Teaching Those Who Are Listening – Part 4!

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.”

~ Karen Clark

When you and I desire to develop Eagle Leaders, we discover that we must separate the sincere from the insincere. That is a challenge on the best of days. We have chosen to go to the Master leader-developer, Jesus, and watch him work through this process.

Listen to Jesus now, as He lays out the trap to catch the sincere …

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We watch for the natural process of spiritual growth to occur so we can determine those who are eligible for leadership development.

Before we can develop a leader, we need to weed the field of people before us to determine who is spiritually alive and growing deeply with Christ. Although this is a Spirit-based work, we can see the evidence of God’s hand at work in the life of anyone who claims His name. Our task is to determine who we will invest our time with for the Kingdom of God and His glory. Jesus tells us that he looks for the evidences of spiritual growth first.

Are the men and women you are seeking to develop showing the evidence of spiritual growth in their lives? Is this growth consistent – for one evidence of eternal life is that it grows, corporately and individually (see Ephesians 4.16)!

Looking before we leap is a great way to prevent wasted time and produce Eagle Leaders. Jesus, the Master leader-developer, has modeled for us a way to take the initiative and separate the sincere from the insincere.

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teaching Those Who Are Listening – Part 3!

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“Actions are fruits; words are but leaves.”

~ English Proverb

We are continuing to watch Jesus answer an important question: “How do we, as Eagle Leaders, separate the sincere from the insincere?” Teaching those who have shown the initiative to pursue the trainer is what we are learning. One of Jesus’ key strategies was to speak in stories with deeper meanings (called parables in the Bible). When He spoke, He was actually looking for those who wanted to know more about what He was saying.

Listen to Jesus now, as He lays out the trap to catch the sincere …

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We provide opportunities to sift the ‘lookie-lous’ from the serious!

Think about how you teach and train. Are there ways you can incorporate this valuable principle into your leadership style? When Jesus completes this exercise, he finds himself with a handful of men who truly sought after the Kingdom of God and not just the benefits of being close to Jesus.

Moving followers into leaders is a process of using their natural curiosity and the Spirit’s guidance. Jesus teaches us one of the ways he built leaders. I encourage you to think about ways to make this strategy a part of your spiritual tool box.

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teaching Those Who Are Listening – Part 2!

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“Don’t be afraid to take advice. There’s always something new to learn.”

~ Babe Ruth

We are asking Jesus to answer an important question: “How do we, as Eagle Leaders, separate the sincere from the insincere?” Last time Jesus demonstrated that we must call people to pay attention to what we are saying … even when we are being purposefully oblique.

We now watch how the curious rise to the top of the crowd. It is at this point that Jesus is able to show us the ‘why’ of His strategy …

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’

“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:10-17 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We teach the curious whom we have drawn away from the crowds all around us!

Jesus tells us that His methodology is meant to reward the Eagle Leader’s curiosity. In fact He shows us that, for those who are content with the indirect, there is nothing more – and perhaps even less – in life.

Jesus then shows that His methodology is purposeful – to sift the leaders from the lazy! Wow! This is clearly a plan you and I can use. He wraps us this lesson by showing us the rewards of curiosity to the Eagle lLeader. The point: Eagles Leaders need to ‘go and do likewise.’ I am ‘all-in’ … how about you?

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teaching Those Who Are Listening!

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“The man who is too old to learn was probably always too old to learn.”

~ Caryl Haskins

How do we, as Eagle Leaders, separate the sincere from the insincere? Leadership is all about forward progress! The problem is often discovering who wants to move forward and who is ‘pretending’ to want to move forward. What secret can we learn from the master mentor when it comes to this all-too common dilemma?

Watching Jesus operate helps us understand His strategy and His words! In one of His many ‘sifting’ events, we discover a key method (which we will spend a couple of lessons on) …

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 13:1-9 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We call people to pay attention to what we are saying … even when we are being purposefully oblique.

If you read down the chapter here (and get ahead of us a bit), you will discover Jesus is purposefully looking for the leaders in the crowd. His ploy is to whet their appetite enough to get them to come to him for more. And thus, excellent teaching / training / coaching seeks after the curious in the crowd (note his last sentence above: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”).

Curious people make better leaders because they are self-motivated. Self-motivation is one of the essential qualities of leadership because it is the engine by which all accomplishment is driven. Any leader, with any experience, knows the impossibility of accomplishing anything of significance with people who need constant motivation!

Today, separate the ‘go-ers’ from the ‘no-ers’ in leadership by using curiosity as your bait. Catch a boatload of quality with this vital hook! (More on this next time.)

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eagles In Leadership Interviews Eric Michael Bryant

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Eric Michael Bryant serves as an elder, speaker, and navigator overseeing the leadership team at   Mosaic in Los Angeles. Starting as a volunteer in the parking lot at Mosaic, Eric later worked with students and then helped catalyze new venues across Los Angeles. He also teaches at the Southern California campus of Golden Gate Seminary and is working on his Doctorate of Ministry with Bethel Seminary. A sought-after speaker, Eric is one of the co-authors of The Uprising Experience, a workbook developed for Promise Keepers based on Erwin McManus’ book Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul, and has written several articles for Group and Relevant Leader magazines. His book, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas: Breaking Through Tolerance and Embracing Love, was published with Zondervan in June 2007. Eric lives with his wife, Debbie, and two children, Caleb and Trevi in the middle of Los Angeles County.
You can check out more about Eric at these great sites …

http://www.Mosaic.org
http://ericbryant.org

Posted in Book Reviews, Interviews | 2 Comments

A Part of the Family!

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

~ Jesus

Family is the cradle of our hopes and dreams, the support for our hurts and failures. With age, our parents depart and we feel alone without them. Just their presence provided comfort and security. When we are the oldest of our family, we come to realize the importance of being surrounded by an even greater family – our local community of faith!

Jesus welcomes us into His family through obedience! Listen to Him as he explains how we enter into this extended family of His …

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Mark 3:31-35 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We enter the family of God through responsible obedience!

All around us are men and women who are hurting and without hope. They are at the end of their rope because they don’t have the support they so desperately need to make it through difficult times. You may be one of them! Jesus wants each and every one to know that there are people who can help!

Comfort, love and care are as near as our faith family! What do we have to do to experience such love? We have to choose to join in … get close and build care-filled relationships with Jesus’ brothers and sisters. Find a small group of God’s people and become a part! Be transparent and open. Develop intimate relationships with them. Be there when they have a need. Share when you have one.

Alone in misery or surrounded by support – the choice is ours each and every day!

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transformed Episode #058 – The Trust Test: 2

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Trusting God is a process of removing our self-dependence. When we desire to trust God more, he initiates an amazing transformation, a ‘purging process’ which Pastor Jim Cymbala describes in his book, “Break Through Prayer” …

“This purging process rids us of self-dependence so that our faith can remain solely in God. It refines us of self-indulgence so we can walk in holiness. It deepens our surrender to God’s will in preference to other more convenient options. And the experience reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient as we wait for the fulfillment of his word. We must accept that many breakthroughs are not instantaneous. Instead, they place us in the refiner’s fire. Yet the Lord’s purpose is not to diminish but to abundantly bless us in the end!”

As we complete our series ‘The Trust Test’, we will also finish understanding the ways in which we can learn how to trust God more completely from our study of Proverbs 3.  The series wraps up with a message entitled, “The Trust Test – Part 2.”

As the hearts of a nation grew increasingly fearful back in October of 2008, Pastor Matt continued to encourage the people of First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California to step out in faith and demonstrate their trust in God.

Posted in Stewardship, Transformed | Leave a comment

Sign Seekers!

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“Doubt is the gangrene of the soul.”

~ In His Image

We seem to be surrounded by skeptics and doubters these days! But that has always been the case. Many desire no one to give them wisdom or provide them direction in life. Their banner call is simple: “We will have no one rule over us!”

Some will put up a false front, seeking to draw us across a line. They will believe, they say, IF God will do them a favor … a private miracle! Jesus was confronted by such unbelief and leveled such nonsense with pure truth …

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:38-45 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We refuse to fall into the traps of the skeptics!

All too often we spend a great deal of time on people who are, in reality, insincere. We fall into the trap that ‘questions equal interest.’ Our task, as ‘eagle leaders’, is to complete the mission … to proclaim Jesus Christ. One of the most distracting and time wasting efforts is trying to convert a skeptic.

Jesus’ strategy was simple … give skeptics pure truth and move on when there is no interest. Reread Jesus’ words and see His clarity in this. We become eagle leaders when we, too, model the same strategy!

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transformed Episode #057 – The Trust Test: Part 1

Posted on February 14, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“Fighting for your time, your place, your voice, or your importance will always hinder your effectiveness in the great house of God. If you are faithful with what belongs to somebody else, God will give you’re your own. The testing ground is when you are being a loyal steward over what belongs to someone else. These are the silent years, the needful precious, unseen years. The silent years bring a depth of devotion that cannot be found in ‘quick fixes.’ Silent years that are done well build a foundation of trust between yourself and the Lord that is not easily shaken.” As Darlene Zschech

In Part 3 of our series ‘The Trust Test’ we start understanding the ways that we can learn to trust God more completely.

Our study of Proverbs 3 continues with a message entitled, “The Trust Test – Part 1.”

As the darkness of the financial meltdown in the United States grew, Pastor Matt continued to encourage the people of First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California on October 19th, 2008 to deepen their trust in God, despite the torrent of bad news.

Posted in Stewardship, Transformed | Leave a comment

Conflict and Accusation!

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“To be confident is to act in faith.”

~ Bernard Bynion

If you have attempted anything in ministry, you know all about conflict! It seems like the greatest obstacle to forward movement is the possibility of change. When we try to do something for the glory of God, almost inevitably, someone steps up and assigns evil motives to our actions.

Jesus was no stranger to conflict and accusation. Fear grows in the hearts of those who are challenged by changes they neither like nor can explain. Listen as Jesus is blistered by another barrage …

Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”– because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:20-30 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We confront our accusers with the foolishness of their assertions.

The attack upon Jesus – Jesus mind you – was nothing less than incredible! In the parallel passage, Jesus asks these scribes, “And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.” Matthew 12:27 (NKJV) When Jesus deals with this problem, he goes right to the heart of the issue.

Those who serve God’s plan know that major changes bring major opposition! Resolving these attacks is not always possible with those who fear our ministry. Our task is to stay focused on our mission and clarify the accusation so that all know its credibility or lack thereof.

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment