Speaking the Truth, without Self-Seeking
When Paul calls us as leaders to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), he clearly wants what we speak to be true. But when he explains that love is “not self-seeking” (1 Corinthians 13:5), Paul goes deep into our hearts to expose the reasons why we speak truth. What we say matters but our […]
Speaking the Truth in Love
Your words matter, a lot! It matters what you say, how you say it and why you say what you do! Solomon’s words, “the tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21), are true for everyone, but should especially challenge leaders who use their tongues to influence others. In my leadership, I have […]
Hearing the Voice of the Father
Issue #212, July 26, 2017 Every child longs to hear words of love and affirmation from their father. Some hear these precious words but unfortunately many do not. Those who do not hear these words often live their lives trying to hear the same words from others. Jesus heard these words from His Father at […]
Lead with Your Ears: The Barriers to Listening
Issue #128, April 30, 2014 Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear (James 1:19, The Message). Leading with our ears sounds great, but leading with our tongue seems a lot more natural to most leaders. After all, our tongue is right at the front of […]
Profiles in Bold Humility: Paul
Issue #123, February 19, 2014 Confrontation is one of the most difficult and painful tasks of leadership and Paul didn’t like confrontation any better than we do. But when he recognized Peter’s hypocrisy Paul didn’t hold back. When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong […]
Quality Assurance: Good Reputation with Outsiders
Issue #111, August 7, 2013 Paul ends his list of qualifications for servant leaders as he tells Timothy, “He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap” (1 Timothy 3:7). Paul’s instruction implies that the true test of our leadership capacity is […]
Knee Power
Issue #39, September 8, 2010 Leadership Nuggets from Ephesians, #3 Leaders recognize and often seek power. Paul, in Eph. 3:14-21, prayed for power, but a very different kind of power than we often look for in leadership. He recognized that servant leaders operate with knee power. He opened his prayer with these words, “For this […]
Speaking Truth with Love
Issue #35, July 7, 2010 Leaders use their tongue with great impact. Servant leaders recognize the power of their tongue to bring life or death to those who listen. Paul clearly identified one challenge facing all leaders, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the […]
Hospitality…serving others at home
Issue #4, April 9, 2009 We usually think of leadership as what we do with others outside our homes, in the church or in our work environment. But the list of leadership qualities Paul gives to Timothy says leaders “must be hospitable.” (Titus 1:8). Hospitality? It almost sounds like a foreign word! What does hosting […]