Leadership As a Ministry

Season 3 Episode 6 -- I enjoy seeing people applying biblical principles to daily life.  In today's episode, I share how a social media post about the desired virtues of Human Resources departments aligned very well with some biblical principles about leadership.  What are those principles?  Listen and find out!

"Reflect on This" is a once-a-week, short devotional podcast, where I share what I am learning about following Jesus, through applying eternal biblical principles to life, in practical ways.  Not religion, but RELATIONSHIP - relationship with Jesus!
 
If you like the podcast, please tell your friends and family about it, and subscribe/follow it, because it helps others to find the podcast more easily (because having more followers raises the podcast higher in search results).
 
Resources that inspired some episodes:

"Worship Is My Weapon" podcast by Rita Springer:  https://youtu.be/RucXhr1zYGU?si=WeVTpssmUP4rMXlL 

"My Heart, Christ's Home" by Robert Munger

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free (and low-cost) resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and devotionals.  It allows you to simultaneously view verses and their corresponding cross-references, lexicon entries, commentaries, and more.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all

Transcript

I recently came across an excellent post on LinkedIn by Jermie Howell, who is a coach, trainer, and owner of Lighthouse Leadership.  His post was about how Human Resources is not a department, but rather a ministry.  Several biblical principles immediately came to my mind, as I mentally substituted the word “leadership” for “Human Resources.”  Here is an excerpt from his post, making that substitution.

Leadership is not a department.
 Leadership is a ministry.
 
 Not a pulpit.
 Not a sermon.
 A calling.
 
 Leadership sits at the intersection of people’s livelihoods, dignity, grief, growth, discipline, fear, hope, and trust.
 
 Leaders don’t just write policies.
 We shape moments people never forget.
 • The conversation that preserves someone’s dignity
 • The decision that protects a family’s livelihood
 • The boundary that prevents harm
 • The courage to tell the truth when it’s uncomfortable
 • The compassion to listen when it would be easier not to
 
 That’s not “soft work.” That’s sacred work.
 
 Ministry isn’t about being nice. It’s about being faithful.
 
 Faithful to truth.
 Faithful to fairness.
 Faithful to people—even when it costs us comfort, popularity, or convenience.
 
 Leadership done right doesn’t seek applause.
 It seeks trust.
 
 And trust is built one moment, one decision, one hard conversation at a time.
 
 If you see leadership as paperwork, you’ll manage tasks. If you see leadership as a ministry, you’ll change lives.

Wow!  His words capture so well how our actions and attitudes should be, in all of our leadership roles.  And make no mistake – we all have at least one leadership role in our lives.  There are people who are looking to each of us to be an example, a listener, a mentor, a friend, or a guide.  Here are some relevant biblical principles:

1) God has given each of us one or more special gifts.  Instead of using them to strengthen their leadership position, good leaders use them to serve others.  That is demonstrating that we are being good stewards of the gifts that God has given us:

1 Peter 4:10 NIV  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

2) Good leaders lead through serving, and putting others ahead of themselves:

Mark 9:35 NIV  Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."

3) Good leaders remember who they really work for:

Colossians 3:23 NIV  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

4) Jesus is our ultimate example of sacrificial serving.  Although He could have rightfully demanded to be served, He chose instead to serve:

Mark 10:45 NASB  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

May we truly see our leadership (in whatever capacity) as a calling, as a ministry, and as sacred work.

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”