Dave Kraft » Mission Church Preaching Church Leadership Church Planting

“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Corinthians 1:12

Paul speaks of behaving with simplicity and sincerity.

These are two concepts/ideas/desires that I’ve had on my heart for a few years. I desire for my own life:

An increasing

Simplicity in the way I live.

An increasing

Sincerity in the way I lead.

Living

It seems to me that much of what is out there is an attempt to complicate my life, with more stuff in my house and closet and more stuff on my calendar. Buy this or that . . . sign up for this or that . . . do this or that.

More and more, people I know seem to be complicating their lives rather than simplifying their lives. I would like to move in the simplify direction.

Before deciding to do something or buy something, I would like to think and pray, asking myself if it is the best thing for me to do? Is it the God-honoring thing to do? Or is it just another ploy to move me into a busier, faster, and more materialistic life style? To please my Lord, I need to stay focused and unencumbered.

Leading

I think and pray a lot about motives and doing things with the right heart and attitude when it comes to leading and leadership.

The word “sincere” literally means “without wax.” In Spanish the word sincere is made up of two words, sin and cera. Sin means “without” and cera is “wax,” hence “without wax.” Years ago, when a piece of cracked pottery was being sold, a person might cover the crack with wax to hide the imperfection. If the pottery was honestly sold, it was advertised as "without wax" —what you see is what it really is: no cover-ups, no hiding anything, no playing games or trying to fool anybody. 

It has to do with being the real thing—no pretense, no wearing masks, playing games or trying to be somebody I’m not. Just being myself regardless of where I am or who I’m with. In reality, a sincere person of genuine character is someone who can be trusted.

The legendary college basketball coach John Wooden encouraged us to, “Pay more attention to your character than your reputation because your character is what you really are, whereas your reputation is merely what other people think you are.”

If I pay attention to my character (being a sincere leader) my reputation will take care of itself.

Grace 

In the verse quoted above, Paul makes note of the fact that he behaved among the Corinthians with simplicity and sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God. I want to be constantly reminded that growing in simplicity and sincerity is not going to happen because I desire it or work hard at it, but as God works his sanctifying grace in my life in these two critical areas.

 

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Have Dave Kraft speak at your church about Leaders Who Last.
 

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