The leader and his time - part 2

I’m really glad that you are being introduced (or re-introduced) to some classic Christian writers in this series on Leader Development!  J. Oswald Sanders has been a favorite author of mine since I first became a Christian.  God used his book, Spiritual Leadership, to help form me as a leader in placing myself at God’s disposal, trusting Him to make me into a leader used for His glory.

It’s only appropriate that this article by J Oswald Sanders (now you can read the article) will not take you as much time to read as the others in this series.☺

The leader and his time

“Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time” (Eph. 5:15-6)

A leader must choose to live wisely in every area of life. Wise use of time and opportunities will help the leader to spend his life on something that will outlast it.  The apostle Paul urges us to redeem the time (Eph. 5:16). As we progress in the economy of time, we are learning to live wisely.

This week’s Bible study should help you as you consider being a wise steward with the opportunities and time that the Lord gives you (save the article for next week!).  I hope it provides some new insights.

Shepherd on the Hills of Biblical History

This week I would like to invite you to take a brief look at the biblical metaphor of shepherd (the article is at the end of the study). This article is an excerpt from a book called, They Smell Like Sheep by Dr. Lynn Anderson.  I hope this article will add more insight to the discoveries you made last week in your study on the biblical concept of leading as a shepherd.  I look forward to hearing what you are learning about leading as you continue to pursue developing your spiritual base in the Lord and in His principles.

Leading as a shepherd

This week’s focus on developing your spiritual base as a leader is to look at the character of a leader who has been charged with caring for the people God has raised up for you to lead.  As we look to the Scriptures to understand what it means to be a leader we see that the most common metaphor used for leadership is that of the “shepherd”.   Jesus indeed called himself the “Good Shepherd”.  If we are to be the kind of leaders who do the will of God and build his kingdom, we must understand and reflect his Shepherd’s heart.

Please set aside time this week to work through the Bible study on being a shepherd.  Take time with the Lord to ask Him to show you where and how you can develop in leading those involved in your movement with the heart of a shepherd.

Once again, please refrain from reading the attached article.  I will introduce it next week.

Introduction to the article: The people who know their God

“The people who know their God will display strength and take action." 

The last part of Daniel 11:32 is one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible is to me.  It feeds me courage and motivates me to not just get out and serve God, but it also draws me to know Him more and more.

This week’s blog invites you to read a section of the book, Knowing God, by J.I. Packer (it's the article following last week's Bible study on 'Cultivating your first love').  Dr. Packer is considered one of the most important evangelical theologians of the late 20th century and his book, Knowing God, has become a Christian classic in the English-speaking world.  

Dr. Packer teaches at a seminary.  He is a theologian.  His book is not a ‘quick-read’.  There is some rather heady stuff in this article.  I know that my tendency is to lay aside readings that may take a bit of thought to grasp the concepts.  Please don’t lay this article aside!  Take your time with it; read a section of it each day for a while, and spend time in prayer as you read the sections.  Ask God to guide you in your pursuit of the knowledge of Him.  May it be said of you, that you know God!