Disciplines for an Organizational Serving Leader

Organizational serving leaders need to develop the discipline of self-awareness. Psalm 139:23 discusses the importance of God searching our hearts and thoughts. 1 Timothy 4:16 exhorts us to watch our lives and doctrine carefully with perseverance.

Organizational leaders are disciplined in self-leadership. Philippians 2:7 instructs us to make ourselves nothing, taking on the nature of a servant as Jesus did. 1 Peter 5:5 directs us to clothe ourselves with humility.

Self-development is another key discipline to consider. Proverbs 3:1-6 tells us to keep God’s commands, walking in love and faithfulness, trusting in God versus leaning on our own understanding, in all our ways submitting to God.

The organizational serving leader maintains a focus on mission and purpose. Luke 9:51 gives us a model of staying focused resolutely on our mission. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Matthew 16:21-23 shows us how Jesus stayed focused on his ultimate mission even when pressured otherwise by close friends.

Serving leaders are disciplined in their decision-making. Proverbs 15:22 speaks to us about seeking counsel and advice from others in order to succeed. James 1:5-8 states that we must ask God for wisdom without any trace of doubt or unbelief.

Another discipline is the embrace of belonging/community. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 points us toward the value of uniting with others to accomplish our mission and helping each other through failures and struggles.

Finally, organizational serving leaders practice solitude. Mark 6:31 reveals our need to get away from our work sometimes to rest. Galatians 1:15-17 provides us with an example of one who retreated from the busyness of life and sought aloneness with God so that God could be revealed to him.

[Next week we will look at the core components in Jesus’ leadership development model.]