In Sermon Illustrations: "Church Leadership"

The Trouble With Being A Leader Today Is That ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

The trouble with being a leader today is that you can’t be sure whether people are following you or chasing you. ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

In Typical Fashion, When George Allen Moved To ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

In typical fashion, when George Allen moved to Washington, D.C., as head coach of the Redskins, he promised the nation’s capital the moon. He told them it would be just a few seasons before he would develop the Redskins into a championship football team. He promised them the Super Bowl by the ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

As Time Passed, However, The Inevitable ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

As time passed, however, the inevitable occurred. They began to lose and lose and lose. The blame fell, at least in part, not on Coach George Allen, but on a quarterback named Sonny Jurgenson, in my opinion one of the most gifted and effective quarterbacks to ever play the game. Jurgenson possesses ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

A Group Of Ministers And A Salesman's ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

A group of ministers and a salesman’s organization were holding conventions in the same hotel, and the catering department had to work at top speed serving dinners to both. The salesmen were having spiked watermelon for dessert. But the chef discovered that it was being served to the ministers by ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

According To A Focus On The Family Study Of More ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

According to a Focus on the Family study of more than 500 family counselors, the following are the top traits of successful families: *Communicating and listening *Affirming and supporting family members *Respecting one another *Developing a sense of trust *Sharing time and responsibility ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

B.b. Warfield Says, "A Minister Must Be Learned, ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

B.B. Warfield says, "A minister must be learned, on pain of being utterly incompetent for his work. But before and above being learned, a minister must be godly. Nothing could be more fatal, however, than to set these two things over against one another. Recruiting officers do not dispute ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

One Of The Greatest Legends In Teaching Was A ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

One of the greatest legends in teaching was a 17th century Czech man named Jan Komensky. He is sometimes called Comenius. He promoted the idea of universal education for all, came up with the idea of illustrated textbooks and interlinear books with columns in two languages -- and a host of other ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

At One Time Andrew Carnegie Was The Wealthiest ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

At one time Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest man in America. He came to America from his native Scotland when he was a small boy, did a variety of odd jobs, and eventually ended up as the largest steel manufacturer in the United States. At one time he had forty-three millionaires working for him. ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Bruce Larson, In His Book "Wind And Fire," ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007

Bruce Larson, in his book "Wind and Fire," points out some interesting facts about sandhill cranes: "These large birds, who fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all the time. Second, they choose leaders ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Contrast The Poor Example Of King Jehoiachin ...

Contributed by R. David Reynolds on Nov 24, 2007

Contrast the poor example of King Jehoiachin with that of the British Royal Family during World War II. King George Vi and his wife Queen Elizabeth remained in Buckingham Palace throughout the War rather than fleeing to the countryside for safety. During the German Blitzkrieg of London from ...read more

Tags: Gifts Leadership

Denomination: Methodist

Are You Going Deaf?

Contributed by Gordon Curley on Jul 2, 2011

ARE YOU GOING DEAF? Fed up with people telling him he was going deaf, a man went to get his hearing tested. After examining the man, the audiologist place a clock on a desk and asked the man if he could hear it ticking. The man replied; "Yes I can." The audiologist then placed the clock at the ...read more

Tags: Leadership Listening

Denomination: Brethren

Middle Management

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

MIDDLE MANAGEMENT Cyril Barber, in his commentary on Nehemiah, transfers this principle into all of life; "Middle management involves being able to translate the ideals of one’s superiors into practice and, at the same time, knowing how to motivate one’s subordinates. It necessitates keeping ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:13-19

Tags: Leadership General

Loyalty And The Promotional Bottleneck

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 8, 2011

LOYALTY AND THE PROMOTIONAL BOTTLENECK Peter Drucker gave this warning to those who would push back this principle, "Contrary to popular legend, subordinates do not, as a rule, rise to position and prominence over the prostrate bodies of incompetent bosses. If their boss is not promoted, they will ...read more

Scripture: Mark 3:13-19

Tags: Leadership General

Picking The Wrong Door

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 31, 2011

PICKING THE WRONG DOOR Stuart Briscoe, in his book Everyday Discipleship for Ordinary People, tells the story about a fellow pastor who was officiating at the funeral of a war veteran. The dead man’s military friends wanted to have a part in the service at the funeral home, so they requested that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-5

Tags: Leadership General

Leaders At The Poles

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 7, 2011

LEADERS AT THE POLES In his book, Leading at the Edge, Dennis Perkins contrasts the leadership values of two different explorers: Earnest Shackleton and Vilhjalmur Stefansson. In 1914, Shackleton led a daring expedition to reach Antarctica in the South. A year earlier, Stefansson led an expedition ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-4

Tags: Leadership General

Abraham Lincoln: Malice Toward None

Contributed by Michael Mcbrien on Jan 10, 2012

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: MALICE TOWARD NONE Abraham Lincoln, America's most beloved president, was anything but beloved while he was in office. The South hated him. The anti-war activists hated him. Democrats hated him, calling him a widow-maker. The media ridiculed his eyes, looks, and body, calling him ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Baptist

Lao Tzu Said This Of A Leader: "A Leader Is ...

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 30, 2012

Lao Tzu said this of a leader: "A leader is best when people barely know that he exists. He is not so good when people obey and ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Success Of John Inglefant

Contributed by Perry Greene on Jan 10, 2013

THE SUCCESS OF JOHN INGLEFANT Many years ago in England a book was published entitled, John Inglefant. The book was a flop. Only 100 copies could be disposed of, and 60 of those were given to the author. One day William Gladstone, Prime Minister of Britain, was to sit for a photograph. To make the ...read more

Tags: Leadership General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Humorous Hospital Charts

Contributed by Sermon Central on May 23, 2013

HUMOROUS HOSPITAL CHARTS I came across some notes supposedly found on hospital charts, and I thought you might enjoy them as I did: • The patient refused autopsy. • Note: Patient recovering from forehead cut. Patient became very angry when given an enema by mistake. • Patient has chest pain if she ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 18:1-27

Tags: Leadership General

Location Is Not The Key: Couch Growth Specialist ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2006

Location Is Not The Key: Couch Growth Specialist Dr. Thom Ranier’s new research concludes, to his surprise, there is little correlation between a church’s location and its growth. So what is the biggest factor in a church breakthrough? If there is any one basic lesson to learn, it is to lead the ...read more

Tags: Church Purpose Of