3 relationships every Leader needs: A Savior

Three relationships every Leader needs:

• A Savior
• A Friend
• A Coach

Two of the biggest mistakes I made as a leader was becoming a professional leader and become a professional Christian. As I talk with leaders from around the country I realize that I am not alone. The demands of ministry create opportunities all the time for Pastors and leaders to become professional leaders and professional Christians.

How I stopped being a professional christian and leader is by coming to understand the gospel. I thought the gospel was only for really bad people that needed good news. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The gospel is that but it is so much more. I love how John Piper puts it

“the gospel is not just something that begins the Christian life but empowers it, shapes it and sustains it.”

I grew up in a pastor’s home and I was a good kid. God was lucky to have me. I didn’t drink, swear, spit, mess around I was the best of the best. This was all good until testimony time. I hated testimony time because I felt I had nothing to say. I remember some sweet old lady lean over and say in a very loud whisper. Son, not having a testimony is the best testimony you can have. She was sweet but she was wrong.

I remember another time we had a meeting in our dorm and people were crying as they shared crazy things they were saved from sex, drugs and rock and roll. I was jealous. They had something I didn’t. They understood something I didn’t.

Everything changed for me about 5 years ago. I was reading my kids a story from the Jesus storybook bible called washed with tears. As I was reading I felt God speak to me that the reason I don’t love much is because I don’t realize how much I have been forgiven. Through tears streaming down my face for the first time in my life I understood the grace that has been extended to me it was overwhelming. I thought for years God owed me a good life, a perfect everything because I was such a good christian. It wasn’t until I saw the need I have for a savior and the grace that has been afforded to me that was like those people in bible college who had been forgiven of so many things. My drug of choice was different than theirs but equally damning.

So leader don’t just preach the gospel to you people preach the gospel to yourself. Because you need a savior. You are nothing without him.

John 15:5-11

⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

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