TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
I look forward to seeing you this Sunday morning for worship! Thanks for showing up early last Sunday! What a difference that makes in preparing our hearts for worship, for each other, and for newcomers who may visit! Connecting with each other before and after the service is an important part of Sunday morning worship. Many times God speaks to us through each other as well as through His Word and through music!
Our re-election of Dave to the Elder Board (and the process that preceded the election) has raised again for me the question of “Who wants to be a leader?” Or, more specifically, “Who wants to be a spiritual leader?” We’ll continue that theme in this Sunday morning’s sermon, drawing from Mark 10:32-45, and from J. Oswald Sanders’ book, Spiritual Leadership.
To lead others along the journey of a life with Jesus Christ is not only one of the greatest blessings we can experience, it’s vital if we’re going to grow mature Christians who will impact the world.
Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians: “Follow me as I follow Christ!” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
What a bold and exciting challenge that is! Who among us will step up this year and say to others, “Follow me as I follow Christ”?
In thinking about what will make Crossroads Church sustainable over the course of years to come, we must have some who will be willing to accept this remarkable role of being a spiritual leader of others. God chooses ordinary, obedient, faithful people to fulfill that role.
Last Sunday we considered some essential qualities a leader must possess; this Sunday we’ll look more closely at the costs of being a leader. The costs are undeniable, but the blessings are also indisputable … and can never be taken away!
See you Sunday morning, 10:00 at the Community Center and, as always, the sermon will be posted on Facebook by Saturday evening.
Getting Ready to Be a Leader
Last Sunday, I mentioned to you ten questions from Spiritual Leadership that are useful in gauging your own readiness for leadership. As it turns out, when I went back to that book this week, there were a lot more than ten! Below is a part of that list of questions.
These questions are meant to help us evaluate areas in our life that we could work on in order to become more effective leaders. Let them prompt some thinking about your own life and your own calling as a spiritual leader of others.
- Have you ever broken yourself of a bad habit? To lead others, one must be master of oneself.
- Do you retain control of yourself when things go wrong?
- Do you think independently? While using to the full the thought of others, the leader cannot afford to let others do his thinking for him.
- Can you handle criticism objectively and remain unmoved under it? Do you turn it to good account? The humble person can derive benefit from petty and even malicious criticism.
- Can you use disappointments creatively?
- Do you readily secure the cooperation, and win the respect and confidence, of others?
- Are you a peacemaker? It’s easier to keeppeace than to make peace where it has been shattered. An important function in leadership is conciliation — the ability to discover common ground between opposing viewpoints and to induce both parties to accept it.
- Can you accept opposition to your viewpoint or decision without considering it a personal affront? Leaders must expect opposition and should not be offended by it.
- Do you find it easy to make and keep friends? Your circle of loyal friends is an index of the quality and extent of your leadership.
- Are you unduly dependent on the praise or approval of others? Can you hold a steady course in the face of disapproval?
- Are you at ease in the presence of your superiors? Do your subordinates appear at ease in your presence?
- Are you really interested in people? In people of all types and all races? Or do you entertain respect of persons? Is there hidden racial prejudice? An antisocial person is unlikely to make a good leader.
- Do you possess tact? Can you anticipate the likely effect of a statement before you make it?
- Do you possess a strong and steady will? A leader will not long retain his position if he is vacillating.
- Do you nurse resentments, or do you readily forgive injuries done to you?
- Are you reasonably optimistic? Pessimism is no asset to a leader.
- Are you in the grip of a master passion such as that of Paul, who said, “This one thingI do”?
- Do you welcome responsibility?
- Do other people’s failures annoy you or challenge you?
- Do you use people or cultivate people?
- Do you criticize or encourage?
- Do you shun a problem-person or seek him out?
Going on at Crossroads
Women’s Bible Study
All women are invited to a new 5-session Bible Study starting Sunday, February 20, at 9 a.m. called “Breathe.” The study will show how observing the principle of Sabbath helps us move from day to day with peace, joy, and more opportunity to breathe! If you’re interested in being part of the group, please let Donna Rod or Heather Hall know by the end of January. Sundays starting February 20 at the Community Center right before the worship. Thank you!
Invitation to a Movie Night at Nevada Assembly of God
Nevada Assembly of God invites us to a showing of “The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis,” Sunday, January 30, at 5 pm at their church building, 2247 North Osage Blvd. The cost required by the film company is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. The church will make no money off the showing of the film. An evening of good, clean entertainment.
Elders Training
Pastors and elders from Evangelical Free Churches in Missouri are invited to Living Hope Church in Jefferson City on Saturday, February 19, 9 am – noon, for training and interaction on the subject of serving as church elders. Mike Shields, EFCA Central District Superintendent, will facilitate the training. This will be an excellent opportunity for current and future elders to receive instruction, be encouraged, and meet others serving the Lord in the same capacity. 3011 South Ten Mile Drive, Jefferson City.
My Own Spiritual Leadership Journey
I’m so thankful for the many people who have been spiritual leaders in my life since the time I became a Christian as a 13-year-old! On the list of people who have impacted my journey are…
- parents
- grandparents
- Sunday School teachers
- youth group leaders
- friends
- pastors
- older men who mentored me
- Bible study leaders
- church members
- members of my church Elder Boards
- worship leaders
My initiation into being a spiritual leader came when Diana and I were asked to be the 2- and 3-year-old Sunday School teachers at the church we were attending as newlyweds. It might not seem like much, but it was an open door and led to many more. Sometimes the best way to become a leader is to just start serving on some small scale.
“Follow me as I follow Christ!”
— Tom
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