Words to Lead By
Recent Stories
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Does Your Church Embrace the Vision? Two Ways to Know
When do you know the vision has become ingrained in the culture of your church and not just in your own dreams?
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Beyond the First Church of the Consumer
Bobby Gruenewald: "Every step we take to further their consumer mentality is a disservice to them and to the church at large."
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Dealing with Church Betrayal
If you are in leadership long enough, betrayal will happen. The real question is: what do you do next?
"[God is] not trying to build a large institution on earth, He's trying to rescue people for eternity's sake." —Chris Hodges
Thousands of well-reasoned words—that's what makes up the annual Leadership issue of Outreach magazine, on sale and in the mail now. In that issue you will find the collected wisdom of many of today's visionary church leaders as they confront: the nature of effective leadership and the role of women in the church; discovering a vision for reproducing churches and harnassing diversity in leadership; creating leadership unity and reining in a runaway ego; managing the times of "lonely leadership" and finding the balance between "soul" and "structure."
As you read the issue, it strikes you: Sometimes the memorable impression is not found in the line of argument, but in a well-expressed turn of phrase. Insight in a sound bite.
For instance:
“A lot of times when I talk to other pastors, they are like, ‘Give me the formula,’ and I'm like, ‘Dude, there is no formula, but there is a person—there's Jesus.’” —Derwin Gray
“Jesus woke up every day in a compassionate response. He didn't see responding to the pain and plight of suffering people as an interruption.” —Dino Rizzo
“Apprenticeship is a better way to express what we commonly call discipleship. … Apprenticeship [involves] both the knowing and the doing.” —Dave Ferguson
“When you disciple people in a group, they get to watch a discipler lead someone, and imitate how they did it.” —Jo Saxton
“If enough people start to experience a Christian who really deep down just loves people the way Jesus loves people and is not discriminatory in that love, the world starts to take a different look at Jesus.” —Gabe Lyons
“Our task is simple authenticity: to show how Jesus changes everything.” —Mark Driscoll
“The more faithful we are to where God places us, the more opportunity he gives us to use [our] gifts.” —Jenni Catron
“If you are growing, your people will too. Your personal progress, productivity and passion matter.” —Dan Reiland
“We don’t disagree with people nearly as much as the caricatures that we create that allow us to hold people at a distance. I’m not endorsing somebody just because I’m talking to them. I’m endorsing Jesus by talking to them. That’s the way I look at it.” —James MacDonald
“We all have a God-designed desire to make a difference in the world—to live beyond the narrow confines of self.” —Kevin DeYoung
“Love asks the question beyond the first question—and actually sticks around to hear the response. Love forces unity when you prefer distance, forges progress when you’d rather stay comfortable. Love reaches in and changes you, even when you weren’t looking to be changed.” —Ryan Meeks
“If we adjust our focus to Jesus, it will change how we live and lead. It will change the impact of the influence we have on others.” —Brad Powell
“Jesus was attractional and missional. Open the book of Mark and get out your highlighter.” —Andy Stanley
