Three things that will cap your leadership lid.

LOOKING AT THE WRONG PEOPLE.

Let's say you are a 6′ tall forward in High School that averages 15 points per game for your basketball team in rural small-town America. If all you ever do is compare yourself to the local competition, you are going to be in for a rude awakening when you play against Division I Athletes that are All-Americans from the big city. However, if you consistently study guys that are bigger, faster and stronger than you. It will keep you humble, reveal your weaknesses and help you understand where you need to improve.

The same is true for leadership. If you are a Pastor/Youth Pastor at a slightly above average size church, with a nice website, a few staff members, and a strong offering each week and all you ever do is compare yourself to other leaders with less people, less staff, no web-site, and a small giving base than you are going to feel like you have arrived.

However, just like the Basketball player, you haven’t arrived at all. You are just looking at the wrong people. If instead of looking at Leaders that are the same or below you in certain areas, you would look at leaders with larger congregations, more staff members, multiple church locations, and much larger bank accounts, you would stay humble, see where you are weak and understand the areas that you need to improve in.

Far to many Christian Leaders have a “big fish in a little pond” mentality. When we do, we put a lid on our growth. I firmly believe that what we “see” is what we will “be”. Because of this, you and I will never grow past what we are looking at. So make sure that you look at people, organizations, and leaders that are bigger, faster, stronger and more effective than you currently are. When you do, you will stay humble and that humility will allow God to put His grace on everything you do.

REFUSING TO TAKE HONEST CRITIQUE

We all want to be right.I think it’s just human nature.We want to come up with a great idea, have it be amazing and then get all of the credit.

But the truth of the matter is, there are very few times in life where we as leaders come up with an idea that is absolutely perfect and cannot be improved upon. In fact I would go as far to say that there is NEVER a time in life where our ideas are perfect … everything can get better.

If you and I want to improve in life and leadership we have to be willing to open ourselves and our ideas up for critique. We have to be willing to have people sitting around a table or living life with us that care enough to say … “I think your idea is OK … but what if we did this instead”.

When we don’t do that. When you and I surround ourselves with a bunch of “yes” men or woman who are too afraid, too intimidated, or too apathetic to offer us their honest opinion …. we will never be better than our last idea. And may I be bold enough to say that our last idea … was OK at best.

If you want everyone in the room to agree with you … get used to where you are. Because that is the only place you will ever be.

STOP ASKING QUESTIONS

Great leaders never stop asking questions … that is why they never stop growing.
I have been around some incredible leaders thru the years, and there is one thing I have noticed about all of them … they ask a ton of questions. 

There is always someone doing something better than you are.
Find them and ask them what they are doing. When you do … you will grow.

For more leadership tips and training, check out YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY and RESOURCE PAGE. 

Tips for Single Ladies.

When it comes to finding Mr. Right here is a passage to keep in mind.

Proverbs 4:26-27 says, "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

Lets unpack this passage and find some great tips for you as a single lady looking for Mr. Right. 

1 - Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Ladies, be patient. Live your life every single day. Do what you do, be who you are and stop looking around all the time wondering if Mr. Right is in the room.  Be patient and God will bring you a man.  Remember, you need a Man not a boy that shaves. So be patient. 

2 - Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways

In this passage steadfast means, unmovable or confident.  So be confident in who you are and what God is doing thru you. God made you for a purpose, a plan and a person so live like it. There is nothing more attractive to a man than a woman that knows who she is and what God has called her to do. 

3 - Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Keep your feet away from evil places. You won't find the right man in the wrong place.  So continually go to places that are positive and Mr. Right may meet you there.

4 - Don't settle for living together. If he loves you he will marry you.

Never settle for someone who's not willing to be a man and love you like Christ loved the Church.  Christ kept his promise to serve, protect, provide and love the church.  If your man is not willing to stand before God and men to promise to do the same for you, move on.  He is not the right one for you. 

What should you do when you are going through a trial?

1. Embrace It.

This trial is going to make you stronger. So don’t ignore it, justify it or try and wish it away.
Embrace the reality of the situation you are currently in. 

2. Realize and Believe that God is bigger than your trial.

No matter what type of trial you are going through. You have to realize and believe that, there is no other name above the name of Jesus.  HE is bigger. He is faster. He is stronger than anything you will ever face. 

3. Speak Positively and not negatively to yourself and others over your situation.

You set the tone for your day by what you say. So make sure you are saying positive things, based on the word of God and not negative things about your situation.

4. Find two Scriptures that promise victory. 

Every time a negative thought comes into your mind, speak these promises over your situation. 

5. Do the right thing every day regardless of how it feels.

If you will do the right thing regardless of how you feel, your steps will take you to the future God has for you. 

6. Go thru the trial.

Successful people go thru tough times all of the time. That is what makes them successful … they GO THRU their problem. You will not stay here forever … so GO THRU whatever situation you are in.

What great advertising will and will not do for your ministry.

Advertising is a great tool to be used by your church and ministry. However, as you build your advertising game-plan keep in mind a few things that advertising will and will not do. 

Great Advertising will not ... 

Change the situation people who attend your ministry venues are living in. 

Win people to Jesus .

Make disciples.

Replace personal relationships.

Make up for lack of quality or content in your gathering. 

Great advertising will … 

Build strong moral in and around your church. 

Create a climate of excitement and growth.

Attract people to your ministry venues.

Shape people’s perception of your ministry.

Two Great ways to advertise for free. 

1. Be great at what you do.

When you are great at what you do, people will talk. When people talk, their friends listen. When their friends listen, they will come check out what you are doing. And then the cycle continues. 

2. Social Media. 

Studies have shown that Americans check their phones more than 150 times per day. You can't get someones attention if they are not looking at you. So put your church, ministry, or idea where people are looking. Put it on their phones. Either Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat are on everyones phone. Take advantage of these free platforms and put up great content on a regular basis. 

Four Steps to a Great Service

Set the Stage.

To many times we assume that everyone in the room is already part of the “club” and knows the basics of who we are, what we believe, and what we are getting ready to do. (Sing 3 songs, take up offering, play a cool intro video, listen to a message, pray and dismiss). 

But the truth is many people coming to our service have absolutely no clue of any of these things. Because of this, each week we want to set the stage for everyone in the room. We want to help them understand, who we are, why we are gathering, and what we are getting ready to do for the next 60 minutes or so. 

This could be done by the worship leader, a video, or our service host. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, but the important thing is; we never want to take for granted that everyone in the room is already part of the “club”. 

Give Permission.

When you and I go to a persons home for the very first time, we do not know what is acceptable behavior. Do we take off our shoes or leave them on? Do we sit anywhere we want or should we stand till invited to sit down? Do we help ourselves to a glass of water or should we ask permission to get a drink? As a guest in a persons home you are waiting on permission for what to do or not to do. 

The same is true for guest at our church. People who are fairly new to our services, do not know for sure what is acceptable behavior. Do they stand or sit? Do they raise their hands during worship or stand still? Is it OK to say something during the message or should they sit quietly? 

This is very awkward. 

We want to take that awkwardness away by giving them permission to ….
- Follow along during the message by watching the screens and reading the Bible verses. 
- Join in the singing however they feel comfortable – sit – stand – clap or raise their hands
- To ask more questions at our Next Steps Booth or with talk with any of our workers after the service

We need to treat our guest like we would want to be treated when we are visiting another persons home for the very first time. Give them permission to be themselves.

Be Intentional.

When planning out our services we always ask the reason “why”. Why are we doing 3 songs for worship? Why are we doing worship? Why are we having a host come out onto the stage? Why do we need a host? Why are we preaching this particular message this particular week? Why are we doing this video? Why …. well I think you get the point.

We never want to do anything just “because”. We only have 60 to 90 minutes to be the conduit of which God’s love and voice flows thru, so we need to be intentional. 

Give people something to do with what they heard.

When we communicate the word of God we are communicating for CHANGE. We want to inspire people to be wiling to change from who they are to who God desires them to be. So every time we speak we want to give our people simple steps to help them walk out the changes they need to make as parents, children, families, Christ followers, or someone dealing with past hurts. 

Hearing God’s word is good … doing God’s word is even better.