leading w/ love: preface
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Connecting Love & Leadership
This is my first entry on Leading with Love by Alexander Strauch. My goal is simply to read the book entirely, chapter by chapter and provide a summary or synopsis of what the author is saying. But aside from that, I really want to gain some understanding and wisdom (applying truth) from this book on how to love those that I am to lead: my wife, my kids, and those that I disciple. And my ultimate desire is to honor the Lord by pursuing it as much as possible, in light of how imperfect and as unloving I can be at times. 1 Corinthinas 14:1 reminds us to go for it "Pursue love..."
Preface
Strauch first explains that the Bible is a book of love; the gospel message is one of love, that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son; and because of that love we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourself (John 3:16, Mark 12:30-31).
Strauch then brings to attention the subject of love and its relationship to leaders and teachers. And he explains his reasons for the need of this book:
~ Christian leaders don't normally focus on love when they address leadership. They focus on other qualities: courage, charisma, visionary thinking, decisiveness, etc.
~ Christian material on leadership seem not to include anything on love, but the NT speaks clearly on the importance of love. And even mandates that our gifts are to be exercised in love (1 Cor 13:1-3).
~ Leaders/teachers set the the spiritual tone for the church. If they are filled with love, the church will be filled with loving people. Self-centered, critical, proud, angry, impersonal leaders/teachers will reap a church that looks just like them.
~ Because the nature of a local church, where much is done in groups: elders' & deacons' meetings, staff meetings, all-church meetings, etc. - we will realize (sooner or later) how annoying, fault-finding, and how frustrating it really is to be united on different levels. Therefore, it would be important for us to understand what the NT principles of love are.
~ There are also false ideas of love that need serious biblical correction. Many Christians, in the name of love are applying God's word in total disobedience. Consider abortion, divorce, sexual sin, refusal of church discipline, etc.
This is Strauch's beginning exhortation:
"If you lead or teach people - as a Sunday school teacher, youth worker, women's or men's ministry leader, Bible Study leader, administrator, music director, elder, deacon, pastor, evangelist, or missionary - love is indispensable to you and your ministry. As Michael Green so beautifully reminds us, 'Love is the most attractive quality in the world. And it lies at the heart of Christianity.' For that reason, God requires that you and I lead and teach with love and continually grow in our love for Him and for all people."
This is my first entry on Leading with Love by Alexander Strauch. My goal is simply to read the book entirely, chapter by chapter and provide a summary or synopsis of what the author is saying. But aside from that, I really want to gain some understanding and wisdom (applying truth) from this book on how to love those that I am to lead: my wife, my kids, and those that I disciple. And my ultimate desire is to honor the Lord by pursuing it as much as possible, in light of how imperfect and as unloving I can be at times. 1 Corinthinas 14:1 reminds us to go for it "Pursue love..."Preface
Strauch first explains that the Bible is a book of love; the gospel message is one of love, that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son; and because of that love we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourself (John 3:16, Mark 12:30-31).
Strauch then brings to attention the subject of love and its relationship to leaders and teachers. And he explains his reasons for the need of this book:
~ Christian leaders don't normally focus on love when they address leadership. They focus on other qualities: courage, charisma, visionary thinking, decisiveness, etc.
~ Christian material on leadership seem not to include anything on love, but the NT speaks clearly on the importance of love. And even mandates that our gifts are to be exercised in love (1 Cor 13:1-3).
~ Leaders/teachers set the the spiritual tone for the church. If they are filled with love, the church will be filled with loving people. Self-centered, critical, proud, angry, impersonal leaders/teachers will reap a church that looks just like them.
~ Because the nature of a local church, where much is done in groups: elders' & deacons' meetings, staff meetings, all-church meetings, etc. - we will realize (sooner or later) how annoying, fault-finding, and how frustrating it really is to be united on different levels. Therefore, it would be important for us to understand what the NT principles of love are.
~ There are also false ideas of love that need serious biblical correction. Many Christians, in the name of love are applying God's word in total disobedience. Consider abortion, divorce, sexual sin, refusal of church discipline, etc.
This is Strauch's beginning exhortation:
"If you lead or teach people - as a Sunday school teacher, youth worker, women's or men's ministry leader, Bible Study leader, administrator, music director, elder, deacon, pastor, evangelist, or missionary - love is indispensable to you and your ministry. As Michael Green so beautifully reminds us, 'Love is the most attractive quality in the world. And it lies at the heart of Christianity.' For that reason, God requires that you and I lead and teach with love and continually grow in our love for Him and for all people."
archived under leading with love, Words