If we want to go to the next level then we must learn from those at the next level. This takes humility. Wisdom comes to those who are humble. Leaders are learners. Learners are humble.

Seeking wisdom from another is accepting the reality that “I don’t know everything”. It is so hard to admit that because of pride, but when I do I am freed up to truly learn and grow.

The #1 Problem for Every Leader is that we DON’T HUMBLE OURSELVES AT THE FEET OF ANOTHER. This has a couple of layers to it:

1. We don’t LISTEN TO JESUS AND DO EXACTLY WHAT HE SAYS. Jesus gives the dream. He is the dream master, and leaders are the dream casters. The vision Jesus gives must be received otherwise everything else tanks.

2. We don’t listen to WISE LEADERS AROUND US. We don’t even seek to intentionally place ourselves under the tutelage or guidance of other wise leaders. Because of pride, laziness, and deception we fall into the trap of doing it alone and eventually trying to do too much, and consequently accomplishing very little for Jesus, getting burnt out and frustrating everyone else around us. Man, I know what that is like:)

6.LEADERS DON’T LET FEELINGS DICTATE THE MISSION

Number 5 (leaders initiate painful conversations) seems to be one of the hardest lessons to embody in leadership, but I believe it is mostly because of number 6 (leaders don’t let feelings dictate the mission).

Often times we are not so much afraid of the personal pain in our own lives it is the pain we may cause in another person’s life that we shy away from. We are so afraid of offending someone that we will shirk our biblical responsibility of sharing truth (in a loving way) with them. Usually we don’t want to offend them because it means they may not be “the president of our fan club” anymore and we don’t like rejection in any form.

As leaders we must not let feelings dictate the mission. We must not sway or serve from the vision Jesus has given to us in order to pamper someone’s ego, protect someone’s insecurities, or even protect someone from pain!

If Jesus says to do it, then we must do it, even if some people get their panties in a wad!

As leaders we must be more committed to “following Christ” than our “fear of offending others”.

We will not let the mission of Jesus suffer because we are afraid to hurt someone’s feelings. People’s eternity is at stake. God would rather we feel a little sadness on earth than a lot of torment in hell.

I would rather hurt someone’s feelings and remove them from a ministry role they don’t belong in than leave them there and cause countless souls to suffer eternity in hell. When we allow someone to remain in a ministry role they don’t belong in because of a lack of “giving their best to Jesus” then we are allowing the mission of Jesus to be sabotaged.

This doesn’t mean that “only perfect people can serve Jesus”. Actually, if we had to be perfect then nobody would be in ministry to Jesus. We serve because of the cross, not because of our own good deeds, merit, or performance. But Jesus does expect excellence and He will do whatever it takes to bring that about in our lives even if it means allowing a little pain (possibly even a lot of pain).

We can’t be so afraid of offending someone that we sabotage the mission of Jesus.

It isn’t our goal to offend people, but the cross can be offensive, and we don’t need to apologize for that. I know Jesus never did!

5.LEADERS INITIATE PAINFUL CONVERSATIONS

I realize that I may get a few less Christmas Cards in the mail this year because of this one! As leaders we must be willing to clearly explain the expectations of our organization (in this case the church of Jesus Christ) but then we must have the courage to call people on the carpet. We must be willing to take off our “cute and cuddly” papa bear suit and hold people accountable to the standards of Scripture.

We must be willing to call out “a lack of excellence in any area” as soon as we see it! Even if it means offending someone, hurting someone’s feelings, or firing a staff member! Here is how the deacon Stephen dealt with this (and he was speaking to the entire nation of Israel):

“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! (Act 7:51 NLT)

You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. (Act 7:53-54 NLT)

Stephen had to call the nation of Israel on the carpet. Imagine being this leader! Imagine being the guy who after thousands of years of Messianic preparation in the nation of Israel has to come onto the scene and declare, “YEAH, UMM YOU MISSED IT. NOT ONLY DID YOU COMPLETELY MISS IT, BUT YOU KILLED GOD’S SON. YOU KILLED YOUR OWN MESSIAH.”

Stephen knew that this was not going to be well received. That should be a great lesson for every young preacher (actually old ones too:) – that we can’t gauge our sermon preparation or sermon delivery on how well people receive it or even respond to it. Our responsibility is to be loyal to Jesus more than the crowd!

If as a preacher and biblical communicator you are never saying anything to cause tension, to cause people to get upset, to get people to walk out then you aren’t communicating the message of Jesus (not all of it)! Seriously, quit being a bible preacher and take up ballet or something:)