Leadership Can Be Lonely

I've come to grips that leadership can sometimes be lonely.

I try to always lead in teams. But sometimes, leadership can just be lonely. There are places that only you can go. Think about Jesus going into the garden to pray. Or Elijah hiding out in the cave. Or Moses going before Pharaoh. There are some seasons and situations where leadership is lonely.

That’s why you’ve got to make sure that your identity is rooted in something much deeper than your own abilities or other peoples’ opinions of you. Popular opinion is fleeting and it is flawed. Those who praise you too much and those who criticize you too much are both wrong. Don’t listen to either. Hunker down into the Scriptures and discover who God says you are and who he created you to be. Seek his approval, favor, and pleasure. And when the lonely seasons come, you'll be anchored well.

Building People, Not Crowds

One of the most important church leadership principles that I've come to understand is that I am not called to build crowds, but to reach them.  This happens when we build people...and building people is the most fulfilling part of a church leader's job.

What people need most from us as leaders is equipping and encouragement.  Early in my ministry, I was too focused on all I had to do and not focused enough on seeing clearly what God wanted to do for and through our church.  I've learned that He really expects two important things of us as leaders.  He desires for us to equip people through biblical teaching and empower them for ministry so they become excited about what can happen for the Lord.

God calls us not just to reach crowds, but also to build people.