Leadership & Market Place Ministry

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

26 Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Erwin Lutzer: Live Blog From Shepherds 360 Church Leaders Conference

In an effort to add maximum value to pastors and church leaders, INJOY Stewardship Solutions has dispatched me to attend the Shepherds 360 National Church Leaders Conference at Colonial Baptist Church. During the next three days, I will be bringing some of the top leadership lessons from the conference designed to challenge and equip pastors and church leaders.
Tonight’s session was conducted by Erwin Lutzer, senior pastor of Moody Church in Chicago and legendary radio presence. The following are 26 leadership quotes and lessons from his challenging session on standing alone in a hostile culture:

In Chicago it was so cold the politicians put their hands in their own pockets.
In most of church history, the state has viewed themselves in the role of God.
The state is once again playing the role of God.
Apart from the direct intervention of God from coast to coast we cannot reverse what has happened in our country.
God says, “If I don’t have your hearts, I don’t care about your buildings. Our hearts should break for Washington D.C. If I don’t have America’s hearts, I don’t care about your buildings.”
When you come to scripture, you come to an accurate history.
When a state becomes God, one of the things it changes instantly is its laws.
I expect people to take notes tonight.
God has a hidden agenda doesn’t He?…He has His hidden purposes.
Why is it so hard to believe God? It is the unpredictability of God. We don’t know what He is going to do.
We do not trust God because of explanations. We trust Him because of promises.
No matter what we walk through in the coming days Jesus is there with us in the fire.
I am proud to be an American.
Persecution should be accepted and expected.
The Bible and Christianity is an enemy to the secularism of the day.
Can I say it out loud, “We’ve gone crazy.”
We must learn to stand alone.
When I think of persecution I immediately think of our children and grandchildren.
We have people who are Christians who are so ashamed of the Gospel.
700 pastors when to Jewish concentration camps. The church could have done more but the church was the only thing standing in front of Hitler.
We must fear God more than the furnace.
The fire that purifies us is also the fire that sets us free.
There is a fire that will not be quenched. A fire no one will escape from. The fire of hell.
It is not necessary to have freedom of religion to be faithful to God.
Throughout history Christians have been faithful to pay any penalty to be faithful to God.
The future (eternity) changes what is happening today.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

31 Reasons Why This Is The Best Church Leadership Video I Have Ever Seen

Led by Senior Pastor Perry Noble, NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC was recently recognized as America’s fastest growing church and the 2nd largest overall. When you watch the video above, which was shown in their services this past weekend, it is easy to understand why.
As I watched this incredible testimony of the power of generosity and sacrifice, I gleaned the following 31 Reasons Why This Is The Best Church Leadership Video I Have Ever Seen. Watch the video and see if you don’t agree.

The Vision For Financial Leaders Is Clear – The video opens with the words, “At NewSpring, we believe the best investment is the local church.” There is no lack or clarity or mixed messages with this statement.
Financial Leaders Respond To Things Which Are Time Sensitive – Great leaders call people to specific action at specific times. As the video explains, Paul and Beth Marshall and Brian and Keri Morgan began investing in the church’s mission and vision in 2004.
Effective Pastors Prioritize Building Relationships With Financial Leaders – He says, “We’re going to have a conversation.” Financial leaders respond wholeheartedly only after relational trust is built.
Care Enough For Financial Leaders To Create Memorable Events For Them – The Marshalls and Morgans thought they were only going to dinner and a video shoot. Little did they know what God had in store for them.
Smart Churches Create Environments Where Stories Are Told – Perry wanted to hear the stories of how each couple arrived at NewSpring.
The Number One Way People Still Come To Church Is When Invited By A Friend – Both couples were invited by friends to attend NewSpring.
You Never Have To Recover From A Good Start – Effective churches act like they know visitors are coming and prepare accordingly. Both couples were surprised at how wonderful their initial visits to NewSpring were.
People, Even Financial Leaders, Want To Feel Loved And Valued – Beth said, “I think they really love us.” In a world where it seems all love is conditional, the churches who grow are the ones who practice unconditional love. When Beth experienced this, her response was, “I want to go back here.”
Financial Leaders Desire Practical Teaching – Leaders reject environments which answers questions no one is asking. However, they are attracted to churches who address the issues of their life. When asked what made her realize she would remain at NewSpring, Keri said, “The messages were super-relevant to our life.”
Financial Leaders Are Attracted To Big Vision. So Give Them One. – Beth said, “When you set goals they are always so monstrous.”
Financial Leaders Want To Know Results – Leaders do not have time to waste. They want to know the results of what they invested in. Beth added, “When we met and exceeded that goal, we all say, ‘Why didn’t we pray bigger?'”
Financial Leaders Want Decisiveness – Paul said, “God is leading us and this is where we’re going to go. And come get on board because we’re going to do church like no one’s ever done it before.”
Communication Strategies And The Arts Implant The Message In Our Hearts And Minds Of Financial Leaders – Messaging is a big, big deal. 10 years after the campaign, Keri still remembers the campaign theme song Dare You To Move.
Financial Leaders Want To See God Do Great Things – Keri said, “In the Bible you obey me (Jesus) and I’ll show you great things.”
Effective Pastors Take The Time To Discover The Dreams Of Their Financial Leaders – Perry asked Brian how many people he thought they could reach. Brian said, “Maybe 5,000. That would be cool if we could fill this thing up twice.”
Effective Pastors Know Who Their Financial Leaders Are – Do not be confused, pastors who do not know who their financial leaders are simply are not nearly as effective as pastors who effectively disciples those God has afflicted with affluence. Perry said, “You contributed to the very first capital campaign we ever did. And I know, both (of you) couples, gave a significant offering and really invested in the church.”
Financial Leaders Are Not Offended When Properly Led - Did you notice neither couple was offended nor taken aback when Perry mentioned how both had sacrificed. I would imagine this is because Perry had taken the time to build a relationship with each and they knew how much he genuinely cared about their souls.
Effective Pastors Touch The Heart Of Financial Leaders Before Asking For A Hand – Find out the motivations of your financial leaders. Perry asked both couples, “What was it about Dare You To Move that said, ‘We’re going to get involved financially in this and make a commitment.”
Financial Leaders Focus On Return On Investment – Beth said, “I think of other investments people discuss and things just seem to fade away but the one thing we invest in in the Kingdom there’s no way to lose that investment.”
Financial Leaders Leverage Resources To What Touches Their Heart Personally – Where a man’s treasure is there his heart will be also. Brian’s heart was attached to his family.
Financial Leaders Invest In A Preferred Future, A Brighter Tomorrow – Financial leaders are more interested in protecting the church’s future than its past. Brian said, “Investing in our family and our future family we really see the benefit of that now having kids in KidsSpring.”
Financial Leaders Want To Leave A Godly Legacy – Brian continued, “I wish I could have grown up like our two girls are growing up.”
Financial Leaders Give Maximum Dollars To The Best Opportunities For Life Change – Financial leaders have multiple options so they will not waste resources or opportunity. Paul pointed out, “I bet the amount he (Brian) gave and I don’t know what it was, but he would give that today to see his girls come to Jesus and I’ve got that for my kids and grandkids.”
Financial Leaders Never Know Their True Impact Until Fully Unleashed – Perry reminded the couples, “When we gave we thought we were giving to the Anderson campus. But we weren’t giving to the Anderson campus because God’s plans are always bigger…None of us had any idea.”
Effective Pastors Personally Tell Financial Leaders “Thank You” – Perry actually sat down with these four financial leaders. He did not take the easy way out by just sending a letter or doing a platform announcement.
Be Specific When Dealing With Financial Leaders – Do not be vague. Perry created an environment where real people could tell the individual stories of what God did with the financial resources they sacrificed.
God Wants To Tell The Incredible Story Of The Love Of His Son Through Every Human Life
Money Matters So Pastors Raise As Much As You Can. Just Do It The Right Way. – After hearing story after story, it is clear the generosity of these two couples and thousands of others helped pave the way for God to do incredible redemptive acts in the lives of people that only He can do.
Financial Leaders Desperately Want To Be Attached To A Vision Greater Than Themselves – Perry said, “In 2004 we had no idea and what’s more amazing we still have no idea.”
Numbers Matter To Financial Leaders. And Not Just Financial Numbers – Perry concluded by saying, “Every number has a name. Every name has a story. Every story matters to God.”
Glorify God But Always Honor Leaders

If your church needs to raise significant financial resources and you want to see this happen in your church, please contact me at briand@injoystewardship.com. I would be honored to hear your church’s story and help you in any way I can.

The Most Important Thing Leaders Can Do To Improve Their Church, Team Or Organization

Many people reading this post want to improve the quality and effectiveness of their church, team or organization. But where do you begin? The USA Today’s September 24th review of the new ABC show How To Get Away with Murder gives us some insight into the first step leaders should take.
Writer Robert Blanco observed, “The first step is to hire a terrific actor to star — though good luck finding one as good as Viola Davis. Bringing every ounce of her considerable talent to bear in tonight’s opener, Davis convincingly makes criminal lawyer/law professor Annalise Keating tough, smart, vibrant, sexy, anguished, ambitious, conniving, mature, immature and somehow, underneath it all, admirable.”
What is The Most Important Leaders Can Do To Improve Their Church, Team Or Organization? Start with acquiring top talent. Hire the right people. The answer to every problem is a person.
This truth was confirmed in a Sports Illustrated September 22nd profile of the new and improved Denver Broncos defense. The following are 5 Lessons About Improving Your Team gleaned from the article:

Possess A Sense Of Urgency – Newly acquired linebacker DeMarcus Ware said, “Their mentality is, I’m not looking forward to the next season or the season after that – the time is now.”
Develop A Pipeline Of Talent To Choose From – The asking prices of free agent choices were Jared Allen and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was too high, so team general manager John Elway moved quickly and signed Ware and All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib.
Select People Who Are A Proper Culture Fit – The Broncos like to add talent who respect the history and tradition of the team. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio says, “I like to have the guys respect who did this before us and understand that there’s a legacy here. That helps them understand that maybe, 20 years from now, that team will look at us and say, ‘Man, these guys were really good,’ and start naming our names.”
Always Be Developing Young Talent Within The Organization – Developing talent from within is just as important as acquiring outside assistance. Del Rio continues, “It’s helpful to have some of the (new) leadership, but also to have some of the younger guys back in our system with experience.”
There Are No Quick Fixes – While Elway makes high-profile acquisitions each free agent period, the team is largely built over time through quality draft choices and player development.
Struggle Is A Sign Changes Need To Be Made And New Talent Acquired – The article said it best, “When a defense struggles, as Denver’s did last season, change trumps continuity.”

There is a person right now who you know will take your organization to the next level. Are you prepared to do what is necessary to acquire this person?

25 Things Which Deeply Matter To Leaders

There are things which DEEPLY matter only to leaders. Things which determine the difference between success and failure. Things which determine that which is enduring. Things which change lives. Non-leaders often do not recognize the importance of many of these nuances.
I was reminded of this truth today as I watched my favorite weekly television show ESPN College Gameday. As the show’s hosts previewed today’s games, the following are 25 Things Which Deeply Matter To Leaders which I captured from their comments:

Being Put Into Position To Succeed Deeply Matters To Leaders

Marcus Mariota is 6-3 in his career when he gets sacked at least three times and 21-1 when he’s sacked two or fewer times.
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 11, 2014

Legacy Deeply Matters To Leaders – “The Heisman is special.” – David Pollack
Winning Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Nobody talked about it (lack of leadership) for the first four games when we played really well.” – Alabama head coach Nick Saban
Energy Deeply Matters To Leaders – “We didn’t have a lot of energy last week. We didn’t play with the same kind of intensity we like to play with.” – Saban
Performing Well In Critical Moments Deeply Matters To Leaders – “What they (Alabama) didn’t do well was in critical situations play situational football really well.” – Tim Tebow
Self-Awareness Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Unless you’re in the locker room you don’t know have a clue. A.J. McCarron coming out with this comment, I think it’s way off base and you need to keep your mouth shut when it comes to leadership.” – Pollack
Keeping Everyone Calm Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Leadership comes into question when you’re playing on the road because you have to weather the storm.” – Desmond Howard
Experience Deeply Matters To Leaders – “The veterans we have here have been down this road before.” – Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly
Confidence Deeply Matters To Leaders – “I’m sure he (Jeff Driskell) doesn’t have a lot of confidence right now…He’s 2 for 25 on passes beyond 15 yards.” – Tebow
Talent Deeply Matters To Leaders – “They haven’t had receivers since Tim Tebow was the quarterback there.” – Kirk Herbstreit
Production Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Two reasons Mississippi State is undefeated – 5 straight games of 500 yards of total offense and on defense they stop the run.” – Lee Corso. Chris Fowler added later, “(Penn State quarterback Christian) Hackenberg hasn’t thrown a TD pass in his last three games.”
Developing Talent Deeply Matters To Leaders – “The Junior College system is great in this state (MS).” – Corso
Preparation Deeply Matters To Leaders – “I like our preparation. We’re not too giddy over a great win. We seem to know that’s not going to help us win. The leadership understands that.” – Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze
Being Focused Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Let’s stay focused.” – Ole Miss defensive end Robert Nkemdiche
Complacency (Or Lack Thereof) Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Sunday after we watched the film. Throw it in the trash and be ready for the next one.” – Ole Miss C.J. Johnson
The Importance Of Leadership Deeply Matters To Leaders – “He outcoached Nick Saban last weekend.” – Herbstreit on Coach Freeze
Having A Quality Team Around You Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Penn State can’t run the ball. That’s why Christian Hackenberg is struggling the way he is.” – Herbstreit
Solving Problems Deeply Matters To Leaders – “As a leader, as a quarterback his job is to mitigate problems.” – George Whitfield on Hackenberg
Finishing Well Deeply Matters To Leaders – “(Mississippi State quarterback) Dak Prescott is a finisher.” – Whitfield
Fundamentals Deeply Matter To Leaders – “Technique will win the battle at the end of the day.” – Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman
Evaluating Reality Deeply Matters To Leaders

Baylor’s offense scores 30 points less vs Top 40 defenses. pic.twitter.com/hq5mqa5gQh
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 11, 2014

Intelligence Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Our football intelligence was lacking.” – Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich on last week’s loss.
Relevance Deeply Matters To Leaders – “We wanted to become more relevant and we’ve done that. But if you lose you become irrelevant again.” – Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez
Support Deeply Matters To Leaders – “You don’t win and then the fans show up. The fans show up first…They create a great gameday atmosphere and the wins come.”- Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen
Consistent Work Ethic Deeply Matters To Leaders – “Everyday he (Prescott) shows up with an unbelievable work ethic and wants to get better.” – Mullen

What deeply matters to you as a leader?

15 Practices Of Great Volunteer Leaders

I have had the privilege of working with a number of great volunteer leaders in local churches. After giving some thought to my experiences with these high-capacity individuals, I have noticed 14 common threads they all seem to possess.
The following are 15 Practices Of Great Volunteer Leaders:

Great Volunteer Leaders Love Jesus Christ – They make having a personal, growing relationship with Jesus their top priority. These leaders realize everything flows from God’s power in their life.
Great Volunteer Leaders Love The Bible – They make the Word of God the foundation and launching pad of everything they do.
Great Volunteer Leaders Have Vision – One of the marks of leadership is vision. It is a gift solely reserved for leaders. Great volunteer leaders have a picture of a preferred future which produces passion and work relentlessly to see it realized.
Great Volunteer Leaders Love Their Church – They want to see their church succeed. Ministry is hard enough without have people working against you.
Great Volunteer Leaders Love Their Pastor – They are a constant encouragement to their pastor and faithfully support all his efforts.
Great Volunteer Leaders Love Their Church Staff – Anyone can find fault with a church staff. Great volunteer leaders build upon the efforts of those God has called into full or part-time ministry and help them succeed.
Great Volunteer Leaders Think Long-Term – They see not just today but five to 10 years ahead.
Great Volunteer Leaders See The Best In People – They see what people in their church could be through the power of Jesus Christ, not just what they currently are.
Great Volunteer Leaders Are Positive Thinkers – Because they lead with a smile, every room they enter brightens up.
Great Volunteer Leaders Remain Calm – When conflict or chaos arises, great volunteer leaders provide security and comfort to those affected. Their presence and soothing personality says, “Everything is going to be O.K.”
Great Volunteer Leaders Attract Other Volunteer Leaders – Leaders want to serve with other leaders.
Great Volunteer Leaders Build Teams – They are constantly looking for how to get others involved and experience all God would have for them. They want to help people win with their lives.
Great Volunteer Leaders Address Issues – They are not afraid to tackle issues or have hard conversations.
Great Volunteer Leaders Sacrifice Their Time – Few things are as precious as time because once taken, it cannot be given back. These individuals often give an inordinate amount of time to their local church.
Great Volunteer Leaders Accomplish Much – There is a difference between sensing opportunity and seizing it. These individuals do not waste opportunity. They simply produce.

What are some other practices you see in great volunteer leaders?

9 Common Mistakes When Leading Top Leaders, Outliers Or Superstars

Jim Collins shocked the leadership world in his book Built To Last by introducing the concept that charismatic leaders are vastly over-rated and often something to recover from. In short, sustainable churches and organizations cannot be personality driven. I have thought a lot about this leadership principle lately.
The most compelling segment on sports radio for smart leaders is the weekly 11:00 AM EST Thursday segment with NFL Films Greg Cosell on ESPN’s The Herd With Colin Cowherd. I catch the replay of the conversation every Thursday evening via the ESPN Radio App.
This past Thursday, October 16th Cosell made the following observation, “Seattle (Seahawks) is getting too reliant on outliers as staples.” He specifically notes, “Are they relying too much on offense on deception and Russell Wilson random improvisation?”
There are 9 Common Mistakes When Leading Top Leaders, Outliers Or Superstars I gleaned from Cosell’s statements:

Developing quality SYSTEMS is more important than acquiring superstars.
You cannot build long-term success on things which are consistently random or improvised.
Ordinary people do not do extraordinary things. What make superstars/outliers great though is their ability to successfully improvise and color outside the lines.
However, you can become too reliant on superstars. You need to build a solid team for long-term success.
Superstars give a false sense of security. While you enjoy temporary success, if you lose the superstar you accelerate the journey towards mediocrity or worse.
If misused, over-reliance on superstars prevent you from doing what you do best. Cosell shockingly discovered, “The first base run they had in this game (Dallas Cowboys) with Wilson under center and handed the ball to Marshawn Lynch came at 4:46 in the 3rd quarter.”
Superstars can cause you to become lazy as a leader. You may no longer put in the needed effort, creativity and preparation for success.
You may lack consistency relying on outliers or superstars. Cosell said, “It’s hard to be consistent relying on random plays.”
You can take the superstar for granted. This is a mistake even the most experienced leaders make because excellence become average when it is all you have. A woman who was abandoned by her husband once told me, “You never miss the water until the well runs dry.”

What other mistakes have you made leading talented people?

15 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations

Every leader I know wants to build a great church or organization. But are there certain practices you can do to be positioned for success? One of this year’s best stories in college football is head coach Dan Mullen and the top-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs.
In the October 13th edition of Sports Illustrated, writer Pete Thamel profiled Mullen’s strategy for building the program. As I read Thamel’s article, I discovered there were a number of applications for any leader in a church or business environment.
The following are 15 Practices Of Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations:

Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Do Not Listen To Negative Voices – When Mullen was considering taking the head coaching position at Mississippi State, he was told, “You can’t win there.” The Bulldogs did in fact have a 23-57 SEC record the previous 10 years.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Make Changes – Upon arriving, Mullen called in everyone (faculty, secretaries, coaches, staff, etc…) who had anything to do with the program. He declared, “You are part of the problem. We have to change everything.”
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Take Advantage Of What They Do Have, Not What They Do Not Have – Located in rural area, Mullen began attracting athletes who enjoyed hunting, fishing and the school’s culture.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Leverage Undervalued Resources – In Mullen’s first recruiting class, he signed Gabe Jackson, who resided 23 miles from the closest McDonald’s, along with Johnthan Banks, whose graduating class was 30 people.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Develop Personnel – While the Alabama Crimson Tide consistently recruits four and five-star players, the average rating of a Mississippi State recruit is 2.9.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Evaluate Differently – Rather than relying on recruiting services, the Mississippi State coaching staff evaluates potential recruits through diligent film study.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Embrace Desperation – Mullen said, “These kids are desperate to be great and came here wanting to develop.” For more on the power of desperation click 10 Reasons Why Desperatin Can Be Your Best Friend.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Take Care Of Themselves Physically – Defensive Coordinator Geoff Collins said, “Once fatigue steps in and your brain stops working, we have no chance.”
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Are Creative – As Urban Meyer’s offensive coordinator at Utah, Mullen began creating the spread offense. Team quarterback, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, Alex Smith said, “They were literally inventing the spread offense while we were there and Dan was the driving force.”
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Remove Barriers From Making Their Teams Successful – Mullen works very hard to isolate his athletes in space.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Focus On Fundamentals – Though it appears very creative, Mullen’s offense is actually based on a power running system. For more on the importance of quality systems over smoke-and-mirrors, click HERE.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Build A Team Of Leaders – Upon arriving at the school, Mullen added strength coach Matt Balis from Virginia Tech, director of operations Jon Clark from Florida, and recruiting guru Tony Hughes of Southern Miss.
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Are Distinctive – Athletic director Scott Stricklin said, “We don’t want to be different (from other SEC schools). But we realized if we’re like everyone else, that’s not good. We have to be different.”
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Have Leaders Who Want To Lead – Tim Tebow said, “To really have a special team you need someone (quarterback Dak Prescott) that has a will to lead, will to win and will to run over people.”
Leaders Who Build Great Churches Or Organizations Eliminate Distractions – On selecting to attend Mississippi State over LSU, Prescott said, “Bourbon Street is 50 minutes down the road, so I don’t know what that could’ve done. Starkville is hours away from anything that’s crazy or tempting or anything to do. I knew I could stay focused.”

Of this list of 15 practices, what is one thing you can do today to have a more successful church or organization?