God’s Call For Us to

LeadNotebook One

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Born to Lead

God designed us to lead, to have authority and take dominion.

1. Being made in God’s image means we were created to lead

2. God gave humans authority over the whole earth.

3. If God told us to rule we must have the ability to do it.

Being salt and light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.   14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Divine Permission to lead

Most of us can list why we don’t lead effectively, just as Moses did. When God called him, he instantly have five excuses why he couldn’t lead. Notice how God responds to them.

Excuse One : Who am I

 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ( Exodus 3:11)

GOD’S RESPONSE : It doesn’t matter who you are. I’ve called you. I am with you.

Excuse Two: Who are you?

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

GOD’S RESPONSE: I am who I am. I’m anything you need.

Excuse Three: What if they don’t listen .

 1 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?”

GOD’S RESPONSE : When I am finished they’ll listen. Trust me.

Excuse Four: I’ve never been a good speaker

10 Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

GOD’S RESPONSE : Guess who made your mouth? I’m the source of your gifts.

Excuse Five : I know you can find someone else

 13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

GOD’S RESPONSE : Ok , I will let Aaron go with you… but I’m still calling you.

QUESTION

What excuses do you have for not leading well? What do you believe God’s response might be?

Leadership is Influence

J. Oswald Sanders, said it first : Leadership is influence. Nothing more . Nothing Less.

It is not dependent on titles or positions.

It is dependent on someone catching a vision from God and mobilizing others to join them in its fulfillment.

The Basics of Effective Leaders

1. They perceive a need

When Leadership is pure :

a. It always starts with a need

b. That need sparks passion within a person

c. That person acts in response to the need.

d. This action moves others to cooperate

The Basics of Effective Leaders

2. They possess a gift

When Leadership is pure:

a. A person finds a gift inside of them.

b. They groom and develop that gift.

c. They eventually match that gift with a place of service.

d. The gift provides a platform for influence.

e. They eventually flourish because of their gift

We naturally lead in the area of our gift. In our gift areas,

we are most…

Intuitive

Productive

Comfortable

Satisfied

Natural

Influential

Application

How about you ? What is your primary gift? What contribution do you make to the body of Christ, that would be most missed if you were gone? What do you add to your organization that you do best?

3.They parade a passion

When an outward need and an inward gift match, the leader often follows by becoming consumed with a passion.

Passion comes when a leader has complimentary…

Burdens – your interests and concerns

Convictions – your values , principles and beliefs

Gifts – Your God-given abilities

Needs – your desperate circumstances

Opportunities – your occasion to get involved.

Application

Passion generally begins with interests .What are yours, as it relates to leadership and needs around you? What makes you cry or makes you angry? What do you feel strongly about that you often feel driven to act?

4. They persuade a people

True leaders eventually come to the point where they attract and empower others to their passion.

Genuine leaders connect with others.

Leaders don’t act alone. They have followers.

They have to , because they have a cause that’s bigger than they are – they need others to pull it off.

Proven Practices for Getting Things done

What gets talked about gets done.

What gets trained gets done.

What gets measured gets done.

What gets budgeted gets done.

What gets confronted gets done.

What gets rewarded gets done.

5. They pursue a purpose