SUMMIT LEARNINGS 2008

For years now I've been going to the leadership summit put on by Willow Creek. I think this is like year 8 for me. I always love it. It's always good for me to hear and think. This year I have a few process days laid aside to download the info into my life, leadership, and ministry.

Last year's theme seemed to be for me, "self leadership." This year's theme seemed to be "leadership that matters".

There were 11 teaching moments from 10 speakers. (Hybels always does the opening and closing talks). I have tried to reduce each teaching down to two things.

#1. A leadership learning.
#2. A defining question to ponder.

BILL HYBELS: THE HIGH DRAMA OF DECISION MAKING.

LEARNING: Good leaders take the time to boil leadership experiences and learnings down to simple, easy to remember axioms that shape their decision making process.

QUESTION: What leadership lessons have I learned that I cannot afford to forget in regards to future decisions?



GARY HAUGEN: CHARGING THE DARKNESS.

LEARNING: It is possible to lead in areas that ultimately do not matter at all. If I don't want this to be me, then I must make sure my heart and God's heart share the very same passions. God wants to solve the problems of the world through God's people for Jesus did not come to make us safe, but brave.

QUESTION: Are Jesus and I really interested in the same thing?



BILL GEORGE: FINDING YOUR TRUE NORTH, THE SPIRITUALITY OF AUTHENTIC LEADERS.

LEARNING: The greatest failure of leaders is not a failure to lead others, it’s a failure to lead themselves.

QUESTION: “What am I doing to truly make a difference in the world?”




WENDY KOPP: STAND UP AND LEAD.

LEARNING: True leadership comes from a deep seated values that are mutually owned across the organization.

QUESTION: Are the values of this organization mine or ours?






JOHN BURKE: LEADING IN NEW CULTURAL REALITIES.

LEARNING: People are looking for an authentic confessing community.

QUESTION: Am I living an authentic, genuine, humble lifestyle of following Jesus around a watching world?




EFREM SMITH: LEADING IN NEW CULTURAL REALITIES

LEARNING: Culture is both good and bad; divine and demonic. It is the languate we have grown up in and we need to be able to connect with it so that people can find God in it.

QUESTION: How well do I know understand the theological and sociological needs of my culture?



CRAIG GROESCHEL: HOW LEADERS CAN GET IT AND KEEP IT.

LEARNING: Don’t become a full-time pastor and a part-time follower of Christ.

QUESTION: How intimate is my relationship with Jesus and does my ministry flow from the Holy Spirit's direct guidance and counsel in my life?



CHUCK COLSON: DEFENDING THE FAITH.

LEARNING: Culture is nothing but religion incarnate.

QUESTION: What systemic problems in American youth culture is God calling our student ministry to have a direct voice into and influence over?





CATHERINE ROHR: RISK TAKING, BARRIER BREAKING, BOLD LEADERSHIP

LEARNING: Pray this: "Bring it on God, Bring it on."

QUESTION: "If God answers that prayer, am I ready to listen and obey no matter what the cost?"





BRAD ANDERSON: AN UNCOMPROMISING FOCUS ON PEOPLE

LEARNING: We tend to separate things that are not separable. People problems result in end result problems.

QUESTION: "What have I tried to treat as separate problems that are actually intimately related to one another?"





BILL HYBELS: RELENTLESS

LEARNING: Decide to live like Mother Theresa, that when God speaks, I will deny him nothing.

QUESTION: If God is just looking for a yielded heart that will refuse God nothing and do God’s bidding without delay, am I that kind of person?