{"id":2744,"date":"2013-01-11T04:43:39","date_gmt":"2013-01-11T12:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scottcochrane.com\/?p=2744"},"modified":"2013-01-11T05:59:42","modified_gmt":"2013-01-11T13:59:42","slug":"how-christian-leaders-read-the-bible-for-maximum-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/2013\/01\/11\/how-christian-leaders-read-the-bible-for-maximum-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"How Christian Leaders Read the Bible for Maximum Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Christian leaders, regular, unhurried times of deep reflection on Scripture is an absolute \u201cmust\u201d.<\/p>\n

Effective leaders know that it is in the pages of the bible that some of God\u2019s best work can be done in shaping and molding the leader\u2019s heart. That\u2019s why these leaders make personal bible study an immovable and irreplaceable part of their own development.<\/p>\n


\n<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But this raises an important question: For Christian leaders is there a particular approach to the bible that is especially important?<\/p>\n

The answer is \u201cAbsolutely yes\u201d.<\/p>\n

If you want to gain the maximum impact for your leadership through the pages of Scripture, there are at least three vital lenses through which you should examine each line of the bible:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The lens of God\u2019s character<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As you read, ask yourself \u201cWhat is this revealing to me about the character of God?\u201d You might see God\u2019s heart for justice, his compassion for the disadvantaged, or his love for His people.<\/p>\n

Then ask yourself, \u201cHow might I better reflect this attribute of God\u2019s character in my leadership today?\u201d<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The lens of God\u2019s purposes<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

God\u2019s purposes are revealed throughout Scripture, particularly in and through the life of Christ. As you study the life and ministry of Jesus you find a vivid picture painted of God\u2019s Kingdom. For example, when Jesus says in Luke 19:10, \u201cI have come to seek and save the lost\u201d another glimpse of God\u2019s purposes is revealed.<\/p>\n

As you reflect on these purposes of God, hold them up as a mirror to the things you are trying to accomplish as a leader. Ask yourself, \u201cHow is my leadership reflecting God\u2019s purposes?\u201d<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>The lens of God\u2019s ways<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

God has a strategy; a consistent way of going about accomplishing His purposes.<\/p>\n

And almost always it involves working in and through the lives of people. From the time of creation onward God has sought to accomplish His work on planet earth primarily by empowering frail, fallen, regular people to be His agents of change.<\/p>\n

If instead you find your own approach veering towards a solo style, ask yourself, \u201cTo what extent are God\u2019s ways being seen in my leadership?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, when it comes to the sources of a Christian leaders\u2019 development, the bible stands alone.<\/p>\n

Try reading it through these lenses.<\/p>\n

It could transform your leadership.<\/p>\n

How has personal bible study shaped your leadership?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For Christian leaders, regular, unhurried times of deep reflection on Scripture is an absolute \u201cmust\u201d. Effective leaders know that it is in the pages of the bible that some of God\u2019s best work can be done in shaping and molding the leader\u2019s heart. That\u2019s why these leaders make personal bible study an immovable and irreplaceable…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[478,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2744"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2754,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2744\/revisions\/2754"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}