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Mindset is everything. Successful leaders set their head straight before taking on a new goal, PR, or organizational project. Surgeons have to have a mindset of peace, focus, and care. Leadership takes a certain mindset; having the heart, abilities, and the will to be a leader simply isn’t enough. Jesus wants you to be a great leader. Learn what it takes to have the mind of a leader.
Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. My name Is Chris Fluitt and I am ready to share the Word of God with you today.
Lead like Jesus
We have been studying the greatest leadership model, Jesus
Our world is filled with leadership books. I think it is important to say that in this leadership series we are not taking the leadership ideas of the world and presenting them in church. It is actually the opposite. All the leadership books, conferences, and seminars are taking the leadership values of Jesus and presenting them to the world.
The greatest leadership model is Jesus and the greatest leadership book is the Bible. There is not even a close 2nd! Jesus rules!
To re-iterate, we are not taking leadership ideas and attributing them to Jesus… We are TAKING BACK the Leadership principles, lessons, and model of Jesus Christ. They belong to Christ Followers!
How many of you are leaders? Raise your hands today if you are a leader.
Leadership is influence and everyone has influence. I want you to own the leadership influence you have been given by God.
Christians should be the best leaders, because we follow the greatest leader – Jesus Christ.
In week 1 we talked about the heart of a leader.
In week 2 we talked about the hands of a leader.
Both weeks are available at redemptionplano.com.
Today I want to talk about the head of a leader.
The Head of a Leader
You have probably heard the compliment “They have a good head on their shoulders.”
Your head is responsible for a lot. You would not get far without your head. Someone help me, what are some things that your head is responsible.
Your thoughts come from your head.
Your vision comes from your head.
Your speech comes from your head.
Your hearing comes from your head.
If you have ever been to a leadership training or read a book on the subject you have probably heard these key words…
Mission, Vision, & Values
Jesus had a good head on His shoulders, and teaches us about mission, vision, & values.
Like most “buzz words,” these terms can sometimes be used without really understanding what they mean. Let’s understand what they mean.
Mission – What we need to do.
Did Jesus ever have a mission statement?
There are several places in scripture where Jesus clearly gives the vision of WHAT He needs to do.
Luke 4:18-19(NIV) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Isaiah 61)
This is what Jesus came to do. Did Jesus do this? Yes! The Spirit of the Lord was upon Him! He proclaimed the good news and freedom. He gave sight to the blind and proclaimed God’s grace.
Does Jesus give us a mission? Yes! Jesus gives a great commission and it is the WHAT that He wants us to accomplish. He tells us to go into the whole world and preach the gospel… see people believe, repent, be baptized, and be filled with the Spirit. (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:47-49, John 20:21-23, Acts 1:8)
Jesus gave us a mission. We need to know the mission and we need to accomplish it as a church.
Redemption Church’s mission statement is “help people find and follow Jesus.”
HELP PEOPLE FIND & FOLLOW JESUS
That is a simple easy statement, but it is really the great commission.
The head of a leader must have inside a clear MISSION.
Mission – What we need to do.
As a leader you need to define WHAT you are setting out to do.
Then you must share & clearly explain that mission with your team.
Then you must celebrate the mission being accomplished.
Your personal life needs a mission.
Your family needs a mission.
Your ministry needs a mission.
Your career needs a mission.
I challenge you to have a mission statement for the important areas of your life.
The mission is what we need to do. What is the vision?
Vision – How we are going to do it.
If mission is the what, the vision is the how.
Did Jesus give a vision statement? Yes. Every time He talked about the cross it was vision… He was telling Him HOW he was going to set us free.
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Visions can be complicated. The HOW is usually more complex than WHAT. In fact although every church should have the same message, we should not all have the same HOW.
The Apostle Paul had a different How than the other apostles.
Acts 9:15 …”This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.”
Paul had the same mission to go into all the world, but God had a different HOW for Paul. Paul would minister to the Gentiles…
Here is our vision at Redemption Church.
TO BE A 1ST CENTURY CHURCH THAT CONNECTS WITH A 21ST CENTURY WORLD
We are called to be like that 1st Century Church we read about in the book of Acts. We want to take that same 1st century Spirit power to this 21st century.
You need a personal vision.
Your family
Your career
The head of a leader must have a clearly defined vision.
The WHAT, the mission, does not just happen on it’s own. You need within your mind a clear vision.
Mission is the what. Vision is the How. What about values?
Values – What is important and to be celebrated.
Did Jesus ever let us know His values? Of course He did. Many times He told us what was valued in His Kingdom. On His sermon on the mount Jesus gave us a great examples of values.
Matthew 5:3-12(NIV)“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Do you realize that Jesus is telling us what is important and celebrated in His Kingdom? You don’t have to wonder what is honored in His Kingdom, the values of His Kingdom are clearly defined.
At Redemption Church we looked into the early Church and defined 6 key values.
1 Jesus, 2 Spiritual Transformation, 3 Community, 4 Mission, 5 Cultural Connection, 6 Willingness
These are guideposts for this organization. When we are making decisions we remember our mission, vision, and values… if the decision in front of us will fulfill our mission, vision, and values then the decision is EASY!
-This decision honors and lifts up Jesus! Yes do that!
-Should we encourage people to talk to God today? Talking to God will lead to Spiritual Transformation!
-Should we give to this missionary family named the Hattabaugh’s who are doing amazing things for Jesus in Lebanon?
What do you value? Is that in your head?
Your family needs to have values, your career, your personal life…
Far too many families do not value their marriage… their children… their time… or God
Good leaders have more than slogans
We need more than a fancy banner with a catchy vision written on it.
We need more than to be able to recite our vision.
We need more than slides with nice art graphics and a list of our values.
We must embody the mission… vision… and the values.
Jesus did this better than anyone.
You tell me if Jesus embodies these values… or are they just words?
Matthew 5:3-12(NIV)“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Head of a Leader
Inside the head of leader must be a mind that is FOCUSED on the mission, vision, & values. What starts in the head, ends up in the body
Proverbs 23:7 tells us that “As a man thinks… so is he.”
Your thoughts drive who you become. So think about the mission, vision, and values.
Inside the head of a leader must be eyes that see the need..
Inside the head of a leader must be ears that hear and are continually learning.
Inside the head of a leader must be a tongue that speaks…
What is inside your head? Are you thinking enough about your leadership?
Am I fulfilling my _______?
Ask yourself this
Mission?
Vision?
Values?
You can’t find a boss who will say “I DON’T VALUE MY TEAM”… It is easy to find a boss whose actions say “I DON’T VALUE MY TEAM.”
You can’t find the person who will say “I DON’T VALUE MY FAMILY”… It is easy to find people whose actions say “I DON’T VALUE MY FAMILY.”
You can’t find a Christian who will say “I DON’T VALUE THE GOSPEL”… It is easy to find Christians whose actions say “I DON’T VALUE THE GOSPEL.”
Jesus does so much more than talk the mission, the vision, and the values… Jesus embodies them.
Want to know what a Christian should look like? Look at Jesus. He does more than give a sell’s pitch… He embodies what it means to be a Christian.
You want to know what a loving spouse should look like? Look to Jesus…
A successful leader…
Some of you need to pray about mission, vision, and values today. You have never defined them.
Some of you need to pray about mission, vision, and values today… but not because you don’t have them defined… but because you are not living them out.
Come talk to the greatest leader ever.
Are you a leader? Come pray.