“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, ‘She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, ‘I am pregnant.’”
(2 Samuel 11:1-5 NIV)

 

David sent away all of the people who he would listen to. He had no one around who was able or willing to tell him the truth. He had only “yes-men” around him. If we are going to be who God called us to be and fulfill His vision, we need to ensure that we have people who are willing and able to tell us the truth and people who we will listen to. David had people around him, but no one who could tell him the truth, and no one he’d listen to. In order to become who God has called us to be, we need to continually be growing in our own leadership and character. Therefore, we need to position ourselves to receive input and feedback from those around us.

 

1. Leaders must be able to receive feedback and correction from various sources:

  • Leaders and mentors.

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” (Hebrews 13:17 NIV)

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14 NIV)

 We need leaders we can receive from who will speak into our lives and challenge us. We need to submit to their leadership. Submission is only submission when we don’t agree and God will put us in situations where our wills are crossed to teach us to submit. We need to seek out godly leaders and mentors to speak into our lives.

  • Those closest to us. (Galatians 2:11-14 NIV)

People who see us on a consistent basis (our spouses, our closest friends, and coworkers) know us best and can give us the most accurate feedback on our character and spiritual health. We typically perform for those above us and our real selves come out to those closest to us. We need to give them permission to give us feedback and correction.

  • Those we lead.

Do we hear feedback from those we lead? If not, we may have unintentionally created a culture where people don’t feel safe to push feedback up to us. When we don’t receive feedback, we assume no news is good news. In reality, no news over a period of time is more likely a signal of bad news. To be deceived is to be unable to see, and we need feedback from those who see our blind spots.

 

2. Leaders must be able to give feedback and correction to others in constructive ways.

  • To those above us. (Lead Up)

  • To coworkers and those close to us. (Lead Across)

  • To those we lead. (Lead Down)

 

3. We must raise up other leaders who can receive and give feedback and correction.

We need to create a culture where failure isn’t fatal and feedback and correction is consistent and redemptive.

 

Discussion Questions:

  • When was the last time you received feedback from your leaders, mentors, coworkers or those closest to you and those you lead? What happened and how did you grow from it?

  • Self-Assessment. How well do we receive feedback from others? Do you dismiss it? Do you consider and receive it? Who do we have closest to us who can give us real feedback?

 

Prayer:

  • Pray for humility to receive feedback from others.

  • Pray for courage to give loving feedback to others.

 

Communications:

  • Adopt an Ohana: We will not be receiving monetary donations this year. However, we are looking for groups and individuals to serve at the “Fun Fest” happening November 24, 10:00am to 1:00pm, at the Waipahu United Church of Christ. If you’re interested in serving, visit the Adopt an Ohana table after any of our weekend services for more information.

  • Growth Track: Due to the busyness of the holiday season, we will not be having Growth Track in December. The new cycle will begin in January of 2019.