Archive for the 'Pastors' Category
How Big and Influential is Your Leadership?
How big and influential is your leadership? What kind of leader are you? Are you aware enough to know the honest answers to these questions? One of the greatest mistakes leaders make is thinking we are far more influential than we really are. If all a leader listens to and communicates with are the people who think like them and personally connect to them, they are greatly limiting their leadership potential.
People with Much Diversity
In my present responsibilities as President of the Southern Baptist Convention, I have the incredible challenge of providing leadership to a mass of people filled with a diversity of opinions and preferences. Speaking of diversity, twenty percent of our 51,000 plus churches and congregations are non-white.
This task to provide leadership to men, women, pastors and laypersons requires me to value each person and their uniqueness in the body of Christ. Big and influential leadership requires that I listen to and involve all walks of life as much as possible. It comes down to one thing… my goal of leadership.
The Goal of Leadership
Our goal should be to make the biggest difference in as many lives as we possibly can. Therefore, we need to adjust our leadership as much as we can without ever compromising biblical truth and principles. This is possible, and in reality, we must do it if we are going to make the most difference with our own lives.
Someone once told me, “The sharper the ax, the bigger the blow!” Therefore, sharpening our leadership can increase the influence we have in the lives of people.
Don’t Limit Your Influence
What is a cross-generational leader? Leading cross-generationally occurs when you are able to lead people in your own generation, the generation that came before you, and the generation that comes behind you. This is cross-generational leadership. We all need to lead cross-generationally!
Many leaders are so focused on their own generation, they leave the others out. Others are so focused only on the generation behind them, they ignore those beside them and ahead of them. This limits a leader’s influence.
Three Reasons Why You Need to Lead Cross-Generationally
1. Cross-generational leadership is biblical.
Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus led cross-generationally. They were leaders who reached around, ahead, and behind.
2. Cross-generational leadership is missional.
It is so important that we keep the completion of the Great Commission as our goal in everything we do. Presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and making disciples of all the nations is our priority.
Since this is our missional calling, it must serve as our motivation to impact as many people as possible. The only way to do this is by leading cross-generationally. Again, we must be able to reach people within our generation, behind our generation, and ahead of our generation.
3. Cross-generational leadership is spiritual.
When the Holy Spirit fills, empowers, and anoints us as leaders, He equips us to reach all generations.
The love of Christ ignites me to reach all generations. Jesus loves people within my generation. Jesus loves people behind my generation. Jesus loves people ahead of my generation. Therefore, when the Holy Spirit is leading my life and the love of Christ is motivating my life, I will lead cross-generationally.
Pastor and church leader, let your leadership become as big and as influential with as many people as possible.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Pastor, Make Easter Weekend Special for Your Church and Community
Once a year, we have an unprecedented opportunity to welcome some in our communities who would not normally attend church. I want to give you some things to consider as we move toward the final planning stages for Easter weekend.
1. Plan for Easter to be a Great Success
If you do not plan for success, it will not happen. What is success? You will have to pray about and define what you believe success looks like in your church. For us at Cross Church, success for Easter weekend looks like:
- God is present with us in great power
- Increased numbers of people present that exceed a regular Sunday
- People hear the gospel and place faith in Christ alone for salvation
- Extra services so more people have the opportunity to hear the Gospel
- Members and guests have a fabulous experience at Cross Church
The last several years we have had a major Passion Week emphasis each day leading up to Easter Weekend. Since our spring break occurs at the same time as Passion Week this year, we have decided not to do our Passion Week emphasis and will do other things to accelerate forward.
On a normal Sunday, we have eleven services on our five campuses. This Easter weekend, we will have sixteen services on our five campuses, offering Saturday services on three campuses.
We are saturating our community with the invitation to join us Easter weekend in several different ways. Our Communications Team has given us the tools to invite through social networking, newspapers, door hangers, and invitation cards our members can share with their friends.
Pastor, plan for success.
2. Let Your Church Become Their Church on Easter Sunday.
It is critical that you have a big, welcoming spirit from the pulpit and by the people of the church leading up to Easter weekend. About two decades ago, God put this phrase in my heart and we have used it almost annually: Let our church be your church this Easter Sunday.
Many people do not have a church family or a church home. Therefore, do all you can to demonstrate this big, welcoming spirit as pastor and challenge your people to resound it all over your community and region: Let our church be your church this Easter Sunday.
Take care not to make guests feel unwelcome by joking about some who may only come to church on or around Easter. A cynical spirit from the pulpit or in your people regarding guests is not productive. If we truly want to reach our community and region for Christ, we must welcome guests regardless of when they attend.
3. Preach the Gospel and sing recognizable songs.
Pastor, preach the Word of God and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Unashamedly, call people to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do not soft-sell in order to relate to the unchurched. Be who you are and proclaim the powerful gospel of Jesus Christ.
Attempt to sing at least one song that people who rarely or have never attended church may recognize. Possibly Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, It Is Well With My Soul, or something similar. You want them to experience your church and mostly, the presence of God.
Finally, pray like it matters. Lead your church to pray for a mighty and successful weekend. Saturate Easter with prayer.
I cannot wait to hear what God does in your church this Easter weekend. May God alone receive the glory!
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.