in partnership with EQUIP and United Christian

1 Developing Courageous Leaders Module 5| www.willowcreekevents.org.uk WCA Notes © Willow Creek Association | www.willowcreek.com EQUIP Notes © EQUIP Million Leaders Mandate Volume 2 | www.iequip.org

DEVELOPING COURAGEOUS LEADERS

Module 5 Failing Forward

Willow Creek Association UK & Ireland in partnership with EQUIP and United Christian Broadcasters


Welcome to the Developing Courageous Leaders (DCL) programme. This programme is designed to inspire and challenge you to grow in your leadership skills, bringing together the best of training materials from EQUIP and Willow Creek Association (WCA):

EQUIP Million Leaders Mandate (MLM) Training presentations and notes

WCA Conference presentations and process tools

WCA Audio Training and Messages Acknowledgements Special thanks go to the partnership of EQUIP and United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) for the provision of the first class MLM notes and video presentations. Together with the WCA material they blend into a powerful resource tool from the combined experiences of highly recognised Christian leaders. I encourage you be a part of the leadership process, to learn it, to live it and pass it on to others.

Graeme Paris Executive Director WCA UK & Ireland

http://www.willowcreekevents.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Graeme-Paris2.jpg


About the Willow Creek Association The Willow Creek Association (WCA) exists to maximize the life-transformation effectiveness of local churches. It does this by stirring up and calling out the core leadership of churches around the world, encouraging them to follow their “holy discontent” as they build life-changing communities of faith. It then equips these leaders with next-step solutions to impact spiritual transformation of their people, their communities, and the world. Over the past 18 years, the WCA has developed a respected history of excellence and innovation in serving local churches and their leaders. In that time, the WCA has inspired and trained more than one million church leaders and has created and distributed millions of church resources into tens of thousands of churches representing more than 90 denominations. Visit: www.willowcreek.org.uk | www.willowcreek.com

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Tom Atema, EQUIP, and Bill Partington, United Christian Broadcasters, for their assistance and for the provision of the first class Million Leaders Mandate notes and video presentations. Visit: www.iequip.org | www.ucb.org.uk

Many thanks also to Chris Hollies of Leadership First, based in Belfast, for his passion regarding leadership, and the help he has provided to the team at WCA UK & Ireland in developing some of the process tools in this manual. Visit: www.leadershipfirst.co.uk

http://www.willowcreek.org.uk/

http://www.willowcreek.com/

http://www.iequip.org/

http://www.ucb.org.uk/

http://www.leadershipfirst.co.uk/


Module 5 Contents

GETTING STARTED ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 OPENING THOUGHT AND PRAYER .................................................................................................................................................. 7 LESSON 1: FAILING FORWARD ....................................................................................................................................... 8 5.1 SUPER SHEEP ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 5.1 INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS ................................................................................................................................................. 12 5.1 WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ACHIEVE AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ONLY AVERAGE? .................................... 13 5.1 PUTTING A NEW FACE ON ADVERSITY .................................................................................................................................... 15 5.1 THE LAND BETWEEN ........................................................................................................................................................... 18

LESSON 2: RETHINKING FAILURE .................................................................................................................................. 23 5.2 FINDING COURAGE ............................................................................................................................................................ 24 5.2 IF YOU’VE FAILED, ARE YOU A FAILURE? ............................................................................................................................... 27 5.2 TAKE THE “YOU” OUT OF FAILURE ........................................................................................................................................ 30 5.2 ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURES .............................................................................................................................. 31 5.2 THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS OF A LEADER ................................................................................................................................. 33 LESSON 3: FAILURE IS AN INSIDE JOB ........................................................................................................................... 37 5.3 LOVE NEVER FAILS ............................................................................................................................................................. 38 5.3 PEOPLE WHO BOUNCE BACK ARE OPTIMISTS .......................................................................................................................... 42 5.3 IS THE PAST HOLDING YOU HOSTAGE?................................................................................................................................... 44 5.3 MOVE FORWARD ............................................................................................................................................................... 46 5.3 LEVERAGING YOUR PAST ..................................................................................................................................................... 47 LESSON 4: TURNING ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE .................................................................................................... 52 5.4 OVERCOMING TRIALS ......................................................................................................................................................... 53 5.4 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................................. 56 5.4 GRASP THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES ........................................................................................................ 58 5.4 TAKE A RISK – THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO FAIL FORWARD ..................................................................................................... 60 5.4 IF AT FIRST YOU DO SUCCEED, TRY SOMETHING HARDER .......................................................................................................... 62 5.4 AGAINST ALL ODDS ........................................................................................................................................................... 63 LESSON 5: MAKING FAILURE YOUR BEST FRIEND ......................................................................................................... 67 5.5 HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S FORGIVENESS ............................................................................................................................ 68 5.5 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................. 71 5.5 THE TOP TEN REASONS PEOPLE FAIL ..................................................................................................................................... 73 5.5 WORK ON THE WEAKNESS THAT WEAKENS YOU ..................................................................................................................... 75 5.5 LEADING PEOPLE TO THE PRODIGAL GOD ............................................................................................................................... 78 LESSON 6: THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE ...................................................................................................................... 82 5.6 GOD WILL RESCUE ............................................................................................................................................................ 83 5.6 PERSEVERANCE ................................................................................................................................................................. 86 5.6 HEBREWS CHAPTER 12 ....................................................................................................................................................... 88 5.6 PLAN FOR AFTER YOU GET BACK UP...................................................................................................................................... 89 5.6 YOU ARE READY TO FAIL FORWARD ...................................................................................................................................... 90 5.6 RELENTLESS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 92 CLOSING THOUGHT AND PRAYER ................................................................................................................................................. 96


Getting Started

About the Course The course is available ON DEMAND online, allowing you to study at your own pace. This course contains six lessons containing 12 hours of video and audio training. Notes are provided in this manual for you to follow along. Space is provided for you to make your own notes. Each lesson is made up of three sections:

Meditation – to prepare the student in heart, mind and soul (Willow Creek Messages)

Instruction – to train and equip the student (EQUIP Training)

Inspiration – to envision the student (Willow Creek Conferences)

Finding Your Way to the Course Online

Access to the full course requires a WCA login. This is provided with your membership. If you are unsure of your login, please call WCA on 023 8071 0295 or send an email to [email protected] 1. The course is housed on the ‘Lead & Learn’ website.

http://www.willowcreekevents.org.uk/. 2. Login under ‘LOGIN STATUS’ at the top right of the page. 3. You will be automatically re-directed to the DCL main page. 4. You can select the relevant module under the heading ‘ACCESS THE PROGRAMME

BELOW’ 5. Once inside your chosen module, select the lesson heading you require.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.willowcreekevents.org.uk/


Symbols in the Manual In your manual there are symbols provided to facilitate your study:

PLAY MEDIA (VIDEO OR AUDIO)

Online video session – watch the relevant section.

This is provided to help you plan your study time. The time given is the minimum requirement for the video/audio. You should factor in extra time for personal/group study and reflection.

DISCUSSION

Discussion questions are provided to enable you to process what you have seen, read or heard. You will benefit by taking time to discuss these questions with others.

NOTES

Please take notes – this is your workbook and we believe you will benefit more by ‘personalising’ your development as a leader.

ASSESSMENT AND APPLICATION

The heart icon will be seen where time is provided for personal reflection and response.

Video =

20 minutes


Opening Thought and Prayer

The purpose of education is perhaps more about discovery than knowledge.

Lord, as I approach this material, Help me to see myself as you see me,

Not as I want to be seen.


Lesson 1: Failing Forward



Meditation 5.1 Super Sheep Message by Ken Davis

PLAY AUDIO

NOTES

Audio =

35 minutes


NOTES



You have a reason to celebrate in the midst of whatever you are going through. Take a few moments to consider the context of your life. Do you feel like celebrating at the moment? God loves you unconditionally today. Allow God to envelope you now and let His joy invade your soul. Take a few minutes to write down some items of praise to God and lift your heart in celebration to Him. We are all like sheep, so trust the shepherd today and run to Him...He gave His life for His sheep.


Instruction

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and

dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

5.1 Introductory Thoughts

PLAY VIDEO

No one wants to fail, but everyone does from time to time. In fact, it seems that all great achievers have made major mistakes on their journey to success. The Bible is full of stories of successful leaders who experienced great failures. If everyone fails, then it is crucially important that we learn to fail forward. In other words, we need to learn how to turn mistakes into stepping stones to success.

Many people are eager to study lessons on how to succeed. Very few people want to train for failure, but because we all mess up occasionally, we must learn how to make failure our friend. This notebook will help you prepare to fail correctly because in life, the question is not if you will experience problems and mistakes, but how you are going to deal with them. You can stop failing backward and start failing forward!

Video =

5 minutes


5.1 What Is The Main Difference Between People Who Achieve And People Who Are Only Average?

Why do achievers excel? Why do some people soar to the pinnacle of success and effectiveness while others plummet into mediocrity? What makes the difference?

PLAY VIDEO

Consider the following:

• Family background: Coming from a good family may be helpful, but huge numbers of successful people come from broken and dysfunctional families.

• Wealth: Many high achievers have come from homes with below average income, even from the depths of poverty.

• Opportunity: Opportunity is always in the eye of the beholder. We all live under the same sky, but we don’t all see the same horizon.

• High morals: I wish it were true that everyone with high moral values succeeds greatly, but it’s not. Many with high integrity achieve little. And we’ve all known wicked people who are high producers.

• The absence of hardship: For every achiever who has avoided hardships, there are scores who have overcome disabilities, tragedies, or suffering.

• Nationality or ethnicity: Men and women from all races and every nation have become high achievers and difference makers.

None of these is the key to great achievement. Only one factor separates those who consistently achieve from those who do not. The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure. Three wrong attitudes toward failure:

1. We fear failure. 2. We misunderstand failure. 3. We are unprepared for failure. An individual can consistently succeed in life only when he or she learns how to confidently look failure and adversity in the eye and keep moving forward anyway. There are many ways to be a winner, but there are only two ways to be a loser—to not learn from your failure and to fail to move beyond it.

Video =

17 minutes


Biblical Case Study: Joseph (Genesis 39:1-41:16, 45:4-7)

Joseph possessed a God-given dream. He made the mistake of prematurely sharing the dream with his brothers. The Bible describes many dark and difficult times in Joseph’s life. Adversity and failure seem to be his constant companions. The Bible also reveals that Joseph maintained a positive attitude in the midst of adversity. He used it to develop himself personally and to build trust with others. Notice some of Joseph’s hardships:

• Sold into slavery • Framed as an adulterer. • Forgotten in prison. • Endured seven years of famine. • Faced the return of his treacherous brothers.

Observe that in each of these hardships he learned valuable lessons and continued faithfully to serve God. Consider the following ways Joseph failed forward:

• Developed competence and organisational skills in Potiphar’s palace. • Used his ability to solve problems. • Displayed the wisdom to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. • Prepared to save the country. • Showed patience and integrity in dealing with those who had mistreated him.

Eventually, Joseph was promoted from the prison to the palace where he was made second-in-command to the entire nation. He became a deliverer for Egypt and for his own family and people. While forgotten in prison, Joseph very easily could have languished into bitterness and despair. He could have become angry with God and despised the dream God had given to him. Failure could have become final and fatal in Joseph’s life. How did he maintain a perspective that eventually saw his dream become a reality? A careful reading of Genesis 45:4-7 will reveal the key qualities that enabled him to fail forward:

1. A strong sense of security. (v.4) 2. A strong sense of identity. (v.4) 3. A strong sense of empathy. (v.4) 4. A strong sense of purpose. (v.5) 5. A strong sense of perspective. (v.6, 7)


5.1 Putting a New Face on Adversity

Many people would attempt great achievements if they thought all possibility of failure could be removed. This is impossible! There is no achievement without failure. Everyone faces obstacles in life. What they are does not matter. What does matter is that we learn to overcome any problems, mistakes, adversities, and failures.

PLAY VIDEO

In the midst of negative experiences, average people tend to fail backward. They respond in many of the following ways:

• Blame others. • Repeat the same mistakes. • Expect never to fail again. • Expect to continue to fail. • Accept traditional thinking blindly. • Be afraid because of past mistakes. • Think I am a failure. • Decide to quit. High achievers respond very differently. Here are some of their responses as they fail forward:

• Take responsibility. • Learn from each mistake. • Know failure is a part of progress. • Maintain a positive attitude. • Challenge outdated assumptions and ideas. • Take new risks. • Think failure is never final. • Never quit.

Video =

27 minutes


DISCUSSION

• What do you consider a failure? Can you think of an example from your own life or in

others’ lives? What would failing forward look like in this situation?

Failure Is Not… Changing your perspective on failure will help you persevere regardless of the circumstances. So how do you see failure? Let us begin by taking a look at several things failure is not:

1. People think failure is avoidable – it is not. 2. People think failure is an event – it is not. 3. People think failure is the enemy – it is not. 4. People think failure is irreversible – it is not. 5. People think failure is a stigma – it is not. 6. People think failure is final – it is not. Adopt a new definition for failure. Regard the experience of failure as the price you pay for progress. If you will put that mindset into practice, you will position yourself to fail forward.

DISCUSSION

• Now, consider your idea own idea of success. What does it look like to you? To the

world? To God?


Biblical Case Study: Paul (Philippians 4:11)

Most historians consider the Apostle Paul one of the most influential leaders in all of human history. His epistles in the New Testament have brought guidance, inspiration, and encouragement to multiplied millions of believers through the centuries. It was Paul who said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11). And that was saying a lot, considering that Paul had been shipwrecked, whipped, beaten, stoned and imprisoned. Throughout every hardship he faced, Paul’s faith enabled him to maintain perspective. He realised that as long as he was doing what he was supposed to do, his being labelled a success or failure by others really did not matter. Remember: Mistakes are not failures. Adversity and hardships do not mean defeat. They are merely the price of achievement on the success journey.


Assessment: Think about a recent setback you experienced. How did you respond? What did you learn?

Application: Realise that there is one major difference between average people and achieving people. As you approach your next big project, give yourself the freedom to make some mistakes as you are working on the project.


Inspiration 5.1 The Land Between Conference Session by Jeff Manion

PLAY VIDEO

Outline of Session

The Land Between

The Israelites in the Land Between

Fertile Ground for Complaint

Fertile Ground for Emotional Breakdown

Fertile Ground for God’s Provision

Fertile Ground for God’s Discipline

Fertile Ground for Transformational Growth

NOTES

Video =

40 minutes


NOTES


DISCUSSION

1. Personal Reflection: Write down the key insight from this session that you can

personally take away. 2. In Numbers 11, Moses is leading Israel through the desert and he pours out his heart to

God in frustration. His words sound more like a rant than a prayer. Are you, your ministry or your organisation passing through a season of severe difficulty? Have you voiced your confusion and disappointment to God? His shoulders are broad enough to bear whatever it is you have to say.

Write out exactly what you are experiencing. Then, read your thoughts back to

God as a prayer.

3. Hope for the future is anchored in God’s faithfulness in the past. If we think about it, we often can identify specific occasions when God has supplied exactly what was needed at exactly the right time. Take a few minutes and write down examples of how the Father has provided for you in the past.


4. Jeff Manion encouraged us to guard your heart. The desert is fertile ground for

complaint. Is it possible your journey through the wilderness has resulted in a resentful or embittered spirit against God? If so, perhaps you sense God’s corrective hand of discipline in your life. In the book of Proverbs, we read:

My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, For who the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in who he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12).

If you are experiencing God’s loving hand of discipline, know that He desires this

correction to return your heart to Him. Take some time to write out a confession and to renew your commitment to God.

5. When you are passing through a season of prolonged waiting, confusion or pain, more

than anything, your Father wants to be trusted. Perhaps the most powerful prayer you can offer are the three words, “I trust you.” Could it be that not only is this the prayer God most desires to hear, but the prayer that your heart most desperately desires to pray?

Individually, take some time to meditate on and pray these words: “I trust you.”

Then, record any whispers you may have from God during your prayer. Jeff reminds us that trust evicts complaint. As a team, how would you assess the

spirit of complaint on your team right now?

Complaint has moved in

Complaint is a frequent visitor

There’s no room for complaint here

If there’s no room for complaint on your team, talk about how trust has helped you deter complaint. Or, if there’s more complaint among your team than you’d like, discuss how you might focus on trusting more.


6. The wilderness is also fertile ground for transformational growth. Jesus desires to

redeem all things, nothing goes wasted. Your decisions in this time will determine your future – your faith can either be strengthened, or die.

If you have experienced God’s provision in wilderness times, share your story with your team.

If you are currently in the wilderness and haven’t seen God’s provision yet, think about what provision you are hoping for and pray that you are open to receive whatever God would provide. Ask God to use this troubling season to forge something that is good, beautiful and lasting.


Lesson 2: Rethinking Failure



Meditation 5.2 Finding Courage Message by Bill Hybels

PLAY AUDIO

NOTES

Audio =

45 minutes


NOTES



Take a few minutes to sit and read the whole of Habakkuk - it is only 3 chapters. After having done so, focus and meditate on Chapter 3:17-19. Bill suggests that these verses represent one of the most poetic declarations of faith in God's Word. Try putting this poem into your own words. Write them out and offer them to God as a prayer of faith. A challenge: Habakkuk, along with other Biblical characters such as Job, wanted God's favour more than His gifts. How true is that of you today? Take some time to be honest with God about your response.


Instruction

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John…they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus.”

Acts 4:13

5.2 If You’ve Failed, Are You A Failure?

PLAY VIDEO

In this DCL module, the sessions presented by Tom Atema do not entirely follow the notes. Tom decided to share on the subject of 'Failing Forward' from his own experience. The video has been included in full to use at your discretion. Many people struggle with feelings of failure. At the heart of their doubts and fears is a central question: Am I a failure? People are not failures until they believe they are. We must learn the difference between failing at something and being a failure. Mistakes become failures only when we consistently respond to them incorrectly. The following list describes six abilities that enable high achievers to fail and not take it personally, learn from the experience, and keep moving forward:

1. Achievers reject rejection. They do not base their self-worth on perfect performance. 2. Achievers see failure as temporary. 3. Achievers keep expectations realistic. 4. Achievers focus on their strengths. 5. Achievers risk failure in order to try new and better ways to solve problems. 6. Achievers bounce back. They know that a failure does not make them a failure.

Video =

42 minutes


DISCUSSION

• Is there an area of your life where you repeatedly have made mistakes? • Have you been thinking of yourself as a failure? • What can you learn from your mistakes? • How can you use your personal strengths and best skills to move beyond your

mistakes? Biblical Case Study: Peter (Matthew 26:69-75; 1 Peter 1:1-5) Peter was in Jesus’ inner circle of disciples. He experienced many wonderful moments with Jesus.

• He stepped out of the boat to walk on water (Matthew 14:27-30). • He identified Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:13-20). • He witnessed the transfiguration on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-8).


At the moment of truth, Peter miserably failed his Lord, denying Him three times on the night of His arrest. Peter cowered in fear when a girl accused him of being a follower of Jesus. Yet this man, in the face of incredible persecution and opposition, got up from the pit of failure to do amazing things for Christ and His Church. He preached boldly even when he knew imprisonment and beatings, maybe even death, were the likely punishment. He wrote encouraging letters to Christians who were enduring intense persecution for their faith, encouraging them to persevere through their suffering by remembering that their reward awaited them. This is the new Peter! He is not the brash, impetuous, cowardly Peter who travelled with Jesus during his early ministry? What happened? • He learned from his failures. • He refused to be a quitter. • He matured in his faith. • He was filled with the Holy Spirit. • He failed forward.


5.2 Take the “You” Out of Failure

The first important step in overcoming failure is learning not to personalise it – making sure you know that your failure does not make you a failure. If you personalise failure, it will become exceedingly painful – sometimes both emotionally and physically. For many people, the pain of failure leads to the fear of failure. Fear of failure will stop all forward progress. Here are several results of enslavement to fear: 1. Paralysis 2. Procrastination 3. Purposelessness 4. Self-Pity 5. Excuses 6. Hopelessness You cannot avoid fear. No magic potion will take it away. To conquer fear, you have to feel the fear and take action anyway. George Bernard Shaw asserted, “A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.” To overcome fear and its awful grip, you have to be willing to recognize that you will make many mistakes in your life. Nonetheless, you get up and take action. If you take action while still making mistakes, you can gain experience. That experience eventually brings competence, and you make fewer mistakes. Fear is no longer paralysing because mistakes become your friends – your teachers.

DISCUSSION

• Do you fear failure?

• Are you willing to face your fear and get moving?

• What is the next step you need to take on the road to becoming all God wants you to be and do?


5.2 Accepting Responsibility for Failures

Please do not forget that everyone makes mistakes. From time to time, we will mess up. Many people make mistakes but refuse to admit them. They tend to see every obstacle or error as somebody else’s fault. As a result, they generally respond in one or more of the following ways:

1. They overreact with a display of anger. (Blow up) 2. They try to hide their failure. (Cover up) 3. They work harder and faster, but without making changes. (Speed up) 4. They try to excuse their mistake. (Back up) 5. They quit. (Give up) To fail forward, a person must first utter three of the most difficult words to say, “I was wrong.” He must admit his mistake and accept full responsibility for his current wrong actions and attitudes. He must see every failure as a fork in the road – an opportunity to take the right action, learn from the mistake, and begin again. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It’s okay to fail. If you’re not failing, you’re not growing.

Leadership expert, Peter Drucker, wrote: “The better a man is, the more mistakes he will make, for the more new things he will try. I would never promote to a top-level job a man who was not making mistakes…otherwise he is sure to be mediocre.” Mistakes really do pave the road to achievement. Biblical Case Study: King David (1 Chronicles 21:1-28) Following a major victory over the Philistines, King David made a serious mistake with devastating consequences. David decided to count the number of soldiers under his command, indicating that he placed greater confidence in his army than in the power of God. God was very displeased with David’s actions and moved swiftly to punish Israel. David cried out to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” (v.8) God sent a plague upon the nation and thousands died. David prayed again, “I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed…let Your hand be against me…but not against Your people that they should be plagued.” (v.17) • David refused to blame others for his foolish decision. • David admitted his failure. • David accepted full responsibility for his actions.


• David repented and moved forward. • David worshipped the Lord. • David renewed his commitment to the Lord. David took a step that is essential to learning from mistakes and failing forward. David accepted responsibility for his failure. Until a person takes this step, all other steps on the pathway of achievement will be impossible.


Assessment: Take a hard look at a recent failure that you have considered not to be your fault. Search honestly for any part of the failure for which you should accept responsibility. Application: Admit your role in the failure and ask God to show you how you can learn from it. Review of Lessons 1 and 2: Steps to Failing Forward

1. Realise there is one major difference between average people and achieving people. 2. Learn a new definition for failure. 3. Remove the “you” from failure. 4. Take action and reduce your fear of failure. 5. Change your response to failure by accepting responsibility.


Inspiration 5.2 The Mental Toughness of a Leader Conference Session by Jack Groppel

PLAY VIDEO

Outline of Session

Complete the mission

Energy Management Pathways

How we are training

How we should be training

Breakthroughs

Manage energy, not time

Training roadmap

Energy management principles

Face the truth

Change is a matter of the heart

NOTES

Video =

71 minutes


NOTES


DISCUSSION

1. Personal Reflection: Write the key insight from this session that you can personally take

away. Discuss your answers with you team. 2. Take some time to complete the table below.

The Truth About Me Is... My Score (0-10)

Spiritual

Mental

Emotional

Physical


3. Share with your team:

In which of these areas are you doing best?

What area needs the most attention? 4. Jack explained that recovery is the key to handling stress in our lives.

What is your initial reaction to this idea? Below, right down whatever thoughts come to your mind as you think about this idea and how it applies (or doesn’t apply) to your own experience.

Where can you build recovery into your daily life? Look at the list below and circle two or three that you can readily do on a regular basis. Share them with you team.

Recovery Ideas 2 minutes

Stretch | hydrate with water | meditate | pray | stand up | moisturise hands | squeeze stress ball | read daily inspiration | look at family pictures | get a cup of coffee / water | bathroom break | doodle | read a joke / comic | aromatherapy | listen to a song | laugh

5 minutes Take a walk | call a friend / family member | eat a snack | look at a magazine | talk to a co-worker | make a shopping list | walk up and downstairs / hallway | small movements | sing a song | juggle | send flowers | brush your teeth | check out a website | crossword puzzle

15 minutes Take a brisk walk | converse with a friend | organise desk / files | mini workout | write a to-do list | plan an outing / vacation

5. Below write down one thing you will commit to intentionally changing. Find one other

person that you trust and ask them to provide the structure you need to accomplish this goal by holding you accountable.


Lesson 3: Failure is an Inside Job



Meditation

5.3 Love Never Fails Message by John Ortberg

PLAY AUDIO

NOTES

Audio =

40 minutes


NOTES



Love never fails. Spend some time reflecting on what John has said about the distinctions between God's love and 'generic' love. Which 'brand' of love do you want to give your life to? How is your investment so far? Consider: how good has God been to you? How might you freely give a love of another kind?


Instruction

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

When you learn to accept responsibility for your problems and your failures, you are better prepared to fail forward. But what about when you are faced with overwhelming difficulties that you did not create and you cannot control? At no time in life are people more likely to allow failure to overcome them than when external circumstances cause extreme hardship or grief. There is a strong temptation to give up and quit. No matter whether the difficulty is self-created or comes from outward circumstances, the feeling of failure is created within them. Failure is always an inside job. Remember: A man is not defeated by his opponents, but by himself. No matter how daunting the circumstances of your life may be, the greatest battle you wage against failure occurs on the inside, not on the outside. How do you fight that battle? You start by cultivating the right attitude.

PLAY VIDEO

Video =

33 minutes


5.3 People Who Bounce Back Are Optimists

How do you cultivate optimism? By learning the secret of contentment. The truth is that possessing healthy contentment is essential to being able to withstand failure. First, let’s look at what contentment is NOT:

1. Contentment is not hiding your emotions. 2. Contentment is not being satisfied with a bad situation. 3. Contentment is not maintaining your current situation. 4. Contentment is not position. 5. Contentment is not power. 6. Contentment is not possessions. Contentment comes from having a positive attitude. It means: • Expecting the best in everything – not the worst. • Remaining upbeat – even when you get beat up. • Seeing solutions in every problem – not problems in every solution. • Believing in yourself – even when others believe you are a failure. • Holding on to hope – even when others say the situation is hopeless. If you think positively and do nothing, you will not be able to fail forward. You must add positive action to a positive attitude. Here are some principles for taking positive action: 1. Do not try to change things beyond your control. 2. Know the difference between a problem and a fact of life.

A problem is something that can be solved.

A fact of life is something that must be accepted. 3. Focus on solving problems that produce greatest positive impact. 4. Move into action. The people of Norway often experience bitterly cold weather. Nonetheless, they enjoy the outdoors even in the worst of winter. They have a saying that shows their positive attitude: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” If He Can Do It…You Can, Too! Roger Crawford was born with serious physical disabilities. Various medical professionals told his parents that he would never walk, would not be able to take care of himself, and would never lead a normal life. Roger said, “My parents never let me feel sorry for myself or allowed me to take advantage of people because of my handicap.” Roger became successful as a consultant and public speaker. He has written two books. His attitude towards his handicaps shows the attitude everyone should have towards problems, adversities, and


failures in life. He said, “Handicaps can only disable us if we let them. This is true not only of physical challenges, but of emotional and intellectual ones as well…I believe real and lasting limitations are created in our minds, not our bodies.” In other words, no matter what happens, failure is an inside job.

Biblical Case Study: Solomon (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Proverbs 23:7-19) King Solomon mistakenly pursued many goals in a vain attempt to satisfy himself. He tried to find satisfaction in accumulating things: houses, gardens, vineyards, flocks, slaves, etc. By the time Solomon wrote the words in Ecclesiastes Chapter 2, he had reached a high level of success – but he still felt empty. Sadly, he tried to solve an inward problem with an outward solution. Even though Solomon seemed to have everything anyone could possibly desire, he felt like a failure. Is it not strange that the person who has a life filled with problems and the person who has a life filled with pleasures and possessions can both feel empty? Both can see themselves as failures. Why? Because failure is an inside job! “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) Consider the timeless principles we can learn from Proverbs 23 about our minds:

1. Your thoughts determine your actions. (v.7) 2. Avoid selfish thinking. (v.10) 3. Discipline your mind with truth. (v.12) 4. Do not let your mind drift into negative thinking. (v.17) 5. Remain confident in your God-given vision. (v.18) 6. Ask God to fill your mind with wisdom. (v.19) 7. Keep your mind steadfast on doing what is right. (v.19) Remember: Do not let the failure on the outside penetrate to the inside of you.

DISCUSSION

• What are the three greatest sources of frustration and failure in your life? Consider the

items one at a time.

• Determine whether each one is a fact of life (which you need to accept and move on) or an item that requires positive action.


5.3 Is the Past Holding You Hostage?

Someone who is unable to get over previous hurts and failures is held hostage by the past. The baggage he carries around makes it very difficult for him to move forward. It is next to impossible for a person to achieve while holding on to past failures and difficulties.

A key quality in the life of an achiever is the ability to put past events behind him and move on. That quality positions a person to tackle current challenges with enthusiasm and a minimum of burdensome personal baggage.

PLAY VIDEO

The problems of people’s pasts impact them in one of two ways: they experience either a breakdown or a breakthrough. The following five characteristics are signs that people have not gotten over past difficulties: 1. Comparison: they continually talk about how much more they have endured than

others. 2. Rationalisation: they make excuses for why they should not get over past difficulties. 3. Isolation: they withdraw from as many people as possible. 4. Regret: they live with a feeling of remorse or sorrow. 5. Bitterness: they are filled with hostility.

Every major difficulty you face in life is a fork in the road. You choose which track you will head down— toward a breakdown or a breakthrough. If you have been badly hurt, below are some steps to follow that will help bring healing and help you move forward. The process may be difficult, but with the Lord’s help you can do it. Today may be the day to turn the hurts of your past into a breakthrough for your future. Please do not allow anything from your personal history to keep holding you hostage. Here is the process to follow:

1. Acknowledge the pain. 2. Grieve the loss. 3. Forgive the person (or persons) who were involved in hurting you. 4. Forgive yourself. 5. Determine to release the event and move on. 6. Prayerfully commit the matter to God. 7. Ask God to give you strength to move forward.

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11 minutes


DISCUSSION

• Think back upon your frustration and failure. What are the next steps you will take to

bring about a positive change in these situations?

• Which of these steps do you think you need to work on the most?

Remember: You will not be able to be your best today until you say good-bye to yesterday. Biblical Case Study: John Mark (Acts 13:1-13, 15:37-39; 2 Timothy 4:11) Acts 13 provides an account of the commissioning and sending of Paul and Barnabas to serve as travelling missionaries. Verse 5 explains that John Mark travelled with them as their assistant. After ministering as a team in a couple of cities, John Mark abandoned the group. He returned to his home in Jerusalem. The Bible does not explain why he left. Bible scholars have offered many possible reasons for his departure – he was nervous about his safety, he was disgruntled that Paul had replaced his cousin Barnabas as the top leader, or maybe he resented the preaching of the Gospel to non-Jews. Whatever the reason, he quit. His abandonment of the mission later caused a major division between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37-39). It is clear that Paul considered John Mark a failure.

What happened to John Mark after he left Paul? The Bible gives us few details, but 2 Timothy 4:11 happily suggests that John Mark’s failure was not final. He failed on the journey with Paul, but he did not become a failure. It is obvious that Paul noticed that John Mark had become faithful and effective in the Lord’s work because he told Timothy to ask John Mark to rejoin the team. John Mark failed forward.


5.3 Move Forward

In order to overcome your failures and move forward, you must be honest with yourself. You must know yourself and face your flaws. Here are some key principles to follow:

1. See yourself clearly. You must see both the good and the bad. 2. Admit your weaknesses. We all have some. 3. Discover your strengths. To excel, you must do what you do well. 4. Develop your God-given abilities. Dedicate yourself to daily growth. 5. Focus every day on your God-given dream. Do not dabble in everything.


Assessment: Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. If a weakness is in the area of character or attitude, what steps will you take to make corrections?

Application: Think about your strengths. Develop a ministry plan that will allow you to build on your strengths and maximise your potential.


Inspiration 5.3 Leveraging Your Past Conference Session by Wess Stafford

PLAY VIDEO

Outline of Session

Wess’ Story

The Calling

The Impact on Wess’ Leadership

Don’t Lead Without Passion

Forgiveness

NOTES

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29 minutes


NOTES


DISCUSSION

1. It’s possible that this session has stirred up emotion and pain in you or someone on

your team. Take some time to process what you’ve heard in a safe manner, whether that’s praying together or listening to each other’s stories. Feel free to participate only at the level you feel comfortable.

2. Wess’ story pushed him to take up the cause of protecting and providing for those who

were most vulnerable in the world – children. What’s your cause? Take some time by yourself to think about the question below and write what is on your heart.

Can your cause move you to tears? Tears of sorrow at the need? Tears of victory at the joys?

As you are comfortable, share what you wrote with your team. 3. Wess declares, “Don’t let yourself lead without passion”. He says that leadership

without passion is not leadership at all! Are you passionate about what you lead?

In the coming weeks and months what steps can you take to begin to lead out of passion?


4. Wess asked everyone to do a homework assignment on their own: Take 30 minutes,

and answer the questions below. You can choose to do this in front of a mirror, or use the questions as prompts below.

Look at your reflection and ask God to give you His wisdom to understand yourself more clearly than you ever have before. Then answer these questions:

o Who am I? What do I really care about?

o What do I believe? What do I value? Why am I the way I am? Why do I do

what I do?

o Why do I lead what I lead?

o What is my leadership story? Where did it begin?

o Is my leadership based on joy and fulfilment?

If so, who do I owe for it? Who believed in me, before I believed in myself, and launched my leadership?

Do they know? Have I ever thanked them?


o Or, am I driven, even in success, by pain, sorrow, or fear?

If so, who hurt me? Humiliated or discouraged me?

Have I ever forgiven them? Even if they have not asked for forgiveness or

are not even sorry, you’re allowing them to stay in your heart and mind, which is not hurting them at all – it’s only hurting you.

o Whether your passion is fuelled by joy or pain, the most profound question you may ever ask yourself is: What am I trying to prove, to whom and why?

5. As leaders, it’s important to seek and find forgiveness in order to lead others

effectively. Prayerfully remain quiet and reflect on this verse. Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

It is important to seek comfort, specifically from God. What are you doing to seek comfort and allow yourself to heal from past hurt?


Lesson 4: Turning Adversity into Advantage



Meditation 5.4 Overcoming Trials Message by John Ortberg

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NOTES

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NOTES



Read the account of the spiritual examination of the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. John encourages us to undertake our own form of spiritual examination. Why not use the four questions that he suggested to undertake your own spiritual 'check up’. Take some time to reflect and respond to these. 1. Where are things going well?

2. Where would you receive commendation from God?

3. What are the warning signs you need to take note of?

4. What corrective steps do you need to take?


Instruction

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

Genesis 50:20

5.4 Introduction In this DCL module, the sessions presented by Tom Atema do not entirely follow the notes. Tom decided to share on the subject of 'Failing Forward' from his own experience. The video has been included in full to use at your discretion.

PLAY VIDEO

Many people who struggle with chronic failure do so because they think of no one but themselves. People who desire to fail forward must turn their attention away from themselves and toward helping others. This process can be called “getting over yourself.” A leading psychiatrist was asked what a person should do if they feel they are slipping into depression. He replied, “Find someone in need and do something to help that person.” If you focus all your attention on yourself, you will always feel deprived – constantly thinking that something is missing in your life. Developing a giving spirit – focusing on the needs of others – you will overcome feelings of deficiency in a positive and healthy way. How can you turn your thinking from yourself and start adding value and blessing to others?

You can begin by…

1. Putting others first in your thinking: value them. 2. Finding out what others need: listen to them. 3. Meeting their need with generosity: serve them.

You can serve others and add great value to them only if you learn to “get over yourself.” Be more concerned with what you can give rather than what you can get.

Remember: Giving truly is the highest level of living!

Video =

37 minutes


Determine to make meeting the needs of others a priority in your life. You can start by asking yourself the following questions at the beginning of each day:

• Whom am I pouring my life into? • Whom am I helping that cannot help me in return? • Whom am I serving who cannot help himself? • Whom am I encouraging daily?


5.4 Grasp the Positive Benefits of Negative Experiences

Most people will agree that they must encounter an occasional setback in order to succeed. However, this thinking must go a step further. To achieve your dreams, you must embrace adversity and make failure a part of your life. If you are not failing, you are probably not moving forward. The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the process of getting to the top. The benefits of adversity and failure are many. Consider these reasons to embrace adversity and persevere through it:

1. Adversity creates resilience. 2. Adversity develops maturity. 3. Adversity pushes you to become a risk-taker. 4. Adversity helps you discover greater opportunities. 5. Adversity encourages innovation. 6. Adversity often precedes a breakthrough. 7. Adversity strengthens us.

It is in the difficult times that we can experience the greatest growth. We will not grow when there are no problems and challenges.

DISCUSSION

• Can you name a negative experience in your life that had positive benefits? What lessons did you learn from these hard situations?

Biblical Case Study: Moses (Exodus 3:1-4:13)

Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace and enjoyed all the benefits of royalty. When he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he took matters into his own hands and killed the Egyptian. When Pharaoh heard about what Moses had done, he sought to kill him. Moses fled from Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian.

The Prince of Egypt became a shepherd in a strange land. Far from home and far from his own people, the one who once lived as the son of the emperor with servants at his beckoned call now lived in the desert with sheep as his companions. He was undoubtedly tempted to label himself as a failure. After all, his people remained in slavery, and he was helpless to do anything about it.


Alone on the back of the desert, Moses encountered God in the burning bush. In the midst of seeming failure, God was at work in his life. Let’s take a closer look at what happened to Moses in his time of prolonged adversity:

1. Moses was alone with God. His exile provided time for reflection. 2. Moses was honest with God. Older and wiser, he admitted his weaknesses. 3. Moses was hungry for God. Adversity had realigned his priorities. 4. Moses was submissive to God. Adversity removed self-reliance. 5. Moses overcame his fears. Adversity taught him God-reliance. 6. Moses returned to Egypt. Adversity prepared him for a second chance to lead.


5.4 Take a Risk – There Is No Other Way to Fail Forward Risk must be evaluated not by the fear it generates in you or even by the probability of success or failure, but by the value of the goal. Every noble goal was reached because someone dared to take a risk. The less you risk, the greater your risk of failure. Ironically, the more you risk failure – and actually fail from time to time – the greater your chances of success. Let’s contrast some traits of those who refuse to take a risk with those who are risk-takers:

Risk-Refusers Risk-Takers

They resist opportunities. They find opportunities.

They rationalise their responsibilities. They accept their responsibilities.

They fear impossibilities. They are fuelled by impossibilities.

They rain on enthusiasm. They fan the flames of enthusiasm.

They dwell on their weaknesses. They face their weaknesses.

They hate failure. They learn from failure.

They fear failure. They fear futility.

They resist leadership. They follow leaders.

They remain unchanged. They embrace change.

They focus on problems. They focus on solutions.

They dislike goals. They find pleasure in the goal.

They question their commitments They fulfil their commitments.

Remember: It is better to try something great and fail than to try nothing great and succeed.

If risk-taking can produce great potential results, why don’t people embrace it as a friend? They resist because of one or more of the following traps:

1. The Embarrassment Trap: they don’t want to look bad. 2. The Rationalisation Trap: they second-guess everything. 3. The Unrealistic Trap: they don’t like the price tag. 4. The Expectations Trap: they whine that their load is too heavy. 5. The Fairness Trap: they wait for the perfect time. 6. The Timing Trap: they wait until they feel like taking action.

If you are succeeding at everything you do, then you are probably not pushing yourself hard enough. In other words, you are not taking enough risks.

Remember: You risk because you have something of great value you want to achieve.


DISCUSSION

• Think of an example from your own life of a risk that paid off. Now, ask yourself if

there was ever a time in your life you did not take a risk for fear of failure. Into what traps (above) have you fallen?

Biblical Case Study: The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

In Matthew 25, Jesus shares the story of the man who gave his goods to three of his servants before he departed on a journey to a far country. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one. After a long time away, the man returned and met with the servants to settle accounts.

The servant, who received five talents, as well as the one given two talents, reported to the master that they had been able to double the amount originally placed in their care. The master was overjoyed and praised them for the wise investment of resources entrusted to them.

The servant who received one talent reported no gain on what was given to him. Even though the servant acknowledged that he knew his master would expect an increase, he reported that he hid the talent in the ground. The owner sharply rebuked him. The punishment was severe. What was his mistake? He tried to play it safe! Because the servant refused to be a risk-taker, he forfeited everything. God has not called us to play it safe.


5.4 If at First You Do Succeed, Try Something Harder The willingness to take risks is a major key to significant accomplishment. If you are reaching all your goals, you may need bigger goals that will require you to take risks. The road to the next level is always uphill; you won’t coast there. Conversely, if you never seem to achieve your goals, you may be playing it safe. Once again, you must be willing to take greater risks. Review the Steps for Failing Forward

1. Realise there is one major difference between average people and achieving people. 2. Learn a new definition of failure. 3. Remove the “you” from failure. 4. Take action and reduce your fear. 5. Change your response to failure by accepting responsibility. 6. Don’t let the failure on the outside penetrate to the inside of you. 7. Say good-bye to yesterday. 8. Change yourself, and your world changes. 9. Get over yourself and start giving yourself to others. 10. Find the benefit in every bad experience. 11. If at first you do succeed, try something harder.


Assessment: Think about the next big goal or challenge before you. Write down your plan for reaching the goal.

Application: Review your plan to see if you have included enough risks. Where and how could you stretch yourself in order to reach the next level?


Inspiration 5.4 Against All Odds Conference Session by Harvey Carey

PLAY VIDEO

Outline of Session Harvey’s Background

When the Odds are Stacked Against You

How the Citadel of Faith Accomplishes Much with Little

Any Church Can Do This

The Challenge

NOTES

Video =

30 minutes


NOTES


DISCUSSION


personally take away. 2. Harvey Carey believes we are caught in what he terms “paralysis of analysis”. Harvey

challenged leaders to choose to take action and stop making excuses for what you can’t do.

In what areas of your church, ministry or organisation do you see a need to “get out of the huddle” and take action?

3. While your context may look very different than Harvey’s, every community or

neighbourhood has its own darkness and need.

As a team, talk about your church, ministry or organisation and what its darkness or need is. Write your thoughts on a flip chart


What might be “paralysing” or stopping you or your team from taking action and doing something bold?

Now brainstorm some practical actions your congregation or organisation could take to make a bold impact in your community or neighbourhood.

Choose one or two actions you could begin to put into action in the next month. 4. Harvey says the role of the leader is to equip; we need to equip the members of our

church, ministry or organisation to take ownership and to do the work.

Write the two actions you chose below and how you will begin to equip the people.

Bold Action

Ideas to Equip the Congregation

1.

2.


Lesson 5: Making Failure Your Best Friend



Meditation 5.5 How to Experience God’s Forgiveness Message by John Ortberg

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NOTES

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33 minutes


NOTES



Take a few moments to read 1 John 1:8 - 2:6. Consider: When you have sinned how do you experience God's forgiveness? John stated that many Christians believe that they are saved by grace but do not always seem to live by grace. What does living by grace look like for you today? Spend some time before God in confession. Bring your sins to Him, repent and seek His forgiveness...but be aware...this is not simply an exchange of information, true confession engages feelings and emotions too.


Instruction

“Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly

before the God of his fathers, and prayed to him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplications, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew

that the Lord was God.” 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

5.5 Introduction In this DCL module, the sessions presented by Tom Atema do not entirely follow the notes. Tom decided to share on the subject of 'Failing Forward' from his own experience. The video has been included in full to use at your discretion

PLAY VIDEO

The idea that you can make failure your best friend may seem odd to you. But the truth of the matter is that failure is either your friend or your enemy, and you are the one who chooses which it is. If you whine and complain every time you fail, then failure will remain your enemy. But if you learn from your failures, then you actually benefit from them and that makes failure your friend. All of us can benefit from our wins. The important thing is to learn to profit from our losses. To turn losses into profits, you must have a teachable attitude and ask the following questions every time you face adversity:

1. What caused the failure? 2. Was what happened truly a failure? 3. What can I learn from what happened? 4. Am I grateful for the experience? 5. How can I turn this into a success? 6. Who can help me learn the most from this experience? 7. Where do I go from here?

Video =

40 minutes


Biblical Case Study: Jacob (Genesis 25:26-32:32)

Jacob seemed to have strong leadership potential early in life. He wielded great influence in his family. Sadly, he had some serious character flaws. He conned his brother out of his birthright and deceived his father into giving him a special blessing that rightfully belonged to his brother, Esau. Esau hated Jacob because of his deception. Jacob fled from Esau in fear of his life. Later, Jacob fled from his father-in-law, Laban. While on the run, he learned that Esau was looking for him. Jacob was at the lowest point of his life. He now honestly faced his failures. Alone with God, Jacob admits his deception. As he wrestled with the Angel of God, he turned a crucial corner in his life. He broke physically when the Angel dislocated his hip, but he also broke emotionally and spiritually as he told the truth about his weaknesses. In the process of facing his failure and seeking God’s favour upon his life, he failed forward. Jacob the deceiver became Israel, a prince with God. He committed himself to serve God rather than himself. He was made usable through brokenness. Adversity and failure helped him prepare to serve God more effectively and lead people. From that moment on, Jacob began to fulfil his God-ordained destiny.


5.5 The Top Ten Reasons People Fail

A failure can become your best friend if you learn from it. Conversely, a weakness ignored and repeated can become your worst enemy. You must become aware of recurring issues in your life. Do not mentally minimise the amount of damage that a weakness may create. You must not ignore the following weaknesses: 1. Poor people skills

Leadership experts consistently list inability to relate to others as the number one reason leaders fail. As John Maxwell often states, “If people can’t get along with you, they won’t go along with you.”

2. A negative attitude Your attitude at the beginning of a task will affect the outcome more than any other factor. Your attitude always determines your altitude. You will never soar to the heights of success if you live in the pit of negative thinking.

3. Not playing to your strengths

While you must first examine your attitude, sometimes you are in a situation that does not match your abilities, interests, personality and values. A change of situation may be required that will let you focus on your strengths.

4. Lack of focus

If your life is out of focus, you have problems—not because you are busy, but because your priorities are out of order. This results in wasted time and resources. If you go from task to task without making progress, or you cannot seem to reach a goal no matter how hard you work, examine your focus. No one can move forward without it.

5. A weak commitment

Apathy is a deadly disease in leadership. Commitment is the remedy. If you are committed, a failure does not mean that you will never succeed. It just means the task may take longer. Commitment makes you capable of failing forward until you reach your goals.

6. An unwillingness to change

If you are not changing, you are no longer growing as a leader. Change is a catalyst for personal growth. It gets you out of a rut, it gives you a fresh start, and it affords you an opportunity to re-evaluate your direction. You don’t have to love change to be effective, but you must be willing to accept it.


7. Taking a short-cut

Cutting corners – taking short cuts – is a sign of impatience and lack of discipline. Success always involves a commitment to excellence and a persistence to follow through until the task is completed.

8. Relying on talent alone

Talent is overrated. Talent alone is not enough to take a person through the multiple challenges of life. The greater your talent, the more likely you are to lean heavily upon it and skip the day-to-day work of improving it. Those who rely on talent alone, without developing further, usually peak quickly and soon fade into obscurity.

9. Response to poor information

It is crucially important that you gather reliable information to evaluate issues and make decisions.

10. No goals

Many people don’t have goals because they haven’t allowed themselves to dream. If that describes you, it is time for you to ask God to birth a dream in your heart. You must discover why you are on this planet. A goal is nothing more than a dream with a time limit.

DISCUSSION

Everyone has weaknesses. Review the top ten reasons people fail and determine in which of these areas you may need improvement.


5.5 Work on the Weakness That Weakens You

We all have areas of weakness, you may even have a weakness not listed above. Here are some suggested steps you can take:

• Talk to a trusted friend and ask him to help you evaluate yourself in the area of weakness.

• Put yourself on a growth plan to turn that weakness into strength. The plan may include books, seminars, or finding a mentor.

• Put your plan into action and stick with it for at least a year. • Ask your trusted friend to evaluate your progress from time to time.

Often we know there is a weakness, but we either fail to take corrective action, or we take the wrong action, or we fail to follow through on the growth plan. We need a trusted friend or mentor to help guide us through the process. Otherwise, we might take action that is detrimental.

Here is a humorous list of options for dealing with a dead horse. Unfortunately, none of the proposed actions will solve the problem, which illustrates the pitfall of taking action that is not beneficial. 1. Buy a stronger whip. 2. Change riders. 3. Appoint a committee to study the dead horse. 4. Appoint a team to revive the dead horse. 5. Send out a memo declaring that the horse is not really dead. 6. Hire a consultant to determine the seriousness of the problem. 7. Harness several dead horses together for increased speed and efficiency. 8. Rewrite the definition of a live horse. 9. Declare the horse to be better, faster, and cheaper when dead. 10. Promote the dead horse to a supervisory position. There is only one effective solution: When your horse is dead, dismount!

Biblical Case Study: Manasseh (2 Chronicles 33:10-20)

Manasseh reigned for 55 years as the King of Judah. The Word of God declares that he did evil in the sight of the Lord. The Assyrians captured him, bound him with chains, and carried him away to captivity in Babylon. The Bible records that in the depth of his failure, he repented of his sins against God. He cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness. In his brokenness and shame, he determined that he would faithfully obey God for the remainder of his life. He failed forward. Notice what happened:


1. God heard his cry for help. 2. God brought him back to Jerusalem. 3. God restored him as King of Judah. 4. Manasseh destroyed the foreign gods and idols. 5. He repaired the altar of the Lord. 6. He worshipped the Lord with sacrifices of thanksgiving. 7. He commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. 8. The people worshipped the Lord their God.

If there is hidden sin in your life, repentance and God’s forgiveness is the only remedy. If you have other weaknesses that are hindering you on the success journey, you must be willing to take action to bring about improvement. Far too often, we wait until we are deep in the pit of failure before we come to our senses. John Maxwell gives the following insight: People change when they…

• Hurt enough that they have to • Learn enough that they want to • Receive enough that they are able to

Perhaps it was hurt that brought the prodigal son to his senses.

DISCUSSION

• Take a moment to think upon the Luke 15 prodigal son. How did he learn from his

failures? How can you make failure your best friend?


Biblical Case Study: The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32) Luke 15 is often called the “lost” chapter. It records the stories of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son. The coin is carelessly lost, the sheep is ignorantly lost, but the boy is wilfully lost.

The younger of two sons insisted that his dad give him his inheritance. Note the steps on his journey:

• He wanted his independence. • He wasted his inheritance. • He committed iniquity. • He reached a point of desperation. • He longed for a better life. • He made a decision to return home. • He accepted full responsibility for his wrong choices. • He asked for forgiveness. • He failed forward.


Assessment: Are you hurting today? Is it because you have disobeyed God? Is it because you have allowed a failure to keep you down? Is it because of a recurring mistake that you have ignored? Is it because of a weakness that you have failed to take steps to correct? Application: What steps will you take to solve the problem? List the steps and prayerfully commit to take action.


Inspiration 5.5 Leading People to the Prodigal God Conference Session by Tim Keller

PLAY VIDEO

Outline of Session The Key to Spiritual Renewal

Who the Parable of the Prodigal Son is Meant For

The Focus of the Parable

Truth About the Elder Brother

The True Gospel

Source of Spiritual Deadness

What to Do About Spiritual Deadness

How Church Renewal Happens

NOTES

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36 minutes


NOTES


DISCUSSION


personally take away. 2. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, both brothers, younger and elder are alienated from

the father, who represents God. Read the two statements below and spend some time reflecting or journaling your thoughts.

Elder brothers obey God to get things – but gospel believers obey to get more of God.

I obey therefore I am accepted by God – I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ – therefore I obey.

3. At one level we believe the gospel, but persistently our hearts go back to religion – we

go back to being elder brothers. Elder brothers, (and here's the source of spiritual deadness) believe they're getting leverage over God.

Elder brothers get angry when their life doesn’t go well

When elder brothers are criticised they either attack back or are demoralised

There is no intimacy in an elder brother’s prayer life

Elder brothers have a sense of superiority because of their good works

Place a mark next to elder brother behaviours where you find yourself.

How does this affect itself in your leadership? If comfortable, share your answers with your team.


4. Spiritual renewal begins with you. We must own the gospel in our hearts. Then we must lead spiritual renewal in those we lead. Consider the next step you can take to instil this.

Who? Next Steps

You

Staff / Key volunteer leaders

Congregation


Lesson 6: The Power of Persistence



Meditation

5.6 God Will Rescue Message by John Ortberg

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NOTES

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NOTES



Find a quiet space and read Revelation 6. There will be tribulations and trials in this world. Take time to reflect on some of the issues and struggles you may be facing or have had to face. List them. Take strength and encouragement from the truth that Jesus has taken it all - He has already conquered and nothing can separate you from God. Do you believe this? Write a prayer of response to Him. Lift up the trials you are facing to Him and allow Him to minister to your soul as you do.


Instruction

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance

the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at

the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-3

5.6 Perseverance

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Most people believe there is a huge gap between them and success. Frankly, there is not much difference between success and failure, but that little difference makes a big difference! Persistence is the little difference that makes the big difference when it comes to failing forward. It separates those who achieve success from those who only dream about it.

Remember: There is no failure except when we stop trying. There is no defeat except on the inside. Only a weakness of persistence can keep us from success.

The only way to fail forward and achieve your dreams is to cultivate tenacity and persistence. More than anything else, what keeps a person going in the midst of adversity is having a sense of purpose. Purpose is the fuel that powers persistence. These qualities can be learned partly by developing the habit of following through on your commitments when you don’t feel like it. You need a strategy to cultivate these qualities. Here is a four-point plan:

1. Purpose: Find one. • Get close to people who have a great desire to make a difference. • Develop discontent with the status quo. • Ask God to give you a dream. • Search for a goal that excites you. • Invest your resources into achieving that goal.

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14.5 minutes


2. Excuses: Eliminate them. Most every failure comes from people who have the habit of making excuses. No matter how many opportunities you have missed or mistakes you have made, don’t ever make excuses. You cannot possibly learn from mistakes if you are making excuses for them. Take complete responsibility for yourself and keep trying.

3. Incentives: Develop some. Give yourself rewards as you reach short-term goals on the road to the ultimate goal. “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after another” (Walter Elliot). Give yourself worthwhile incentives to win the short races.

4. Determination: Cultivate it. Learn to become a determined individual. Inspire yourself with stories of men and women who tried, failed, and kept going. To develop persistence over the long journey, cultivate inward determination on a daily basis.


5.6 Hebrews Chapter 12

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Hebrews 12 develops the theme of endurance. The first three verses teach us that the key to persistence is passion. All the men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 made it successfully to the finish line because of their passionate commitment to the cause. The verses remind us that we must run the race of life with endurance if we plan to finish well. The text also indicates that if the key to persistence is passion, then the key to passion is purpose. We must run with purpose, not aimlessly. The key to purpose is perspective. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to consider three things that will help our perspective and our ability to finish well:

1. Consider them (v.1). A great cloud of witnesses has run the race before us. 2. Consider ourselves (v.1). We must avoid pitfalls and encumbrances. 3. Consider Jesus (vv. 2, 3). We must keep our eyes on Jesus, our perfect example. Biblical Case Study: Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:1-5:5)

Adam and Eve were the crowning masterpieces of God’s creative genius. Like a master potter, He fashioned them from the dust of the ground, left His fingerprints upon them, and breathed His own life into them. But they wilfully disobeyed him. Their disobedience brought devastating consequences that continue to plague us today. Their failure brought the curse of sin and death upon the entire human family. Did anyone ever fail so miserably with such far-reaching negative results?

They exchanged a life without pain for a hostile and brutal environment. They became the parents of a murderer and were the first parents to endure the heartache of a murdered child. There is every reason to label them as the worst of failures. However, they did not use their pain as an excuse to continue to reject God. They did not allow a root of bitterness to consume them. When God gave them their son Seth, they expressed gratitude to God for this new life. They came to represent those willing to accept the consequences of their choices and to learn from their mistakes.

DISCUSSION

• In what current or future situation can you begin to apply the lessons you have learned

from past mistakes? What is your plan to succeed in these situations?

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5.6 Plan for After You Get Back Up

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We have all failed and some of us have developed the persistence to keep getting up after being knocked down. But aren’t you getting weary of getting up only to be knocked down again without making any forward progress? What you need is a plan for what to do after you have gotten back up. Try using these steps:

1. Reaffirm your goal. 2. Stay on course. 3. Move forward with your plan. 4. Take risks. 5. Don’t let mistakes stop you. 6. Re-evaluate your progress. 7. Develop new strategies to succeed. 8. Determine to finish well.

Every time you plan, risk, fail, re-evaluate and adjust, you have another opportunity to begin again, only better than the last time. As the famous inventor, Thomas Edison, said as his laboratory burned to the ground, “Thank goodness all our mistakes were burned up. Now we can start again fresh.” If you are willing to stay determined, work according to your plan, and keep getting up when you get knocked down, you will be able to achieve your goals – and someday your dreams.

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5.6 You Are Ready to Fail Forward

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Let’s review all the steps it takes to fail forward.

1. Realise there is one major difference between average and achieving people. 2. Learn a new definition for failure. 3. Remove the “you” from failure. 4. Take action and reduce your fear. 5. Change your response to failure by accepting responsibility. 6. Don’t let the failure from outside get inside you. 7. Say good-bye to yesterday. 8. Change yourself, and your world changes. 9. Get over yourself and start giving yourself. 10. Find the benefit in every bad experience. 11. If at first you do succeed, try something harder. 12. Learn from a bad experience and make it a good experience. 13. Work on the weakness that weakens you. 14. Understand that there is not much difference between success and failure. 15. Get up, get over it, and get going. You don’t become a great sailor by sailing calm seas. Most people run from problems. Instead of running from problems, you should go after them. You get ahead by solving problems. Highly successful people have made more mistakes, suffered more adversities, overcome more problems, and experienced more failures than most all the other people you will ever meet. If you want to achieve your dreams, get out there and fail. Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward!

DISCUSSION

• What views of failure have changed for you during these lessons? • What views of success have changed?

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Biblical Case Study: Abraham (Genesis: 12:1-25:11)

Is there anyone in the Bible who is more loved and respected than Abraham? While there may be many reasons for this great admiration afforded Abraham, most scholars would argue that it is because he stayed the course, went the distance, and finished well. He is highly honoured in the spiritual “Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11. The writer of Hebrews repeatedly commends Abraham for his obedience and his steadfast faithfulness in the midst of testing.

Abraham’s journey is not without mistakes and failures. He lied to Pharaoh about his marital relationship with Sarah. When his wife could not conceive a child, he fathered a child with Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant.

While Abraham made leadership errors and other mistakes, he remained faithful and obedient to God’s calling upon his life. Through all the highs and lows of life, he kept moving forward. Whatever his other failures, he seemed to always follow through on his commitments to God. There is no wonder that God called Abraham “My friend” (Isaiah 41:8)!


Assessment: Write down your God-given dream and the reasons why you want to fulfil it.

Application: Write down the risks you are willing to take to make it happen. Try to think of everything that could go wrong. Now, renew your commitment to move forward regardless of the risks. Ask God for wisdom, strength, and courage for the journey.


Inspiration 5.6 Relentless Conference Session by Bill Hybels

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Outline of Session Mother Teresa

Fully Committed Hearts

Receiving God’s Call

Leading Through Obstacles

Surviving Spiritual Dry Spells

Carte Blanche Yieldedness

NOTES

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NOTES


DISCUSSION


personally take away. 2. Bill described a mental picture he had of a radar screen in heaven, surveying the earth

for those people whose hearts were truly yielded to God.

• Honestly reflect on this question: Am I the kind of person who is lighting up the radar screens in heaven by my yieldedness — my willingness to do God’s bidding no matter what without delay? Journal your thoughts in the space below.

• Identify one thought or insight you feel comfortable sharing with your team, and then do so.

3. Mother Teresa received a clear calling from God to serve the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta. Have you ever sensed a clear calling from God?

Yes No

If you answered Yes, work through the questions below.

• How have you responded to that call? Describe your response below.


• Now that you’ve experienced this session, what actions are you going to take? Write your action steps below.

If you answered No, work through the question below.

• Bill said that there is a direct correlation between carte-blanche yieldedness and

receiving a fresh assignment from God. Spend time in prayer, offering God your yielded heart and asking for a fresh assignment. If you wish, write out your prayer.

4. Bill said that most leaders eventually experience an era when it seemed like a dream

had almost died, and it’s during this phase that God does some of His most purifying and deepening work.

• Do you as a team, church, ministry, or organisation have any dreams or callings that seem in danger of dying? Discuss them together, and list them on a flipchart or in the space below.


Closing Thought and Prayer

Leadership has to be as much about grace as it does about skill.

Lord, AS I am UNDERSTANDING more and more that I am a sinner saved by YOUR ALL-SUFFICIENT grace,

MAY IT BE THAT YOUR GRACE IS THE SUFFICIENCY for my leadership.

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