Art of Leadership With Brian HoustonSample

Culture Qualities that Build

“I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” —Matt 16:18 (NKJV)

The Church is God’s idea and His voice on the earth—that means you and I directly influence how others see and hear God. If you’ve been a part of a healthy church for a while, don’t presume on the qualities that built it. Just like a marriage, we must take responsibility for and attend to the qualities that build healthy churches and the lives within them.

A Servant Heart. Jesus defined greatness in the Kingdom as servanthood; not control and domination (Matt 20:25-26). Servanthood is a decision to focus on helping and lifting the lives of others. As a culture we build, a servant's heart is a foundational posture we embrace and the commitment we make.

A healthy soul. The Apostle John prayed, “…that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 Jn 2). A healthy soul is not an accident but the result of our choices. The fruit of a healthy soul includes encouragement, generosity, sacrifice, commitment, and spiritual unity, leading to a thriving and prosperous life.

A good report. According to Philippians 4:8, we should think about things that are good and worthy of praise. Speak words of life in your conversation, and focus on the positive, not the negative report — never underestimate the impact of your words.

Commitment to empowerment. Empowering the potential and gifts in others is the privilege and responsibility of every leader. Empowerment is not dumping tasks on people but taking them on a journey of growth and development. When you lift the limits from people’s lives, they will continue to flourish.

Contagious vision. It’s not enough to simply have a vision; you need to impart the vision to others and enable them to come alongside and own it with you — otherwise, the vision is just words. When people attach what they do to the bigger picture, they tend to stay connected and feel significant.

Commitment to family and friendship. Being a friend to others, spending time together, and generally being a loving, caring group of individuals are qualities that build a healthy, thriving community. People need to ‘belong’ and making time for others is one of the keys to personal happiness and fulfillment as well as collective health and stability. Taking responsibility for the part you play and embracing others as an irresistible force for good are the qualities of a dynamic leader.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve. — Col 3:23-24 (GNT)