Leadership is influence. When leaders lead, others are influenced…for good or bad. The source of that influence is the focus of this lesson. Leadership begins when we lead ourselves, when we live a life worthy of our calling and lead out of that inner world. Here is a frightening truth:
THE FOLLOWERS ALWAYS EXPERIENCE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LIFE OF THE LEADER!!!
Always! At home, at church, in your work, wherever you lead what is going on inside of you will affect and shape the future of those you lead. Take a quick inventory of your inner world. What qualities are you experiencing right now?
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Now, how does that affect your family, work, and others around you?
What are the losses that those who are following you will experience if these inner world challenges are not resolved?
Jesus led a world movement. What we often do is focus on the how – the tasks a leader does, as in delegate, plan, strategize, etc. But the life of Jesus showed that all of that; planning, strategizing, working with people, confronting people, flowed from an inner world. When our inner world is one of peace and power (of the Lord) our leadership will flow from that. The key is to learn patterns that will constantly flow His presence to us, patterns of releasing stress, patterns that prepare us for the coming moments.
Take a look at the movement of Jesus and connect the inner world dots to his movement.
- Matthew 3:13-4:2
Why is this passage the first major movement for Jesus? How does this prepare or settle things?
How does focused spiritual time prepare a leader for coming stresses?
Note the stresses here; temptation to use power selfishly, to prove yourself (ego-driven) and to shift the inner submission to pragmatic (worship me and I will give you the kingdoms of the world). How does the leader’s inner world affect these coming moments?
The truth is that most leaders skip this section and move past “being” to “doing.” But the temptation of doing pragmatically is that people become pawns, boundaries are broken and we move from being a leader called to lead to lord trying to lord it over. How does that shift happen to leaders?
How can a leader see that in their own life?
How can an inner settling of these issues open the future for the leader and for those who will trust and follow? What does Luke 22:24-26 teach us?
- Luke 6:12
The critical factor in any movement is the apprentice. A movement dies without apprenticing. Take a look at Jesus praying before choosing his key twelve. What does that say about people selection and the future of a movement or organization? What is the connection of the inner world of Jesus and the world change coming?
- Mark 1:35-39
Jesus is about to make a strategic ministry decision. People are lining up for healing, the ministry is exploding. Then he prays. What might that prayer be about? How important is it that the spiritual leader is led by the Spirit in making strategic decisions about future, ministries, purpose, and focus? What is at stake in these decisions?
How can success be our Achilles heal?
- John 7:53-8:11
What does Jesus do before a test? Did he know a test was coming?
When leaders are surprised by conflict and “tests” they can lose their balance and respond out of a place other than the Spirit. What can you do about the unforeseen test?
Questions for interview
I am wondering about the connection between how leaders lead and their inner world. Can you tell me what patterns you follow for your inner world (mediation, prayer, scripture, worship, confession might be some of these, but let the leader respond)?
What do you think is the key factor to leading others?
How can I develop that aspect?
How have you developed that aspect?
What makes a bad leader?
What makes a leader change from being a good leader to one who is not good? How does that transformation happen? How can I avoid that pitfall?
FOR YOUR APPLICATION
Choose a quality you want to develop in yourself and design a plan to focus on that plan for a week. If it is engendering trust, make sure that you do everything completely trustworthy for a week – including your alone time. If it is something like spiritual disciplines, focus on a discipline for a week. Keep a log of what you have done, what you experienced both good and bad, and be prepared to share your journey in the next meeting. Remember, this is about an inner world development. If we do the exercise, but only on the surface, we have missed the point. This week should stimulate development and growth in our souls.