Principles of Leadership - Share The Vision

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters.

Welcome to a new year of podcasts for church planters. During 2022, I will be sharing my Ten Principles of Leadership.  

We begin with Share the Vision.  In my previous message, I mentioned how leaders both instruct and inspire those who follow.  “Instruct” deals with imparting knowledge about the vision.  “Inspire” motivates others emotionally to join the cause and to commit themselves to it.  

In some ways, a leader resembles an athletics coach.  He or she teaches players the fundamentals, skills and strategy.  While that is an excellent start, it is not enough.  Before and during matches, the coach must motivate players to play with energy and passion.  I would assert that church leaders do the same.  

A classic scripture on this topic is found in Proverbs 28:19a.  “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”  Another translation (Berean Study Bible) renders this verse “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint…”  You may ask, what does it mean that without vision people will perish?  According to www.christianity.com, “This knowledge provides a new vision that allows us to see God and His plan for our lives more clearly. Without this vision, we are left to wander in the dark ...”  

We read the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:8-18.  The king of Aram dispatched his army to capture Elisha the prophet.  They found him in Dothan and surrounded the city.  

Verses 15-18 tell us, “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered… And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Frequently, we, like the servant of the prophet, cannot see beyond our own horizons.  Our focus is upon ourselves. The spiritual leader, however, often sees, or perceives, what others cannot see, sometimes in a literal sense and most often in a spiritual way.  

Spiritual leaders communicate this vision in order that others may know the way to go or where to direct their energies.  They also communicate in a manner that instills courage and commitment.  Next time we will take a look at Nehemiah’s example on this point.  

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.