Growing In Christ

Galatians 5:13-17 (The Message)

13-15It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

16-18My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

Be Careful What You Promise

Ecclesiastes 5:2
2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your hear to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:4
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

Ecclesiastes 5:6-7
6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.


Do you make promises to God? Scripture advises caution before we commit something to God- good advice for any decision a leader must make. Solomon describes three major pitfalls lying in wait for careless leaders:

1. Hasty speech: Leaders must listen as much as they speak.
2. Empty promises: Leaders tend to say what others want to hear. Don't promise what you can't deliver.
3. Lame excues: Leaders dimish their influence when they try to reverse a mistake with a lame excuse.

Quotes: John Maxwell ( Leadership Promises for Every Day)

Leading the Leader

Genesis 13:14-15 (English Standard Version)
14The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever.

Vision is everything for a leader. It is utterly indispensable. Why? Because vision leads the leaders. It paints the target, sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws them forward. And it is also the fire-lighter for others who follow those leaders. Show me a leader without vision, and I'll show you someone who is isn't going anywhere. At best, they're traveling in circles. To get a handle on vision and how it comes to be a part of a good leader, understand these things.

1. Vision starts within.
2. Vision draws on your history.
3. Vision meets others' needs.
4. Vision helps you gather resources.

One of the most valuable benefits of vision is that it acts like a magnet-attracting, challenging, and uniting people. The greater the vision, the more winners it has the potential to attract. The more challenging the vision the harder the participants fight to achieve it.

Thanks, John Maxwell... The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader

Checklist Before Taking New Territory

Joshua 1:2-3
2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

People need to be shown the team's vision clearly, creatively, and continually. Whenever I endeavor to cast vision with the members of my team. I use the follwing checklist. I try to make sure that every vision messgae possess....

Clarity: brings understanding to the vision (answers what the people must know and what you want them to do)

Connectedness: brings the past, present, future together

Purpose: bring directionb to the vision
Goals: bring targets to the vision
Honesty: brings integrity to the vision and credibility to the vision-caster
Stories: bring relationships to the vision
Challenge: brings stretching to the vision
Passion: brings fuel to the vision
Modeling: brings accountability to the vision
Strategy: brings process to vision

Thoughts from John Maxwell : 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

Have a great day....
Keith Adkins