Avoiding Leadership Potholes with guest Jim Buchan (Ep. 252)

Sep 9, 2024 | Uncategorized

Our Guest: Jim Buchan

 

Jim Buchan is the founder of Crosslink Ministries, based in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. With a passion to change the world through every available form of media, he has been working for over 50 years to raise up fully devoted followers of Christ and the next generation of Christian leaders.

At various times, Jim has served as an attorney, a pastor, and the editor of influential publications such as Ministries Today, The Morning Star Journal, and Inspiration Devotional Magazine. 

In addition to involvement in more than 100 book projects, Jim’s own books include “Walking the Leadership Highway—Without Becoming Roadkill,” “Apostolic Evangelism,” “The Church Split Cure,” “Attracting God’s Best,” and “Taking Your Church’s Vital Signs.” 

Currently he assists the pastoral staff at Mission Community Church, where he teaches his innovative discipleship model, PRIME. Jim also enjoys writing blogs and creating videos to inspire kingdom leaders, both in the church world and in secular society. He also serves as a consultant to various leadership teams.

 

Scriptures and Key Points:

 

  • Always have a pipeline of new leaders.
  • We need to learn to work together as a team.
  • Timing is important in developing and equipping the next generation of leaders.
  • We need to invest in the next generation.

John 14:12 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

  • Saul reacted by trying to get rid of his replacement (David), but we need to train and lift up the next generation. 

1 Timothy 5:22 KJV Lay hands suddenly on no man…

  • Don’t commission too quickly.
  • Never forget where you come from.

 

The Kind of Leader that God can use:

 

  • Holiness- be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16 NKJV)
  • Humility- confidence in the Lord, not in flesh
  • Honesty- brutally honest with ourselves and with God
  • Honor- being honorable to God and others even in disagreements

 

  • Our time with God in private will reflect in our public lives.
  • No leader chooses to fail.
  • When you hit potholes, it can throw off your alignment.
  • We must keep ourselves maintained. 
  • When we’re not in alignment with God, going fast becomes dangerous.
  • Pressure magnifies. 
  • The platform is not ours, but the Lord’s.
  • Mentors are important to bring us into the next place.
  • Accountability matters.
  • While we need to keep the focus on where we’re going, we also need to be cognizant of giants and potholes in our paths. 
  • We tend to share our highlights, but not our challenges and that can be dangerous to us and to those around us.
  • Failure is part of the christian life.

2 Corinthians 1:4 NKJV Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:8 NKJV …so that we despaired even of life.

 

Leadership is not glamorous. 

 

2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

  • Discouragement is a powerful drug.
  • Stop comparing yourself to others.
  • Assess your physical condition. (1 Kings 19 NKJV Elijah)

Judges 8:4 NKJV …exhausted but still in pursuit.

  • Transformed leaders lead to transformation.
  • Hāṭā’: to miss the mark, ʿāôn: iniquities, peša: willful disobedience
  • Iniquities can remain hidden when there is no pressure to expose it.

1 Samuel 15:23 NKJV For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…

Hebrews 10:26-29 NKJV For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Job 23:10 NKJV But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

  • Dross only comes out in the fire.

James 1:3 NASB Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

 

The culture of a church or organization reflects the heart of its leader.

 

2 Corinthians 11:22-33 NKJV Paul’s many sufferings

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV …“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”…

  • We must not lose sight of why we do what we do while we’re maneuvering through the minutiae of life.
  • Moses responded in anger when he allowed the aggravation of the people to affect him. As a result, he wasn’t allowed to enter the Promised Land. (Numbers 20 NKJV) 
  • We shouldn’t let the detours and potholes in life make us lose sight of our destination or to walk away from our first love.

Revelation 2:1-7 NKJV …Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love…

  • Don’t look at the wind and the waves; put your focus on Jesus.

 

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.” – Corrie Ten Boom

 

  • When we go higher with Jesus, we are at rest.

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV …And the government will be upon His shoulder…

Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Ephesians 5:25-27 NKJV …That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

  • The church needs more washing and ironing. 
  • Peace comes from focusing on Jesus. 

Psalm 61:2 NKJV …When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

  • God is bigger than any obstacle we can face.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

  • Pride leads us down wrong pathways.
  • Authority’s not just about a title, but based on relationship.

“While men reach for thrones to build their own kingdoms, Jesus reached for a towel to wash men’s feet.” -Doug Stringer

  • It’s not about title; it’s about function.
  • We build on the foundation of prophets and apostles, not be controlled by them.

Matthew 25:23 NKJV …Well done, good and faithful servant…

1 Corinthians 11:1 MEV Follow me as I follow Christ.

Romans 1:1 NKJV Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle…

  • Paul identified himself as a bond servant first.
  • The tough times help prepare you more than the successes do. 
  • Every life experience becomes a life lesson that becomes part of our life message.
  • May God help us in our success as well as in our failures. “Help us, Lord.”

 

Links:

 

 

Books:

 

 

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