Leading With Optimism

Leading With Optimism

2004038

Topic # 1297

Introduction:

A. Short series on becoming a person of influence.

1. Last wk – Leading w/integrity. Integrity is crucial to those who wish to lead others.

a) blameless; above reproach – 1 Tim. 3:2

b) w/o integrity – the ability to lead is next to impossible.

2. Want to direct our thoughts to those who are either in a leadership role or desire to be in a leadership role someday.

3. The preparation begins NOW.

a) Young men – it begins in teenage years.

b) Young adults – preparation begins NOW.

c) Leadership qualities are cemented in one’s 20’s/30’s so that in the years to come they truly become people of influence.

B. Today discuss another important key becoming a person of influence: leading w/optimism.

1. We’re describing a person who has his attitude in check.

2. 1 Tim. 3:2. Focus on prudent. Some versions: sober minded.

3. Word describes a man disciplined & well aware of his spiritual priorities.

4. Temperate; prudent; and respectable are the words used here.

a) These words describe a man whose upright character & disposition are evident to everyone!

b) His attitude is in line with what God expects!

C. When we speak of attitude we mean: the inward feeling expressed by our behavior.

1. Attitude often seen w/o our ever saying a word.

2. Who can miss it when someone sulks around – pouting because they didn’t get their way, etc.

3. Of all things we wear – our expression is most important!

4. Our outward actions and expressions can become a “window to the soul.”

5. Our attitude and expressions can be contagious.

a) What happens to a group of people when one person by his expression reveals a negative attitude?

b) Who can forget the lift you receive when a friend’s facial expression shows love & acceptance?

I. Our attitude determines our performance.

A. Our attitude is the primary force that will determine whether we succeed or fail spiritually.

B. Attitude determines our approach to our spiritual life.

1. For some – attitude presents a difficulty in every opportunity – for others it presents an opportunity in every difficulty.

2. There was a grandpa and grandma who visited their grandchildren. Each afternoon Grandpa would lie down for a nap. One day, as a practical joke, the kids decided to put Limburger cheese in his moustache. Quite soon he awoke sniffing. “Why, this room stinks,” he exclaimed as he got up and went out into the kitchen. He wasn’t there long until he decided that the kitchen smelled too, so he walked outdoors for a breath of fresh air. Much to Grandpa’s surprise, the open air brought no relief, and he proclaimed, “The whole world stinks!”

3. How true that is to life! When we carry “Limburger cheese” in our attitudes, the whole world smells bad.[1]

C. Adopting a good, healthy attitude is essential for our spiritual lives.

1. Change must come from within. Others can’t do it for you.

2. 1 Tim. 1:12-15 – Paul had terrible background to overcome.

3. After conversion – he possessed extreme desire to know Jesus in a greater way.

4. How? Didn’t wait for someone to do it for him.

a) Paul was not a whiner or complainer

b) He was focused on “laying hold of Jesus.”

c) Phil. 3:8-13

D. His attitude was essential to his spiritual success!

1. We are responsible for our view of life! Gal. 6:7

a) Our attitude toward life determines what happens to us.

2. Brethren: think of all the:

a) Marriages that are tolerated, but never happy because of a poor attitude.

b) Spiritual lives filled w/infinite potential – but never are taken to next level b/c of a hot/cold mentality toward spiritual matters.

E. Phil 4:4 – keep in mind that Paul writing from imprisonment.

1. Had life been “fair” to Paul? In prison on trumped up charges?

2. It is impossible to tailor make all situations to fit our lives perfectly.

3. It IS possible to tailor make our attitude to fit every situation that life throws out.

4. Case in point: Phil. 4:12-13.

F. A natural thing? Absolutely not.

1. It is learned behavior. Developing a healthy attitude influenced his entire outlook on life.

2. Each one of us creates our own environment – mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual – but the attitude we develop.

II. Attitude helps turn problems into blessings.

A. J. Sidlow Baxter: what is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty and every difficulty has an opportunity.

B. Life can be like a grindstone. We’re all confronted with problems.

1. On the job/school; marriage; raising kids; church; family members; people in the community.

C. When confronted w/a difficult situation – a person w/an outstanding attitude makes the best of it while he gets the worst of it.

1. Whether life grinds us down – or polishes us depends on what we’re made of.

D. Consider the success of these men & the importance of attitude:

1. Gen. 39-42 – Joseph. Had to be i0n the pit & dungeon before he came to the throne.

2. Ex. 2-3 – Moses – had to tend sheep in wilderness before leading the people of Israel.

3. Mt. 26:69-75 – Peter who denied Jesus 3 times; wept bitterly.

a) One of the darkest times of his life. He humbled & broken by his denial of Christ.

b) Could have allowed this to wreck his spiritual life.

c) His attitude propelled him to rise out of the ashes of failure to b/c one of the most important leaders the church has ever had.

4. The opportunities of life lie directly in our problems!

a) Thomas Edison: there is much more opportunity than there are people to see it.

b) Use the problems that confront you in your life as opportunities to grow your spiritual life & trust in God.

E. A positive attitude allows us to handle our problems & failures w/success!

1. Homework: list 2 problems that present a problem in your life.

2. Write down your present reactions to them. Are they negative?

3. Try to think of 3 possible benefits from each problem

4. Then attack the problem w/your eyes on the benefits – NOT the barriers.

III. Our attitude is not automatically good just because we’re Christians.

A. Many problems we carry around are matters of attitude, inner spirit, and motives.

1. We battle pride, lust, envy, anger, and covetousness. Stunts our spiritual growth & progress.

2. Lk. 15:25-32 – consider prodigal son’s older brother. Could we be like him?

a) he stayed home w/his father; didn’t sow wild oats

b) When his younger brother came home, his attitude began to show through.

3. He possessed a feeling of self-importance. No one had ever thrown a party for him.

4. 15:29-30 – possessed a feeling of self-pity.

B. Not the story of the prodigal son – but prodigal sons.

1. younger guilty of sins of flesh

2. Older guilty of the sin of the spirit – his attitude!

C. Phil. 2:3-8 – look at the attitudes we must possess as Christians

1. 2:3 – do the right things for the right reasons.

2. 2:3 – regard others as more important than yourself

3. 2:4 – look out for the interests of others

4. 2:6 – Jesus realized his Sonship & the need to serve His Father

5. 2:7-8 – Jesus emptied himself, obeyed God, and fulfilled His purpose.

D. But…when we focus on our personal interests (the natural thing) we become like the older brother.

1. Jealousy, envy, & selfishness can have a stronger grip that we realize.

2. consider his outward appearance:

a) correct, conscientious, industrious, dutiful

b) But 15:28 – his attitude.

c) He had no idea why the Father would rejoice over the return of the younger son.

d) The wrong relationship w/his brother led to a strained relationship w/his father.

E. Wrong attitudes kept older brother away from the hearts desire of his father, the love of his brother & the joy of the servants.

F. Wrong attitudes block the blessings of God &cause us to live below God’s potential for our lives!

G. When an attitude of ours “goes south” remember 2 things:

1. our privilege – Lk. 15:31

2. our possessions – Lk. 15:31

3. Think of your privileges & possessions b/c of Jesus! How rich we are!

IV. Our attitude can give us an optimistic perspective!

A. 1 Sam. 17:24 – soldiers of Israel – He’s so big we can never kill him. David looked at the same giant & thought: He’s so big I can’t miss!

1. This attitude given by an extreme trust in God!

2. It’s our attitude of faith/trust in God that allows us to be optimistic!

B. Future not only looks bright when our attitude is right – but the present is also much more enjoyable!

1. Positive person understands the journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

2. B/c of God & our relationship w/Him that we can experience the true joy of happiness & hope in this life.

C. Christianity can be an extremely liberating experience.

1. Frees us from shackles of sin; gives us ways to lead a focused & joyful life.

2. Our optimistic attitude helps us accomplish our spiritual goals & helps us become effective leaders.

Conclusion:

A. As long as we live, we are forming, changing, or reinforcing our attitude.

1. There is no such thing as an unalterable attitude!

2. You can change it for the better!

B. Daily we can become people of influence.

C. Are you aiming toward spiritual success?

1. Phil. 3:8-13 – can you say this along w/Paul?

D. I N V I T A T I O N

[1]John C. Maxwell, The Winning Attitude, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1999, c1993.



Leading With Optimism 2004038 Topic # 1297 Introduction: A. Short series on becoming a person of influence. 1. Last wk – Leading w/integrity. Integrity is crucial to those who wish to lead others. a) blameless; above reproach – 1 Tim. 3:2 b) w/o integrity – the ability to lead is next to impossible. 2. Want to direct our thoughts to those who are either in a leadership role or desire to be in a leadership role someday. 3. The preparation begins NOW. a) Young men – it begins in teenage years. b) Young adults – preparation begins NOW. c) Leadership qualities are cemented in one’s 20’s/30’s so that in the years to come they truly become people of influence. B. Today discuss another important key becoming a person of influence: leading w/optimism. 1. We’re describing a person who has his attitude in check. 2. 1 Tim. 3:2. Focus on prudent. Some versions: sober minded. 3. Word describes a man disciplined & well aware of his spiritual priorities. 4. Temperate; prudent; and respectable are the words used here. a) These words describe a man whose upright character & disposition are evident to everyone! b) His attitude is in line with what God expects! C. When we speak of attitude we mean: the inward feeling expressed by our behavior. 1. Attitude often seen w/o our ever saying a word. 2. Who can miss it when someone sulks around – pouting because they didn’t get their way, etc. 3. Of all things we wear – our expression is most important! 4. Our outward actions and expressions can become a “window to the soul.” 5. Our attitude and expressions can be contagious. a) What happens to a group of people when one person by his expression reveals a negative attitude? b) Who can forget the lift you receive when a friend’s facial expression shows love & acceptance? I. Our attitude determines our performance. A. Our attitude is the primary force that will determine whether we succeed or fail spiritually. B. Attitude determines our approach to our spiritual life. 1. For some – attitude presents a difficulty in every opportunity – for others it presents an opportunity in every difficulty. 2. There was a grandpa and grandma who visited their grandchildren. Each afternoon Grandpa would lie down for a nap. One day, as a practical joke, the kids decided to put Limburger cheese in his moustache. Quite soon he awoke sniffing. “Why, this room stinks,” he exclaimed as he got up and went out into the kitchen. He wasn’t there long until he decided that the kitchen smelled too, so he walked outdoors for a breath of fresh air. Much to Grandpa’s surprise, the open air brought no relief, and he proclaimed, “The whole world stinks!” 3. How true that is to life! When we carry “Limburger cheese” in our attitudes, the whole world smells bad.[1] C. Adopting a good, healthy attitude is essential for our spiritual lives. 1. Change must come from within. Others can’t do it for you. 2. 1 Tim. 1:12-15 – Paul had terrible background to overcome. 3. After conversion – he possessed extreme desire to know Jesus in a greater way. 4. How? Didn’t wait for someone to do it for him. a) Paul was not a whiner or complainer b) He was focused on “laying hold of Jesus.” c) Phil. 3:8-13 D. His attitude was essential to his spiritual success! 1. We are responsible for our view of life! Gal. 6:7 a) Our attitude toward life determines what happens to us. 2. Brethren: think of all the: a) Marriages that are tolerated, but never happy because of a poor attitude. b) Spiritual lives filled w/infinite potential – but never are taken to next level b/c of a hot/cold mentality toward spiritual matters. E. Phil 4:4 – keep in mind that Paul writing from imprisonment. 1. Had life been “fair” to Paul? In prison on trumped up charges? 2. It is impossible to tailor make all situations to fit our lives perfectly. 3. It IS possible to tailor make our attitude to fit every situation that life throws out. 4. Case in point: Phil. 4:12-13. F. A natural thing? Absolutely not. 1. It is learned behavior. Developing a healthy attitude influenced his entire outlook on life. 2. Each one of us creates our own environment – mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual – but the attitude we develop. II. Attitude helps turn problems into blessings. A. J. Sidlow Baxter: what is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty and every difficulty has an opportunity. B. Life can be like a grindstone. We’re all confronted with problems. 1. On the job/school; marriage; raising kids; church; family members; people in the community. C. When confronted w/a difficult situation – a person w/an outstanding attitude makes the best of it while he gets the worst of it. 1. Whether life grinds us down – or polishes us depends on what we’re made of. D. Consider the success of these men & the importance of attitude: 1. Gen. 39-42 – Joseph. Had to be i0n the pit & dungeon before he came to the throne. 2. Ex. 2-3 – Moses – had to tend sheep in wilderness before leading the people of Israel. 3. Mt. 26:69-75 – Peter who denied Jesus 3 times; wept bitterly. a) One of the darkest times of his life. He humbled & broken by his denial of Christ. b) Could have allowed this to wreck his spiritual life. c) His attitude propelled him to rise out of the ashes of failure to b/c one of the most important leaders the church has ever had. 4. The opportunities of life lie directly in our problems! a) Thomas Edison: there is much more opportunity than there are people to see it. b) Use the problems that confront you in your life as opportunities to grow your spiritual life & trust in God. E. A positive attitude allows us to handle our problems & failures w/success! 1. Homework: list 2 problems that present a problem in your life. 2. Write down your present reactions to them. Are they negative? 3. Try to think of 3 possible benefits from each problem 4. Then attack the problem w/your eyes on the benefits – NOT the barriers. III. Our attitude is not automatically good just because we’re Christians. A. Many problems we carry around are matters of attitude, inner spirit, and motives. 1. We battle pride, lust, envy, anger, and covetousness. Stunts our spiritual growth & progress. 2. Lk. 15:25-32 – consider prodigal son’s older brother. Could we be like him? a) he stayed home w/his father; didn’t sow wild oats b) When his younger brother came home, his attitude began to show through. 3. He possessed a feeling of self-importance. No one had ever thrown a party for him. 4. 15:29-30 – possessed a feeling of self-pity. B. Not the story of the prodigal son – but prodigal sons. 1. younger guilty of sins of flesh 2. Older guilty of the sin of the spirit – his attitude! C. Phil. 2:3-8 – look at the attitudes we must possess as Christians 1. 2:3 – do the right things for the right reasons. 2. 2:3 – regard others as more important than yourself 3. 2:4 – look out for the interests of others 4. 2:6 – Jesus realized his Sonship & the need to serve His Father 5. 2:7-8 – Jesus emptied himself, obeyed God, and fulfilled His purpose. D. But…when we focus on our personal interests (the natural thing) we become like the older brother. 1. Jealousy, envy, & selfishness can have a stronger grip that we realize. 2. consider his outward appearance: a) correct, conscientious, industrious, dutiful b) But 15:28 – his attitude. c) He had no idea why the Father would rejoice over the return of the younger son. d) The wrong relationship w/his brother led to a strained relationship w/his father. E. Wrong attitudes kept older brother away from the hearts desire of his father, the love of his brother & the joy of the servants. F. Wrong attitudes block the blessings of God &cause us to live below God’s potential for our lives! G. When an attitude of ours “goes south” remember 2 things: 1. our privilege – Lk. 15:31 2. our possessions – Lk. 15:31 3. Think of your privileges & possessions b/c of Jesus! How rich we are! IV. Our attitude can give us an optimistic perspective! A. 1 Sam. 17:24 – soldiers of Israel – He’s so big we can never kill him. David looked at the same giant & thought: He’s so big I can’t miss! 1. This attitude given by an extreme trust in God! 2. It’s our attitude of faith/trust in God that allows us to be optimistic! B. Future not only looks bright when our attitude is right – but the present is also much more enjoyable! 1. Positive person understands the journey is as enjoyable as the destination. 2. B/c of God & our relationship w/Him that we can experience the true joy of happiness & hope in this life. C. Christianity can be an extremely liberating experience. 1. Frees us from shackles of sin; gives us ways to lead a focused & joyful life. 2. Our optimistic attitude helps us accomplish our spiritual goals & helps us become effective leaders. Conclusion: A. As long as we live, we are forming, changing, or reinforcing our attitude. 1. There is no such thing as an unalterable attitude! 2. You can change it for the better! B. Daily we can become people of influence. C. Are you aiming toward spiritual success? 1. Phil. 3:8-13 – can you say this along w/Paul? D. I N V I T A T I O N [1]John C. Maxwell, The Winning Attitude, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1999, c1993.