Essential Qualities for Today's Leaders: A Comprehensive Guide

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Today's leaders must embody qualities such as followership, exemplary behavior, continuous growth, and a dedication to studying the Bible. Successful leadership hinges on effective followership, leading by example, being an influencer through actions, and prioritizing personal and spiritual growth.

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Lesson 4: Indispensable Qualities for Today s Leaders (Part 1)

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 1. Today s Leaders Are Followers. a. We are taught to be followers: i. By example (Matt. 4:19-20; John 21:21-22; 1 Cor. 11:1), ii. And by exhortation (1 Pet. 2:21-22). b. Successful leadership depends on successful followship. i. Good teachers are the best students. ii. The best leaders are the best followers. iii. Who is your pattern, copy, role model, leader and example?

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 2. Today s Leaders Lead. a. When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord! (Judg. 5:2) b. Leaders know where they are going and are able to persuade others to go with them. c. Leaders are always out front, ever moving forward (Num. 27:17). i. They are not behind pressuring or brow beating. ii. When elders are lethargic and will not move out and on, the congregation becomes restless; and at times, such can lead to an explosive situation, a division. d. Leaders do not ask others to do what they will not do.

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 3. Today s Leaders Are Exemplary. a. Leaders cannot lead where they do not go any more than they can come back from where they have not been. b. Leaders influence some by what they say, more by what they do; but, most by what they are. i. Elders are to so live that their faith can be followed ii. Bible leaders so lived: Jesus, Paul, Timothy c. Elders are to be exemplary in their attitudes. i. They must have noble attitudes toward the truth. ii. They must have noble attitudes toward the church. iii. They must have noble attitudes toward the Lord. iv. They must have noble attitudes toward their brethren. d. Elders are to be exemplary in their personal lives. e. Elders are to be exemplary in their expectations.

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 4. Today s Leaders Are Always Growing. a. It is grow or die. i. Place a post in the ground and it will rot. ii. Place a tree in the ground and it will grow. b. Growth is a Biblical requirement. i. Leaders must work at the job of further developing all the qualifications that led to their appointment. ii. Leaders must take periodic, personal inventory. iii. Such will determine retrogression, stagnation or progression.

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 5. Today s Leaders Are Serious Bible Students. a. An elder s job description demands such. b. An elder s qualifications demand such. c. Some sobering questions that must be considered d. Indeed, leaders must be students, serious students, and serious Bible students. How do leaders increase their knowledge? e. Much is at stake.

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 6. Today s Leaders Are Visionary and Goal-Oriented. a. The essential mark of a little man is a complete absence of aim (James Taylor). i. A real leader sees: What ought to be done; What can be done; How to get it done. ii. Success is not an afterthought; but the result of forethought. b. The Bible teaches visionary goal-orientation. The Lord had a goal and so did Paul. c. What are the purposes of visionary goal setting? i. Goals are necessary to accomplishments. ii. Goals are necessary to keep us from living in the past. iii. Goals are necessary to give us a sense of direction. iv. Goals are necessary to have a standard to measure progress.

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 6. Today s Leaders Are Visionary and Goal-Oriented. d. What are the characteristics of good, visionary goals? i. They must be challenging and stretching. ii. They must be short-range and long-range. iii. They must be realistic. iv. They should be established with the input of the deacons and the congregation. v. They must be subject to methods and timetables by which they will be accomplished.

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 7. Today s Leaders Are Optimistic. a. There is no such thing as a negative leader; they are mutually exclusive. b. Some Biblical examples of optimism: i. Jesus ii. Paul iii. Joshua and Caleb c. Indeed, leaders today must be optimistic. i. This is not wild abandonment; but, confidence, a strong faith and a reliance on God (Gen. 18:14), the local church and oneself (Phil. 4:13). ii. God has not given us, the spirit of timidity (2 Tim. 1:7, NASB).

Indispensable Qualities for Todays Leaders 8. Today s Leaders Are Enthusiastic. a. Vince Lombardi said to his players, You will be fired with enthusiasm; or, you will be fired, with enthusiasm! i. Leaders must have some fire in their bones. ii. Lukewarmness and indifference will destroy. iii. Zeal is a Biblical must. b. Elders need to be enthusiastic about their office/work. c. Elders need to be enthusiastic about the local church. d. Elders need to be enthusiastic about the future. i. And, such enthusiasm is catching (2 Cor. 9:2).