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Leaders need to measure themselves against the right criteria. Evaluate against God's standards, not worldly or carnal definitions of success.
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Worldly and Carnal
Measures of Success
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God's Standards
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Scriptural Rationale
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Performance
- Demonstrated by: perfectionism, lots of activity, "big" projects/programs
- At its core: insecurity, fear of failure, need to feel good about self
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Strategic purposefulness
the greatest purpose being to love (Matt. 22:36-40)
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Matt. 9:13; 12:7; Mk. 12:33
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Politics
- Demonstrated by: manipulation and flattery for personal gain for self or your area of ministry
- At its core: greed, selfish ambition
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Speaking the truth in love
integrity (Eph. 4:14-15)
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Phil. 2:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:5
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Popularity
- Demonstrated by: people-pleasing, using your charisma or influence to woo people to your side
- At its core: ego, fear of rejection, need for approval
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Selflessness
rather than drawing people to yourself, you point them to the Lord who is the Chief Shepherd, the King of kings, the Lord of lords
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1 Thess. 2:6
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Possession
- Demonstrated by: terminology like this is "my church," "my ministry;" a sense of ownership
- At its core: entitlement
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Stewardship
realization that you are merely managing God's resources, coaching His people, being a facilitator
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Eph. 4:15; Matt. 25:14-30
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Power
- Demonstrated by: unilateral decisions, throwing around your authority
- At its core: need for control
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Shared leadership
empower others, delegate responsibility, model the way to do things (1 Tim. 4:12)
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Matt. 20:25-28
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Professionalism
- Demonstrated by: organizational and institutional titles and positions requiring highly educated or experienced people to fill them
- At its core: self-sufficiency, need for feeling of worth
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Secure in the Lord
successful through God's power and wisdom
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1 Cor. 1:20-31
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Prominence
- Demonstrated by: hierarchical structure, importance of position
- At its core: pride, need for recognition
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Servanthood
humility, submission, and sacrifice(Phil. 2:5-8)
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Matt. 18:1-4; 20:25-28
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Because of the type of leader they are, different leaders will tend to ask themselves different questions when critiquing their leadership success. If not careful, the questions they ask could take them into a more worldly or carnal measurement.
Visionary Leaders:
Tend to Ask: Did people come on board?
Caution: could take them into a need for prominence (position, influence) or politics to make it happen
Alternative Question: Did it advance the cause of Christ?
This question shows the recognition that it is His church, not the leader's. The leader is a steward. This question places importance on God's agenda and cause. The leader is a servant. This question cares about God's ways and means. The leader knows the importance of speaking the truth in love.
Administrative Leaders:
Tend to Ask: Did it work?
Caution: could cause them to take performance too far using only a pragmatic objective and failing to acknowledge the spiritual dimension
Alternative Question: Did it conform to the Lord and His ways, resultantly bringing glory to Him?
This question acknowledges that the end does not justify the means and that doing for the sake of doing is meaningless. The leader strategically purposes what and how tasks are accomplished.
Shepherding Leaders:
Tend to Ask: How do people feel about it?
Caution: could grow into a people-pleasing mentality and a need for popularity
Alternate Question: Did people change and mature, becoming more Christ-like?
This question stresses that God's desires for people are more important than how they feel about the leader. The leader becomes selfless, like John the Baptist who said "He must become greater; I must become less" (Jn. 3:30).
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