For today’s Thursday Leadership Lesson, we’ll look back and look forward. Tomorrow, we’ll do review of 2007 wins, so we’ll hold off on that for now.
Looking Back
We kicked off the year with the Annual Leadership Retreat, where we explored the idea that when it comes to building community, making disciples, and doing ministry, there’s always some assembly required. We learn in 1 Peter 2:5 that we are living stones, and that we are both God’s workmanship and the workers in his cosmic Kingdom building project, and we’ve spent this past year exploring those themes. Here’s a list of our Thursday Leadership Lessons in 2007.
Foundations (Spring Semester Series)- Principles for laying and building on firm foundations. This series explores the idea of leading ourselves well so that we will be leaders worth following.
Community (May Term Series) - John Hasler challenges our ideas of Christian community and encourages us to move beyond the surface to real, authentic relationships. Read them here, here, here, and here.
Construction (Summer Semester Series)- Building teams, disciples, and leaders that last.
Repair and Remodeling (Fall Semester Series)- No matter how solid the foundation, no matter how good the construction, no matter how skilled the leadership, there comes a point in the life of every project where some repair and remodeling are required.
Looking Forward
As we move into 2008, we need to become more and more aware that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves. As we read the Biblical narrative, we realize that we as Christ followers have been swept up into the epic of God’s story, and we have a responsibility to forcefully advance the Kingdom of God in our culture. During the next year, we’ll explore this idea of forceful advance and how vision, strategy, legacy, and sacrifice propel us in our mission. We will stop playing defense and start playing offense (Matthew 16:18). We will lead with with prayers and influence that spread beyond ourselves (2 Timothy 2:2). And we will follow Jesus’ example of leading by sacrificing (John 15:13).
Here are some things to know:
- RSVP today for the Annual Leadership Retreat: Forceful Advance. Email Chandler to reserve your spot. Deadline is December 20.
- Register your small group now for the Spring 2008 semester using our new online registration. Deadline is December 21.
Move
I want to encourage every NCC leader to move. Begin today. Staying still is not an option– we are either moving forward in our faith or falling back in our faith. We are either moving forward in our leadership or moving backwards in our leadership. Move. For some of you, that means registering a group or for the Leadership Retreat. For some, it may mean taking a step back. For others, it means talking with your team leader or zone leader for direction. Make a move today.
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