Subject: Leading The Change In Your Family, Church, or Business
by Rick Welborne
Joshua 1:1-9 (NIV)
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.
5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
John D. Rockefeller – Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.
--Leadership is a process, not a job. It requires the passing of the torch from one leader to another. We see this with Moses and Joshua.
--That means that those who would want to be leaders will need to stay close to those who are currently leading so that when the torch is passed they will be ready. Again, attitude and humility are imperative.
--Though we sometimes hear of born leaders, the truth is, most leaders have learned how to lead. We all have a responsibility in ministry to pass the leadership torch to those future leaders who will take the responsibility.
--Think about it, if we are not prepared to pass the torch to the next person God has His hand on, the ministry itself is in jeopardy. We see it happen in so many churches where there is not a plan.
--If the leader (pastor) is a person of prayer and has a sensitivity to Holy Spirit, he will know who God has His hand on to lead. Many avoid even going down this road because of insecurity…very sad.
1. Moses passed the torch to Joshua.
--You remember how Moses had led the children of Israel right up to the edge of the promised land but they could not go in because of their rebellion. The next generation would have opportunity to go in.
--They could not go in without a leader. Moses had led them for 40 years and no one under age of 40 had ever known any other leader. The time finally came for a new leader but who was qualified to take Moses’ place?
--Joshua had been Moses apprentice. He had never had full authority and someone above him always had the final word in making decisions. Oh, the joys of being number 2 but the fears of being number 1.
--I was the youth/associate/ministries director/ here at Life Church and life was good…do my thing and let the lead pastor have to deal with all the tough decisions…he leaves and I become the pastor.
--All of a sudden, I was called every day for counseling, my wisdom was needed, people lined up to get my advice…what had changed? My office was now one door over…Senior Pastor…scary!
--Have you ever asked the question…Why Joshua? Moses picked Joshua because God had picked Joshua. And I believe God picked Joshua because he was a real leader. Remember the twelve spies sent into the land?
--You see, Moses was acting in obedience to God’s instructions. Moses remembered Joshua and Caleb insisted that the other ten spies were wrong. Joshua was showing great leadership way back when.
--Joshua did not just appear on the scene and then was chosen to become the next great leader of Israel…He had stayed close to the leader and had been loyal and faithful to him.
Seneca the Younger who lived from 4BC to AD 65 supposedly said this: Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
--Even though there is question of whether he said it or not, what he said was true but let’s adjust it for our benefit: Leadership happens when preparation meets opportunity.
--Now we know that being a leader is more than just staying close to those who have leadership roles. If you just hang around, you’ll be more of an annoyance than a help. So what can you do to be ready to lead.
A. Pay attention to what is going on around you.
--To become a great leader you cannot just focus on one thing but you must be able to see the big picture. See what is needed to make the organization better and wisely share with the leader the facts.
--Become a good listener…there is a reason God gave us two ears and one mouth…listen twice as much as you talk. Look people in the eye when they are talking to you and actually hear what they are saying.
--Fulfill your responsibilities…do your job and do it with excellence…do it ahead of schedule…let the leader know you are ‘all in’ at making the organization shine and making him successful! People in Bartow.
B. Be a problem solver.
--Problem solving will more than likely come from someone who is forward thinking, not always looking back of how we used to do it. Past experience can be beneficial but be willing to learn.
--Many churches and businesses have brought much detriment to themselves but always looking back. I read a few years ago that many of our churches are trapped in the 50s and 60s and that is why they do not grow.
--True leadership is about solving problems and helping to take the load off of the head of the organization. You get better at solving problems as you encounter problems…start practicing before you lead.
--Read, study, and put into practice problem solving skills and be prepared to step into what God has for you.
2. To be a good leader hold yourself accountable.
Ketterling: You probably think about becoming a leader more than existing leaders think about you becoming a leader. They have other things on their minds. If there isn’t someone to hold you accountable, hold yourself accountable. Don’t let the day to day routine leave you in the shadow.
I believe the Apostle Paul said it this way:
Philippians 2:12-16 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
--I think one of the most frustrating things about ministry is trying to convince people who should know what is right and who should be mature in their faith to keep living for God.
--Oh, pastor, I just need you to keep me accountable. Really? You have been saved for 25 years and you still need someone to keep you in line? Shouldn’t you be helping someone else by now?
--Paul was saying that he was glad that they obeyed in his presence and that was good, but he said the real test of your faith is that you obey when he is not there to keep you accountable.
--Paul said…You keep yourself accountable…YOU work out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling. God wants to do His will in you and He wants to use you in such a way that brings Him pleasure or glory.
--Put down the pacifier and pick up your Bible and become the leader God wants you to be…stop complaining about what is not going your way and stop arguing with those you should be helping!
--As you grow up…as you keep yourself accountable…as you quit whining…you can be a light in this dark world leading other people to Christ. Hold on to the Word of God…it will secure your testimony! Poem: What’s Up?
--Tom Ziglar, son of Zig Ziglar “Inch by inch everything is a cinch!” could have, by default, waited in his dad’s shadow until the time to take control of his dad’s company…Ziglar Corporation. No one would have argued.
--He decided to do something novel…work and learn…he worked in the warehouse, in sales, in promotion, and in sales management…later he worked his way into the leadership ranks.
--He didn’t just hang out waiting to inherit what he thought he deserved…while he waited to become the leader he cultivated skills that uniquely qualified him to succeed his father.
--No one else could replace his dad but no one was better prepared to step into that place of leadership! What are you doing to prepare to lead in God’s Kingdom…learning…serving…working?
Matthew 23:11-12 (NLT)
11 The greatest among you must be a servant.
12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
11 The greatest among you must be a servant.
12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
3. True leaders are careful about what comes out of their mouths.
--True leaders will try their very best to have their conversation to be constructive and not destructive. The negative campaigning we are seeing and hearing is only dividing our country more.
--That is what negativity does…it erodes unity and peace. Be careful what you say.
--Leaders want to know they can trust those who are invited into the leadership team. The leader must have confidence that those who work with him will be loyal to him and the organization.
--It takes a long time to recover from one bad conversation. Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers (a billionaire) could not buy his way out of one bad taped rant. We can’t fix ours either.
--Sometimes we have the tendency or the arrogance to think…they should have just been careful where they said it and to whom…Jesus had a little different take on our words.
Matthew 12:34-38 (NKJV)
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
--The Word has so much to say about the power of our words…obviously this was a problem before social media but now everyone has a megaphone to spew their hateful words.
James 3:5-10 (NKJV)
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
--Hear me, your words have the ability to make you a great leader or the ability to disqualify you from leadership. Think about it, no good leader would ever put a person in a position who gossips and tears people down.
--As you are in your home, your church, your business…make sure your words are for edifying or building up those around you. Aren’t you attracted to people who are like this…we run from the others.
--If you are leading (we all are) or plan to be a future leader, realize everything you do, everything you say is preparing you to lead or disqualifying you.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
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