Links to 2003-2004 sessions:
Now, think about your own experience with God’s call. Have you been called? to what? Is there any confirmation of that call?
When God calls us, the temptation is to treat it as a wrong number because:
We don’t recognize His voice
He asks for someone we aren’t ready to be
or, The task seems like something we can’t do
Availability, Commitment, Courage
The question is not, “Is there a purpose for my life.”
Nor is it, “What do I want and what will God let me have.”
BUT IT IS: What do I have to offer?
Think though what He has been showing you and then write down how you have been fitting into “His-story”.
Now, begin to formulate a “LIFE-PURPOSE STATEMENT”
How has God worked in my past?
Through history
Through His word
Through my gifts and interests
Through my broken places
Through the needs and suffering of others
Through those who know me best
What should I do with what He has shown me?
You need to share your purpose with someone else and have them share with you.
Listen to their statement.
Listen to the meaning behind the words.
What items/words concepts would they (you) be willing to die for?
List those in order of priority.
Help them express their call and dream more clearly in one statement
Another great option for helping us through this process can be found at www.franklincovey.com/missionbuilder/ This is not a Christian web site, but it has quality information about leadership. Try it if nothing else has made sense yet or if you want to have confirmation of what you have already come up with.
“Yet such is oft the course of deeds that moves the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere.”
Master Elrond (LOTR, book 2, ch. 2)Choosing Pride: Take a look at Sauron. He is all pride! The only time you see him in person is in the opening scenes of the movie where the ring is taken from him. After that, he only appears as a spirit or an "eye". He sends others to do all the work for him because he is "too important". His actions throughout the story are based on his pride. Even the cause of his final destruction never enters his mind because he can't imagine anyone wanting to destroy his great ring of power and "give up" all that would come to them as "lord of Middle Earth". So, he is destroyed and his destruction is complete because of his pride!
“And I suppose I must go alone, if I am to do that and save the shire. But I feel very small, and very uprooted, and well – desperate. The Enemy is so strong and terrible.”
Frodo (LOTR, book 1, ch. 2)Choosing Humility: Now look at Frodo. He is nobody from nowhere and he knows it. That is humility and his actions are consistent with his humility - which is the very reason he is able to succeed! My favorite scene is when all the "big important people" are arguing about what they will do with the ring and who is responsible and then Frodo, whose voice can hardly be heard, says "I'll take it, I'll take the ring to Mordor - though I do not know the way." He is willing to step forward and take an incredible risk and responsibility precisely because he is not "important" enough to pass the task to someone else or worry about his own safety. He sees what needs to be done, has no idea if he can be successful, but is ready to try. That is humility.
Application: what does the Bible say about humility? Take a look at Matthew 23, Proverbs 16:18, and I Peter 5:6.
Now ask yourself:
What are the Sources/results of pride?
What is the difference between Humility and Humiliation?
Why is pride dangerous?
How does pride blind us?
How has pride been at work in my life?
How is God calling me to humbly serve?
What will I do about it?
This is an essential piece of the leadership puzzle, but not available on-line right now.
ACTIVITY: Make a list of people you recognize as leaders.The Birth of a Vision
- What makes them leaders?
- What qualities do they have?
- Or what circumstances that have defined and developed them as leaders?
WHOSE VISION IS IT? Look at the example of Jesus' vision and what He did about it in Matt. 9:36-10:1.
- Begins with INTIMACY with God. We know nothing about what God wants to do in our lives or in others' lives until we know HIM intimately. Are you taking time to pray and reflect? Are you experiencing intimacy with God?
- There is usually a moment of inspiration or the CONCEPTION of a vision. It is interesting that a God-given vision looks a lot like the process of human birth! Conception of "God's vision for me" is a UNION of the passion that God is giving me and the circumstances in which He is placing me. Has God revealed anything like this to you, yet? What is He saying to you?
- GESTATION is a period of waiting before the vision can be fulfilled. God uses this in our lives to help us learn to depend on Him and not on ourselves. We have to wait for His timing and continue to prepare for the fulfillment of that vision!
What stage of this process are you in? Do you identify with a problem anywhere? How are you praying for that need? What do you imagine God will do about it?- LABOR is painful! But that is a natural step in the process. Expect that just before a God-given vision comes to fruition, it will hurt the most! This may be the enemy hoping you will give up or settle for less. Don't give in - keep trusting! Have you ever experienced this? Do you anticipate this stage soon in your leadership?
- The BIRTH of the vision is new life and must be celebrated. Have you seen a vision fulfilled? What visions have you celebrated in the past?
Is there a vision in my life like that?
Prayer & Reflection.
"When we improve our ability to communicate, we increase our ability to lead."
Charisma Charismatic leaders capture the hearts of their listeners through their words. Though many speakers can communicate, not all can be effective without going through a "communication transformation" shown in the table below. Here are the major differences.
Three important truths:
Public Speaker Communicator Focus on message Focus on people Asks: What do I have? Asks: What do they need? Focus on technique Focus on atmosphere Content oriented Change oriented Goal: complete the message Goal: complete the people Potential Problems: Why might communicating be difficult?
- There are no small audiences, only small speakers.
- There are no boring subjects, only boring speakers.
- If you are interested in your audience and subject, the audience will be interested in you!
- Initial rapport is not established
- Stiff body movement
- Material is too intellectual, not emotional
- Poor eye contact and facial expression
- Lack of (moderate) humor
- Lack of competence/expertise in subject
- Low energy and enthusiasm
- Speaker doesn't believe in the message
- Lack of audience participation
A REMINDER: Believe in your God. Believe in yourself. Believe in your subject. Believe in your audience.
Look again at Matthew 13
- Simplify the message - v. 3 and 10-13
- See the person - v. 1-2 and 9
- Seize the moment - v. 2 and 14-17
- Show the truth - v. 54
- Challenge them to respond - v. 51
Next meeting: Challenge yourself to communicate something of personal value to our group at the next meeting! Then take time to evaluate each person afterward to encourage and to further improve communication skills.
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