Leaders Retreat 2014 HANDBOOK

8/12/2019 Leaders Retreat 2014 HANDBOOK

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Leaders Retreat Handbook

March 28-29, 2014

Gatlinburg, TN


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Contents

Orientation Page 1

Leadership Page 3

Suggested Readings Page 6

Some Questions Page 8

Branding Page 9

Notes Page 10

Inserts Page 14


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FRIDAY, MARCH 28 8:00 P.M.

ORIENTATION

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1. Who will be the leader of the group?o Whoever is leading the presentation or discussion will be considered the leader during that

session. Our elders have the right at any time to start, direct, change direction, or end adiscussion.

2. How many will speak at a time?

o We will be loving and respectful to each other, so only one will speak at a time duringsessions.

3. Who will each person be speaking for?

o Each person will speak for him or herself.

4. Will you have a right to disagree with each other?

o We all have a right to our own opinions, so some disagreement is expected. We have theright to disagree, but not to be disagreeable.

5. How will you deal with each other if someone gets their feelings hurt?

o If we all follow guideline number 4, no one should get his or her feelings hurt. However,participation in discussions implies your willingness to apologize if what you share

inadvertently hurts someones feelings.

6. What other rules do you need?o This retreat is intended to be positive and constructive. Everyone is asked to avoid pointless

dumping and complaining. If you share your recognition of a problem or failure, do so onlywith the intent of suggesting a solution, and do so without blaming anyone.

o Other rules?

7. How will you deal with rule violations?

o We all love each other and trust each other, so heres hoping therell be no need to deal withviolations.

o If there are considerable violations, we all commit to learning from them to be better in thefuture.

-Adapted from a similar document by bro. Jerry Barber


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LEADERSHIP

Leadership

Leaders have two very important roles:1. Preserve and protect

Values: What makes us unique? Beliefs: What are the non-

negotiables of our theology? Mission: What do we do, and what

do we not do?

2. Stimulate progress Strategy: Where do we focus? Vision: Where are we going, and

how will we know when weve

arrived?

Initiatives: What action will we take?By beginning a change process with what doesnt change, a leader will loweranxiety and align the change to the cornerstone of identity and purpose.

Three Essentials of Leading Well (The Catalyst Leader by Brad Lomenick):

1. Authenticity

Not just expected, its required.

Write out your (leadership) strengths and weaknesses, and look yourself

in the mirror and accept yourself. Sharing strengths and weaknesses is crucial to letting people in and

enabling them to connect

Do not create a pseudo-self! Others will eventually see right through it. Turn over the rocks in your life to find the areas that need to be cleaned. Leaders who are willing to share their own struggles honestly gain

immediate influence!!!2.Pure Passion

Protect your heart and constantly look for ways to grow. Maintain a weekly habit of personal devotional time to keep the fires

burning.

3.Capability Develop a steady work ethic. Dont settle for less than excellence!

Three Leadership Killers (Gabe Kolstad, 12/10/2012):

1.Unbridled Tradition The problem with tradition in churches is when programs and practices

become an end in themselves rather than a means to an end.

2.Dysfunctional Structure Decisions should be able to be made quickly, trust is built through flowing

communication and authority comes with responsibility. Page 3


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3.Unresolved Conflict Jesus made it clear that unity in the Body of Christ is a non-negotiable.

Its intended to be the hallmark of Christianity in the world.4.Lack of Faith

Both the task and the challenges of church leadership are outrageous,

and they require a leader who has the faith to believe God will prevail.5.Fuzzy Vision

As Nelson Searcy says, people say no to whats confusing. If the vision for our churches is foggy, the buy-in will be minimal. What

people are looking for in life is a purpose, a clear and burning opportunity

to connect their lives with something greater and more enduring. Andwhen a leader clarifies a clear and compelling vision and asks people to

sign on, they do.

A good vision answers the question, What will it be like when we get

there?

The Basics:1.Everyone is a Leader

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, Every man is a hero and an oracle to

somebody, and to that person, whatever he says has an enhanced value.

2.Leadership is Influence People are first influenced by what they see For most people, if they

perceive you are positive and trustworthy and have admirable qualities,

they will seek you as an influencer in their lives. And the better they get

to know you, the greater your credibility will be and the higher your

influence can becomeif they like what they see. -John Maxwell. People are influenced most by those who make them feel the best about

themselves. -John Maxwell.

3.Leadership is for those committed to Integrity One of the realities of life is that if you cant trust a person at all points,

you cant truly trust him or her at any point. Even people who are ableto hide their lack of integrity for a period of time will eventually

experience failure, and whatever influence they have temporarily gained

will disappear. John Maxwell.

Character comes from who we are. But some people would like to bejudged not by who they are, but by the titles they have earned or the

position they hold, regardless of the nature of their character. Their

desire is to influence others by the weight of their credentials rather thanthe strength of their character. But credentials can never accomplish whatcharacter can. John Maxwell.

4.NotEveryone is a Leader Therefore it says, When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, theevangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work

of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:8-12 ESV)


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For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think

of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober

judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all

have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and

individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according tothe grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to ourfaith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; theone who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in

generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of

mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3-8 ESV)5.Leadership is for Students

Students of People: Ralph Waldo Emerson acknowledged, Every man I

meet is in some way my superior, and I can learn of him. Dr. Joyce

Brothers said, Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form offlattery. Whenever you dont pay attention to what others have to say,

you send them the message that you dont value them. But when you

listen to others, you communicate that you respect them. Even more, you

show them that you care. John Maxwell.The first duty of love is to

listen. Paul Tillich. Students of Leadership: The best leaders in history have been students

of the best leaders in history. Why reinvent the wheel?

Students of the Word: When you come, bring the cloak that I left withCarpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments (2Timothy 4:13 ESV).

6.Leadership is for the Mature Leaders ought to have been tested and proven before being allowed to

occupy an office or position as a leader (1Timothy 3:10). Never complain to those youre trying to lead, or even to your peers. It

will poison the well. If you have to complain, send it up the ladder!!!


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SUGGESTED READINGS

The New Breed - Second Edition:

Understanding & Equipping the 21stCentury VolunteerJonathan McKee(Author), Thomas W. McKee(Author)

In this excellent book, father and son authors teach

readers how to understand volunteers in the present

period of time. As leaders in the church, we are

leading a 100% volunteer workforce, but most ofwhat we learn about leadership in our culture is

home, business, or military basedthat is, based on

position and leverage. Neither have any considerablesignificance with volunteers, unless they so choose.This is one of the most helpful books Ive ever read

regarding leadership in the church.

Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needsto Know (101 Series)John Maxwell(Author)

This is a very brief, but informative overview of whatleadership is and how to grow as a leader. Its one ofthe first books I read when I began to studyleadership, and it definitely gave me a solid

framework upon which to build. I would recommend

just about anything Maxwell has written on

leadership, though once youve read a few of hisbooks, you wont find much new in a fourth and so

on. This one is great for busy leaders, and Id suggest

reading it after you first read The New Breed.

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GROUP DISCUSSION: HOW WILL WE STRENGTHEN OUR LOVE FOR THE LOST &

CREATE A SOUL-SAVING CULTURE?

Brother Gus Nichols said, A stream cannot rise above its fountain

source. The first step to strengthening the congregations love for thelost is to strengthen our love for them. The first step to creating a soul-

saving culture among church members is to create one among theleaders.

What does a Biblical love for the lost look like when put into practice? __________

__________________________________________________________________

How can your leaders help you cultivate such a love? _______________________

__________________________________________________________________

Share some ideas of things we can all do to help spread a deep sense of love for

the lost throughout the congregation. ___________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

If we did everything we ought to do to love the lost and nurture a soul-

saving culture at LaVergne, what would things look like in five years?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Share what you can do to take some first steps to loving the lost in the

city of LaVergne?

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INSERT CYRUS, LEADERSHIP

9 Timeless Leadership Lessons

from Cyrus the GreatForget 1-800-CEO Read. The greatest book on business andleadershipwas written in the 4th century BC by a Greek about aPersian King. Yeah, thats right.Behold: Cyrus the Great, the man that historians call the mostamiable of conquerors, and the first king to found his empire ongenerosity instead of violence and tyranny. Consider Cyrus the antithesis toMachiavellis idealPrince. The author, himself the opposite of Machiavelli, was

Xenophon, a student of Socrates.The book is a veritable classic in the art of leadership, execution, and responsibility.

Adapted from Larry Hendricks excellent translation, here are nine lessons inleadership from Xenophons Cyrus the Great:Be Self-ReliantNever be slow in replenishing your supplies. Youll always be on better terms with your allies if you cansecure your own provisions...Give them all they need and your troops will follow you to the end of theearth.Be GenerousSuccess always calls for greater generositythough most people, lost in the darkness of their own egos,treat it as an occasion for greater greed. Collecting boot [is] not an end itself, but only a means forbuilding [an] empire. Riches would be of little use to us nowexcept as a means of winning newfriends.Be BriefBrevity is the soul of command. Too much talking suggests desperation on the part of the leader. Speakshortly, decisively and to the pointand couch your desires in such natural logic that no one can raiseobjections. Then move on.Be a Force for GoodWhenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealththese three together constitute thegreatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will neverdie.

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Be in Control

[After punishing some renegade commanders] Here again, I would demonstrate the truth that, in myarmy, discipline always brings rewards.Be FunWhen I became rich, I realized that no kindness between man and man comes more naturally thansharing food and drink, especially food and drink of the ambrosial excellence that I could now provide.Accordingly, I arranged that my table be spread everyday for many invitees, all of whom would dine onthe same excellent food as myself. After my guests and I were finished, I would send out any extra foodto my absent friends, in token of my esteem.Be Loyal[When asked how he planned to dress for a celebration] If I can only do well by my friends, Ill lookglorious enough in whatever clothes I wear.Be an ExampleIn my experience, men who respond to good fortune with modesty and kindness are harder to findthan those who face adversity with courage.Be Courteous and KindThere is a deepand usually frustrateddesire in the heart of everyone to act with benevolence ratherthan selfishness, and one fine instance of generosity can inspire dozens more. Thus I established astately court where all my friends showed respect to each other and cultivated courtesy until it bloomedinto perfect harmony.Theres a reason Cyrus found students and admirers in his own time as well as the agesthat followed. From Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin to Julius Caesar and

Alexander (and yes, even Machiavelli) great men have read his inspiring example andput it to use in the pursuit of their own endeavors.That isnt bad company.

Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD, the God of

heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, andhe has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem,which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his

people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him goup (2 Chronicles 36:23 ESV).


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Leaders Retreat 2014 HANDBOOK