Andy leads one of the fastest growing churches in America today. He is a sought after speaker and leadership mentor with a special passion for raising up the next generation of leaders capable of leading from a core of integrity, faith and wisdom. North Point’s original Alpharetta campus is located in a suburb of Atlanta. They have adopted a multi-site strategy that has launched two additional sites in Atlanta which offer live worship and interaction, yet play a video feed of Andy’s message. North Point has been a strategic partner to several other church plants throughout the country that are adopting similar methodology.
Andy has written several books including Visioneering, The Next Generation Leader, Choosing to Cheat, and his most recent book, Communicating for a Change.
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If there is one thing that is clear about leadership it is this: the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes…” Our leadership would change if we were clear about that.
It’s hard for us to understand that because we think it’s all about us… it’s our degree, our connection, our efforts… we think we got ourselves to where we are, but it’s not about us, God chose us.
One of the undeniable consequences of leadership is attention. As soon as you say, “follow me”, you are automatically in the center. And the less attention you try to get the more you will get, because people will follow a humble leader.
There is a self-centeredness about leadership that is unavoidable. How do we deal with it? We have do declare: “the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes…”
Andy talked in-depth about Daniel 4 & 5.
The context: 580 BC; the nation of Israel was destroyed by the Babylonians. In ancient terms, that means the God of Israel is dead, and that the Babylonian god is supreme, sovereign, etc. When the nation of Israel goes out of business, that means the Temple goes out of business… and if you can’t sacrifice, you can’t be a good Jewish man or woman without a sacrifice. As far as the world was concerned, the God of Israel was dead. God was instructing, teaching and disciplining His people during this time, and while He was doing that, He took the chance to teach the whole world a lesson by revealing himself to the prideful King Nebuchadnezzar and later to his son Belshazzar.
Attention and self-centeredness will ruin us. When we forget that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes…a little attention can get us off center. We are all set up and prone for failure if we forget that.
Leadership is a stewardship – its temporary – and you’re accountable.
We have all watched incredible men and women of God lose sight of who gave them their position and get caught up in their own success.
The leadership you have is a gift from One who is greater from you and it can be taken away at any time, and you are accountable.
No one has the right to question the wisdom of God. Everything He does is right and all of His ways are just. He humbles those who walk in pride.
Diligent
If in fact, the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes, if you are placed where you are and gifted to do what you are doing, you need to lead with all the diligence you have, because you are there for a purpose. Give your all. God knows where you are – and rest in that – there is a reason and purpose in that, so lead with all diligence.
Most days in leadership are doing things that aren’t seen, doing the grunt work – that’s why we get lazy and we back down – and that’s why when we can’t measure progress we assume there is no progress. Then it all turns down to us – it’s all about us.
If you see it or not, or believe it or not, there is a sovereign God who has placed you where you are.
If Jesus is building His church – that makes us a ‘sub.’ If you work within the context of the local church, what you do as a leader has extraordinary significance – He is accomplishing His plan through us, even if we don’t see it or believe it.
Fearless
If this is true, who do we need to be afraid of? Who should we fear? We shouldn’t fear the deacons! If God has placed you there, who should you fear.
Every day as a leader, you need to remember you are not working for men – you are accountable and responsible to men – but you are accountable to God. You don’t need to fear anyone.
Humility
Of all the leaders in the world, those of us who are Christians and work in the context of ministry, our hallmark should be humility.
Why aren’t we known for our humility?
Every day we should wake up with the reality we are where we are because God put us there and He can take us out anytime.
Leadership is always a stewardship – it’s temporary – and we are accountable.
There is no room for arrogance in spiritual, church leadership because we live under the idea that God is the ruler of all.
God chose to put us where we are – and He can shut us down whenever He wants.
It shouldn’t scare us, it should motivate us to lead with all diligence.
