1. Pray more.

     So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord… ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’” says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)

 

2. Invest in your spiritual gift(s). 

    Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
(I Timothy 4:14-15, NIV)

 

3. Get more intentional about evangelism.

    I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. (I Corinthians 9:22, NIV)

 

4. Care for yourself spiritually.

    Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  (Philippians 3:12, NIV)

 

5. Make the tough decisions you know are best.

    And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:22-24, NIV)

 

6. Confront debilitating patterns of sin.

    Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1, NIV)

 

7. Do the hard work needed to build community.

    If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.  (Matthew 18:15, NIV)

 

8. Keep in touch with contemporary culture.

    From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders… All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. (I Chronicles 12:32, NLT)

 

9. Quit comparing yourself to other Christians, other leaders, and other churches.

    Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?” Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You – follow me.” That is how the rumor got out among the    brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you?”   (John 21:20-23, Msg)

 

10. Read more.

    Timothy, please come as soon as you can… When you come, be sure to…  bring my books… (II Timothy 4:9, 13, NLT)

 

11. Prioritize your family.

    A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife… attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? (I Timothy 3:2-5, Msg)

 

12. Refuse to use ministry or work to satisfy your personal ambitions.

    Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. (Jeremiah 45:5, NIV)

 

13. Love people, not just crowds.

    If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. (I Corinthians 13:1-3, Msg)

 

14. Be more open to change.

    See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

 

15. Stay focused on the vision.