To be a leader is an attractive topic. We can read books, blogs, articles, and essays on how to be an effective leader. Sometimes in the genuine pursuit of learning how to be a leader, we become more focused on leading than learning. So this blog is focused on refocusing on living as a learner, and then learning to lead. Leadership can rob people of their original focus which is a loving passion for God and people. So to counteract this, lets examine an amazing example of a leader, the apostle Paul, and see how he models leading in living in Romans 1:8-17. (Please read the verses at the bottom of the post)

Thank, Serve, Prayer. In the first 2 verses we see these 3 words mentioned. The first question I want to ask you is this: When you think of leading, do these three actions come to mind? To lead well, these 3 words must be your starting point. To be in a leadership role, whether in a business, a team, a church, or school, requires being able to have a focus on Christ that enables you to be thankful no matter what. When all others around you can’t, you must. You must be the example of a life serving God. By realizing that although you lead, you still serve, is imperative. Leadership can occasionally lead us to forget that although you may be leading, you’re not in charge. That’s Gods role. You serve Him to lead others. And in order to lead well you must pray. You must be continually aware of your need for Christ. Prayer will bind your heart to His, and ultimately to people. Thank, Serve, Pray 

Longing, Sharing, Encouraging  There is a saying that a person doesn’t care what you know, till they know that you care. This statement is shown here in Romans. Before Paul imparts something to them, he first tells them he longs to see them. He misses them. He cares for them. They matter. And because they matter, what He wants to share as a leader is priceless. And what he wants to share is not just a jeering cheer, or good information. It’s a gift that will result in them being strengthened. To be a better player, employee, member or citizen.  He wants to share with them for their betterment, not his acheivement. And this humble sharing is to result in everyone being encoraged. Even the leader sharing it. When mutual encouragement in leading is the goal, it will be evident in how we share and why we long to lead them. Because they matter, and you know that what your sharing with them will encourage their life, work, home, job or ministry. And when an effective leader can lead people to be better at what they do, they will find the greatest satisfaction. Longing, Sharing, Encouraging 

Compelled, Eager, Not Ashamed  A great leader can lead anyone. Look at Christ, he took an undesirable group and lead them into greatness. Paul was under obligation, compelled, to lead the worst of the worse. Whether wise or fool, refined or rugged. The 1980 USA hockey team was lead to greatness by a great leader who lead a team of amateurs to defeat the worlds best. There is a compulsion and eagerness that fuels a great leader. A hunger to see others become great and to experience a life of joy and love. To not just speak of a God of love, but to show them God is love. To lead in a way that points to the Savior of all people. To be compelled and eager  to share the thankful, serving, prayerful, longing and connecting message of why they are a leader. To never be ashamed to share the truth of why they are who they are, Jesus. And for everyone they lead to know that they are leaders too. To be compelled, eager and never ashamed to lead others, who lead others to Jesus Christ. Compelled, Eager, Not Ashamed  

Live By Faith  This last part is the most important. To try to take the wisdom of all previous points, but have not faith, is anexercise  in futility. Faith keeps our eyes focused on the unchanging, ever present, freely given salvation from God. When you lead you need an achor. You need someone much greater than you to hold you when you fall, help you when you are weak, hear you when you cry. Faith will enable you to take risks when everyone wants comfort. To trust, when everyone doubted. Continue, when everyone else quit. To live by faith keeps our focus off of leading and on living. And when we are living and learning, leading will follow. Live By Faith 

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:8-17