Leadership Lessons: Intro

If there is one thing that there is not a lack of in the world it is books on leadership. So, intending to share my thoughts about this subject over the next several weeks, probably seems redundant and repetitive. However, there are many facets about leadership that intrigue me, notably, those who claim to be experts on the matter and the goals of potential leaders. Much of the material about leadership is self-serving and encourages people to use others for their own personal goals. Certainly, not qualities becoming of a Christian leader.

Pastors are among the highest readers of books on leadership. Many of us devour these resources, looking for the next great principle or innovation that will help transform us into dynamic, charismatic leaders, enabling us to lead our churches from being good to great. These books read are not limited to pastoral authorship: business people, sports figures, military personnel and politicians represent the diversity of leadership perspectives that pastors have received their counsel and mentorship from. On my bookshelf alone, I have three leadership books written by modern authors who have extracted and summarized leadership principles from the lives of the late Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman.

There is nothing wrong with learning from other leaders. Any time you are in a position of leadership it is good to be motivated, get new ideas and seek to improve your skills. However, leadership is not limited to pastors, managers, coaches, politicians, and CEO's. You do not have to be employed or even have a public ministry to be a leader. Leadership is about influence - about getting things done. Any time you can influence another human being qualifies you as a leader.

So, over the next several weeks, I want to focus on some key leadership principles from Scripture. The blogs will highlight the leadership styles and experiences of key biblical people from both the Old and New Testaments. The first discussion will be on Moses and his leadership of the people of Israel from their time of slavery in Egypt to the threshold of them entering the "Promised Land."

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." All of us are in positions to lead and be led. As we seek to sharpen our influence on others, lets allow ourselves to be sharpened as well.