Crawford Loritts Nuggets

I found some old seminary notes today as I was studying. Here are some nuggets from a preaching class and a Biblical leadership class with Dr. Crawford Loritts taught at T.E.D.S.  Good stuff… If you have a Crawford nugget, feel free to add on.

ON PREACHING…

3 phases in a preachers life:
1) How did I do?
2) Was I true to the text?
3) Was I faithful to God, and did he use me?

“The goal of all ministry is transformation. Never stand in front of a group of people with the Bible in hand and not expect change.”

“The Greatest hindrance to the advance of the Gospel is doing the work of God apart from the truth and power of the Holy Spirit.”

“The Greatest Deficiency in most exposition is that it is powerless.”

“Learn from others, but preach like yourself…God speaks through who you are. Don’t take on someone else’s persona.”

ON LEADERSHIP…

4 things about every great leader God has ever used
1) Brokenness
2) Uncommon communion with God
3) Servanthood as an identity (not a strategy)
4) Radical immediate obedience

“Don’t tell God how to use you… 98% of the time if someone asks Crawford for a leadership position then he doesn’t give it to them.”

“Spiritual Leaders don’t blame their followers when they don’t do what they should do. Absorb the blame and share the credit.”

“Crisis can either crush an inspiring leader, or develop the character of the leader for greater things in the future. Crisis calls for a decision: Fish or Cut Bait? When we are mentoring people, and they come to you with a crisis: force them to make a decision. Say, “What are you going to do about this?” “This could be a defining moment in your life!”

“Leadership is not management! Getting things done is not leadership, taking people to somewhere that they need to be is leadership.”

“The greatness of an organization will be directly proportional to the greatness of its leader.”

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to make tough decisions in the presence of fear.”

“If a person is not willing to stand alone, then the person is not called to lead.”

On Leading Leaders:
“Be comfortable in your own skin. You’ll never impact that which you are impressed with.”