He struck a rock with his staff and lost his chance at the Promised Land
He stole his brother's blessing and fled from his family
He was sold into slavery and then became 2nd to Pharaoh
She left everything she knew to follow her Mother-in-law to a new land
He tackled the 500 plus prophets of BAAL in the Ultimate Altar Challenge
She risked her very life by approaching her Kingly Husband to save Israel
He took on a huge army with just a few soldiers, trumpets, and crashing jars
She led an attack against Israel's enemies
She hammered a tent peg through the head of an arch enemy of Israel while he slept
He laid on his side for 390 days to prophesy against Israel's sin
He ate locust, honey, and dressed in camel's hair
She gave up reputation and became pregnant before marriage
And On and On...

These are all biblical leaders and their challenges are many.  Being a leader is not an easy task.  Those of us who have been born to be leaders or placed in leadership opportunities should take time to study these characters and work out not only our salvation, but our leadership with fear and trembling as well.  I'm seeing a trend in churches these days.  Churches all over America are numerically shrinking.  And if you are leading an institutional church and trying to keep your body afloat, then this is adding pressure to your leadership.  What I am seeing in my tradition is that we are in the midst of a transitional period for our particular congregations.  Some would label the transition from conservative or traditional to progressive or liberal (I'm obviously not using the terms in their classical sense, but more in their common vernacular and even more so in the crowd I'm around).  

The challenge for leaders with this particular situation is decision-making.  If we make a decision for making a progressive change then we offend and maybe drive off those who have more conservative leanings.  If we make a decision for keeping things as they are then we offend and maybe drive off those who have more progressive leanings.  It is a catch-22.  In institutions we tend to make decisions that will keep the peace and drive the fewest away or maybe decisions that won't drive those members who are the biggest financial supporters.  I'm not saying that what I have described, describes all churches or all institutions, but I have talked with enough leaders around our nation and heard this topic treated at conferences that hosts leaders from all over the world to know that this is real in our world.  

What do we do?  Leadership is not a science as much as it is an art.  Every situation is different and must be considered differently and treated with great artistic form.  However, I think if we look at those in scripture who led under God and led his people we will find some crucial principles for leading today in our churches.  

So let's look at some of these stories above (and maybe others) to see how leadership works, what the challenges are, and how God provides through it all.  But first we should look at our ultimate leader:  The Divine.

This past Sunday we unveiled our new theme for 2015.  Our church has a specific vision in mind.  And this is the third year that we have taken some part of that vision and focused on that one piece.  Every year we have begun with one word that will focus us as a church.  2013 we used the world "Illuminate" and how we serve others in the name of Jesus and by this service we shine the light of Christ to the world.  2014 we used the word "Elevate" and the idea of the pursuit of God.  Our pursuit of God and God's pursuit of us.  2015 we are using the word "Resonate" and the idea is how through the Holy Spirit we are to be connect, relate, and love one another.  I 'm excited about what the year holds.  In the next few weeks I will share more about our theme.

I'm constantly inspired by this scripture about the church:

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. -Acts 2:42-47




We were made for connection, relationships, and love!  We were made to be church together.

Every year I choose one word that will help direct my life and open up my mind to message I might otherwise miss.  This year my word is follow.  This is a big word and has much to offer.  I have to be honest, as it came to me during the Christmas break I wasn't sure I wanted this word or how it might work out, but knew instantly this was my word.  I tested the word for a week taking time to meditate on other words, but in the end I just couldn't get "follow" out of my head. One of the reasons I was unsure about the word, follow, was that my personality is to be a leader.  Also, my career demands that I take on leadership.  As I wrestled with this contradictions I became positive about two things:  1.  Following doesn't mean that you cannot be a leader also.  2.  The best leaders in life are great followers. In the next couple of weeks I'll explore those two points and throughout the year I'll come back to this word and how it is changing me and working in my life.  I will say that knowing that follow is my word has already caused me to change my perspective (last year's word) on different decisions that needed to be made.  

Prayer:

God I have chosen "Follow" as my word for 2015.  In reality I know that you have been a part of the process of giving me this word.  I choose to accept this word and live my life allowing you to change me and teach me.  Thank you Lord in advance for 2015 and everything that is coming my way as I focus on what it means to follow. 
   "Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand." 

Isaiah 64:8


Amen!