Spiritual Leadership... What Characterizes effective Spiritual Leadership

Quite a few years and not-much-maturity ago, a close friend of mine, who is a denominational leader in GA Baptist student ministry, described a mutual friend of ours like this: "(He) is a spiritual leader."

I thought to myself... "a what?"

and then I thought... "I wonder if he considers me a 'spiritual leader?'"
(such arrogance on my part)

You see, I knew that I wasn't a spiritual leader! Oh yeah, I had the position and the title of a "spiritual leader" but I lacked the most important traits that characterize a true "spiritual leader". Dr. Kevin Leman came to our church a few years ago and I heard him say, "Flaunt your imperfections."

So here is WHY I was not a spiritual leader:

• First and foremost, I lacked a strong and consistent prayer life.
• Second, I lacked humility.
• Third, I lacked a servant spirit (unless it was about serving myself.)
  
• Fourth, I lacked steady spiritual growth. I was actually depending on the preparation I did for the weekly Bible study messages I would lead for my own spiritual growth... I was not INGESTING & DIGESTING the WORD of GOD for my own spiritual growth.
  
• Fifth, I lacked confidence in God... I thought I had to be the one not only making the plans, but determining the steps.
  

THE RESULT was that I was doing ministry in my own power, which meant I was not TRUSTING in God, which meant I was not sharing the Gospel, which meant people were not being saved, which meant I was not a part of advancing God's Kingdom.

I thank God for His everlasting patience and loving kindness which leads to repentance! I was certainly broken over my arrogance and lack of spiritual leadership. But don't hear me saying that I have it all figured out... believe me, I still struggle with the things that I mentioned.

But I ditto the words of Paul in Philippians 3:13-16 when he says, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained."

God give me the patience to wait on You, the endurance to believe You and the faith to move mountains!

Pray Like You are in the Belly of a Fish

When Jonah told the men on the boat to throw him overboard they tried
to find another way to get Jonah off the boat....they did not want to
be held responsible for his death.

When it became obvious that that plan wasn't going to work...they had
no other choice but to toss him.

When the seas calmed...God was glorified as each man worshipped God.

Jonah...sinking to his death... is then swallowed by and entombed in
the belly of a big 'ol fish. And Jonah prays.

What's interesting to me is WHO recorded Jonah's prayer that we read
in the Bible? No one was with him. He didn't have a pen and paper. He
certaiy did not have an iPhone to blog with or Tweet "What are you
doing?"

But he did pray, and God not only heard his prayer, He recorded it
Himself and put it in the Holy Scriptures so that all would know that
"...salvation comes from the Lord." Jonah 2:9

Spencer Breedlove
blog.spencerbreedlove.com

www.Twitter.com/SpencrBreedlove

Sent from my iPhone

Quote from Rick Warren

> I appreciate this quote from Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback
> Church in California:
>
> "For growth, the pastor must give up control of the ministry & the
> people must give up control of the leadership. Acts 6:1-7"
>
> Sent from my iPhone

10 Team Tips for Success for the Double G Doggs of Winder-Barrow!

The Winder-Barrow High School Football Team kicks off their football camp this weekend. Thanks to Head Coach, Ben Corley, I have the privilege of leading the evening activities which are designed to encourage the team in the areas of character, integrity, trust and teamwork!

One of the things I will share with the team and challenge them to live by is the Ten Team Tips from John Wooden's book, "The Essential Wooden". The following ten tips will be used by our pre-game speakers throughout the season!

“GG Doggs”

10 Team Tips for Success in 2009

(10 Team Tips from John Wooden's book, "The Essential Wooden)

1. Be Thinking at ALL TIMES!
2. If you do your best, never lose your temper, and never be out-fought or out-hustled, you’ll have nothing to worry about.
3. Without faith and courage, you are lost.
4. Have respect for, without fear of, every opponent, and confidence without cockiness in regard to yourself.
5. NEVER be a spectator. Be in the fight at all times.
6. Unselfish team play and team spirit are two of the foremost essentials for our success.
7. We have tough battles ahead. Enjoy the thrill of being in the hard fight.
8. Never stoop to playing dirty—play hard and don’t complain.
9. Be sure you acknowledge and give credit to a teammate for any fine play he may make.
10. Be a competitor. When the going gets tough, REALLY GET GOING.

GO DOGGS!!!

What is IMPACT Bible Study and Why do we do Bible Study like this at First Baptist Church Winder

SUNDAY MORNINGS

Two Bible study options are offered for students:

9:00 AM All-Youth Bible Study

10:30 AM IMPACT Bible Study

WHAT IS IMPACT BIBLE STUDY?

IMPACT Bible study is a student ministry model for doing Bible Study on Sunday mornings. We begin with a large group Bible study to boost our small groups into meaningful conversations to accomplish our purpose of “connecting students to Jesus Christ and to each other.”

• We begin with a fellowship at 10:10 AM in the youth center (room 310) where students hang out with one another and interact with our adult leaders. Food is provided and served by parents of our students.

•At 10:30 AM, we share specific announcements about upcoming events and ministry opportunities. These announcements are communicated through our weekly flyer called S.T.Y.K. – which means, “So That You’ll Know”.

•Following announcements, we have a brief teaching time (15-20 minutes) in a large group format. This teaching time is a launching pad for our students to break out into their small groups where their leaders will facilitate meaningful conversations.

WHY DO WE DO IT THIS WAY?

• It’s discussion-based and not lecture-based!
• Caring adults help students to grow spiritually.
• Students learn to apply the message they’ve heard.
• Students encourage other students.
• It promotes spiritual health in the student ministry.
• It facilitates the strengthening of relationships within the small group and in their relationship with Christ.

Elisabeth's first day of school

Elisabeth starts Pre-K4 today at Legacy Academy. Last night was open
house where we met her teacher and found out that Elisabeth's good
friend Maya was going to be in her class.

No Debt but to LOVE!

Romans 13:8 states, "Let no DEBT remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

As I continue to mediate on this verse here's what I am hearing God speak:
1. Be a good steward with your money! Be responsible and pay your bills AND get out of debt as fast as you can! The quicker you are debt free, the more you can use your resources to bless others and give away to advance God's Kingdom! "Let no debt remain outstanding..."

2. LOVE is a revolving DEBT! There's always a balance to pay! Don't ever default on this bill to love! It's not that there will be a $25 late fee and excessive interest charged to your account. But you will miss out on fulfilling your primary purpose in life. When that happens we find ourselves frustrated and spiritually bankrupt. We have a "continuing debt to love one another."

3. When you love others... you fulfill the spirit of the Old Testament. We can look at the letter of the law, but that only defines the sin. The spirit of the law... what it is really saying... is that "Love does no harm to it's neighbor (including your wife) [Romans 13:10]." "For he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

Find ways to LOVE others today!

• Pay for the meal of the people behind you in the drive thru!
• Buy someone some groceries...and do it anonymously.
• Be kind!
• Be gentle.
• Serve someone!
• Share the Gospel!

Scripture Memory Challenge!

After Algernon Tennyson spoke to our students at FBCW this morning, I challenged our students to MEMORIZE and lives their lives by ROMANS 13:8!

TEST 2

This is TEST 2

This is a test

This is a test!