THE LEADER’S SUMMIT (Session 1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DESCRIPTION: <\/strong>The Leader\u2019s Summit is a focused training experience designed to inspire, equip, and strengthen pastors, staff, and ministry leaders. Through practical teaching, biblical insights, and honest conversations, leaders are challenged to grow personally and lead effectively in today\u2019s ministry context. Each session is crafted to provide encouragement, sharpen leadership skills, and offer resources that help leaders serve with excellence and longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Session 1: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lead Yourself First<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership has often been defined as influence.<\/em> It\u2019s not about sitting in an office, or holding a title\u2014it\u2019s about influence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The best leaders are those who inspire people, and guide movements, and lead others toward shared goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n John Maxwell (one of the best known voices on leadership), puts it this way. He says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLeadership is influence\u2014nothing more, nothing less.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n If that\u2019s true (and I believe it is), then every one of us (sitting in this room today), is a leader in some way. While you may not wear the title of \u201cpastor,\u201d <\/strong>you\u2019re here today because you are a person of influence. You are here because you\u2019re leading in one way or another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe you\u2019re leading children in kids\u2019 ministry, or the congregation in worship, or maybe your influence is best seen through the stewarding of resources, or the work of administration. Maybe you\u2019re leadership is found within the area of media, or hospitality, or discipleship, or maybe as you manage ministry as a deacon or board member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever the case, if you have influence<\/strong>, you are a leader! But that raises an important question that I want you to wrestle with. And it\u2019s this: <\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of leader are you?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And maybe, more importantly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What kind of leader will you be?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, with that \u2014 let\u2019s dive in to our first session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What do you think is the hardest part of leadership?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some will quickly say, \u201cIt\u2019s people.\u201d Others might point to time management, the endless demands, the challenges, the conflicts, the resistance to change. And all of that is true \u2014 those things are hard. But here\u2019s the surprising reality: the greatest challenge in leadership isn\u2019t out there \u2014 it\u2019s in here!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The hardest person you will ever lead \u2014 is you! Again, John Maxwell states it like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe toughest person to lead is always yourself.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you\u2019ve been in leadership for more than five minutes, you already know this to be true. While it\u2019s easy to identify where other people fall short \u2014 it\u2019s sometimes a challenge to do so with ourselves. We can spot their blind spots. We can critique their habits. But when it comes to us? That\u2019s where the real battle lies. We rationalize our weaknesses. We defend our habits. We excuse our shortcomings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And yet, the foundation of leadership is always self-leadership. As I’ve discovered, it’s nearly impossible to lead others where you have not first gone yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAm I a leader worth following?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The only way you become a leader worthy of being followed, is to first bring your own life and habits into alignment with the principles of godliness and personal integrity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Understand, public influence without<\/em><\/strong> private integrity always leads to collapse! That\u2019s why the apostle Paul tells Timothy to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWatch your life and doctrine closely.\u201d<\/em> (1 Timothy 4:16<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was saying, \u201cPay close attention to yourself, because your greatest impact won\u2019t come from what you say on a platform, but from how you live<\/em> (especially, when no one\u2019s watching).\u201d Because, while we may teach what we know, we reproduce who we are!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the driving force behind Proverbs 4:23<\/strong> \u2014 which says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAbove all else, guard your heart, for <\/em>everything<\/em><\/strong> you do flows from it.\u201d<\/em> (Proverbs 4:23)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you catch that? Everything flows from your heart \u2014 or what\u2019s inside of you! So, your ministry. Your words. Your decisions. Your example. They all rise or fall based on the condition of your heart<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your heart is really, like a reservoir. Whatever you fit it with, it was will eventually overflow from it. So, if your heart filled with passion for God and a pursuit of His presence, then that godliness is what\u2019s going to spill out of your life. But if your heart is filled with pride, selfishness, jealousy, or maybe \u2014 unchecked ambition, then that\u2019s what you will spill out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Jesus said in Luke 6:45<\/strong>, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOut of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So here\u2019s the guiding principle for the rest of this session:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will <\/strong>NEVER<\/strong> lead others well \u2014 until you <\/strong>FIRST<\/strong> lead yourself well!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And to do that well, I\u2019d suggest you start with this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Guard Your Heart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first principle ofself-leadership is learning to guard your heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Think about it \u2014 while titles or positions may be given in a moment\u2014character is formed over a lifetime. And without a healthy heart, your leadership will eventually display cracks and what\u2019s inside will seep out (under pressure).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I described it a few moments ago, your heart is like a reservoir<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think about like this: the Dreher Shoals Dam<\/strong> (located in Lexington, SC), took 3 years to build, and was completed in 1930. At the time of its completion, it was the world\u2019s largest earthen dam. <\/strong>It was originally built for hydroelectric power, flood control, and water supply. It holds back approximately 763 billion gallons<\/strong> of water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, imagine if a small crack formed in that massive wall. At first, no one might notice. It might look harmless. But over time, that crack would compromise the integrity of the entire structure. And sooner or later, the pressure of all that water behind it would break through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s what happens when we ignore the cracks in our character. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A small compromise today, a little pride tomorrow, an unchecked attitude, gossip or slanderous conversations about another, envy of another ministry or leader, jealousy, ungodly ambition \u2014 and eventually, those cracks begin to fissure and seep out, causing damage to our ministries and the people we lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And worse than harming a ministry, is harming others. That\u2019s why guarding your heart is so important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how do we do that? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We do it through by practicing the basics of a Spirit-filled life. We do it by developing and maintaining healthy spiritual disciplines, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And to this I\u2019d suggest \u2014 start small. Strive for consistency more than production.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What I\u2019m saying is, don\u2019t overcomplicate it. You don\u2019t need a new check-list. You just need to start moving towards godliness. So, maybe start with 10 minutes of prayer each day. Take time to read a small passage from God\u2019s Word (maybe a Psalm) a day. And then dwell on what you\u2019ve read or sense the Holy Spirit saying to you. Maybe take a note or two on it. That\u2019s what meditating looks like. Start small, become steady, and begin to develop a habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bad habits are easy to form\u2014but hard to live with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Good habits are hard to form\u2014but easy to live with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Leading yourself means developing good habits, and filling your heart with the presence of God. Doing so will ensure that what flows out of your life will be worth following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n REMEMBER<\/em><\/strong>: <\/em>\u201cYou can\u2019t lead others to places you haven\u2019t gone yourself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the second thing I\u2019d say about leading yourself. To do it well, you must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Clarify Your Motives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the major areas of leadership is discerning the WHY<\/strong> behind the WHAT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why do you want to be a leader? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the motivation? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it to be noticed? To feel important? To protect your control? Or is it truly to serve God and others?<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a question every leader has to wrestle with. Because the truth is, leadership offers certain rewards \u2014 recognition, influence, authority. And if we\u2019re not intentional, those rewards can subtly become the reason we lead. Instead of leading from a posture of service, we start leading for self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But theBible is replete with reminds that God looks beyond our activity to our motives. Consider the words of wisdom found in Proverbs 16:2<\/strong>. Here Solomon tells us,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll a person\u2019s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord\u201d<\/em> (Proverbs 16:2). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Understand, it\u2019s possible to do the right things, but for the wrong reasons. And while it may look good to others, God sees the heart!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is SO IMPORTANT <\/em>\u2014 because, our motives serve as the roots of our character. So:<\/p>\n\n\n\n POWERPOINT<\/em><\/strong>:<\/em> Your motives will always shape your methods.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The best example of this is Jesus. Consider his motivation for leadership as witnessed in John 13<\/strong>. Rather than demand service from others, He willingly wrapped a towel around His waist, knelt down, and washed His disciples\u2019 feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He was leading from a position of leadership \u2014 because His motivation wasn\u2019t pride, but love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your why is wrong, then your leadership will be wrong too. But if your why is to serve God and love others, your leadership will be marked by integrity, trust, and eternal impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So pause for a moment \u2014 and let\u2019s reflect on this. Ask yourself: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why am I leading?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Am I doing this to build my name, or my kingdom, or my reputation? Am I leading for selfish ambition, or jealousy, or a desire to be seen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, am I doing this to honor God, serve His purpose, and love His people?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Am I motivated by recognition, or by obedience?<\/p>\n\n\n\n REMEMBER<\/em><\/strong>:<\/em> Leadership is influence!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, while people may follow your words (for a season) \u2014 they will follow your motives for a lifetime. Make sure you are leading from the right place and for the right reasons!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Embrace Accountability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the greatest lies in leadership is the idea that you can do it alone. That because you\u2019re the leader, you don\u2019t need anyone checking in on you, speaking truth to you, or holding you to your commitments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n HERE\u2019S THE TRUTH:<\/em><\/strong> Leadership without accountability is dangerous! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s dangerous for you, and it\u2019s dangerous for the people you lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John Donne, <\/strong>a poet and preacher from the 1600s, said it well: \u201cNo man is an island entire of itself.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, none of us can live \u2014 or lead \u2014 in isolation. We\u2019re all connected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, what you do as a leader will always affect those around you. Likewise, those you surround yourself with (as a leader), will always affect you! So, surrounding yourself with the right people \u2014 and the right voices is critical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every leader has blind spots. Every leader faces temptation. Every leader drifts from their purpose and tends to lean away from vision and into comfort (when left alone). That\u2019s why God designed leadership to be practiced in community. Listen to the wisdom of Solomon from Ecclesiastes 4<\/strong>. He says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTwo are better than one\u2026 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.\u201d<\/em> (Ecclesiastes 4:9\u201310)<\/p>\n\n\n\n HERE\u2019S WHAT I KNOW:<\/em><\/strong> Accountability is God\u2019s built-in safety net for leaders!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me describe what I mean by accountability. We all need\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me give you a biblical example: Consider David and his relationship with Nathan. While David was a man after God\u2019s heart, even still \u2014 he struggled with matters of sexual purity. Even though he was king, he engaged in sin and compromised his integrity. But, he had an person in his life who held him accountable. And that was Nathan. He was a prophet of God and a trusted voice in David\u2019s life. When David veered off track, it was Nathan who confronted him. More than that, he called the king back towards God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Without Nathan\u2019s accountability, David\u2019s story would have ended in disaster!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accountability is vital in a leaders life. Think of it like guardrails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Guardrails on a highway have an important purpose. Nobody complains about them \u2014 as if they limit our freedom. We understand they\u2019re there to keep us safe. Guardrails don\u2019t keep us from going places we should; they keep us from going places we shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accountability works the same way. It doesn\u2019t restrict your life; it protects your life. It\u2019s not about control; it\u2019s about protection. It doesn\u2019t limit your leadership \u2014 it actually strengthens it. It keeps you from making errors in judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BETTER YET<\/em><\/strong>: <\/em>Accountability keeps you aligned with who you want to be, and who God has called you to be.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Without accountability, our pride increases (unchecked), our motives drift, and our commitments weaken. But with accountability, we grow stronger, become healthier, leaders better, and finish well. Accountability is needed, sometimes it\u2019s provided, and sometimes its invited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We need oversight, we need mentors, and we need coaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Oversight<\/strong> helps you stay the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentors<\/strong> teach you what you need to know. And,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coaches<\/strong> empower you to use your gifts well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So ask yourself<\/strong>: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 <\/strong>Who have I invited into my life to tell me the truth? Who\u2019s mentoring and coaching me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Who have I given permission to speak into my life, to challenge me, to correct me, and to encourage me?<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t have an answer, then your next step (toward a healthier life in leadership), may be to locate a Nathan<\/em> for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n POWERPOINT<\/em><\/strong>:<\/em><\/strong> \u201cAccountability doesn\u2019t limit my freedom; it protects my future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Application and Closing Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, let\u2019s put this together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Leading yourself FIRST, means guarding your heart, clarifying your motives, and embracing accountability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n None of these happen automatically. They all require intentionality. However, if you neglect them, that decision will eventually lead to the corruption of your soul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And in time, the cracks in your life will force themselves into the arena of your leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n REMEMBER<\/em><\/strong>: <\/em>Private victories always precede public victories. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n What you win in the secret place (with God), will eventually reveal itself in the way you lead (in public). So, before you lead others, lead yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LET\u2019S TALK ABOUT THESE FOR A MOMENT: (5\u20137 min)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Prayer (Closing 2\u20133 min)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lord, we admit it \u2014 it\u2019s so much easier to try and lead others than it is to lead ourselves. Too often, we get busy helping everyone else and forget to pay attention to our own hearts. We need Your help with that. Teach us to care for our own souls first. Help us to guard our hearts so we don\u2019t drift into compromise. Keep our motives pure \u2014 not about recognition or control, but about serving You and loving people. And put the right people around us \u2014 friends, mentors, brothers and sisters \u2014 who will challenge us, encourage us, and keep us honest. God, we want our leadership to come from a place of health, wholeness, and closeness with You. Make us leaders worth following \u2014 because our lives look like Jesus. We ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE LEADER’S SUMMIT (Session 1) DESCRIPTION: The Leader\u2019s Summit is a focused training experience designed to inspire, equip, and strengthen pastors, staff, and ministry leaders. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2125","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2125"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2128,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2125\/revisions\/2128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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