Christian Small Groups
Talking about leading by example is easier than doing it.
Modeling is harder than explaining.
To lead by example, master these five basics of leadership: 1.
Improve yourself first - Change yourself before you try to change anyone else.
Get yourself straight on the inside before you try to get anything straight on the outside.
2.
Be harder on yourself - Demand more of yourself than you demand of anyone else.
Hold yourself to a higher standard.
3.
To teach it, you have to do it - Instructing someone about the right way to act is easier than acting that way.
However, because of the next principle, you can't really teach these values successfully unless you carry them out yourself.
4.
Actions speak louder - People do as they see you do, not as they hear you say.
This is the "law of magnetism.
" You attract people like you.
5.
Example is profound and powerful - Give the gift of a good example.
The Bible is full of talk about visions.
Usually the visions emerge from some suffering, but lead to great things.
The best visions are like rainbows or epics.
You should be able to talk about your vision with as much excitement as if it were The Lord of the Rings.
But merely telling others about your vision is not enough.
Inspire them to share it.
As long as it's just your vision, it's not worth much at all.
Enlist others by listening and sacrificing.
Vivify your vision.
By example, teach people the habits they need to know to make the vision a reality.
Willingness to challenge the status quo is one of a Christian leader's most important characteristics.
Every Christian leader should pose two questions to his or her conscience: 1.
Whom do I in fact serve? 2.
Can I stand to suffer? Jesus accomplished great things, but he never claimed to be doing anything on his own.
Instead, he referred all of the good he did to his "Father in Heaven.
" He told the people he cured to tell no one who had cured them.
He associated with the poor, the outcast and the despised.
He didn't seek glory.
No matter what he did or where he went, one thing was clear - he wasn't in it for himself.
Everything was service.
He challenged the modus operandi of his society, but not just for the sake of making noise and drawing attention to himself.
Modeling is harder than explaining.
To lead by example, master these five basics of leadership: 1.
Improve yourself first - Change yourself before you try to change anyone else.
Get yourself straight on the inside before you try to get anything straight on the outside.
2.
Be harder on yourself - Demand more of yourself than you demand of anyone else.
Hold yourself to a higher standard.
3.
To teach it, you have to do it - Instructing someone about the right way to act is easier than acting that way.
However, because of the next principle, you can't really teach these values successfully unless you carry them out yourself.
4.
Actions speak louder - People do as they see you do, not as they hear you say.
This is the "law of magnetism.
" You attract people like you.
5.
Example is profound and powerful - Give the gift of a good example.
The Bible is full of talk about visions.
Usually the visions emerge from some suffering, but lead to great things.
The best visions are like rainbows or epics.
You should be able to talk about your vision with as much excitement as if it were The Lord of the Rings.
But merely telling others about your vision is not enough.
Inspire them to share it.
As long as it's just your vision, it's not worth much at all.
Enlist others by listening and sacrificing.
Vivify your vision.
By example, teach people the habits they need to know to make the vision a reality.
Willingness to challenge the status quo is one of a Christian leader's most important characteristics.
Every Christian leader should pose two questions to his or her conscience: 1.
Whom do I in fact serve? 2.
Can I stand to suffer? Jesus accomplished great things, but he never claimed to be doing anything on his own.
Instead, he referred all of the good he did to his "Father in Heaven.
" He told the people he cured to tell no one who had cured them.
He associated with the poor, the outcast and the despised.
He didn't seek glory.
No matter what he did or where he went, one thing was clear - he wasn't in it for himself.
Everything was service.
He challenged the modus operandi of his society, but not just for the sake of making noise and drawing attention to himself.
