IRISH TOAST May you have the hindsight to know where you've been, the foresight to know where you're going and the insight to know when you're going too far.
Sermon Illustrations
SUCCESS Three hundred years before our era, Alexander the Great led a forced march across a hot and desolate plain. On the eleventh day, he and all the soldiers still with him were near death…
CRITICISM Looking for a role model on how to handle criticism? It would be worth your while to check out the book of Nehemiah. On several occasions this great- hearted statesman was openly criticized, falsely…
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP Fred Smith was asked what his role in leadership is: I use this definition: "An executive is not a person who can do the work better than his people, he is a person…
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP The leader is a great servant. The leader assumes that his followers are working with him, not for him. He considers them partners in the work and sees to it that…
MULE TEAM SCENERY Kathryn Jensen: "Life is like bein' on a mule team. Unless you're the lead mule, all the scenery looks about the same." Submiiteed by Jeff Chandler, First Presbyterian Church, Davenport, WA
THE BEST LEADER A leader is best when people barely know he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him. "Fail to honor people, They fail to honor…
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP -- S T. FRANCIS God enables a person to exercise spiritual leadership. This is examplified by the life of St. Francis of Assisi: On one occasion Brother Masseo, looking earnestly at Francis, began…
IKE Those who worked with President Eisenhower found him very bright, tough, and commanding. But Ike liked to verbalize his leadership role in a softer way: "I am not one of the desk- pounding type…
NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP -- THE NEW KID The city block and the nearby playing field form the universe of the story, which opens with the choosing of sides for baseball. This ritual is a humiliating one…
GEORGE C. MARSHALL One of the most interesting ways to learn about leadership is to read the biographies (and autobiographies) of the world's great leaders. We can learn both from their successes and their failures.…
EARLY OPPORTUNITIES MISSED One other incident from the life of Stillwell: Joe Stillwell, called Warren by his family, was an active, driving, sharp-willed boy who climbed rooftops, drowned rabbits in the horse trough and exceedingly…
MARK HATFIELD When Senator Mark Hatfield was asked what a leader must do, he responded: Three things. First, the leader must demonstrate commitment to the goals, objectives, and spirit of the program or organization he…
PASTORAL LEADERSHIP: LIMITS AND ACCOUNTABILITY In the early 19th century Napoleon had spread his influence throughout Europe, including Holland. Many of the Dutch, however, retained their loyalty to the House of Orange, including Gerrit ten…
AMBITIOUS TO LEAD Dr. A. W. Tozer wrote: "A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward…
LEADERS NEEDED "We are building many splendid churches in this country, but we are not providing leaders to run them. I would rather have a wooden church with a splendid parson than a splendid church…
DEALING WITH PEOPLE The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self- restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they…
GOD'S LEADING "Don't be stupid like a horse or a mule, which must be controlled with a bit and bridle to make it submit." Psalm 32:9 With a deep sigh, I looked into the big…
INFLUENCE Leadership is influence. To the extent we influence others, we lead them. Lord Montgomery implied this when he wrote, 'Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose,…
COURAGE NEEDED FOR LEADERS TO SLEEP Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God…
