Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Join me for a more personal look into the weekend sermons, as well as some thoughts on theology, marriage, parenting, and leadership. I will also explore some of your most asked questions throughout the year.
www.nic-williams.com
Beyond Sunday with Pastor Nic
Leading from the Overflow
Hey podcast world and welcome to the special edition of Beyond Sunday. I say it's a special edition because I'm going to do something a little bit different today. Honestly, most of the time I try to record what there's preaching on the weekend or some things I'm learning at this season of my life, but today I'm going to take you back to last week. Last week, I do a monthly leadership lunch on the first Wednesday of every month, so last week we had our leadership lunch and that message has stuck with me and so I want to share it with you. In just a moment I'll hit play on last week's leadership lesson and allow you to dive into that. The reason it stuck with me is a lot of times when I'm doing leadership talks, it's talking practically on how to lead better, and while that was the topic last week, I took it from the spiritual approach, and I do believe that you've got to lead from the overflow of God in your life. If you're not, you're leading from your own resources and your own skills and you're missing so much. There is a limit or, as John Maxwell says, a lid on your leadership at that point, because you're just leading from your skill set. What would it look like as a leader if you were following God in every aspect of your life, not just your Sunday morning church attendance, not just your Bible study, but how you lead. The people that you lead should feel differently. They should see God flowing out of your life. So that's an easy question, a pulse check Do the people that you lead see God working in your life? Do they see you as a different leader from someone that is not a Christ follower? Without making this podcast any longer than it's going to be, would love for you to dive in. Hopefully you take some great notes. Hopefully this hits you where you're at and we'll see you on the other side. Good afternoon, everybody. Have you ever tried to lead on empty, like when you had a season where you're exhausted, you're overwhelmed, nothing seems to be going right, yet you're still expected to show up, you're still expected to make decisions, you're still expected to lead well, right, and leading is demanding and consistently carrying the weight of the weight of the responsibility of your organization or your family or wherever you find yourself in. Leadership can be overwhelming, and if we're not careful, we can get caught up leading for God instead of leading from God, and so that's what I want to lean in today.
Speaker 1:Imagine you're driving a car and you see the gas light come on and you think I probably can get a few more miles. Anybody ever done that and didn't make it? I've had those moments. And then suddenly the car starts sputtering and you realize you've pushed it too far. We were new to Sarasota or I was anyway. My wife and I just moved back to our town.
Speaker 1:It was 2010 early. I had a Subaru WRX. I loved that car and I was driving down 75 and I thought I can get to the next exit. And I got to the next exit and I thought I can get to the next exit. You've been there. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:I did not get to the next exit. I didn't even get close and I had flip-flops on and walking that walk of shame down the interstate when some guy saw how cool my car was and pulled over because of that. He's like man, I love your car. I'm like, I'm thankful you're here. Your car's okay too, because it has gas in it.
Speaker 1:Can we use yours right and truthfully? That's how many of us lead. We're running on fumes, holding on to past experiences, quick prayers and leftover faith from last Sunday. But you can't give what you don't have right. You lead best when you lead from spiritual overflow, not emptiness. The reality is, leadership isn't about skill, it's about sustainability, it's about who you are. When no one's watching, when no one's around, the decisions that you're making in those moments and if you're spiritually empty, it'll show up in your leadership. Burnout, frustration, lack of clarity these are all signs of a leader who's disconnected from the source.
Speaker 1:My theme verse for today is found in John, chapter 15. Jesus gave the clearest picture of what this looks like. He says remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither you can bear fruit unless you remain in me. He says I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me, I'm remaining in you and you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do what? Nothing, and that last part is the key. That last part is critical for you and I to understand. Apart from Christ, you and I can do nothing.
Speaker 1:You might have talent, you might have drive, you might have leadership ability, but without staying connected to Jesus Christ, your leadership will always have a limit. Think about a tree during a storm. A tree with deep roots may bend, but it won't break. A tree with shallow roots it topples when the wind picks up. Leadership is the same way. When storms come at your leadership conflict, failure, stress, disappointment in life do you stand firm or do you collapse? And I think, based on how you answer, that can determine where you're at in your leadership right now, where you're at in burnout, where you're at in staying connected to the source. And I've had seasons that those things come and they don't affect me real hard and I know it's because I'm connected to Christ in that moment. I've had other seasons. They come and it knocks me out and I'm all of a sudden just trying to survive the season, realizing I'm not truly connected to Christ today.
Speaker 1:So today we're going to look at three ways that your faith fuels your leadership and at the end I wanna give you three kind of practical ways to apply what we're learning today immediately. But before we dive in, let me ask you this question Are you leading from overflow or are you leading from empty? First point this morning is that your leadership is fueled by your faith. So here's a foundational truth to get us started your leadership is only as strong as your faith. So here's a foundational truth to get us started your leadership is only as strong as your faith.
Speaker 1:There's a misconception that leadership is about skills and charisma and strategy, and while those things are important and while those things will move your career forward, they aren't the foundation. The foundation is your faith. It's what fuels you, it's what stains you, it's what gives you wisdom beyond yourself. And we live in a culture that glorifies self-sufficiency. Right, leaders are told to be independent, to make things happen, to rely on their own strength. But the problem is, if you and I try to lead on our own strength, you will eventually hit a wall. It's just inevitable. It's going to happen. You'll face a problem that you can't solve. You'll come to a moment when your energy, your creativity, your confidence, it runs out in life. And when that happens, my question always goes back to what is your foundation? Are you your foundation? If you're your foundation, you're in trouble. Right, your foundation has to be in Christ.
Speaker 1:Think about Moses when God called him to lead Israel, moses didn't say absolutely, I've got this. You picked the right guy, god, I'm amazing at what I do. Right? That's not what he said. He hesitated. He said who am I to lead? You've picked the wrong guy. What if they don't believe the things I say? In fact, I'm not even a good speaker, right? Moses had all these excuses, these insecurities that every leader has felt at some point in life. But notice how God responds to Moses. He says I will be with you. And that's the key Faith-fueled leadership isn't about how strong you are.
Speaker 1:It's about how deeply you trust God. Not about your strength, but how deeply you truly trust God, and I think we all go through seasons of that. There are some seasons that we trust God with everything, and there are other seasons we trust God with parts of our life, and there are parts of our life we don't and we wouldn't say that we don't trust God with it, but our actions reflect that. One of my favorite leadership verses is found in Proverbs 3, and it says this trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding, and all your ways submit to him and he'll make your path straight. Notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't say trust in your own instincts. It doesn't say figure it all out yourself. It says trust in the Lord when we trust in God. Trust in the Lord. When we trust in God, he makes our path straight. He straightens out the winding road of mess that we're walking in this season. Now, that doesn't mean that there won't be challenges, but it means the direction is clear. Great leaders don't just seek solutions, they seek God. They don't just seek the solutions.
Speaker 1:It's easy to get caught up in the practical side of leadership and if you've been coming to this event for any amount of time, mostly what I talk about is the practical side of leadership. Today I'm going a little bit a different direction because I want you to see the spiritual side of leadership. The practical side of leadership is solving problems and making decisions and moving forward. But if you're not careful, we'll start relying on our own understanding instead of God's wisdom. Think about it how often, in whatever career you're in, whatever version of leadership you're in, how often do you make decisions based on what seems logical, what's worked before or what feels right in the moment? How often do you make decisions based on what seems logical, what's worked before or what feels right in the moment? Honestly, that's how we lead a lot of times. Those are our go-tos. I've done this before. I know how this will go. It seems logical. To me, it just feels right. I'm going to make this decision, and there's nothing wrong with logic and experience. But if they replace our faith, our leadership has limits.
Speaker 1:Imagine walking in the dark with a flashlight you can only see a few feet in front of you. I'm recently trying to get back into exercise and running and, for whatever reason, I always run at night and so we put the kids to bed about nine o'clock 930, and then I go for a run, but I've got a little headlamp. The problem with the headlamp is I can only see what the headlamp is pointing at, and a lot of the neighborhoods I'm running in don't have a lot of streetlights. And so you can imagine I'm running and I'm fairly confident where I'm at, because I've run these paths before. But if I don't constantly adjust and refocus to what's coming right before me, I'm going to hit a hole and I'm going to go down, and I'm not going to go down lightly. That's what happens when we lead on our own wisdom. We're limited in what we can see and we're constantly reacting. Now contrast that with the neighborhoods that I run in that have streetlights everywhere. In those moments I actually can turn off my headlamp. I can see everything that's coming. I'm not having to react on what's right in front of me. I'm able to see the landscape of everything I'm going in. And that's what happens when you and I trust God. He doesn't just show us the next step, he provides a direction. He provides a purpose in our life. He strengthens and straightens the path as we lean on him. Too many leaders are walking around with a flashlight mentality, trying to figure it out as they go, when God is saying I already know the path ahead of you, I've already figured it out, trust me.
Speaker 1:Let's look at a couple of leaders in scripture who handled faith completely different. The first is a guy by the name of Joshua in scripture who handled faith completely different. The first is a guy by the name of Joshua. His leadership was fueled by faith. When Joshua took over leadership from Moses, he faced what would seem as an impossible task leading the Israelites actually into the promised land that they had been seeking for so long. But instead of relying on his own ability, joshua constantly sought God's direction. When they crossed the Jordan, he followed God's instructions on exactly how that was to go. When they fought Jericho, he let God lead the way. When he made mistakes, like being deceived, it was because he failed to seek God first. And Joshua 1.9 reminds us of God's call. That was specifically to Joshua. He says, joshua, be strong and be courageous, don't be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, will what Be with you. Same thing he said to Moses He'll be with you wherever you go. And Joshua led from faith, not just strategy.
Speaker 1:Second leader we'll look at is a guy by the name of Saul. Saul's leadership was fueled by fear. Now compare that with Saul. Saul was a king who started out strong, but his downfall came when he trusted himself listen more than he trusted God, and I don't know that any of us would ever say that, but sometimes we live like that. Saul was a guy who rushed into decision, making a sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel. We see that in 1 Samuel, chapter 13. He made an emotion-based decision rather than faith-based decisions. He cared more about what people thought than what God had commanded. And Saul's story is honestly a cautionary tale to leaders that when a leader stops trusting God, their leadership becomes unstable.
Speaker 1:So how do we ensure our leadership is fueled by faith and not just our effort? Because, truth be told, we still have to put effort in right. We still have to be proactive. We have to be doing things in life. But how do we get to the point that we understand that, man, as much as I'm doing what I'm called to do, my ultimate source is coming from God.
Speaker 1:I'll give you a couple of things from God. Give you a couple of things. First is pray before you act. Before you make any major decision, say God, what do you want me to do? And I'm not saying like you're walking into the board meeting about to make the decision. You're like, oh yeah, god, what should I do here? Like I'm talking about being proactive when you know you've got a decision coming down the road, like we're asking that question. We're praying. We often pray after we make a decision. Right, god, hopefully that goes right. Make the decision I made be your decision, bless it right. But what if, as leaders, we got in the habit of praying before we made the decision?
Speaker 1:Second thing stay in the word of God. Psalm 119, 105 says your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. If we know the word of God lights our path and gives us direction, why would we not spend time in the word of God as much as we can. Leaders who don't regularly spend time in scripture are leading in the dark. Make time daily, even if it's just five minutes, to realign with God's wisdom. Third thing surround yourself with godly counsel. Proverbs 11, 14 says this where there's no guidance, a people falls. But in abundance of counselors there is safety. Wise leaders seek wisdom from others who are walking closely with Christ. I want you to see that Wise leaders seek wisdom from others who are walking closely with Christ. I want you to see that Wise leaders seek wisdom from others who are also walking closely with Christ.
Speaker 1:If your sounding board doesn't have a foundation of faith, you've got the wrong sounding board, pastor, they're really good at what they do, great. They can be a part of your council, but they should not be your go-to council. You need to have people in your circle that have the same foundation of faith that you have, and so one thing that you can ask yourself is do you have people in your life who speak truth, even when it's hard, right, even when it's probably not what you want to hear? Do you have people that trust you enough and your relationship enough to be able to say, hey, I need to tell you something hard right now. Ask yourself am I relying more on my experience or on God's wisdom?
Speaker 1:Number two the discipline of staying connected. So we've established that your leadership should be fueled by faith, but the question is should be fueled by faith? But the question is, how do you keep your faith strong in life's demands? Because, honestly, leadership is draining. You're constantly making decisions. People are always looking to you for guidance and direction. There are days when you feel like you're being pulled in a thousand different directions and if you're not careful, your faith can become something you talk about but you don't actually nurture.
Speaker 1:This is a danger in the career of pastoring. As pastors, we're constantly talking to people giving guidance and counseling, whether it's employees and the church structure or it's the parishioners within the church, and so if I'm not careful, I can get home and I've got nothing left, and I'm not refueling myself either. I've got nothing left, and so I I'm not careful. I can get home and I've got nothing left, and I'm not refueling myself either. I've got nothing left, and so I think you know what. I'm just going to veg out. Anybody else just love vegging out? Yes, I love it. I just want my mind to stop sometimes, and so, whether it's reading a book or watching a show, like I, just want something in the background there, and I, if I'm not careful, I can make that my routine and all of a sudden, every day I have a little less because I'm not refueling myself in the word.
Speaker 1:If you're not careful, your faith can be something you talk about but not something you actually nurture. A leader without spiritual roots will eventually collapse. Let me show you that verse that we looked at, our theme verse four, this morning. Let me show it to you again. It says remain in me and I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. And then that last part I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, and apart from me, you can do nothing. Jesus is saying that our ability to lead our Nothing. Jesus is saying that our ability to lead, our ability to influence, our ability to bear fruit is completely dependent on our connection to him. It's not partially dependent on that, it is completely dependent on you being connected to Jesus. If we're disconnected, our leadership will eventually dry up.
Speaker 1:Think about a branch that's been cut from the tree. I don't know if this happened at your house, but when we had our last hurricane, some branches fell on the ground, but some didn't. They stayed in the tree and to me they look like they were still all connected until a couple of days, maybe a couple of weeks, go by and then half the tree looks dead and you're like what's going on? Is my tree dying? And no, just all those branches. They stayed up there, but they are now disconnected from the tree and they're dead.
Speaker 1:Imagine this. I love this analogy. Imagine a cell phone and a lamp. Right, a cell phone is designed to be plugged in. You unplug it and then you go throughout your day and it's unplugged for the rest of the day and it works for a while, but as the day goes on, it has less and less energy and eventually, at some point, if you don't reconnect it, it's gonna die. A lamp, on the other hand, only works when it is connected to the source.
Speaker 1:A lot of leaders treat their faith like a phone. They think, man, I get charged up on Sunday and I had a great devotional a few days ago, so I'm good, till the next time I have time for it. And what happens is you start draining a little bit every day, every decision, every meeting, and eventually you burn out. And the hope is you get to the next exit to get gas again before you burn out, right? And the hope is you get to the next exit to get gas again before you burn out, right. That is such a horrible cycle to be in. A lamp, on the other hand, only works when it's connected, and that's how we should live, staying connected to Christ. Faith isn't meant to be a run on a battery that runs out. It's a constant power source. You don't just need occasional recharging. A constant power source, you don't just need occasional recharging, you need constant connection.
Speaker 1:So, again, let me give you a couple of things. These are going to repeat some of the things I've already said, because I want you to see how simple this is. How do we stay spiritually connected when life gets too busy? Daily time in the word have I said that already today? Yes, daily time in the word of God. Psalm 1, verse 2 and 3, says this but whose delight is in the law of the Lord. Now I want to pause there because I want you to understand what that's saying. Do you delight in the law of the Lord? Do you delight in the scriptures? Is that something that brings joy to you? And who meditates on his law day and night? Now, if this said something different who meditates on his blessings and what he's gonna do for you day and night, maybe we would get on board and say, yeah, I wanna do that. We say who meditates on his law day and night, that person, the person that is in love with the word of God, like that, is like a tree planted by streams of water, which is constantly being nourished, which yields its fruit in season.
Speaker 1:Reading the Bible isn't about checking a box off. It's about staying rooted in the right thing, making sure your foundation is correct, and when you and I neglect the word of God, our spiritual life begins to dry up and your leadership suffers. Second thing prayer is a leadership habit. I think I've said this already today. I'm telling you. I'm going to repeat myself a little bit because I want you to see how simple this is. James 1.5 says if any of you lacks wisdom, you should what? Ask God. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. He's not like thinking man, you're an idiot. Why are you having to ask this question? Right, he's not finding fault in your questions. He's excited that you're coming to him and he'll give you the wisdom that you seek.
Speaker 1:As leaders, you're constantly facing decisions. How often do you stop and pray before making them? Facing decisions, how often do you stop and pray before making them? And I'll say I'm guilty of this as well. As a pastor, I know some things that need to be done to grow churches and reach people Like. We've been doing this for a long time. We've got an incredible team here. Our team is smart enough to know how to do it, and so the danger is just doing things without relying on God.
Speaker 1:The best habit you can build is praying before reacting. Before every meeting, before every decision, spend some time in prayer. Third thing is this learning to rest in God, having Sabbath moments. Mark 6 says it this way come with me, by yourselves, to a quiet place and get some rest. This should be my life. First, I love this. I love being by myself, I love resting right, I love being with God, and he's saying hey, this should be a part of your regular life. Jesus was a great example of this. He constantly stepped away from the crowds to spend time with his father, and if Jesus needed that time, how much more do we need it? Rest isn't about just taking a break. It's about refueling spiritually. So ask yourself am I leading from connection or disconnection? What's one habit that I'm overlooking spiritually that I can build on this week? So let's talk about how your faith actually shapes the way you lead others, because here's the reality you can have a strong faith and a disciplined spiritual life, but if it doesn't transform how you lead and interact with people, you're missing the point of having a strong faith and a disciplined spiritual life. Your foundation, who you're connected with and how you're connected with God should affect how you lead.
Speaker 1:Your leadership reflects your faith, whether you realize it or not. Every leader operates from a belief system. Some people lead from fear, right. They're afraid of failure, they're afraid of rejection, they're afraid of what could happen if they don't get everything right. Some leaders lead from pride, driven by personal ambition, thinking they're the greatest things in sliced bread and so they're just leading and they're the best leader. Some leaders lead from pressure, trying to prove themselves constantly. But the best leaders. They lead from faith. They lead from a deep trust in God, which changes how they make decisions and changes how they handle conflict and changes how they care for people.
Speaker 1:Colossians 3.23 says whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if you're working for the Lord. As if you're working for the Lord, not for human masters. A leader who leads from faith sees their leadership as an act of worship. So let me back up and ask do you see your leadership as an act of worship? For most of us, the answer is probably no, because we see it as our job. We see it as the thing we're called to do. We see it as the way we provide for our family. But what if, after lunch today, you head back to work or wherever you lead at and you say you know what, the things I'm doing right now is an act of worship to God? The decisions I'm gonna make today reflect my heart for God. See, leadership isn't about your position, it's about your purpose, and I think in our society we're taught that wrong. We're taught to look at leadership about position. We're always straining to get to that higher position. But what if you viewed your leadership not as just your position, but as your purpose in life and our purpose in life collectively is to glorify God through all that we do, including how you lead. People should be able to see Jesus in you as you lead.
Speaker 1:So let's look at three ways your faith should shape your leadership. First, learning to trust God with the outcomes, not just your effort. Right, learning to trust God with outcomes. Proverbs 16 says it this way commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Many leaders believe everything depends on them. Faith reminds us that God is ultimately in control of results. This doesn't mean that we don't work hard. It means we work hard while trusting God with the outcome. Lead with confidence, not control. Second thing is learning to lead with humility, not power. Mark 10, verse 45, says it this way. For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom. For many, the greatest leaders serve first, they serve first. That's their goal.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you guys noticed when you got here, but there was not food when you walked in the building today, right, chick-fil-a was running behind. They got lost and all of a sudden my staff panicked. Truth be told, I wasn't here either, and so they're panicked about two things, right. And a few minutes before we started, it came in and the entire staff jumped on and started building boxes and sandwiches. Because that's what you do you serve. That's leadership. I didn't have to look around at my staff and ask anybody to serve. I didn't have to wonder is anybody going to jump in and help? I know they're hard, I know who they are. They're ready to do whatever it takes, and that's what your leadership should look like in everything, even when there's a frantic moment of having an event and all the event supplies aren't showing up on time.
Speaker 1:Third thing is learning to shepherd people, not just manage people. Shepherd the people you have. What if you viewed your staff as people that aren't just there to get something done for you, but they're there for you, to help them grow? John 10, 11,. Jesus' great example is I am the good shepherd. Right? The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He calls himself the good shepherd. The good shepherd doesn't just direct although that's part of what God does for us but he also protects, he also nurtures, he also sacrifices. And so in this we can ask ourselves am I leading my people or am I just asking them to accomplish goals?
Speaker 1:One of the most modern examples of faith-shaping leadership is, honestly, is Chick-fil-A. The founder, true Kathy, built his business on biblical values and it's evident by how they treat their employees and their customers. They don't just serve food, listen, they serve people, right. They don't just serve food. I go there to get food, but they don't just serve food, they serve people. Even in the fast food environment. The company's culture reflects their love and leadership for Jesus.
Speaker 1:Little moment of introspection. Does your leadership reflect Christ? And how would your leadership change if you've truly trusted God for the outcomes? Because your leadership isn't just about getting things done. It's about showing people who God is through the way you lead. Now, we've covered a lot today. Faith isn't just a personal belief, right, it's the foundation of how you lead. Now, we've covered a lot today. Faith isn't just a personal belief, right, it's the foundation of how you lead. Leadership isn't about doing more. Leadership is about abiding more. Right, leadership isn't about doing more. It's about abiding in Christ more. The best leaders aren't ones who work harder, they're the ones who stay closer to Christ.
Speaker 1:So I told you at the very beginning, I wanted to give you three practical things before I let you have some talk time at your table, so if you're taking notes, these might sound familiar. First thing is this morning check-in. Start your day with God. I've said this a couple of times in a couple of different ways today Pray right, spend some time in the word of God. Psalm 143.8 says let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I've put my trust in you. Think about that for a moment. If you woke up every morning with a love letter from God and you let that be how you started your day, how much better would your day be? The good news is you have a love letter for God and you can start your day every day hearing from him and then ask simple questions God, how can I lead for you today? What do you wanna teach me today? How can I serve you best today?
Speaker 1:The first voice you listen to in the morning will shape your entire day, and oftentimes that voice is our own. It's our own self-doubt, self-reflection, things that are going on. Last night we had a rough night with some of our kids, and so that's how I woke up this morning, replaying what happened last night, and that kind of set my tone for my entire morning and I knew I was coming to speak and I thought I'm speaking, I'm not letting this happen. And that kind of set my tone for my entire morning, and I knew I was coming to speak and I thought I'm speaking, I'm not letting this happen and it's happening right now. Right, let your morning start with God telling you how much he loves you.
Speaker 1:Second thing create a leadership prayer list. So not just praying for yourself, but pray for those you lead. What if you took your organization and you wrote down everybody, that's direct reports to you, and you started every day not thinking about how much they've messed up or how they've let you down or how they're behind on this, but you started today saying I'm going to pray that today's their best day. I'm going to pray that God works through them in a way today they've never experienced. 1 Timothy 2.1 says. I urge you, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. Start a prayer list for your team, your employees or the people that you influence, instead of just leading over them. Start leading for them through prayer.
Speaker 1:Third thing is talked about just a moment ago is Sabbath moments, schedule time to refuel spiritually. Matthew 11, 28,. Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Truth is, leaders are always on the go. If you are a true inward leader, like you're always thinking about what you're supposed to be doing, what's next burnout isn't a badge of honor, right? Take some time to refuel, to step away. I want to leave you with this question today Are you leading from spiritual overflow or are you leading on empty? Because if you stay connected to Christ, your leadership will have wisdom beyond yourself. You'll lead from strength instead of exhaustion. People will see Christ in the way you lead. So take this week, make the commitment to make sure your leadership foundation is found in Christ and not on your own abilities. For the last few moments that we have together, we'd love for you to spend some time at your table talking through that. Maybe something that stood out to you today, maybe a challenge that is on you, or maybe the question that's on the screen right now. Beyond that, thank you so much for spending a random Wednesday with us. We will be back for Leadership Lunch on April 2nd. The signup will come out in about a week. Thanks for joining us today and God bless, good afternoon everybody.
Speaker 1:Have you ever tried to lead on empty, like when you had a season where you're exhausted, you're overwhelmed, nothing seems to be going right, yet you're still expected to show up, you're still expected to make decisions, you're still expected to lead well, right, and leading is demanding and consistently carrying the weight of the responsibility of your organization or your family or wherever you find yourself in. Leadership can be overwhelming, and if we're not careful, we can get caught up leading for God instead of leading from God, and so that's what I want to lean in today. Imagine you're driving a car and you see the gas light come on and you think I probably can get a few more miles. Anybody ever done that and didn't make it. I've had those moments. And then suddenly the car starts sputtering and you realize you've pushed it too far.
Speaker 1:We were new to Sarasota or I was anyway. My wife and I just moved back to our town. It was 2010 early. I had a Subaru WRX, I loved that car and I was driving down 75, and I just moved back to our town. It was 2010 early. I had a Subaru WRX, I loved that car and I was driving down 75 and I thought I can get to the next exit. And I got to the next exit and I thought I can get to the next exit. You've been there. You know what I'm saying. I did not get to the next exit. I didn't even get close and I had flip-flops on and walking that walk of shame down the interstate when some guy saw how cool my car was and pulled over because of that.
Speaker 1:He's like man, I love your car. I'm like I'm thankful you're here. Your car's okay too, because it has gas in it. Can we use yours right and truthfully? That's how many of us lead. We're running on fumes, holding onto past experiences, quick prayers and leftover faith from last Sunday. But you can't give what you don't have right. You lead best when you lead from spiritual overflow, not emptiness. The reality is leadership isn't about skill, it's about sustainability, it's about who you are. When no one's watching, when no one's around, the decisions that you're making in those moments and if you're spiritually empty, it'll show up in your leadership. Burnout, frustration, lack of clarity these are all signs of a leader who's disconnected from the source.
Speaker 1:My theme verse for today is found in John, chapter 15. Jesus gave the clearest picture of what this looks like. He says remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither you can bear fruit unless you remain in me. He says I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me, I'm remaining in you and you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do what? Nothing. And that last part is the key. That last part is critical for you and I to understand. Apart from Christ, you and I can do nothing.
Speaker 1:You might have talent, you might have drive, you might have leadership ability, but without staying connected to Jesus Christ, your leadership will always have a limit. Think about a tree during a storm. A tree with deep roots may bend, but it won't break. A tree with shallow roots, it topples when the wind picks up. Leadership is the same way. When storms come at your leadership conflict, failure, stress, disappointment in life do you stand firm or do you collapse? And I think, based on how you answer, that can determine where you're at in your leadership right now, where you're at in burnout, where you're at in staying connected to the source. And I've had seasons that those things come and they don't affect me real hard and I know it's because I'm connected to Christ in that moment. I've had other seasons. They come and it knocks me out and I'm all of a sudden just trying to survive the season, realizing I'm not truly connected to Christ today.
Speaker 1:So today we're going to look at three ways that your faith fuels your leadership and at the end I want to give you three kind of practical ways to apply what we're learning today immediately. But before we dive in, let me ask you this question Are you leading from overflow or are you leading from empty? First point this morning is that your leadership is fueled by your fate. So here's a foundational truth to get us started your leadership is only as strong as your faith. There's a misconception that leadership is about skills and charisma and strategy, and while those things are important and while those things will move your career forward, they aren't the foundation. The foundation is your faith. It's what fuels you, it's what stains you, it's what gives you wisdom beyond yourself, and we live in a culture that glorifies self-sufficiency. Right, leaders are told to be independent, to make things happen, to rely on their own strength. But the problem is, if you and I try to lead on our own strength, you will eventually hit a wall. It's just inevitable. It's going to happen. You'll face a problem that you can't solve. You'll come to a moment when your energy, your creativity, your confidence, it runs out in life. And when that happens, my question always goes back to what is your foundation? Are you your foundation? Are you your foundation? If you're your foundation, you're in trouble. Right, your foundation has to be in Christ.
Speaker 1:Think about Moses. When God called him to lead Israel, moses didn't say absolutely, I've got this. You picked the right guy. God, I'm amazing at what I do. Right? That's not what he said. He hesitated. He said who am I to lead? You've picked the wrong guy. What if they don't believe the things I say? In fact, I'm not even a good speaker. Right? Moses had all these excuses, these insecurities that every leader has felt at some point in life. But notice how God responds to Moses. He says I will be with you, and that's the key.
Speaker 1:Faith-fueled leadership isn't about how strong you are. It's about how deeply you trust God. Not about your strength, but how deeply you truly trust God. And I think we all go through seasons of that. There are some seasons that we trust God with everything, and there are other seasons. We trust God with parts of our life, and there are parts of our life we don't, and we wouldn't say that we don't trust God with it, but our actions reflect that.
Speaker 1:One of my favorite leadership verses is found in Proverbs 3, and it says this trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding, and all your ways submit to him and he'll make your path straight. Notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't say trust in your own instincts. It doesn't say figure it all out yourself. It says trust in the Lord. When we trust in God, he makes our path straight. He straightens out the winding road of mess that we're walking in this season. Now that doesn't mean that there won't be challenges, but it means the direction is clear. Great leaders don't just seek solutions, they seek God. They don't just seek the solutions.
Speaker 1:It's easy to get caught up in the practical side of leadership and if you've been coming to this event for any amount of time, mostly what I talk about is the practical side of leadership. Today I'm going a little bit of a different direction because I want you to see the spiritual side of leadership. The practical side of leadership is solving problems and making decisions and moving forward. But if you're not careful, we'll start relying on our own understanding instead of God's wisdom. Think about it how often, in whatever career you're in, whatever version of leadership you're in, how often do you make decisions based on what seems logical, what's worked before or what feels right in the moment? Honestly, that's how we lead. A lot of times, those are our go-tos. I've done this before. I know how this will go. It seems logical to me, but just feels right. I'm going to make this decision and there's nothing wrong with logic and experience. But if they replace our faith, our leadership has limits.
Speaker 1:Imagine walking in the dark with a flashlight. You can only see a few feet in front of you. I'm recently trying to get back into exercise and running and, for whatever reason, I always run at night, and so we put the kids to bed about nine o'clock 930, and then I go for a run, but I've got a little headlamp. The problem with the headlamp is I can only see what the headlamp is pointing at, and a lot of the neighborhoods I'm running in don't have a lot of streetlights, and so you can imagine I'm running and I'm fairly confident where I'm at, because I've run these paths before. But if I don't constantly adjust and refocus to what's coming right before me, I'm going hit a hole and I'm gonna go down, and I'm not gonna go down lightly. That's what happens when we lead on our own wisdom. We're limited in what we can see and we're constantly reacting. Now contrast that with the neighborhoods that I run in that have streetlights everywhere. In those moments I actually can turn off my headlamp. I can see everything that's coming. I'm not having to react on what's right in front of me. I'm able to see the landscape of everything I'm going in. And that's what happens when you and I trust God. He doesn't just show us the next step, he provides a direction. He provides a purpose in our life. He strengthens and straightens the path as we lean on him. Too many leaders are walking around with a flashlight mentality, trying to figure it out as they go, when God is saying I already know the path ahead of you, I've already figured it out, trust me.
Speaker 1:Let's look at a couple of leaders in scripture who handled fate completely different. The first is a guy by the name of Joshua. His leadership was fueled by faith. When Joshua took over leadership from Moses, he faced what would seem as an impossible task leading the Israelites actually into the promised land that they had been seeking for so long. But instead of relying on his own ability, joshua constantly sought God's direction. When they crossed the Jordan, he followed God's instructions on exactly how that was to go. When they fought Jericho, he let God lead the way. When he made mistakes, like being deceived, it was because he failed to seek God first. And Joshua 1.9 reminds us of God's call. That was specifically to Joshua. He says Joshua, be strong and be courageous, don't be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, will what Be with you. Same thing he said to Moses He'll be with you wherever you go. And Joshua led from faith, not just strategy.
Speaker 1:Second leader we'll look at is a guy by the name of Saul. Saul's leadership was fueled by fear. Now compare that with Saul. Saul was a king who started out strong, but his downfall came when he trusted himself listen more than he trusted God. And I don't know that any of us would ever say that, but sometimes we live like that. Saul was a guy who rushed into decision, making a sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel. We see that in 1 Samuel, chapter 13. He made an emotion-based decision rather than faith-based decisions. He cared more about what people thought than what God had commanded. And Saul's story is honestly a cautionary tale to leaders that when a leader stops trusting God, their leadership becomes unstable.
Speaker 1:So how do we ensure our leadership is fueled by fate and not just our effort? Because, truth be told, we still have to put effort in right, we still have to be proactive, we have to be doing things in life. But how do we get to the point that we understand that, man, as much as I'm doing what I'm called to do, my ultimate source is coming from God. I'll give you a couple of things. First is pray. Before you act, before you make any major decision, say God, what do you want me to do? And I'm not saying, like you're walking into the board meeting about to make the decision. You're like, oh yeah, god, what should I do here? Like I'm talking about being proactive when you know you've got a decision coming down the road, like we're asking that question. We're praying. We often pray after we make a decision. Right, god, hopefully that goes right. Make the decision I made be your decision. Bless it right. But what if, as leaders, we got in the habit of praying before we made the decision.
Speaker 1:Second thing stay in the Word of God. Psalm 119, 105 says your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. If we know the Word of God lights our path and gives us direction, why would we not spend time in the word of God as much as we can? Leaders who don't regularly spend time in scripture are leading in the dark. Make time daily, even if it's just five minutes, to realign with God's wisdom. Third thing surround yourself with godly counsel. Proverbs 11, 14 says this where there's no guidance, a people falls. But in abundance of counselors there is safety. Wise leaders seek wisdom from others who are walking closely with Christ. I want you to see that Wise leaders seek wisdom from others who are also walking closely with Christ.
Speaker 1:If your sounding board doesn't have a foundation of faith, you've got the wrong sounding board, pastor. They're really good at what they do, Great. They can be a part of your council, but they should not be your go-to council. You need to have people in your circle that have the same foundation of faith that you have, and so one thing that you can ask yourself is do you have people in your life, who speak truth, even when it's hard right, even when it's probably not what you want to hear? Do you have people that trust you enough and your relationship enough to be able to say, hey, I need to tell you something hard right now. Ask yourself am I relying more on my experience or on God's wisdom? Number two the discipline of staying connected. So we've established that your leadership should be fueled by faith, but the question is how do you keep your faith strong in life's demands? Because, honestly, leadership is draining. You're constantly making decisions. People are always looking to you for guidance and direction.
Speaker 1:There are days when you feel like you're being pulled in a thousand different directions and if you're not careful, your faith can become something you talk about but you don't actually nurture. This is a danger in the career of pastoring. As pastors, we're constantly talking to people giving guidance and counseling, whether it's employees and the church structure or it's the parishioners within the church, and so if I'm not careful, I can get home and I've got nothing left, and I'm not refueling myself either. I've got nothing left, and so I think you know what. I'm just gonna veg out. Anybody else just love vegging out? Yes, I love it. I just want my mind to stop sometimes, and so, whether it's reading a book or watching a show, I just want something in the background there, and if I'm not careful, I can make that my routine and all of a sudden, every day I have a little less because I'm not refueling myself in the word. If you're not careful, your faith can be something you talk about but not something you actually nurture.
Speaker 1:A leader without spiritual roots will eventually collapse. Let me show you that verse that we looked at, our theme verse four, this morning. Let me show it to you again. It says remain in me and I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. And then that last part I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, and apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus is saying that our ability to lead, our ability to influence, our ability to influence, our ability to bear fruit is completely dependent on our connection to him. It's not partially dependent on that, it is completely dependent on you being connected to Jesus. If we're disconnected, our leadership will eventually dry up.
Speaker 1:Think about a branch that's been cut from the tree. I don't know if this happened at your house, but when we had our last hurricane, some branches fell on the ground, but some didn't. They stayed in the tree and to me they look like they were still all connected until a couple of days, maybe a couple of weeks, go by and then half the tree looks dead and you're like what's going on? Is my tree dying? And no, just all those branches. They stayed up there, but they are now disconnected from the tree and they're dead.
Speaker 1:Imagine this. I love this analogy. Imagine a cell phone and a lamp. Right, a cell phone is designed to be plugged in. You unplug it and then you go throughout your day and it's unplugged for the rest of the day and it works for a while, but as the day goes on, it has less and less energy and eventually, at some point, if you don't reconnect it, it's going to die. A lamp, on the other hand, only works when it is connected to the source. A lot of leaders treat their faith like a phone. They think, man, I get charged up on Sunday and I had a great devotional a few days ago, so I'm good, till the next time I have time for it. And what happens is you start draining a little bit every day, every decision, every meeting, and eventually you burn out, and the hope is you get to the next exit to get gas again before you burn out. Right, that is such a horrible cycle. To be in A lamp, on the other hand, only works when it's connected, and that's how we should live, staying connected to Christ.
Speaker 1:Faith isn't meant to run on a battery that runs out, it's a constant power source. You don't just need occasional recharging, you need constant connection. So again, let me give you a couple things. These are going to repeat some of the things I've already said, because I want you to see how simple this is. How do we stay spiritually connected when life gets too busy? Daily time in the word have I said that already today? Yes, daily time in the word of God.
Speaker 1:Psalm 1, verse 2 and 3 says this but whose delight is in the law of the Lord? Now I want to pause there because I want you to understand what that's saying. Do you delight in the law of the Lord? Do you delight in the scriptures? Is that something that brings joy to you? And who meditates on his law day and night. Now, if this said something different, who meditates on his blessings and what he's going to do for you day and night, maybe we would get on board and say, yeah, I want to do that. We say who meditates on his law day and night, that person, the person that is in love with the word of God, like that, is like a tree planted by streams of water, which is constantly being nourished, which yields its fruit in season. Reading the Bible isn't about checking a box off. It's about staying rooted in the right thing, making sure your foundation is correct, and when you and I neglect the word of God, our spiritual life begins to dry up and your leadership suffers.
Speaker 1:Second thing prayer is a leadership habit. I think I've said this already today. I'm telling you. I'm gonna repeat myself a little bit because I want you to see how simple this is.
Speaker 1:James 1.5 says if any of you lacks wisdom, you should what? Ask God. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. He's not like thinking man, you're an idiot. Why are you having to ask this question? Right, he's not finding fault in your questions. He's excited that you're coming to him and he'll give you the wisdom that you seek.
Speaker 1:As leaders, you're constantly facing decisions. How often do you stop and pray before making them? And I'll say I'm guilty of this as well. As a pastor, I know some things that need to be done to grow churches and reach people. We've been doing this for a long time. We've got an incredible team here. Our team is smart enough to know how to do it, and so the danger is just doing things without relying on God. The best habit you can build is praying before reacting. Before every meeting, before every decision, spend some time in prayer.
Speaker 1:Third thing is this learning to rest in God, having Sabbath moments. Mark 6 says it this way come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. This should be my life. First, I love this, I love being by myself, I love resting right, I love being with God, and he's saying hey, this should be a part of your regular life. Jesus was a great example of this. He constantly stepped away from the crowds to spend time with his father, and if Jesus needed that time, how much more do we need it? Rest isn't about just taking a break. It's about refueling spiritually. So ask yourself am I leading from connection or disconnection? What's one habit that I'm overlooking spiritually that I can build on this week? So let's talk about how your faith actually shapes the way you lead others, because here's the reality you can have a strong faith and a disciplined spiritual life, but if it doesn't transform how you lead and interact with people, you're missing the point of having a strong faith and a disciplined spiritual life. Your foundation, who you're connected with and how you're connected with God, should affect how you lead.
Speaker 1:Your leadership reflects your fate, whether you realize it or not. Every leader operates from a belief system. Some people lead from fear right. They're afraid of failure, they're afraid of rejection, they're afraid of what could happen if they don't get everything right. Some leaders lead from pride, driven by personal ambition, thinking they're the greatest things in sliced bread and so they're just leading and they're the best leader. Some leaders lead from pressure, trying to prove themselves constantly. But the best leaders, they lead from faith. They lead from a deep trust in God, which changes how they make decisions and changes how they handle conflict and changes how they care for people. Colossians 3.23 says whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if you're working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Speaker 1:A leader who leads from faith sees their leadership as an act of worship. So let me back up and ask do you see your leadership as an act of worship? For most of us, the answer is probably no, because we see it as our job. We see it as the thing we're called to do. We see it as the way we provide for our family. But what if, after lunch today, you head back to work or wherever you lead at, and you say you know what the things I'm doing right now is an act of worship to God? The decisions I'm going to make today reflect my heart for God. See, leadership isn't about your position, it's about your purpose, and I think in our society we're taught that wrong. We're taught to look at leadership about position. We're always straining to get to that higher position. But what if you viewed your leadership not as just your position but as your purpose in life? And our purpose in life collectively is to glorify God through all that we do, including how you lead. People should be able to see Jesus in you as you lead.
Speaker 1:So let's look at three ways your faith should shape your leadership. First, learning to trust God with the outcomes, not just your effort. Right, learning to trust God with outcomes. Proverbs 16 says it this way commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans. Many leaders believe everything depends on them. Faith reminds us that God is ultimately in control of results. This doesn't mean that we don't work hard. It means we work hard while trusting God with the outcome. Lead with confidence, not control. Second thing is learning to lead with humility, not power. Mark 10, verse 45, says it this way. For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom. For many, the greatest leaders serve first, they serve first. That's their goal.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you guys noticed when you got here, but there was not food when you walked in the building today, right, chick-fil-a was running behind. They got lost and all of a sudden, my staff's panicked. Truth be told, I wasn't here either, and so they're panicked about two things, right? And a few minutes before we started, it came in and the entire staff jumped on and started building boxes and sandwiches. Because that's what you do you serve. That's leadership. I didn't have to look around at my staff and ask anybody to serve. I didn't have to wonder is anybody gonna jump in and help? I know they're hard. I know who they are. They're ready to do whatever it takes, and that's what your leadership should look like in everything, even when there's a frantic moment of having an event and all the event supplies aren't showing up on time.
Speaker 1:Third thing is learning to shepherd people, not just manage people. Shepherd the people you have. What if you viewed your staff as people that aren't just there to get something done for you, but they're there for you to help them grow? John 10, 11,. Jesus' great example is I am the good shepherd, right? The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He calls himself the good shepherd. The good shepherd doesn't just direct although that's part of what God does for us but he also protects, he also nurtures, he also sacrifices. And so in this we can ask ourselves am I leading my people or am I just asking them to accomplish goals? One of the most modern examples of faith-shaping leadership is, honestly, is Chick-fil-A. The founder, true Kathy, built his business on biblical values and it's evident by how they treat their employees and their customers. They don't just serve food, listen, they serve people right. They don't just serve food. I go there to get food, but they don't just serve food, they serve people. Even in the fast food environment. The company's culture reflects their love and leadership for Jesus.
Speaker 1:Little moment of introspection. Does your leadership reflect Christ, and how would your leadership change if you've truly trusted God for the outcomes? Because your leadership isn't just about getting things done. It's about showing people who God is through the way you lead. Now, we've covered a lot today. Faith isn't just a personal belief, right, it's the foundation of how you lead. Leadership isn't about doing more. Leadership is about abiding more right. Leadership isn't about doing more. It's about abiding in Christ more. Leadership is about abiding more right. Leadership isn't about doing more. It's about abiding in Christ more. The best leaders aren't ones who work harder. They're the ones who stay closer to Christ.
Speaker 1:So I told you at the very beginning I wanted to give you three practical things before I let you have some talk time at your table. So if you're taking notes, these might sound familiar. First thing is this morning check-in Start your day with God. I've said this a couple of times in a couple of different ways today Pray right, spend some time in the word of God. Psalm 143, 8 says let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I've put my trust in you. Think about that for a moment. If you woke up every morning with a love letter from God and you let that be how you started your day, how much better would your day be? The good news is you have a love letter for God and you can start your day every day hearing from him, and then ask simple questions God, how can I lead for you today? What do you want to teach me today? How can I serve you best today? The first voice you listen to in the morning will shape your entire day, and oftentimes that voice is our own. It's our own self-doubt, self-reflection, things that are going on. Last night, we had a rough night with some of our kids, and so that's how I woke up this morning, replaying what happened last night, and that kind of set my tone for my entire morning, and I knew I was coming to speak and I thought I'm speaking, I'm not letting this happen, and it's happening right now. Right, let your morning start with God telling you how much he loves you.
Speaker 1:Second thing create a leadership prayer list. So not just praying for yourself, but pray for those you lead. What if you took your organization and you wrote down everybody that's direct reports to you, and you started every day not thinking about how much they've messed up or how they've let you down or how they're behind on this, but you started a day saying I'm going to pray that today's their best day. I'm going to pray that God works through them in a way today they've never experienced. 1 Timothy 2.1 says. I urge you, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. Start a prayer list for your team, your employees or the people that you influence. Instead of just leading over them, start leading for them through prayer.
Speaker 1:Third thing is talked about just a moment ago is Sabbath moments? Schedule time to refuel spiritually. Matthew 11, 28,. Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Truth is, leaders are always on the go. If you are a true inward leader, like you're always thinking about what you're supposed to be doing, what's next burnout isn't a badge of honor, right? Take some time to refuel, to step away. I want to leave you with this question today Are you leading from spiritual overflow or are you leading on empty? Because if you stay connected to Christ, your leadership will have wisdom beyond yourself. You'll lead from strength instead of exhaustion. People will see Christ in the way you lead.
Speaker 1:So take this week, make the commitment to make sure your leadership foundation is found in Christ and not on your own abilities. For the last few moments that we have together, we'd love for you to spend some time at your table talking through that Maybe something that stood out to you today, maybe a challenge that is on you, or maybe the question that's on the screen right now. Beyond that, thank you so much for spending a random Wednesday with us. We will be back for Leadership Lunch on April 2nd. The signup will come out in about a week. Thanks for joining us today and God bless. Hey, thanks for joining me on another episode of Beyond Sunday. I hope that was informative for you, but I also hope it was life-changing. I hope you grab some things that can change your leadership this week and focus on making sure that you're connecting with God in all times so you're spiritually ready to lead in every area of your life. Until next time, hope you have an incredible week.