Before school begins soon and I generally like to post some goals that I desire for the students which God allows me to teach, but this year I am changing things just a bit and am listing 13 reminders for me as a teacher:
1. Content and application are two sides of the same coin; teaching is incomplete attempting only one.
2. Skills needed for our ministries must be honed by proper application and practice. "Practice does not make perfect; Correct practice makes perfect." Until we move from understanding the skill to rightly doing the skill we cannot be effective.
3. We teach people, not textbooks; the materials are only a means by which we can share, love and disciple.
4. Respect is earned, not forced. Respect gained by fear leads to avoidance; respect gained by love and trust deepens both. Respect is a two-way street.
5. Anger and impatience are like fire; they can burn and hurt all those around, whether intended or not.
6. The Holy Spirit is the source of creativity; my sensitivity to His working either leads me to join or makes me a hindrance.
7. My response to the students around me must be centered on seeing what God is doing in their lives, not how they respond to me.
8. Fresh study will bring more fruit than simply recycling old notes.
9. The calling and privilege to teach came from God and He has the authority to remove it anytime He pleases.
10. My joy and self-worth come from what God has done through Christ, not from my own efforts. “He who began the good work in me will carry it on until completion until the day of Christ.” [Phil 1:6]
11. We speak the truth in love so that the nature and character of Christ are foremost in all we do and say.
12. My emotional responses are the red flags of warning and caution that can reveal areas in my life which are not consistent with the nature and character of Christ.
13. Becoming wisely transparent about personal weakness and struggles can be a help and encouragement to others as we grow in our sensitivity to our great need and dependence on Christ.
Extra:
I'm not responsible for trying to convince students how smart I am or how much I know, but to join in what God is doing in their lives through the skills and knowledge He has given me.
Showing posts with label transparency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transparency. Show all posts
Friday, July 27, 2018
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
ATVs: Three Qualities that Make the Difference in Leading
An “ATV” may be an “All Terrain Vehicle,” but in leadership it stands for authenticity, transparency, vulnerability. There are many other character qualities that those who lead worship must have, but those that deal with people skills are some of the most crucial. Let’s look at these one by one:
Authenticity: The idea is that is not simply a copy, but the real thing, it’s genuine. I remember seeing stamped on the inside cover of a Bible I had as a child “genuine leather,” indicating that it wasn’t some sort of plastic, but the real stuff. Leaders who are authentic are the “real stuff” as well. How they act in public is the same in private. Recently I accidently dropped some coins and failed to hear the familiar “ring” of real copper and silver hitting a hard floor. Picking them up it was obvious that they were not solid, but a mixture of inferior metals. They had the appearance of the real thing, but were not of the same quality. Godly leadership “rings true” regardless where it is and with whom it relates. What they know from Scripture is what they practice. Character and integrity are not just subjects talked about, but practiced.
Transparency: Willingness to share weakness and admit wrong seems on the surface to be counterproductive. The idea here is not that the person is perfect, since only Jesus Christ is the only one on this Earth that has ever been and will ever be perfect. All of the rest of us are not. So, we are not talking about perfection, but the ability to recognize one’s on limitations and the humility to be open to share those weaknesses with those whom God has called us to serve. When we fail to admit our weaknesses, we only fool ourselves. Those around us generally are painfully aware of those areas in our lives in which we fail to function properly and many times are suffering under the situation. True leaders not only recognize and admit their weaknesses, but bring along side of them those that are strong in those areas and do not feel threatened.
Another part of transparency is the willingness to receive criticism and be informed about blind spots. When our son was taking a drivers education class the instructor made a statement that our son shared with me later. The teacher said that the blind spot in the typical vehicle is big enough for an 18-wheeler to fit in and not be seen. That is a startling fact, but just as big are the “blind spots” in our own character. How many “18 wheelers” of unloving attitudes, pride, unforgiveness, to mention a few are lurking near us ready to cause ministry collisions? If we are not open to hearing about our blind spots, or do not have those with whom we can receive such information, it is only a matter of time before things come crashing down.
We must always be wise in our transparency, for the time and place for such openness is just as crucial as the act of sharing itself. However, this should not be an excuse to avoid being transparent, especially within a group that we accountable.
Vulnerability: Vulnerability is closely linked to transparency, in fact one cannot exist without the other. For there to be true transparency, one must be willing to be vulnerable. It is risky. All manner of fears come to our minds: What will people think if I tell them that I have trouble with my prayer life? What will they think if I admit weakness in other areas? Transparency and vulnerability allow others to see the human side of leadership and help “take them off the pedestal,” allowing identification to take place. Is this biblical? Let’s see what Paul has to say in Romans 7:19 “ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” If the apostle Paul was honest about his life, should not we be as well? Is it worth it? I think the choice is obvious: We have a choice to remain disconnected from those around us, or we can become bridges and models of how to apply the truth of Scripture in our lives. Godly leaders are authentic, transparent, and vulnerable because the command to make disciples requires it.
Authenticity: The idea is that is not simply a copy, but the real thing, it’s genuine. I remember seeing stamped on the inside cover of a Bible I had as a child “genuine leather,” indicating that it wasn’t some sort of plastic, but the real stuff. Leaders who are authentic are the “real stuff” as well. How they act in public is the same in private. Recently I accidently dropped some coins and failed to hear the familiar “ring” of real copper and silver hitting a hard floor. Picking them up it was obvious that they were not solid, but a mixture of inferior metals. They had the appearance of the real thing, but were not of the same quality. Godly leadership “rings true” regardless where it is and with whom it relates. What they know from Scripture is what they practice. Character and integrity are not just subjects talked about, but practiced.
Transparency: Willingness to share weakness and admit wrong seems on the surface to be counterproductive. The idea here is not that the person is perfect, since only Jesus Christ is the only one on this Earth that has ever been and will ever be perfect. All of the rest of us are not. So, we are not talking about perfection, but the ability to recognize one’s on limitations and the humility to be open to share those weaknesses with those whom God has called us to serve. When we fail to admit our weaknesses, we only fool ourselves. Those around us generally are painfully aware of those areas in our lives in which we fail to function properly and many times are suffering under the situation. True leaders not only recognize and admit their weaknesses, but bring along side of them those that are strong in those areas and do not feel threatened.
Another part of transparency is the willingness to receive criticism and be informed about blind spots. When our son was taking a drivers education class the instructor made a statement that our son shared with me later. The teacher said that the blind spot in the typical vehicle is big enough for an 18-wheeler to fit in and not be seen. That is a startling fact, but just as big are the “blind spots” in our own character. How many “18 wheelers” of unloving attitudes, pride, unforgiveness, to mention a few are lurking near us ready to cause ministry collisions? If we are not open to hearing about our blind spots, or do not have those with whom we can receive such information, it is only a matter of time before things come crashing down.
We must always be wise in our transparency, for the time and place for such openness is just as crucial as the act of sharing itself. However, this should not be an excuse to avoid being transparent, especially within a group that we accountable.
Vulnerability: Vulnerability is closely linked to transparency, in fact one cannot exist without the other. For there to be true transparency, one must be willing to be vulnerable. It is risky. All manner of fears come to our minds: What will people think if I tell them that I have trouble with my prayer life? What will they think if I admit weakness in other areas? Transparency and vulnerability allow others to see the human side of leadership and help “take them off the pedestal,” allowing identification to take place. Is this biblical? Let’s see what Paul has to say in Romans 7:19 “ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” If the apostle Paul was honest about his life, should not we be as well? Is it worth it? I think the choice is obvious: We have a choice to remain disconnected from those around us, or we can become bridges and models of how to apply the truth of Scripture in our lives. Godly leaders are authentic, transparent, and vulnerable because the command to make disciples requires it.
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