We’ve been talking a lot as a staff team at The Gathering about what it looks like to be an effective leader in the church.  There are so many different leadership theories, books and models that if we’re not careful, our minds can get so lost in those details that we forget the simple core principles of being a leader for Christ.  The principles that matter most come straight from the example of Jesus and the word of God.  Over the next couple of days, I want to share those principles with you through this blog.  I’ll post one a day in the hope you will be as challenged, encouraged and inspired as our team has been.  Whether you are a small group leader, a student leader, a coach, or maybe just feel God tugging you towards leadership, these principles all apply to you.  And, as God gives you the strength to apply them to your life, they will transform your leadership.  We’ve been using Paul’s first letter to Timothy as our guide and really focusing in on Chapter 4, so let’s start with verse 6 of that chapter for today.

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus,

constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

- 1 Timothy 4:6

In order to be a good servant of Christ Jesus, we must be constantly nourished by the Scriptures!

It’s so simple, I know.  But I also know how many of us struggle to live this out.  Notice that we are to be constantly taking in the Word of God – not just going to church once a week or listening to the occasional podcast.  If you want to be effective for God, you’ve got to read your Bible every day.  For what it’s worth, the only way I’ve ever been able to do that in my life is to make sure it’s the first thing I do when I wake up.  If you can do it consistently some other time of the day, great – but let’s be honest about your chances of success.  Once the day gets rolling, life seems to take over and then by the end of the day, we’re all so tired that we just can’t stay awake to read.  If you’ve never made a habit of reading first thing in the morning, try it.  It’ll change your leadership and your life!

But also, make sure you’re being nourished by the Word.  Having your eyes slide over the pages of the Bible is not what we’re going for as followers of Jesus.  It’s got to sink into our minds, our hearts and the fabric of our lives.  Ingest it, meditate on it, figure out what changes you need to make in response to the truth you just read.  Slow down enough to take it all in.

Let me end by saying this.  I know how simple it sounds.  But I am also 100% convinced that if every single leader in The Gathering was constantly nourished by the Word of God, we would see things happening on our campuses that are so far beyond anything we’ve experienced to this point.  I pray we would be those kinds of leaders.  I pray we would know God that well and be used by Him to change everything on our campus.

Enough of my words…go read His.