Learning to Lead Like Jesus Continued - OutofThisWorldLeadership.com

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Where True Leadership Begins…

Learning to lead like Jesus is a lifetime journey that begins with humility. Dr. Charles Stanley often remarked, “It’s better to say, ‘I am learning,’ than to say, ‘I have learned.’”

Learning to lead like Jesus truly is a lifelong education. Wise leaders are learners, who learn to ask the right questions, get the most accurate answers, and make the wisest decisions.

Bailey does not provide an “11 Easy Steps to Leadership” Book; rather, it’s about 11 character qualities that influence others and will leave a legacy that lasts long after we are gone.

11 Essential Qualities for Christian Leadership

1. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Humility

Humility includes preferring others to ourselves and deferring to their needs above our own.

Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others. Philippians 2:3

The Son of God chose humility, so He could serve other human beings. Instead of taking advantage of His divinity for Himself, He emptied Himself for the sake of us. The humility of Jesus is the standard we aspire to as followers of His. J.O.Y. comes from serving Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself third—all with a humble heart.

Humility is the gateway to grace. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

John Maxwell urges leaders to “have the humility to learn from those around you.”

Humble leaders show respect by planning ahead and listening to others. Humility looks for opportunities to teach and serve society’s marginalized.

As Paul said in Philippians 2:3-5, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

Humility allows the Holy Spirit to use words for goodness and glory. “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). Humble leaders use words to build up and not tear down.

Humble leaders celebrate the successes of others and are inspired by them. When we do what’s best for the family, or for the team, or for the organization, and then trust God with the outcome, He steps in and grows healthy relationships and strong organizations. Humble leaders look for what’s best for the family or the business, not just what’s best for personal gain. They replace selfish ambition with godly ambition.

Humble leaders do what’s best for “us,” not just what’s best for “me.” A humble leader knows that sharing credit goes together with delegating well. As Harry Truman is known to have said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”

2. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Love

Love is arguably the greatest trait since it is the number one command from Christ. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Rick Warren explains, “The first job of leadership is to love people. Leadership without love is manipulation.” As John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus was love and He modeled love.

The parting words of our Savior presented a new, radical love language for His disciples: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Jesus’s command is the best motivation for leaders to love well!

When leaders admit their failures, weaknesses, and struggles, they can build bridges to other hearts because they are real and relatable. In fact, love’s openness builds bridges to other brokenhearted people.

Loving leaders show kindness to others by treating them with honor and dignity. “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Patience has a calming effect on everyone under its influence. Loving patience responds with a cool head and resists a hotheaded reaction. Loving leaders patiently look for a better way, and wait to speak on another day.

Loving leaders grow the capacity to love when they experience forgiveness often. From whom do you need to ask forgiveness, and whom do you need to forgive so your capacity to love can expand?

Forgiveness, kindness, compassion, patience, and humility all mark a disciple of Jesus. Love does the hard thing when it is especially hard to do. Love loves the unlovely.

Here are four ways we can love Him, others, and ourselves well:

Soul Care. We feed our souls when we study and apply God’s Word. His truth reminds us of our 100-percent acceptance in Christ. We feel loved when we see ourselves as the Lord sees us. A cared-for soul seeks Jesus, avoids sin, and loves the Lord, others, and itself well.
Emotional Care. First, we receive Christ’s care. He forgives our sins. Second, we process our feelings in a way that helps us understand how God made us. Emotional care learns to pace itself in prayer. Hope, faith, gratitude, and community contribute to loving ourselves well.
Physical Care. How do we take care of our bodies? A healthy intake of food and drink is responsible physical management. Sleep deprivation and lack of exercise is not.
Care for Others. How well we can love others is determined by how well we can love ourselves.

When we love well, we are successful, and when we do not love well, we have failed.

There is a 100-percent guarantee: When love is applied, it will succeed.

3. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Accountability

Accountability gives others permission to stick their noses into our business.

It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable. – Molière

Here are twelve accountability questions that can clarify our intentions:

Why do you want to…?
How does the Bible address this issue?
What does your spouse think?
What’s best for your family, your faith, and your friends?
Does this decision align with your life purpose and long-term goals?
Are there any of your actions or attitudes you would not want posted on social media?
Are you sure you want to do this?
Have you adequately prayed about this decision and thought through its implications?
Are you reacting out of anger and fear, or responding out of forgiveness and faith?
What advice would you give someone else in your situation?
Is this the story you want to write for your life and later have told about you?
What would Jesus do?

Accountable leaders take the time to develop plans and work them. They are cautious, not cavalier, about the appearance of wrongdoing. Accountable leaders avoid compromising situations by having clearly defined boundaries.

Accountability is active, engaging, and encouraging. The giver and receiver of accountability enter into a trusting relationship. Wisdom in leadership listens to the warning of an accountability partner or group. Authentic accountability requires caring confrontation.

Accountable leaders fear God, submit to authority, and invite accountability. Do the right thing now and trust the Lord for the right outcomes later.

Accountable leaders engage with communities of accountability. Here are three questions to discuss in an accountability group:

What is the Lord teaching you?
What are you learning from your family?
What is your biggest challenge at work we can pray about for you?

An agreed-upon process can facilitate robust and real relationships.

Specific and attainable deadlines can drive decision-making. Deadlines provide a sense of urgency and accountability internally for your team, and externally for those you serve. Deadlines facilitate action. Aren’t you much more focused when you have a writing or project deadline? Firm deadlines, set by prayer, drive us to make better decisions for God.

Short deadlines can keep tasks simple, while long, drawn-out deadlines may bring too much complexity. Focus on one problem at a time, and do not be overwhelmed by a dozen things at once. Also, be flexible when a faith opportunity arises. Deadlines drive decisions, but be willing to adjust based on the Spirit’s leading. Be decisive, act, and trust God. Wisdom in leadership is courageous to set deadlines and trust Christ with the process and with the outcomes.

Do you have an unhealthy need for approval keeping you on a frantic pace that is both unsustainable and unwise? Are you too often driven by the flesh to please people, instead of being led by the Spirit to serve?

It’s better to take the risk of disappointing people who don’t know you than to routinely disappoint those close to you. If you try to do everything for everyone, you risk not doing anything well for anyone.

Doing everything ourselves is not the most effective leadership approach in the long run, as we quickly max out our capacity. Emotionally, overextended. Mentally, no margin. Physically, exhausted. Spiritually, spent! Wisdom in leadership learns to train up other faithful leaders.

It’s better to anticipate the need to surround ourselves with a diversity of gifted leaders than to wait until after the fact and find ourselves causing unintended strife and stress. Wisdom in leadership orchestrates the beautiful music of unity within diversity!

Consider this: cars can travel faster, safer, and farther around curvy roads when there are secure guardrails. In the same way, we can travel through life as significant and successful leaders if we submit to accountability from God above and accountability from family and friends below. Today ask four other people to join you in intentional, loving accountability!

4. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Relationships

Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. Swedish Proverb

Rich relationships with God and people are the truest riches to be enjoyed. Relational leaders value relationships—sometimes more than measured results. Relationships matter because the quality of our lives is influenced so heavily by the quality of our relationships. Who we spend time with is who we become.

So how is your relational portfolio? Is it diversified with people who bring value to all aspects of your life?

Relational leaders understand how relationships affect their quality of life.

Today’s culture is driving us toward isolation. We are spending more time looking at our phones than being face-to-face with people. Life cannot exist outside the context of relationships.

Only two things will last eternally: God’s Word and people. What then is worthy of our investment? Anthony D’Angelo states, “Treasure your relationships, not your possessions.” Relationships will give a greater return.

Our homes can be incubators for relational development. An open home opens hearts to Jesus.

Too-familiar friendships can lead to unhealthy influence. Wise leaders make hard decisions, even when it adversely affects a friend. This protects the integrity of the organization. Relational leaders do what’s best for everyone instead of showing favoritism. There will always be a tension between valuing a relationship over results, but this is how we grow as wise leaders.

5. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Teachability

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long Psalm 25:4-5

Teachability is a primary fruit of humility. When we have an open heart to learn, we are in a position to receive wisdom from God and others. A teachable heart is positioned to receive truth, and possesses an attitude consisting of more questions than answers.

Pride plateaus in learning, but a teachable heart continues to scale the mountain of truth.

Teachable leaders learn from other leaders who complement their gifts and skills. As the story goes from a Chick-fil-A vice president, the VPs and marketing people were going back and forth around the boardroom table. How do we get bigger faster? How do we compete with Boston Market? Truett Cathy was down at the end of the table, and he was very, very quiet.

Suddenly, uncharacteristically, Truett started banging his fist on the table until he had everybody’s attention. Maybe he didn’t have a bell he could ring! He said, “Gentlemen, I am sick and tired of hearing you talk about us getting bigger.” And then he paused. He went on, “What we need to be talking about is getting better.” And then he said, “If we get better, our customers will demand that we get bigger.”

That’s how great leaders think. They just shift the paradigm. They see through a different filter.

Teachable leaders are patient to make things better, before becoming bigger. Teachable leaders have authentic faith that challenges others to have the same. Teachable leaders grow in their skill to communicate clearly, creatively, and often.

A teachable leader is willing to leave the comfortable for the uncomfortable. Teachable leaders discuss timeless books and ideas with others. Leaders are learners. When they stop learning they cease to lead wisely.

A leader continually asks questions like:

“How can we better understand what the customer wants and needs?”
“How can I get out of the way as the leader, and support the team for it to be successful?”
“How can our organization go from good to great by integrating and sustaining our industry’s best practices?”

Teachability is not a one-time educational event but requires the ongoing purging of pride, pretense, and prayerlessness.

6. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Discipline

Chariots of Fire’s Eric Liddell talked about spiritual integrity with his athletic giftedness. Discipline, motivated by grace, allows us to run our race with holy pleasure over a lifetime.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

The Spirit uses our discipline to defend us against our adversaries, and ultimately defeat the devil’s temptations.

What comes to mind when you think of the word discipline? Probably…sacrifice, hard work, no grace, no fun, and white-knuckled determination. The Merriam-Webster definition is “punishment; instruction; training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental facilities or moral character.”

What if we think of discipline as managing our good routines?

Disciplined leaders establish regular routines that grow their devotion to Jesus.

What is the difference between devotion and discipline? Is one more valuable than the other? Devotion is an overriding commitment to Christ and His way of doing things. It engages the heart and mind in learning the ways of the Lord and then applying them. Devotion must be the driving force behind a disciple’s faith for them to persevere in Christ’s call on their life.

Discipline, on the other hand, is the ability to stay focused on the task at hand. It finishes the assignment or completes the course. A disciplined person trains to improve their strength and self-control. Make sure your discipline is driven by your devotion or you become judgmental and insensitive.

Disciplined leaders are wise to not substitute their warm devotion for cold discipline.

Brother Marcellus once asked Boyd Bailey, “Do you want to know what it means to walk in grace and humility with Jesus Christ? Any time you are hurt or offended, the time it takes for you to thank God and forgive is an indicator of how close your walk is with Christ.” He held up his two bony pointer fingers six inches apart, and slowly moved them together. “Some have a lifetime of unforgiveness, and they die in bitterness. For others, it takes years to forgive; for others, months; for others, weeks; for others, days; for others, hours; for others, minutes; for others, seconds; and for those whose walk is closest to Christ, their forgiveness and thanksgiving is simultaneous to the offense.”

Disciplined leaders forgive quickly and remain grateful to God.

Disciplined leaders walk with wise leaders, apply their words, and copy their actions. John Ortberg’s book Soul Keeping quotes his mentor Dallas Willard: “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” Ortberg goes on, “The space where we find rest and healing for our souls is solitude…My mind may be obsessed with idols; my will may be enslaved to habits; my body may be consumed with appetites. But my soul will never find rest until it rests in God.”

Disciplined leaders are relentless in their pursuit of being still and knowing God.

Do you occasionally find yourself worshipping at the altar of hurry? You discover your hyperactive schedule competes with quality family time. Hurry is not a badge of good parenting, but a confession of an out-of-control calendar. An out-of-control calendar can lead to an out-of-control child. Quality interaction with your child flows from unhurried blocks of time. Most of all, slow down to be with your Savior. Christ grants clarity and confidence in an unhurried prayer time.

Disciplined leaders take the time to be present and to live in the present.

Disciplined leaders also practice business discipline in their work. Are we good examples of diligent workers? Does excellence, innovation, and high value define us? Disciplined leaders work in a diligent manner that honors the Lord.

Consider giving some of these disciplines a try:

Take a silent retreat to clearly hear God’s voice about matters on your heart.
Give your child more time to be a child without rushing to the next activity.
Look for ways to apply more personal and professional processes and procedures at work.

7. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Gratitude

Nothing is more repelling than an ungrateful, murmuring soul, and nothing is more attractive than an attitude of gratitude.

I will never worship anyone but you! For how can I thank you enough for all you have done? I will surely fulfill my promises. For my deliverance comes from the Lord alone. Jonah 2:9

Gratitude and praise to Christ recalibrate the reality of God’s control, and pain positions us to go deeper with loved ones and deeper with the Lord.

In Jonah’s case, his joyful praise (Jonah 2:9) was the prelude to his expulsion out of the fish’s mouth onto dry land. Gratitude and praise to Christ remind us of the reality of God’s control.

Wisdom in leadership overcomes pain with persistent praise. “Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp” (Psalm 147:7).

Remember the story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus, and only one came back to thank Him? It seems even today, only 10 percent of the population takes the time to return to the Blesser—God—and thank Him for His blessings. Grateful leaders have a pattern of ongoing thankfulness to God and people.

Will we follow the faith of our nation’s founding fathers, or will we cower before the smug elites who delight in criticizing our faith in Christ? It’s better to become like our leaders who made America great by their goodness, their gumption, and their love of country, than to feel shamed by those who deride religion as a sham. Our pluralistic society can experience a unified spirit with humility, grateful hearts, respect for one another, and faith in Holy God. A grateful nation returns often to thank the Lord for His blessings. As Psalm 33:12 put it, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

Grateful leaders are thankful to God for a nation where we can enjoy the benefits of freedom.

Work is one of the best places to model an attitude of gratitude. Gladness bubbles out effervescently from the hearts of those who work for God. Grateful leaders who work for the Lord are able to joyfully serve others.

It brings overwhelming joy to the heart of a parent when they witness an appreciative child. Hearing “Thank you,” “You are welcome,” and “How can I help?” is music to the ears of a mom and dad who long for their loved ones to grow into grateful adults.

Thankfulness is a vaccine against selfishness and discontent. Children and teenagers who understand and apply appreciation are quick to serve others and not demand their own needs or wants be met. They take to heart what God expects of His sons and daughters: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Gratitude leads to a Christlike attitude.

Seeds of gratitude germinate in a heart of humility and service to others. Be intentional about modeling appreciation in front of your offspring. Be quick to thank God and others, and slow to complain. Grateful leaders facilitate home environments of gratitude for their families.

A grateful heart is like maple syrup over a waffle: Everything it touches tastes better. Your gratitude gives you an attractive attitude.

8. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Generosity

I don’t recall ever seeing a generous person who was not joyful. Generosity leads to a life that is truly alive.

It is better to return a borrowed pot with a little something you last cooked in it. An Omaha (Native American) Proverb

Generous leaders invest their time and expertise to serve a diverse range of people. Jesus was generous with His power and influence. He informed the disciples and all who would believe that they would do even greater works than He had accomplished.

A heart touched by Jesus is compelled to serve and give in His name. Generous leaders give out of gratitude for what God has given.

We can strive for excellence, and we need to strive for excellence because we want to reflect God. Really anything less than our absolute best is not a good reflection of Him. Excellent work can be a catalyst to support generous initiatives.

Further, wise management of resources creates a margin for generosity. Spirit-led spontaneous giving leads to fulfillment for the giver and receiver.

As Billy Graham said years ago, as long as we keep an open hand, God will entrust us with more we can give away.

Generous leaders invest in their communities economically and spiritually.

God gives you contentment in your work, and wealth and possessions to enjoy. “When God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Thank Him for what you have and trust Him for what you don’t have. Since God has been so generous to you, how can you now be generous to others?

Generous leaders are called to generous living by the radical, generous love of God.

9. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Forgiveness

Forgiveness is freedom: freedom for the forgiver and an opportunity for freedom for the forgiven.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness is a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, nor does it mean condoning or excusing offenses.

A safe environment of no condemnation invites understanding and empathy. Forgiving leaders engage in the process of confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

A forgiving leader is quick to ask forgiveness. Jesus set the table for forgiveness by defining a precondition for forgiveness: humility. Forgiving leaders embrace humility as a precondition for forgiveness. Forgiveness starts by first receiving Christ’s forgiveness of our sins.

Forgiving leaders have abundant forgiveness even for those who hurt them the most. Forgiving leaders are chronically grateful for ongoing forgiveness from God. Forgiving leaders forgive others to the extent they have been forgiven by Christ. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:15, “If you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Forgiving leaders freely forgive others and enjoy forgiveness from their Lord Jesus. Forgiveness is easier when we see others through eyes of compassion.

Additionally, our worship is most authentic when our relationships have been made whole.

Forgiving leaders go to those they have offended, apologize, and ask for forgiveness. Make sure to own your offense by not saying, “If I have offended you.” Instead say, “Please forgive me for hurting you. I was mad. My tone was wrong. I apologize.” Godly sorrow goes a long way toward facilitating forgiveness from the one offended.

Forgiving leaders forgive themselves so they can be free from guilt and shame. When you forgive yourself, you are able to forgive others. Self-forgiveness is a key to unlocking real relationships.

10. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Encouragement

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

As Ann Voskamp put it, “We need each other for the moments when we’ve got to borrow the strength of each others’ words, borrow a friend’s faith that lifts us up, borrow a little encouragement just to carry us through the day.”

Jesus went out of His way to bring much-needed encouragement to a woman (the culture gave women a second-class status) who was a Samaritan (a race looked down on by Jews). He honored her by asking for refreshment. Jesus was always on the lookout to give others encouragement, especially those who suffered under the burden of bias and injustice. Encouragement goes out of the way to help others find the right way.

As Truett Cathy famously said on many occasions (in the quote above), every living person is a candidate for an infusion of courage!

Encouraging leaders look every day for ways to encourage those they meet. Everyday life sucks courage from each one of us. So a daily dose of vitamin E—encouragement—is the healthiest supplement. A little bit of encouragement goes a long way to give hope for life’s journey.

Discover what encourages another and deliver that item! Wisdom in leadership looks for ways to love those they serve, by taking the time to value, care for, and spend time with them.

Perseverance, kindness, joy, gratitude, hope, and faith are all fruits of encouragement. Encouraging leaders are prayerful givers of customized courage.

Our pain is the Lord’s opportunity to show up and show off. When our discomfort intersects with God’s comfort, we can comfort others.

Encouraging leaders are generous givers of their time and money and take risks on flawed but potentially faithful leaders.

The grace of God creates an environment of encouragement. You can encourage others to remain true because God’s grace has been extended to you. Grace encourages faithfulness. Encouragement extends hope, rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Encouraging leaders remain true to the Lord and encourage others to do the same.

Little things may offer big encouragement, so don’t dismiss small acts of kindness. A prayer, a listening ear, a coffee, a lunch, a financial gift, a recommendation, or time together are ways most of us can offer encouragement. Pray today about how you can become a Barnabas to a forgotten friend.

11. Learning to Lead Like Jesus with Faithfulness

“Well done, good and faithful servant” is the commendation followers of Christ aspire to hear from their Master.

My servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. Numbers 12:7

Jesus ran His race through life well, and He finished well—He was faithful.

Faithfulness flows from a heart of faith. The more we get my eyes off our own limitations and get our eyes on the Lord and His unlimited capabilities, the more our faithfulness is forged. When we look to the Lord, our faithfulness grows from faith, not dreadful duty.

God calls leaders to be humble, faithful servants, in contrast to proud leaders who are only motivated by what they want. Faithfulness is day in and day out doing what’s right, with a right attitude, motivated by right reasons.

A faithful leader is not expected to be equipped with all the gifts, but to recognize their own limitations and surround themselves with other gifted leaders. Wisdom in leadership is faithful to its calling, giftedness, and abilities. Faithful leaders walk by faith and trust the Lord with the things that are uncertain.

The depth of our character determines the breadth of our influence. Are you focused on the depth of your character? Or is it only on the surface—just saying the right things to get the most expedient results?

A friend once told Bailey, “Boyd, you can move every two years for twenty years and have two years’ experience ten times, or you can invest your life in one place and have twenty years’ experience in one location.”

Your hard work, honesty, integrity, patience, generosity, and service are all evidence of a character that is not content with the status quo, but is moving forward in maturity. Faithful leaders focus on depth of character and trust God for breadth of influence.

Faithful leaders remain in service for the Lord beyond their career retirement. Faithful leaders have plans to manage money well, so money doesn’t manage them.

The fruit of wisdom follows the pursuit of wisdom. This flies in the face of a culture that wants instant gratification. Wisdom is built over time, not created in a mental microwave.

When you hear truth and put it into practice, you are being wise. A faithful life lives out what is applied to the heart and renewed in the mind.

When the Holy Spirit fills your heart by faith, He flushes out sin and leaves enough room for the fruit of the Spirit. Only a heart guarded by God’s peace can withstand the influence of ungodliness. A heart submitted to Christ in prayer is protected by Christ with peace.

Our ego likes to enjoy the prominence of a position that others admire, but when our ambition becomes an idol, we miss the blessing of God’s favor. Where is the Lord calling you to step up with more responsibility for the success of the organization’s mission?

Faithful leaders develop successors who can successfully lead to the next level. People who do not finish well have decided to take control of things themselves. They act like they have a better plan than God. This type of decision-making will have limited, if any, success in the Lord’s eyes.

We finish well when those who know us the best, love us the most.

Are you on a path to finish well, or are you secretly flirting with a series of foolish decisions? Finish well today and you have a higher probability of finishing well tomorrow.

Take the Wisdom Audit through Reflection, Prayer, and Application

11 qualities modeled in the life of Jesus with three sets of questions for each:

#1 – Humility

Do you think about yourself more than other people when you are in their presence, or are you focused on their needs? What are some ways you can show someone you defer to them and prefer their desires above your own? How do humility and wisdom go together?
Do you expect to be served or to serve? Are you seeking to advance your kingdom or God’s kingdom? How did Jesus live out humility in a way that is attractive and challenging? What does it mean to seek first God’s kingdom? Why is it wise to seek God’s kingdom first?
What evidence of humility is there in your life? What areas of your life would an honest friend say are prideful? How can you keep spiritual pride from causing you to look down on others? How does pride affect your ability to gain wisdom?

#2 – Love

Are you aware of how you are loved by your heavenly Father, so that it instills peace, comfort, and security into your heart? How does the Lord see you as His child? Is your identity based on God’s love for you, or on other inferior, distorted, and undependable loves? How does Christ’s love help you grow a heart of wisdom?
Do you love others conditionally or unconditionally? Is there someone who desperately needs your love, who is in a sorrowful season? Who do you need love from more than anyone else? How do you need for them to love you? How can wisdom help you to love in better ways?
Is it hard for you to love those who are different from you? How did Jesus relate to those different from Him? How does the Lord want you to love someone who does not understand you and perhaps you don’t understand? Why is it wise to love your enemies?

#3 – Accountability

What does it mean to be truly accountable? Based on that definition, are you accountable? Who really knows you, and who do you really know? Why are you much wiser when you are accountable?
What risks do you take by not being authentically accountable? What area of your life needs accountability today? What is the wise thing to do about that? Who are three or four people you can invite to lovingly hold you accountable in specific areas of your life?
What does it mean to be accountable to the Lord? Is it enough just to be accountable to Him and no one else? Why do fear of the Lord and gaining wisdom go together? What will accountability to God look like at the judgment?

#4 – Relational

What is your plan to relationally invest in others? Why is this wise? What challenges do you face? How do you overcome these obstacles? What has been your greatest relational reward?
Who do you mentor, and who mentors you? Who is the wisest person you know at your work, whom you would like to spend more time with? Outside your work? In your family?
What are ways you can develop your relational skills? Who is gifted relationally that you can learn from? How did Jesus relate to His disciples? How did Christ model wisdom in His relationships? Why is it wise to grow your relational skills?

#5 – Teachable

What learning style motivates you and is effective for your growth and education? It might be an online class, attending lectures, interning with an expert, reading or listening to a book, or listening to a podcast. What types of wisdom would you like to study? Psalms, Proverbs, classic literature, or something else?
Who can you ask to join you in a book club to discuss big ideas and challenging thoughts? Why is it wise to hear other perspectives from a community of learners? How do their issues and solutions intersect with your life? Who is a wise elderly person you can learn from?
Jesus depended on His heavenly Father to tell Him what to do. Why was this wise? What process can you employ to learn from the Lord? What do you need wisdom for? Direction in your career? Insight into a relationship? Money management? Parenting?

#6 – Disciplined

Do your routines reflect a life in need of God’s wisdom? Do you take time in the morning to reflect on truth and renew your mind? Do you use your drive time or travel to listen to teaching, an inspiring life story, or uplifting worship? Do you have weekly calendar and budget planning to wisely manage your life? Why did Jesus talk more about money than any other topic?
Your body is a reflection of your wise care or foolish abuse. Do your eating and drinking patterns reflect a healthy and moderate lifestyle? Do you rest properly or run yourself ragged? Do you schedule at least 30 minutes every day to walk, run, cycle, use an elliptical machine, or do some other sustainable form of exercise?
Consider this pattern as a financial goal for each paycheck: to give 10 percent, save 10 percent, hold 30 percent for taxes, and live on 50 percent. Avoid debt if at all possible. How does acknowledging God’s ownership of everything make you a wiser manager of what you have?

#7 – Grateful

Gratitude is an attitude that gives life and extends life. How is thankfulness expressed in your life? Do you give verbal thanks? A thankful note, email, text, or voicemail? Why is it wise to also genuinely acknowledge another person’s gratitude toward you?
Gratitude for your salvation in Christ is foundational for an attractive life of joy and peace. Would your friends say you show that kind of thankfulness? Is their thankfulness on the rise after being with you? Why is it wise to be grateful to God?
How did Jesus express gratitude? How did His humility support an attitude of gratitude? Are the people you consider wise also grateful? Why? Ask the elderly why gratitude is key. How does thankfulness contribute to quality of life and longer life?

#8 – Generous

Everyone can be generous; a one-dollar bill or a hundred-dollar bill are each candidates for generosity. How are you generous with little or much? How do you feel when you give to others? What does wise money management look like for you? Do you have a giving plan?
How has God been generous to you? Since the Lord has given you everything you have, are you willing to give everything you have? Why are people drawn to the Lord when they experience your generosity? What does God think of you when you are generous? Jesus was an extravagant giver; what was behind His generosity? How did He give generously?
Giving money is the simplest and in some ways the easiest form of generosity. Why is it sometimes harder to be generous with your time? Your relationships? What did Jesus mean when He talked about various forms of greed? Why is generosity the best remedy for greed?

#9 – Forgiving

Giving and receiving forgiveness leads to freedom. Are you free right now? Whose forgiveness do you need to receive, and whom do you need to forgive? Why is it harder to forgive some more than others? To whom do you need to extend a specific apology?
How has God forgiven you? Fully or partially? God’s forgiveness of your sins for salvation is full, free, and irrevocable. Why does He not forgive your sins if you do not forgive others their sins against you? What happens to your heart when it’s layered with unforgiven sins? Wouldn’t you rather have a clean heart and a clear conscience?
Have you truly forgiven yourself from past sin and shame? Ask the Lord if you are holding on to anything unhealthy. If so, let it go. Inhale Christ’s forgiveness and exhale His love, joy, and peace. When you experience God’s great forgiveness, you forgive much and love much.

#10 – Encouraging

Are you a giver of courage or a taker of courage? Are people glad to see you, hoping you will encourage them and challenge them to become better? Do you lead by influence or by intimidation? How did Jesus encourage the disciples when He washed their feet?
How do you like to be encouraged? Do you have a Barnabas (an encourager) in your life? What did Truett Cathy mean when he said, “You can tell someone needs encouragement—if they are breathing”? Is it possible to encourage someone too much? How?
What are some ways the Lord encourages you? What are you facing for which you need to take courage and trust in Christ? How can another person’s prayers be the greatest encouragement? What is your process of encouraging people with your prayers for them?

#11 – Faithful

What does it mean for you to finish well? How do you want those who know you the best to remember you the most? What do you want as your epitaph? Why is it wise to be faithful? Whom do you admire that lived a faithful life? What motivated them? How can you learn from their example?
What is your life purpose? My life purpose is “To love God by being a faithful husband, engaged father, loyal friend, and loving leader.” Write in a sentence or two your life purpose. Why do some leaders, even wise leaders like Solomon, not finish well? What happens?
How was Jesus faithful to the end? What motivated Him to finish well? What did Christ mean when in agony He prayed, “Not My will but Yours be done”? What themes in the life of Jesus facilitated His faithfulness? Consider how humility, love, accountability, relationships, teachability, discipline, gratitude, generosity, forgiveness, and encouragement all facilitated Christ’s faithfulness. What quality in Jesus’s life is He calling you to focus on in your life?

Leader, I encourage you to use this Lenten Season 2020 to learn to lead like Jesus. Boyd Bailey has given us all 11 specific principles that help us serve, inspire, and equip others, as we shoot for the stars!