Influential Personal Leadership

In January I began teaching an Adult Christian education class at Trinity Baptist.
The title of the class was Leadership is Influence.

The big idea of the class is leadership is influence.
There is positional leadership and influential leadership.  EVERY Christian is a worshipper and an influencer.  We need to grow as disciples and make disciples.

God has given his disciples many different disciple-making arenas.  Throughout the class, we looked at five specific areas - self, church, family, work, and community.  I am going to post the key points from each of these areas over the next couple of Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Matt Perman writes "Personal leadership is going in the right direction (in line with God's commands and principles) for the right reasons (out of love for God and others)."  (Getting Unstuck, p. 58)

Prayer is an essential part of personal leadership.  Often we get into prayer ruts.  Our prayer life becomes boring because we are praying the same old things over and over again.  Usually, these boring prayers come from man-centered, earthly prayers from our human desires.  They are not God-glorifying, kingdom-centered prayers based on God's Word.  

In the first class on personal leadership, we looked at Paul's prayer for the Ephesians found in chapter 1.  Paul's prayer focuses on the hope and riches they have in God.  Biblical prayer is filled with hope because it serves as a reminder of how rich God is.  If we are to live a life that glorifies God we must focus on who He is and what He wants to do through us.  

Tim Challies' Productivity Catechism serves as a great reminder of the why's, how's and what's of Christian living.  

Q1.  Ultimately, why did God create you?  (Romans 11:36) 

A1.  God created you to bring glory to Him. 

Q2.  How can you glorify God in your day-to-day life?  (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12; 3:15) 

A2.  I can glorify God in my day-to-day life by doing good works. 

Q3.  What are good works?  (Ephesians 2:10;  1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 10:24) 

A3.  Good works are deeds done for the glory of God and the good of others. 

Q4.  But you are a sinful person.  Can you actually do good works?  (Philippians 1:6) 

A4.  Yes.  Christians are able to do good work because of the finished work of Jesus. 

Q5.  In what areas of life should you emphasize good works?  (1 Corinthians 10:31) 

A5.  I ought to emphasize good works at all times and in all areas of my life. 

Q6.  What is productivity? 

A6.  Productivity is effectively stewarding my gifts, time, energy, and enthusiasm for good of others and the glory of God.

We need to preach the Gospel to ourselves every day.  Personal growth, changing into the image of Jesus, will impact the way we live in communities like the church, family, work, and community.  

Shelter-In-Place Note:
During this time of quarantine, it can be easy to binge-watch movies and do you what you want to do.
Instead of a "What do I want to do?" attitude, why not take a "What do I need to do to grow in my relationship with God?"
Here are some suggestions:

• extended devotional time.  You might think to yourself "I have kids.  I can't do this."  Here is a suggestion, invite one of your kids to do devotions with you.  Share what you are reading and learning.  Use the time to model what devotions could look like.
• learn something.  The Master's Seminary Institute is offering two free classes:  Marriage/Family Counseling and Hermeneutics, how to interpret the Bible.  These classes or other online options are great ways to grow in your knowledge of God and His Word.
• read.  If you are or are not a reader this time provides an opportunity to read.  A book that is very helpful for right now is Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy.

For other Influential Leadership posts, go to https://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/Influential%20leadership

If you have other resources, additional comments or questions, please leave them in the comment section.