet read The Catalyst Leader, but it's on my list.

5 Reasons I Switched to Scrivener for All My Writing | Michael Hyatt

More from Michael Hyatt. In this blog post he explains how he uses Scrivener, a powerful writing tool for the Mac.

Tim Challies on Discernment Bloggers

by Leadership

Tim Challies wrote some passionate words about so–called discernment bloggers today. His conclusion:

But I will not read any more shocking exposes built on nothing more than one sides accusations and angry conjectures. I am not going to read about this persons finances and that persons leadership style. I am not going to allow people with so little integrity, with so little concern for truth and love, to violate my conscience, pollute my mind, and disrupt my love for others. And I’d encourage you to join me.

Well said. I’m in.

Read his entire post here.

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by Church & Church Planting

What I did not know, was that the more clear I got about who we were theologically, culturally, and functionally would help people know that our church was not for them. A vague vision leaves room for everyone, but a clear vision does not. If no one ever leaves your church it may be that your vision is simply to vague. I wish I could go back and tell myself to prepare to lose people as I became more clear regarding who God had called us to be.

Ryan Huguley on clarity of vision and the three most prominent lessons he learned in the first three years of planting a church.

Free Ebook – Read This Before Our Next Meeting

by Leadership / Productivity & Workflow

As one who has witnessed, first-hand, the broken “meetings system” (and contributed to it as well), I am really looking forward to reading this book:  Read This Before Out Next Meeting, by Al Pittampalli.

And the best part? The Kindle edition is free until August 10! Get it HERE.

 

via Michael Hyatt.

The Execution of Ideas

by Leadership / Productivity & Workflow

It has never been especially difficult for me to develop new ideas. Having an idea is easy. Execution – now that’s the hard part.

As as young professional, I was blessed to have a boss who challenged me not to settle for being a mere “ideas guy.” Having a good idea wasn’t good enough. He challenged me to implement my ideas, to execute. It’s one thing to have an idea. It’s quite another to have an idea, implement the idea, see it through to completion, and witness first-hand its impact.

In this video, recently posted on the99percent.com, several attendees of the 2011 99% Conference discuss this process of putting their ideas own into action.  I found it to be helpful to hear others’ insights into the execution of ideas.  I hope it is helpful to you, too.

How often do you successfully execute your ideas?  What advice would you give one who desires to implement his or her ideas more often and more effectively?

Leaders Who Last in Lincoln

by Leadership / Lincoln, NE

One of the great blessings that has come from these past eight months in the Resurgence Training Center (Re:Train) Missional Leadership Program has been the opportunity to spend time with my cohort leader, Pastor Dave Kraft. Dave is, without a doubt, one of the wisest men I have ever met. He has decades of leadership and ministry experience under his belt, has a heart for investing in and developing young leaders, and continues to humbly learn and grow in Christlikeness himself, even to this day.

Dave recently began traveling around the country, speaking at seminars that bear the name of his book, Leaders Who Last. His travels will soon bring him to Lincoln, NE as 2 Pillars Church will be sponsoring a Leaders Who Last Seminar. Here is a brief description from the 2PC blog:

Dave Kraft, Pastor at Mars Hill Church, Director of Leadership Development and Coaching at The Resurgence, and author of #1 Christian Leadership book Leaders Who Last, is traveling around the country with the goal of helping develop leaders. 2 Pillars Church is proud to announce that he will be making a stop in Lincoln, NE on April 30.

Join us as Pastor Dave leads a one-day seminar based upon his book. The seminar will include large group presentations, Q&A, small group discussions and application.

The event is for any ministry or church leader – from volunteers to pastors. If you are a leader or a leader of leaders then consider joining us on April 30th.

For further details and event registration information, read the entire post HERE.

If you are a ministry leader and live within a driving distance of Lincoln, then I encourage you to consider spending April 30 with Dave Kraft and other area leaders. It will surely be a value investment of your time.

 

Are you planning to attend the Leaders Who Last Seminar in Lincoln or elsewhere? Have you read the book? Comment below.