I read a great article today and a quote from it really stood out to me:
"You need to realize the fact that you are going to reproduce your soul in your church, whether you intend to or not."
In context, the article was talking about how we need to pursue and practice the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) and avoid more toxic traits such as sarcasm, self-defensiveness, arrogance, etc., because who we are as leaders will naturally reproduce itself in the life and culture of our churches (and specifically in the church addressed in the article).
I don't know about you, but that hits me hard and causes me to pause and consider what's in my heart and soul that is going to be reproduced in the young men, women, and families that God has called me to invest in. I believe that of first importance in shepherding others is shepherding MYSELF, and if my soul isn't well-tended then how can I expect healthy fruit in the lives of those I'm tending to?
What do you think? Will a leader's soul - the fruit of his/her heart - reproduce itself in the lives and culture of the church or ministry in which he/she leads?
"You need to realize the fact that you are going to reproduce your soul in your church, whether you intend to or not."
In context, the article was talking about how we need to pursue and practice the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) and avoid more toxic traits such as sarcasm, self-defensiveness, arrogance, etc., because who we are as leaders will naturally reproduce itself in the life and culture of our churches (and specifically in the church addressed in the article).
I don't know about you, but that hits me hard and causes me to pause and consider what's in my heart and soul that is going to be reproduced in the young men, women, and families that God has called me to invest in. I believe that of first importance in shepherding others is shepherding MYSELF, and if my soul isn't well-tended then how can I expect healthy fruit in the lives of those I'm tending to?
What do you think? Will a leader's soul - the fruit of his/her heart - reproduce itself in the lives and culture of the church or ministry in which he/she leads?