8 Concepts that define leadership –

From the Life and Ministry of Jesus

1.  Distortion - “You have heard it said – but I say to you”

Matthew 5

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

When perspective comes to you through distortion it is not accurate.  As a leader you must deal with distortion by maintaining reality.

Distortion is typically emotionally driven – reality will demand you engage with process and being grounded in your reply.

You have heard it said – but I say unto you….

2.  Drama – Mark 6:31-32

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 

Leaders get to deal with drama.

There will never be a shortage of drama or trauma.

Leaders deal with drama by not overreacting.

Listen – deal with it – but don’t overreact. Don’t over react – when you do – your reaction will become the drama everyone is now concerned about – everyone thought you over reacted.

3.  Disruption – Matthew 22:15-21

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

The unexpected will happen.

Leaders learn to expect the unexpected. How can you expect what you don’t expect? 

You accept the fact that the unexpected occurs – then you schedule to be able to adapt.  The more last minute you function to more likely the unexpected will have devastating results.

Planning and preparation can greatly reduce disruption. 

 

For the disruptions that are not controlled by planning scripture gives us a great equation – control what is in your control – pray about that which is out of your control.

As a leader if you fail to pray you increase the unexpected – prayer is when God helps you.

Plan - Prepare - Pray.