Iron Leadership

This year we are focusing on building our Interior Wall. The goal is that no matter what external challenge you face, you will be internally prepared. The question is: how do you build interior walls? What character traits and habits can prepare you for the storms you face as a leader? Take this picture of Mexico Beach after Hurricane Michael as a mental image. The surface winds of our culture are picking up for those who follow Jesus.... Read More Read More

Audio Recording from 5/18/18 I want to close our year with Nehemiah by thinking about two things: How do you leverage yourself for the benefit of others, especially those who are in trouble or need? Another way to say it is: What troubled or needy situation might you insert yourself into to cause a change? This leveraging of yourself – How does it stretch your faith? If you truly insert yourself into a problem area (not just talk about a problem,... Read More Read More

This morning I want to focus on the never ending fight against our enemies.  This scene from All Quiet on the Western Front comes near the end of the movie. It’s WWI, the soldier has survived endless attacks, and many of his friends have not made it through the war. Now, the soldier is writing one last letter home to his girlfriend saying he would see her soon. . . In war, a moment of distraction, a lack of wisdom, a... Read More Read More

Spence Hackney did a great job once again. He taught us about Nehemiah’s generosity. View Spence’s lesson from last year: Daniel: Who’s On Top?   Paul told me I could talk about whatever I wanted to. I didn’t have to talk about Nehemiah, but this next passage was something I just couldn’t get away from. The worlds view of leadership, and a view I fell into in the past if I wasn’t careful, is to lead for the sake... Read More Read More

Last time we talked about leading when facing an external threat. In chapter 4, Nehemiah and his team began to make noticeable progress on rebuilding the wall of protection around the city of Jerusalem. According to Nehemiah 4:6, the wall had reached half of its height. Half-way through the project, Nehemiah faced 2 great threats: external and internal. External Threat: In chapter 4, the powerful people in the surrounding area didn’t want Jerusalem to be rebuilt. So, they began... Read More Read More

To set the foundation of today’s lesson, we’ll watch this clip from The Pursuit of Happyness. These statements are so powerful: Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you can’t do something, not even your Dad.  O how many dreams have died in just one conversation. How many men live with the voice of their father ringing in their memories? Fathers, do you understand the weight of your comments? When people can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you that you... Read More Read More

Last week we defined Leadership as moving people from here to there. Nehemiah moves people with 3 basic steps you will use over and over (All found in 2:17). Define Reality (Here) – (v. 17a) Define the Future (There) – (v. 17b) We Can’t Stay Here – (v. 17b) What will it take for Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem? A TEAM. Teamwork is our focus this morning. Building and being on a team is one of my... Read More Read More

John Maxwell wrote an excellent book titled: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It’s a great read and I highly recommend it, but 21 laws to follow is a lot to keep in mind.    I want to reduce it to 2 laws of leadership. Of course there are more, but if I only had two, I would mention the two found at the end of Nehemiah Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. Casting a Vision – 2:17-18  (Today) and Getting... Read More Read More

Audio Recording   This winter and spring we will examine how Nehemiah implements his Vision. In the process, we’ll receive a Master’s Degree in Leadership from him! We can draw three points from Nehemiah Chapter 2. 9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard... Read More Read More

Continuing from where we left off last week, there are three common wrong or incomplete views of work. 1. Secular View The primary purpose of work is self-fulfillment. Success in your life means success at your work. Weaknesses: The promises of fulfillment are fleeting – mirage. Self-fulfillment, like a new car, eventually loses its shine. Work becomes an Idol. Work defines your entire being and worth. 2. Two Storied View: Secular vs. Sacred The Two-Storied View distinguishes between Secular and Sacred... Read More Read More

The following audio clip begins with the testimony of Brandon Hart and continues with the leadership lesson. Nehemiah 2:9 represents a transition. Nehemiah has been emotionally moved by a report about the condition of his people back in Jerusalem. He has caught a vision of what could and should be. He has prayed, fasted and planned. He has courageously stepped forward to personally get involved and risked quite a bit with his requests of the King (Nehemiah 2:1-8). Now, Nehemiah goes to work! It’s always... Read More Read More

So far this year we’ve been talking about vision. This morning I want to talk about one more thing it takes to move forward in your Vision: Courage. – Even after you have done all the pounding needed on clarifying your vision – there will come a moment when what you need most is Courage:  Courage to walk toward a difficult or impossible looking situation; Courage to take a risk. Every significant vision the Lord births in you is... Read More Read More

Friday, October 13, 2017 – Audio Recording   If you’ve been keeping up in this series, you may be saying to yourself, “Hey, we have already talked about this. Let’s move on! To that quiet whisper in your head, I would respond: Repetition is the mother of all learning (ask a coach or teacher) What we are talking about in these opening verses of Nehemiah are foundational to the rest of the book and  foundational to our own lives. Vision:... Read More Read More

Friday, September 29, 2017 – Audio Recording   What’s the easiest way for this car to get out of the parking lot? Back up into empty space then turn left and you are out.  However, sometimes it takes a few more turns than you might imagine in order to get out of the parking lot and into your driving lane. (Warning…for those on blood pressure medicine – you might want to shield your eyes!) Painful…sometimes getting to where you want... Read More Read More

Friday, September 15, 2017 – Audio Recording In 1903 on the sands of the Outer Banks, Orville and Wilbur Wright took flight for the very first time. They didn’t have to pass through any security check points…they didn’t have to worry about any checked bags fees and there was no In-Flight beverage service. The entire flight lasted 59 seconds and traveled 852 feet. The first human flight happened in 1903, but their vision for flying began 25 years earlier in... Read More Read More

Friday, September 1, 2017 – Audio Recording   The stated purpose of Iron Leadership is “To act like men” by: equipping men to be better leaders in their own personal lives, their homes, their work, their churches and city for the sake of God’s Glory. This phrase: “Act like men” is lifted from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. This phrase comes at the close of the Apostle Paul’s long and difficult letter. It’s difficult because the people in the church... Read More Read More