The Reluctant Leader
Check out the sermon notes:
080724-the-dark-side-of-greatness-the-reluctant-leader
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Check out the sermon notes:
080724-the-dark-side-of-greatness-the-reluctant-leader
This entry was posted on August 24, 2008 at 11:48 am and is filed under Mavuno Sermons. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Blog.Mavuno
August 24, 2008 at 4:47 pm
As i listened Sunday after sunday on various kinds of leaders, i ruled out each personality and wondered what kind I would finally turn out be. Today’s service brought me to tears literally as i remembered many opportunities I had allowed to pass. I’ve been praying for a senior management position yet thinking I don’t have the vigor for it as I’m not a Choleric. I’ve let many opportunities to have a serious relationship pass me because I was scared of commitment and worried I might not make a “good partner”. I procrastinate alot because I’m scared of not being perfect in what I really want to achieve in my life. Thank you for today’s service and for the counsellor who prayed with me. I believe that The Lord has GREAT plans for me and may His will be done in my life. God Bless Mavuno
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August 25, 2008 at 8:36 am
I have actually been dreading today’s sermon but WOW! It is good to know that there are some ‘phlegs’ out there who are fearles influencers. I have learnt so much in this month, and have self analysed myself to bits! I see how so much has passed me by; relationships, career, fun times, laughter and so on. I will go forth! and become more fearless, and place a hinher value on myself!!! because this is not bout me, its about he who is with me!!! beautifu stuff.
A story is told of a lady, Ruby, who had an antique table that she wanted to let go. She put it on sale for $500. After some time with no takers she reduced the offer price to $400. This jamaa came around, checked out the table, and offered $300.
Ruby replied’ this table has been in my family for generations, has immense sentimental value, and is made of pure dark oak.’
The jamma answered, ‘sawa, but is has scratches and all. I will have to finish it all over again.
Ruby repiled,’ believe me sir, they don’t make tables like this anymore. On and on it went, till the guy said,’ you know, if you would just change the price of this table, i would buy it.’
Ruby took her marker pen, and slashed the $400… to guess how much? …$600!!!!!!!! The guy could not believe it, and said, ‘ You cant do that!
Ruby answered that as it was her table she could sell it for any amount she wanted.
Why did you do that? I will give you $400 for it!’
‘As we raged over the price of the table I realised it is worth much more than I was asking for it. I would rather get its true value, or not sell it, and keep a valuable table instead.’
The guy made alot of noise but finally bought the table at $ 600!!!
Question: When the guy got home, did he treat
the table like a $300 table or a £600 table?
How much does God think I am worth?
How much do I think I am worth?
How much do i sell myself for?
People will buy the table depending on the price i have set for it!!
The Reluctant Laeder Sermon made me realise that because of my fear, I keep selling myself for $300 and expecting to be treatred like a $600 table, and the fear increases creating a vicious cycle. Well, I have only thing to say, ‘ Who I am is not as importatnt as who is with me!’ Please share this story with others, lets hasten the transformation!!!!
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August 25, 2008 at 8:49 am
If it were not for the sermon, I would have procrastinated blogging this. It was my first time to visit and I came specifically for the reluctant leader sermon. I must say it is a nice thing to know that God is greater than I am so I’m raring to go as a Choleric would put it. As a matter of fact, I stood up at the end of the sermon, something I rarely due especially coz of fear. Fear can really be crippling but like Jesus said to the reluctant man at the pool of Bethesda..”rise up and walk.”
As a postscript, may we continue in the work of the harvest. Tuendelee kuvuna.
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August 25, 2008 at 9:47 am
Can’t believe am even typing on this blog coz i fear it being read on Sunday and why i fear i do not know! You know what, ever since Sunday the “who i am is not as important as who is with me” has become my mantra which i chant regularly. I used to think there was something wrong with me coz i can be very quiet and at other times very friendly. The sermon was an eye opener as i now know what i have been doing what i do and what i can work on with God’s help. Thank you Mavuno, you rock.
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August 25, 2008 at 10:02 am
All I can say is…oh my goodness! I was so blessed by the sermon. I now understand myself better. Like Wairimu has commented, I also used to think that I’d have to be a choleric to be a leader and we all know how frustrating it is to try to be what you are not. You mean I can actually be a leader even though I’m a phlegmatic? Awesome. I also totally feel Jackie when she says that she used to think there was something wrong with her…very friendly one time and quiet the other. Wow. Am I glad to know that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with me. I’m so glad that now I know my greatest weakness is fear…coz this is so true. Now I know what to ask help in and what to pray. Thank you Pastor Carol and Pastor Muriithi. A sermon just in time.
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August 25, 2008 at 10:26 am
I knew without a doubt that i was a phleg and boy did i dread the thought of listening to a sermon about me! I pestered my very patient spouse all week about what he thought the sunday sermon would be and with each question i would experience great fear. Moreso In true phleg fashion, I met Pst.M when coming into church and I contemplated telling him to “go easy on us” but ofcourse like many occassions in my life, i hesitated and self-critised and only managed a feable ‘good morning’.
I have always wondered why nobody remembers me after meeting me and I simply accepted that i am a ‘colourless & emotionless’ person with little to offer the world. Now i can see that this frame of mind is exactly how I always projected myself and no wonder the outcome was exactly that! I find it hard to make & keep friends and now will seriously pray that God sends me my “aaron’.
The paradox is that in my work place I am given positions of leadership with my peers and bosses expressing confidence in my abilities. Ofcourse my theory has been that it is pure luck which is about to run out any time soon & so i get stuck in a vicous cycle of fear & insecurity.
Thanks Pst M & Pst C, the sermon really affirmed me, I walked out of church with a spring to my walk. I feel alot more confident knowing that the jail gates of fear, self-doubt have been opened I can accomplish much just as Moses did because Who I am is not as important as who is with me!
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August 25, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I’ve always wondered what my temperament is but yesterday I confirmed that I am a real phelg. Yaani it was enlightening and humbling at the same time……….you have no idea….. I’m glad to finally realize that fear is my greatest weakness coz believe it or not I didnt know this, surely how naive can someone be? And you know what, it makes so much sence now that I look back. They say that self awareness is one of the greatest discoveries and I decare that fear is NOT MY PORTION. I will accomplish my dreams. I refuse to live a life that I will regret later. I will be celebrated in my days because I am a fearless influencer. If God did it for Moses he will do it for me too. I look forward to great times ahead. I thank God for mavuno. I have been a mavunite for slightly over a year and everyday I discover why God choose Pastor M,S,L and C as my shepherds for this season in my life. God bless you and I am praying for you too. May God raise you up to be all you can ever be.
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August 25, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I seriously contemplated writing this as anonymous but then I guess yesterdays sermon would have been in vain! I have often thought that the inexplicable fear I sometimes experience was a personal failing rather than an element of my temperament…I guess I now have a new excuse..hehe..Ok no I wont – lest a choleric beats me up in frustration.
Agreeing with Pastor Ms final points I really do not want to look back and see that I lived a mediocre life full of regret. Like Jackie I think ‘who i am is not as important as Who is with me’ has to become my personal mantra.
Thank you for a wonderful and enlightening sermon..;-)
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August 25, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I think God planned for me to listen to this message. I had attended 2 services in June but due to unavoidable circumstances was unable to come again. However yesterday I purposed to attend and on arriving found that the service hours had changed to 9 and 12. my next thot was to go to another church who’s service starts at 11.30, but somehow i found myself just waiting at Oillybia till noon. To my surprise i found the sermon was about temparaments and more specifically phlegs. (Am really sad that i missed the others). I have never really known whether am a phleg or a mel(how horrible) but after yesterday, i confirmed that am truly a phleg! I guess what hinders my growth both socially, spiritually and workwise is fear. I am dependable but afraid to move forward. With this new challenge, i aim to get out of my comfort zone – take a challenge knowing that i can do great things. I go for job interviews with the mind that they cant take me and for sure they dont take me. thereafter am so disappointed and vow not to look for another job for the rest of the year thereby further hampering my growth. My friends and colleagues have so much faith in me till I wonder what it is they see that I dont. With the encouragement from Moses – I would have given the same excuses if it was me at the time – I now know that God uses us because of Who He is and not who I am.
May God continue to guide the leadership of Mavuno as they continue tranforming lives. My next project is to join Mizizi and hopefuly experience some positive change in my life.
God bless.
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August 25, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Having identified my character as that under discussion in yesterday’s sermon, a friend referred me to the blog to review the sermon notes. After reviewing the notes on the phlegmatic and the comments shared – a lot of which I can relate with – I have to admit that she was spot on. I clearly missed out, but the message has come through loud and clear: Who I am is not as important as Who’s with me. Faith over fear. God bless.
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August 25, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Yes Nzi a choleric shall beat you & you dont have to guess which one it will be 🙂
I’ve really enjoyed this sermon series especially coz its helped me get to understand my family better. We are a delightful but sometimes frustrating mix of all the personalities. Mavuno has been such a blessing to me & my family so much so that my mother (who is PCEA damu) sneaked in during yesterday’s service which was talking about her personality.It slipped out during a conversation that she was in jana’s service & im glad that the sermon had a positive impact on her.
Thank you for the candour with which you have addressed issues in this series.
Be blessed
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August 26, 2008 at 2:28 pm
@ josie and ben -you can buy sermon cds to hear all the stuff you missed.
and then next sunday is a conclusion-summary-tying everything together so y’all should come
ok, didnt have much to share except that im phlegmatic. iv always thought of my self as a “fearful influencer” and almost everytime we go through the mavuno mission/vision im mentally saying “fearfulll fearfulll”
im hoping to be made over. Who i am isnt as important as WHO is with me – is there a verse that kinda sounds like this or has the gist of this statement – just wondering?
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August 26, 2008 at 3:25 pm
well, last week I was voted as the chair person in my mizizi group for the social justice exercise and i immediately had numerous things running through my head: “oh gosh, i’m gona mess this up”, “why me”, “gosh why isnt there a rock i can delve under at this very moment”!! I guess at work I am more confident, but with new challenges (God stuff…especially), i would rather much stay in the background and be a peaceful little helper, uttering inputs once in a while.I am primarily a phlegmatic and then a mel.So just trying to figure myself out, and these sermons have really helped. I understand why I am always so fearful and anxious and also extremely, pathetically and overly sensitive. Thanks a lot. I would like to recommend a book called ‘personality plus’ for all those who would like to find out more on this topic. (sorry, cant remember the authors name)This whole experience has helped me start to understand my bosses, friends and family members.Thank you once again.God bless
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August 26, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Hi Pastor M,
i have been very keen on the dark side of greatness and i thank God for the experience as it will help me greatly in my work and daily life.
I don’t normally go to church however i have found missing mavuno church on sundays hard. I now plan my sundays along the lines of church first and then other things. Praise God as he is really working through you.
I have one major problem though. After attending a certain christian course i decided that i needed to throw away my condoms because i thought it would stop me from Fornicating.
I prayed about it and it worked for a while but there was one night where i did the deed and now she’s expecting.
Please pray for me and her as we are scared and have no idea what to do since we are no longer seeing each other.
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August 27, 2008 at 9:53 am
That was an eye-opener & this sermon series has been the beginning of my healing. Indeed, God’s timing is perfect, on time! Being a sanguine phlegmatic is quite chaotic, blaming people for things that you should have done anyway & then laughing it off, kinda bi-polar, can u imagine where I would be without Jesus?! Only His saving grace will help me to get through this life; now thanks to you, Pastor M & Pastor C, I have a starting point… There is therefore now no condemnation. I pray that this will be the beginning of a new journey, of restoration, forgiveness… & most of all, of no ‘if only’s’ but rather getting the job done, taking the risks & the relationships where they are meant to be.
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August 27, 2008 at 10:07 am
sunday morning…..woke up feeling di-syked to attend church, reason???..no one talks about me!!!! even my own pastors……
anyway i got to church and THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ME, yaani seriously……..I know too well how have struggled with decison making even in the simplest of things like my hairdo( & by the way I only do ponytail or con-braidz), two weeks ago I lost a business partnership with my pal coz i cldnt make up my mind about it and she just moved on with a better ‘risk taker’ than me. more often than not I back-out of my challenges coz i feel i dont have wat it takes to accomplish them, right now am living in a ‘home’ where am sure i needed to have moved out like 3 years ago, but i havent, am still ‘making up my mind about it’……
I alwayz attribute my indecisiveness to my ‘reserved nature’……….& honestly am yet to get convinced that its due to FEAR , but whichever the cause it got to go….& so far so good the only way i know how, is going back to where I all started…MY CREATOR…MY GOD…MY STRENGTH, with whom all things are possible!!!!
….i am called to greatness, because of HE who is in me…AT LEAST THIS MUCH I KNOW IS TRUE
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August 27, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Dear Pastor M,
IT’S SUCHA GREAT THING TO SEE HOW GOD IS WORKING THROUGH MAVUNO.I FEEL ,BEING IN KIJABE, THAT AM MISSING A LOT FROM THE CHAPEL FRATERNITY…AWESOME SERMONS AND ALL.BUT I’D REALLY LIKE TO GET A COPY OF ALL THE SERMONS IN THIS SERIES.GOD HAS PUT ME IN A LEADEERSHIP POSITION HERE AND I’M ABLE TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE.IN FACT,WE ARE ABOUT TO START A LEADERSHIP CLASS FOR STAFF IN MY PROGRAM (BETHANYKIDS),AND I’M BASICALLY USING STUFF I’VE PICKED FROM CHAPEL.ONE F THE THINGS WE ARE DOING IN THIS CLASS TIES IN WITH THIS SERIES…IT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO TELL OUR STAFF.GREAT STUFF!WE ARE PUTTING EVERYONE THROUGH THE TEMPARAMENT TEST.WE MAY ACTUALLY WANT TO INITIATE MIZIZI…KIJABE CHAPTER, AT BETHANYKIDS.COULD YOU GIVE US A FACILITATOR, SINCE I HAVEN’T DONE IT MYSELF???
PASTOR,I STILL THINK THERE’S SOOO MUCH I COULD SHARE WITH MAVUNO.THERE’S LOT’S OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAVUNITES WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR MINISTRY INVOLEVEMENT, SOCIAL ACTION STUFF,THAT WE COULD PLUG THEM INTO HERE AT BETHANYKIDS.LIFE-CHANING STUFF.WHY DON’T YOU COME OVER ONE OF THESE DAYS WHEN YOU ARE NOT TOO BUSY AND I CAN SHOW YOU WHAT THE LORD HAS BEEN DOING HERE,SO THAT WE CAN LET ALL THE MAVUNITES KNOW HOW EXACTLY WE CAN WORK THESE OUT?
I PLAN TO COME NEXT SUNDAY.I CAN’T MISS THIS…THE EXCITEMENT IS TANGIBLE!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
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August 27, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Hi Pastor,
Oh man, i love technology. Yaani even as i am miles away from Mavuno am able to catch up with the sermons. Thanks to the people who sent me text to hook up with this blog.
Now for sure i know am phlegmatic and the lessons are really helpful. I am a better person with the new found knowledge. All in all we are kept by God’s grace and shall continue to worship Him.
Your sermons are ministering to brothers in Singapore. Baraka tele!
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August 27, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Hi Pastor M,
Oh man, i love technology. Yaani even from this far i am able to catch up on Mavuno sermons.
Its for real i now know i am a phlegmatic. Now its to get on to utilise my strengths and work on my darkside. We live by the grace of God and shall continue worshipping Him forever more.
Your sermons are a blessing to a brother in Singapore. Baraka Tele!
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August 27, 2008 at 5:21 pm
After the last sermon, i was touched by what you said about fear. I remembered this quotation about fear. It reminds us that we are created to be greater thatn we can imagine, but that through fear we limit the work and reach of God’s power in our lives.
Our Greatest Fear
Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
– Marianne Williamson from her book, A Return to Love
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August 28, 2008 at 11:13 am
First, let’s just say, i’m afraid.
LOL!
i wasn’t around for what looks to have been a great sermon on who i am. and i didn’t show up becoz i was elsewhere, not becoz i was afraid.
i’m just reading through the comments and i keep getting ‘fear’, ‘procrastination’, ‘reluctance’ and you know what, it’s true. i’m sad i missed this sermon. i have been there for the others…
interesting enough, it’s my pal who had to ‘lie’ to me to get me to come to church, mavuno for that matter. he passed by my house and told me “i have a plan, shower let’s go, we’ll be late”. so i showered, we left the house and headed to one of the greatest places to go. i’m not an avid church goer i admit. but mavuno was something else.
on day one, qualities of phleg surfaced. i was afraid to walk into mavuno. the warm greeting at the door helped. i was also afraid to sit hukooooo mbele. but the usher (God bless her) pointed in that general direction. and there i was eyeing the back seat. so as a compromise we just ducked into a seat in the middle.
great eye openers were the sermons…and was just dying to listen to the phleg sermon coz i knew beyond a doubt i was one. well, i mean, i’m not a choleric, a mel or a sang…na ni nne, so clearly….
juzi guys ganged up on me and told me “dude organise an office outing” i was like, why me? i had no idea where to start (clearly i was wrong) and i knew i’d mess it all up (still haven’t yet)…and as you preach your sermon on sunday, i’ll be on a very successful outing…MEANING I’LL BE CALLED UPON TO BE CHIEF ORGANISER, AGAIN? NOOOOOOO!
but my guys, pastors MC (i’ve always wanted to say that) you guys are doing a great job, and for sure i’m gon be there for your next sermon and more…it’s only fair, you helped me find out who i am, it’s only fair i find out who God is…
peace!
p.s. dooaz, isn’t my real name, and no, i’m not hiding behind dooaz. i just can’t post with my real name becoz, no one knows it. so it will be just the same as being anonymous. heheheeheh…
p.s.2 kumbe tuko phlegs wengi…i’m feeling inspired now. watch this space moses…
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August 28, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I was truly looking forward to Sunday’s sermon as I knew it would help me understand the phlegs closest to me. So the skit starts and I smile to myself, “that’s my bro, completely him”. Then the sermon begins and I am like, “yep, that’s mama for you”. It is when the sermon reached quarter way that I realized that not only was I my brother’s and mama’s relative but also one who shared in part of their personality… believe you me, I WAS SO SO SO SHOCKED!
For every 1 opportunity, I see 5 red lights, for every 1 request, I have 5 excuses… It is called Fear Factor!
But what totally blew me away was Exodus 3 & 4… I have been reading these passages of scripture over and over again and got to share it with my mum yesterday… because these scriptures contain the answers that I have been looking for… the answers to my “Moses” excuses… I had never looked at it that way!
I am so grateful to the Mizizi experience that lead me to Mavuno and the Sunday sermon that led me to the prayer tent. We phlegs may be fearful but we are now moving on to become fearless influencers of society – indeed who I am is not as important as He who is in me!
Thank you so much Mavuno and may the God of Moses continue to bless you!
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September 3, 2008 at 9:04 am
i am shix and i am a phleg,like 30% of me is. i started a business that i have bn procrastinating to advertise and call in favours because i am afraid i will fail.now i understand why I am friendly then at times i just don’t want to talk to people,i have stood by people in close to me in their worst times in life i have been consistent and get soo dissapointed when the same isn’t returned. i lost my job last year and i felt so betrayed that i didn’t get the support i expected from my then boyfriend. being a choleric and a phleg is tough these are two xtremes and i struggle to accept my choleric self especially since i didn’t know i was one until i heard as pastor M said how he wept because he realised he had been crushing his sweet wife,i crushed someone i loved and because of that,now he isn’t with me.i feel of all the personalities cholerics have the darkest dark side thank you for the sermons i have acquired knowledge that will change my life,especially in letting go to God and realising i am not the general manager of the universe and people in my life.
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September 18, 2008 at 4:43 pm
This is mu 1st tym to visit Mavuno site, from what am reading the sermons were great. am in Malawi where I intend to stay for as long as God says move, I would realy want to get that message , I have read the Lehay book but I would like to listen to it net here is expesive so listening to it is no way.
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