Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs is one of the most powerful books on church leadership I have ever read.  As defined by the author, an Axiom is a” “Leadership Proverb, a short, memorable phrase to communicate convictions and beliefs.”  Reading this book will challenge and change you and make you a MUCH better leader.

I have always been a fan of Bill Hybels, and I consider him one of my mentors.  I have attended several Leadership Summits and heard many of these Axioms before.  Much like Killing Cockroaches, Axiom is written in a very short, compact style that made it VERY easy to read and digest more easily.

There is an amazing amount of truth and wisdom held in these 76 quick, pithy leadership proverbs and if you lead in the for-profit or non-profit sectors, you would do yourself, and your organization a HUGE benefit to read, study, meditate, and teach through Axiom.

QUOTABLES

• “Whole VISIONS live or die on the basis of the words the leader chooses fo articulating that vision.”
• “You will never take big hills without making bold moves.”
• “Leaders traffic in idea creation.”
• “What you value in your [organization] must be raised up, taught about, and celebrated on a regular basis.”
• “Good leaders call out high commitment from people.”
• “Someday you will finish the assignment God has you pursuing right now…  My sincere desire is that [you] will finish well for the sake of the One who called us and sustained us all the way to the end.”
• “We are in the highest-stakes battle in existence on the broadest battlefield of engagement ever imagined.  Those we lead within the faith deserve our most competent, confident efforts.  And Christ’s instructin to reach the rest demands them.”

It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It, is one of the most dangerous books in America. if every pastor, minister, church leader, Sunday school teacher, board member, deacon, or elder would read and, then employ Groeschel’s message….everything in our church culture would DRASTICALLY change.

Instead of tepid, lukewarm country clubs, churches would be overflowing with love, grace, and generosity.  Instead of passive, weak, and fearful leaders, men and women would boldly go to great lengths to share the Gospel and be the hands and feet of Christ.

People would be confronted with the reality of their brokenness and need of a Savior.  And most of all, pastors would admit to their lack of faith, their willingness to settle for the status quo, and they would humbly beg God for healing and reconciliation.

Our churches would no longer be “Christian Country Clubs,” they would transform into joyous houses of worship to a God that loves them and meets them where they are at and changes them forever.  It would stop being about “me” and start being about “Him” [Jesus].

There would be a resurgence of the Christian faith that would rival the first century (Acts) churches.  A true revival would spread throughout this nation and into the whole world.

The danger of It, is that it all starts with the individual, each of us stopping what we are doing and take a Godly view of our lives, our ministries, our relationships, and filter them through the expectation of what our lives SHOULD be.

I want it.  I need it.  I’m not 100% sure I ever, truly had it…but I have had a taste of it, and it is glorious.  Our churches need it.  We all need it.  And God wants to to give it to us.  Will we humble ourselves enough to ask for and receive it?

QUOTABLES

• “God makes it happen.  It is from Him.  It is by Him.   It is for His glory.  We can’t create  it.  We can’t manufacture it.”
• “It is not a model.  It is not a system. It is not the result of a program.  You can’t purchase or manufacture it.  It can’t be copied.”
• “Not everyone will get it.  It can’t be learned from a classroom.  Yet even though it can’t be taught, it can be caught.”