One Week to The Good Fight
The Apostle Paul writes the last letter he will pen that is included in the Bible, and summarizes his time on earth. Among his final words are: “I have fought the good fight…” (2 Timothy 4:7). He characterizes the life of a Christ-follower on earth as a fight. It’s a reminder that if we are following Jesus and doing His work, all will not be easy, and not everyone will be agreeable. We will make enemies, face persecution and have to make tough choices.
SIX TOOLS FOR THE FIGHT
In another of Paul’s letters, he writes about six tools for “fighting the good fight”, You can learn about these tools and use them as a leader on a daily basis. In this one-week journey through Scripture, you will learn how to “fight the good fight” utilizing these six powerful items of spiritual significance. Every follower of Jesus has these at their ready disposal. Whatever the good fight that causes personal and spiritual struggle in your life, family, or leadership, you will be equipped to give it your all.
SIGN UP FOR A LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
Sign up below and you’ll get a new tool each day via email, starting today and for the following five days. With each brief lesson, you will explore Scripture, and receive study suggestions and practical how-tos that you can implement immediately. By the end of the week, you will know the basics you need to “fight the good fight”.
WHY WE DO IT
We are investing in you as a leader because we believe that grounded, faith-centered leaders are desperately needed for our country and culture. This kind of leadership isn’t built with books and seminars. It’s built one person at a time, through the traditions of listening, learning and shared experience. We invite you to partner with us in your leadership journey. Our prayer is that you will become a leader in your marriage, home and workplace that will impact the lives in your sphere of influence toward Jesus Christ—the greatest Leader of all.
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts.
Leaders by nature want to win. They want to win the account, win the deal, win the quarter, win the best staff, win at products, win at service. This is why Jesus’ teaching for leaders to “love your enemies” is tremendously challenging.
A hack is a clever trick or shortcut for accomplishing something. There are hacks for smartphones and cooking and driving. What about in your leadership? Is being a good leader something that has hacks?
The key facet of leadership development—that is, investing in others for the purpose of seeing them exhibit excellence through their own lives and leadership—is “baked in” to New Testament teaching.
Here are some common questions we receive from table leaders, and some suggestions for how to maintain best practices and grow in life and leadership.
American politics is getting more intense and divisive by the day. The democratic tradition of debate and discourse, leading to compromise and unity, is all but gone in the US. Instead, we gather into tribes based on deeply held political beliefs, we deride the opposition.
Jesus and His disciples traveled and ministered together, day and night, for three years. We don’t know of all the meals they had together, the conversations as the walked from town to town, or what Jesus said when they fished, and started campfires, and woke up in the mornings.
William Whiting Borden (1887-1913) was an American philanthropist, millionaire and Christian missionary. Borden surrendered his life to Christ as a child as a result of the witness of his mother. Borden wrote three phrases in his Bible that defined his life: “No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.”
Dietrick Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a German pastor, theologian and anti-Nazi dissident. He was opposed to Hitler’s genocide of the Jews, and ran “underground seminaries” during the war. In 1943 he was imprisoned by the Gestapo. Bonhoeffer was executed in the spring of 1945.
The table is an amazing leadership development platform. Our time at a Friday Morning Men’s Fellowship table is designed around three key words and actions that will help you grow in relational leadership.
As a leader, you’re not over a what, but a who. To lead is to influence others in a way that helps them grow personally, professionally and spiritually. Leadership is fundamentally about influencing people.
When performance trumps people, an eclipse of leadership occurs. The leader himself overshadows the team. His priorities, ideas, thoughts, decisions, become the elements of first importance.
Charlemagne (747-814) united the majority of Western and Central Europe during the Middle Ages. People call him the “Father of Europe,” and the Pope made him the first Holy Roman Emperor.
When a C-suite staff member moves on or retires, it takes an average of four months, and can cost thousands of dollars, to find a replacement. Yet, 50-70% of all executive searches fail. They end with the new hire being unsuccessful and leaving the position.
Salvation through Christ is a gift of grace. Christ Himself is described as “full of grace” (John 1:14). A common definition of grace as used throughout the Bible is undeserved favor.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) was an English pastor of the New Park Street Chapel (later renamed Metropolitan Tabernacle) in London for 38 years. He became known as the “Prince of Preachers” for his spellbinding sermons, which sometimes ran two hours or more.
What if you could know what God Himself was thinking? What if you were able to discern the very thoughts of God? How would that skill and divine knowledge benefit your life and leadership?
Anxiety most often grows from lack of knowledge and/or control. It’s easy to be afraid of that which we don’t understand, or can’t foresee. The Bible addresses anxiety directly. We find at least three spiritual resources we can use to overcome anxiety in life and work.
James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. (1924 - ) is an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th President of the United States. Though many believe his presidency a failure, his post-Oval Office years have been nothing short of phenomenal.
Saint Nicholas of Myra (270-373) was an early Christian bishop from the city of Myra in Asia Minor during the time of the Roman Empire. That he loved children and was tremendously generous is widely accepted, and gave rise to the modern day tales of Santa Claus.
For clarity, consider each message in light of the question, “Is what I am about to say of benefit to the listener?” Even difficult statements are beneficial if they truly help the receiver, and are delivered with proper tone and context.
The Bible tells faith-centered leaders to live as optimists. This confidence is a spiritual character trait based on our trust in God. Joshua 1:9 promises, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed...”
We must measure to lead. Self-examination is integral to leadership. A leader who is not looking inward to see progress and pitfalls will not grow outwardly in decisions, relationships and vision.
Some leaders see themselves as a steward of their position. Others want to claim a top position in business. Still others want to accomplish something specific. None of these purposes, however, outlast the leader himself.
In leadership we might go out on a limb, try something new, give an idea a season. But when the result isn’t what we wanted or hoped for, our minds turn to the idea that we “need to get back”. Back the basics. Back to reality. Back to normal.
Nicholas Lou Saban, Jr. is an American football coach, most known for his 17 years as Head Coach at the University of Alabama. He is widely considered one of the greatest college coaches of all time.
There are aspects of the Father that go above our heads. Though we can’t possibly know all the ways of God, we can know, in a broad sense, how God’s ways are higher our ways.
Some people are energized when they have interesting news about someone else. They can’t wait to share “inside information”, especially if it paints someone else in a negative or surprising light.
Once a person surrenders their life to Christ, faith and leadership cannot be separated. It is “baked in”. The difference in Christian leadership is that faith takes point for the leader.
There are a number of avenues to go deeper and explore a bible topic for leadership that might be specific to your table group. Is it okay for a table leader to deviate from what is provided? Yes, of course!