Earlier today, James MacDonald, Senior Pastor of the Harvest Bible Chapel and author of the new book Vertical Church, came to Fellowship Bible Church and taught a group of over 300 men what Godly male leadership looks like. James pastors a church of over 14,000 in weekly attendance and is one of America’s great communicators.
Vertical leadership is about focusing entirely on God and viewing him as your sole source for everything in life. James challenged us today in a number of areas but primarily focused on leading our families, our careers, and living a life of purity. The following were his insights. I have added questions after his four points which will help you in examining your own life.
- We All Face Times Of Desperate Need – God’s love is not pampering, but rather perfecting. His #1 tool for this perfection is suffering. All God’s children face seasons of adversity. God moves towards us during these hard times.
Questions – Are you experiencing a season of desperation as a leader? Do you feel God has abandoned you? Is it possible that God is actually moving towards you?
- God Needs Only What You Have – God uses little things, like slingshots, staffs, and five loaves and two fish, to show His awesomeness. The miracles comes from what you have, not what you do not. You do, however, have to move forward and do something with what you have.
Questions – What excuses have you been making for not moving forward? Look around you, what assets do you have? Conversely, what do you need to eliminate from your life so you can move forward? As James pointed out, “Pornography is eating away the souls of Christian men.”
- God Does Only What We Cannot – Stop living life making little, pathetic decisions. Make a move. Leadership is the ability to communicate a compelling state of affairs in a way that engenders followership.
Questions – Men and other leaders, do you communicate direction and intent clearly? Do you communicate in a compelling manner? Is anyone following you?
- God Fills Only What We Offer – When we stop bringing our buckets for God to fill, He stops pouring. Even the donkey knows the palm branches and blankets were for the person on his bank.
Questions – Do you take credit for your success? Are you proud of your experiences and competencies? Do you think it’s all about you as a leader? Or is it all about Jesus?
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