April 12, 2016
Psalm 78:70-72
To be successful in Christian leadership, you need to have:
1. Calling (Psalm 78:70)
The issue of calling is important in determining the role of a leader (Psalm 78:70). Everyone’s journey is different. God’s call is individualized. Jeff Iorg, President of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, identifies four calls for the Christian:
FOUR CALLS FOR THE CHRISTIAN
1. Salvation
2. Ministry
3. Leadership
4. Particular Place
There is the call of leadership, then a show of effective leadership (Psalm 78:72).
To be successful in Christian leadership, you need to have:
2. Character ( Psalm 78:72 “pure heart”)
You can have skills. But your character is essential. There are three questions people ask about character:
1. Are you a good person? Can I trust you?
2. Do you love me? Do you care about me?
3. Are you wise and dependable? Do you have good judgment?
To be successful in Christian leadership, you need to have:
3. Competence ( Psalm 78:72 “skillful hand”)
Competence is the ability to lead. Conferences deal with skills. Only 10% of pastors have natural leadership (“A” type leadership style). You also have to have the track record.
David had experience and competence to deal with Goliath. He had killed a bear and a lion. So God gives us experiences to develop leadership.
4. Change (Psalm 78:71)
God directed David to use his experiences as a shepherd to sheep to help lead God’s people. God uses our experiences to help us as leaders to guide our churches through change.
Shepherds guide their sheep on a journey of change as they grow. In the same way, Christian leaders guide the people they look on a journey of change as they grow.
This devotional was shared by Dr. Gary Mathes (Pastoral Ministries Specialist of the Missouri Baptist Convention) during the Developing Leaders Team Meeting of the Executive Board at Tan-Tar-A Resort at Osage Beach, Missouri on 12 April 2016.
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