Are you in the game? [Jude Part 2]

Last Sunday I spoke on and thus wrote on the first part of Jude.  I really zeroed in on the idea Jude focuses on of identifying false teachers.  We are called to know the truth we profess so that we can differentiate between truth and falsehood and thus identify the false teachers.  This week we finished Jude.  In the latter half of this short book Jude focuses on the antidote to the false teachers, or the hope of the church in times marked by those seeking to destroy her. The plan set out by Jude is not too different from that of a good coach.

1. We are to have a strong defense. (17-19) We are called to remember all that we have been taught and warned about.  We have been warned of the false teachers, we know what they will try to do. We have also been taught the truth.  We hold the truth and we must defend it.
2. We are to be disciplined. (20-21) We are to remain in the word of God, pray Christ centered prayers, be obedient to God and live with eternity in mind.  These are all aspects of following the narrow road of faith. Daily practice leads to discipline, discipline leads to success.
3. We are to have an active offense. (22-23) We are called to reach out with mercy and save those who doubt, those who are convinced and those who are leading others astray. It is not enough to sit back defending our faith in our own little circles.  We must be determined to take back those who have been stolen from our flock. This is love.

Do you see yourself as part of a team? Are you an active player?  When is the last time you strove to “score” on offense? We play a game with much higher stakes than any sport in the world but do we act like it?

The Learning Leader

I have heard many times that all leaders must be lifetime learners. Which to me always translated to reading all the time. Now, I go through seasons of reading a lot and I would say in general that I enjoy it. However, what does it mean when I just don’t have the time or desire to read another Maxwell, Stanley or Blanchard book? Does this mean I am failing as a leader?

While I totally agree that in order to be a great leader you must be a learner, I think we need to expand our vision of what it means to be a “learner”. Reading leadership greats is a must and should be a part of the learning process (listen to those who have gone before) however there are other very valuable avenues as well. Some of my greatest leadership insights have come in moments not hours. They have come when a mentor in my life has shared some special nugget, which from them almost seemed off hand, but later I would unwrap this piece of gold. Sometimes the mentor didn’t even say a single word to me, I was simply present to see something that was a part of their life and leadership. Having an intentional leadership mentor is so vital to anyone in leadership yet it is often overlooked or not pursued. Leaders tend to view mentors as training wheels or at best accountability partners. While they can serve in both of those capacities there is so much more wealth within this relationship to be unlocked. If you do not yet have a mentor and you are either in leadership or aspire to be I encourage you to find one. The easiest thing to do is to talk to the person you already respect as a leader in your life. Ask them if they would be willing to come alongside you as you lead.

Do you have a leadership mentor?

Share what this relationship has meant to your life.