 Alright, good morning everyone. Welcome to a new week. Hope you guys had a great weekend. Let's begin this time with a word of prayer, please. So, maybe one of us can please lead in prayer. Very one of us can please. Let's pray. J. Heavenly Father, we come to you under the name of Jesus. We thank you for this day. We thank you for the glass we're about to have. We pray that everything that we learn today, we will apply it in our lives so that we can be a blessing to others. Help us to open our mind and heart and listen to it and understand your deep truths, Jesus. I pray for all my classmates, we bless Pastor Paul, the name of Jesus. Be with us and guide us throughout the session, Lord. And give us good Wi-Fi connection so that we cannot be distracted. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Alright, so last week, we were talking about leadership and we covered some very important points. As a leader, we need to see it before you can lead people into it. And most importantly, three hard attitudes for Godly leadership, which is servanthood, passion and self-control. These are some things that we must always keep a check on ourselves. I mean, as we do that, maintain proper people skills, you know, as a head or as a leader, we need to be right. Only then the body will be right. Demonstrate and empower people, be real, be down to earth. Your attitude either wrecks or emigrates people. So have a right attitude of going through all of this. And be a good leader, meaning lead by example. Get the facts right. So I think we stopped here getting the facts right and then act. So let's continue from here. There's a few more points and then we'll get into the next chapter. Get the facts first, then act. Every prudent man, probably studying 16. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly. Now, as leaders, sometimes we depend on our gut feeling. I'm sure you've heard that word. Have a gut feeling that this person can be, for example, a good leader. Or have a gut feeling that this conference or this new thing that we're going to start is going to do well. So leaders have that instinct, that gut feeling. But it's also very important to get certain facts right. Gut feeling is good. But also, as you have that gut feeling, do the work of preparation. Get facts right. So for example, if you have a gut feeling that, you know, for example, in our nation, there are certain parts where ministry is not very easy. For example, you have a gut feeling that God is calling you to move from one part of a city to a place where there is high persecution to the ministry. That's a wonderful feeling. There's this feeling of a zeal to do something for the Lord too. There's also these mixed emotions, the calling of God. But it's also important to get facts first. Get ready for what you're going to do ahead. So if you're going to another city, you need to get the facts right. You need to ensure that you know what's happening. Use data that's available. Think right. Think intuitively. Get certain facts. Is it all right to start at this time? What are the culture of the people? How many things, right? So especially when you're starting a new organization and it's new territories, new ground, certain facts, right? Now, it could be a small decision. For example, it would be something just moving a church location from one place to another. Still, you know, it's important to get facts, right? Then we also talked about this, giving honest feedback. Probably 28, 23, correct someone and afterward he will appreciate it more than flattery. Now, this is very important as leaders, giving honest feedback. And now when we say honest, it's not only the good things that the person does. Now, if you and I want to raise up good leaders, we must be able to speak into their lives and give them honest feedback. Don't assume that people know what you expect from them. Tell them, right? And giving honest feedback will help people in the areas where they are falling, right? And this communication or this confrontation sometimes may not be received well. That's not in your hands. But as a leader, part of your responsibility is to give honest feedback. Now, I've given feedback to many, many, many people, right? There are some who've taken it in a good sense. There are some who said, hey, how can you tell me this? It's okay. Some of them have not responded to it. But as a leader, we must give honest feedback. Now, as we give honest feedback, that correction and feedback should be timely, right? Give it when you notice it or shortly thereafter. Meaning, don't wait for one full year and say, okay. Last six months back, now, in December 2022, this is the mistake you made. And the person you're giving feedback to is wondering, December 2022. Now it's what it's going to be April. So this is the first thing that, so for example, somebody is giving me a feedback about something that's happened like four, five months back or a year back. I'm only going to think, hey, as a leader, you should have told me that immediately, right? Providing timely feedback also is very important. Connecting themselves immediately. And when they give those timely feedbacks, you will see that people will see improvement in what they're doing. Now, it's not that I've only given, but I've received plenty of feedback. Do this, do this, do this. These are some things that you can improve on. These are some things that you need to work on. And I'm glad that we have leaders who could speak into our lives, give us honest feedback. And because of that, we're able to get better in what we are doing. Now, as leaders, as you give honest feedback, never criticize people. So when we give feedback, don't criticize them. Don't bring them below. Don't make them feel that they're not good enough. Always, honest feedback should encourage them, should build them up. Never to bring them down. So for example, there's somebody who's preaching in the church. He may be a young youth who's just 20, 21 years old, and you give him an opportunity to probably preach in the Bible study or in the small groups, and he preaches, but you feel that he's not done well. You give him honest feedback, but he don't criticize. You never say, hey, you're not good enough. Next time I won't give you. It's how we give the feedback. And in the end of that feedback, which be that person is encouraged, or he's encouraged to correct himself and learn more and grow what he's doing. He or she's doing. Don't waste your words on the inattentive. Proverbs 25-12. The warning given by an experienced person is, when gold rings or jewelry made by the finest gold. Correction, sharing of knowledge, experience is very good. And people who are willing to listen, they really grow in whatever they're doing. But if people are unwilling to listen, if people are unwilling to learn, if they're unwilling to develop themselves and say, hey, no, I will do it my way only, don't waste your time. Don't waste your time and effort. Save it for people who are willing to learn. Sometimes people need to learn the hard way. It's not to ridicule, but I always remember this. When we joined Bible College, and I remember all of them who came were pastors' children. Most of them, they were all pastors' children. So they used to the church and they were pastors and sent them. And for me, I left a corporate job and joined the Bible College. I did. They said, you be the class leader. I said, okay, I will keep telling people, hey, don't waste time. These two years are going to fly. Keep studying, keep growing, keep learning. And these guys are very, very casual. Very good at heart. Very good. They really love ministry. They love to serve people. They're very hardworking guys. Very, very hardworking, very strong. Physically, they would really do anything for the ministry. You wake them up at 3 a.m., say, we have to take boxes of books and go to this other place. They are ready to do it. But when it came to learning, when it came to studying, they always said, oh, that's okay. We will learn it slowly. And what happened was after the two years, they went back home and they realized, hey, most of them, after going back home, their parents were pastors. They had their own church. All of a sudden, they're associate pastors in the church. And I said, associate pastor, every Sunday you need to preach summits, prepare summits, counsel people, people are good. And they were taken aback. They really began to fear, oh, this is real ministry. And I remember they would all call me and say, Paul, you used to tell us this. I hope that I can come back and join. And most of them are also completed there. Third year with us online. Why? Because sometimes you keep telling people, it doesn't go into them. And I remember there was a time when I just said, okay, I've shared enough. I've told enough. I'll continue to do what I am doing. It's not being selfish. It's not being used. It's just falling on deaf ears. Just move on. Look at somebody else. Train, teach somebody else who is willing to learn. Guard against greed. Demonstrate contentment without complacency. Proverbs 15, 27. He who is greedy for gain, troubles his own house. But he who hates bribes will live. Now, this is both in the corporate and in the ministry. As a leader, you and I have a position where people look up to us. Now, when people look up to us, we also have positions of finances. We have, you know, access to resources, to material, to people, to anything. As leaders, especially if we are high up, we have a lot of resources. One of the best things that has caused the downfall of great leaders is greed. Greedy for more money, greedy for fame, greedy for publicity, greedy for, you know, competition, winning a competition, or greedy for selfish interests, personal gains, corruption. And the moment we begin to be greedy, we forget about other things, and we open our lives to dishonest practices. It's like giving the enemy at home. So, guard against greed. Walk in contentment. There will be people in the ministry who are doing wonderfully well. The ministries may be growing and growing and growing, and we may be here saying, hey, we are still this, you know, yes, we need to look at ways that we can reach out and cause, you know, God said that He's going to build this church. He's going to add people in, all that is wonderful. But never come to a position where you say, you know, how come this person has, and I don't have, this person has all the luxuries in ministry or in business, but I don't have it. He's done the same thing. I've done the same thing. How come, why is there a difference? And then we open our hearts to these kind of things. Greed comes in, right? And greed will result in, you know, competition, and it will result in, you know, really just strife and jealousy, and all these things will begin to creep. Now, we need to be careful. Being content is good, but contentment is not laziness. Now, for example, you start a business, you start an organization or ministry, you start off with 10 people, over 10 years, you get a thousand people, right? It's wonderful. I really thank God has been working, and your business also has been growing, whatever it is. But you don't become complacent in a way that we say, okay, enough, that's it. I've done what I have to do. So complacent is not laziness, right? We should not lead us to a place of just being satisfied where we are. It should lead us, or leaders are responsible for growth and development of an organization. So there's always continuous growth, right? Yes, we look back and we, you know, we think of the victories that we have won, we think of how God has been faithful, but we always look ahead, always look ahead, whatever luck might be, right? The organization does well and prospers. Everyone benefits, including the leader, right? So God against greed. And when we do that, you know, people in your organization will notice it. They will notice hard attitudes as easily be seen, right? Next point, stay away from women and wine. Proverbs 31, 3 to 5. Don't spend all your energy on sex and all your money on women. They have destroyed kings. Listen, Lemuel, kings should not drink wine or have a craving for alcohol. When they drink, they forget the laws and ignore the rights of people in need. He was written by a person, by a person who's enjoyed everything in life. Being the king, Solomon, he enjoyed everything on flesh. He was prosperous. He had enough money. He had women. He had wine. He had everything at his disposal. And here are two things that he says. He says, stay away from women and if it's women, say, you know, married women away from men and stay away from wine. Things that intoxicate us. Two things that have brought great leaders down on their knees. Crumbled down ministry is women and wine, right? Always maintain healthy women. Always maintain, right? Right? Things are changing, cultures are changing. Hey, what's wrong with, you know, what I'm doing? We may think that way. Now, it's not wrong, but as leaders, as leaders, we must stay away from it. Stay away from it, right? One of the things that we personally do is mass greeting a woman. Simple shake hand, right? Now, you may say, oh, I know this girl for past 15 years, 20 years, it doesn't matter. The world doesn't matter. If you are married and you know this, you know, if you know another girl for the past 20 years, you may be childhood friends. It does not matter because you need, you and I need to be faithful to our wife. And same thing goes with the women, right? So as leaders, we need to guard ourselves. Be wise. I've shared many, many stories. So always maintain healthy distance in everything, right? Whether it's alcohol, whether it's women and men. Stay away, right? Have healthy distances. Now, what if there's a time, and especially this happens in a corporate sector where, you know, they have these team meetings and they go out for these team parties. Everyone go out, everyone are drinking. Say, hey, why aren't you drinking along with us? Have an orange juice. I remember just so weird. We go to these parties and they'll be drinking and join them. Many times I don't want to go, but as I mentioned, like there were two of us who are like really good top in our team, top performers. My team manager said, you have to come. I know that you are, you know, this Bible and all of that, but you have to come. You don't have to, you know, involve in any drinking. And I respected my managers because they gave me so much of opportunities. I said, okay, I will come. But the moment I feel uncomfortable and I feel that I should go, I will go. He said, okay, but you come. So I remember going and we went to this resort. The moment we reached everyone said, okay, let's start drinking. They all started getting all the liquor. Everything possible was there on that table. And, you know, they all started drinking and they said, okay, Paul, you should try it and all of those things. Nobody's here, you know, Jesus is not watching. It's all right. So they made a lot of fun of me. It didn't really matter. I remember he said, you want me to drink something? Okay, I'll have an orange juice. And I had orange juice that they were all drinking and after the entire day. Right? About five or six of them came up to me and I said, and said to me, whatever you believe in about Jesus and what you really believe in it. I don't know, I don't believe in it, but you really believe in it. You had the option of, you know, drinking and just enjoying this one day. You were the top performer in our team. But you really believe in whatever you believe. That's wonderful. So, you know, the team was, I was really glad that God helped me to really be a light where there was darkness, to really stand for him. Of course, there were others who were ridiculing me, okay. But wherever you get a chance, stay away from drinking. Social drinking. You don't have to go. You have to be there. You'll be a testimony. Next one. Stay God-controlled and God-directed. Proverbs 21 and 21, sorry, 21 and verse 1. Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God. He directs it. Now, ultimately a leader, as a leader, learn to be God-controlled and God-directed. How can we be God-controlled and God-directed? We have the Holy Spirit inside us. We have the gift, we have the fruit of the Spirit. You know, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness. Wait for the self-control. So, these are the, you begin to, you know, flow. You walk in the fruit of the Spirit. And remember that you can also be God-directed. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in His ways. Though he falls, he shall not be cast down. You are here as a leader to best serve the organization. Stay ill-lit and surrender to God and God will choose to make you a blessing, wherever you are. You are here to release the purposes of God and God. So, even as we, as leaders, whenever, whichever sphere of influence, we may be a, stay God-controlled and God-directed. Let God-control your lives. Let God direct you. Some of the ways is just continuing, you know, always having this daily habit of prayer and meditation. Let Him direct you through His Word. The Holy Spirit is there to lead us. Stay controlled, self-control, which is one of the hard attitudes of a good leader. So, we begin to walk in this, right? So, we come to a close on leadership. There's so much more to learn on leadership and we'll learn a little more. In the third year, we'll talk about discipleship and leadership as well. But let's walk in these attributes, right, as leaders. Okay, next one, let's get into chapter 14, which is marketing, brand-building, and selling. We'll see a little more of the corporate side, but let's see how we can translate this even in ministry. All right, any questions before I go ahead? Okay, let's get into marketing, brand-building, and selling. Now, especially if you have your own business, you have your own, you know, business in the corporate sector, we know marketing, building your brand is very important. In a world where there's so much competition, you know, for example, you want to start an online, online store. Everyone can go online and buy it. Now, you know, one is you need a good brand. Two is I think brand-building and then you look at also the competition is there, right? So, you're going up against these big companies or what is the edge that you are giving in your organization. So, to survive and to prosper in today's competitive global environment, we need to have strategic marketing, brand-building, and selling. So, let's look at a few points, right? Marketing communications, describe your product and serve accurately. Proverbs 1219, a lie has a short life, but truth is on forever. A small interpretation or an exaggeration of your product or service and if it's done inaccurately will alter the effect of marketing. How many of you, you know, you buy something online or you go to a, for example, you go to a restaurant, a new restaurant, you say a meal for a family for example, 1,000 rupees for the entire, four of them in a family, a meal cost 1,000 rupees and so this is what was advertised, this is what was marketed and so we get there we say, hey, we want that family package meal, you're sitting you finish your meal and then you get the bill and the bill says 1,500. See if you're wondering, hey, but they said it's 1,000 so you ask the manager why is it extra? Oh no, because what happens is this additional 500 is 200 is taxes, 200 is waiting charges and another 100 is for your car parking for the valet parking. What's going to happen? It is inaccurate exaggerated information that has been you know, advertised so all statements be truthful about your sales be truthful about market communications all statements must be substantiated when asked for so for example, in ministry we make a statement you say these are the things that we will do it better be substantiated meaning it better be done the right way since you already said it why? because at the ministry, you're building the ministry right, we cannot afford to be slack in those small areas especially when you start off in a ministry it needs to be good, good building, I won't say market marketing but the church as a brand as a brand you're building that right so there's no marketing there's no selling but when it comes to building a ministry you know, keep your words right keep your words whatever you say the way right, so for example you say church starts 10 a.m and then you have this new family comes and then it's 10-15 you haven't started what happens? hey, you said 10 a.m now the message may be wonderful the worship may be anointed of God all that is good, that's what is important but to other people, why didn't you start at 10 a.m? that is important for them but for you and I, the worship is important word is important, that's very true but for others, hey 10 a.m, you didn't start at 10 a.m you started at 10-15 and so you can begin a service the people who are coming they say, why did they start at 10-15 and they said 10 a.m and so through the entire service they can they'll be so disinterested or this question will be you know, in their mind why did they start at 10 a.m so when you're building a ministry building an organization building a church make sure you do the small things right to build your brand a good name and reputation money will follow probably 22.1 if you have to choose between a good reputation and great wealth choose a good reputation focus on establishing a good name for yourself in the market focus on establishing a good name in the ministry like wealth and all the other resources will follow there are many verses when it comes to ministry it says the Lord should supply all our needs according to his riches and glory but there will be times you will have to make tough choices where you choose to protect your organization or to protect your ministry or to just gain something for a personal gain and put the entire organization at risk creating a brand that people's mind represents values of quality excellence, integrity creativity etc now this may take time it's not like in one year people will say this is the best no it takes time but careful as we work on this one of the things I have noticed right with a lot of traveling in North India we went all over North India we would go for these conferences as always you know intrigued by something whenever we go there would be you know these conferences would be 2010 onwards we have 300 pastors 250 pastors there were 400 in some places there were 150 200 and we did very minimal you know promotions of course we did but it was mostly online or we put those pamphlets and just share it with pastors but people would come 300 pastors these conferences that we should have it's having 200 300 always think about sometimes I would ask pastor how is it how is it that you don't know Hindi we preach English it's not like there are no pastors in North India there are plenty of them and people who are speaking in their regional language would prefer to listen to a regional language preacher their own language but here we are coming from another city going to another city with a translator but he got so many people and I always thought to myself how it is because after a lot of conversations it is because during the early years of ministry they went to North India and did these conferences with 50 30 40 people but the vision was there the brand was built in the right way meaning there was no false teachings there was no doing things for personal gains you know many places they don't know who's the leader who's the senior pastor they don't know it they just know the name and I remember this time I think I was in Nindore which is one of the states I went there and they didn't even know who's they thought they just thought that there was a group of us they thought all they know is this team is coming from APC that's it but there were hundreds of people sitting there now how is that that was because a good name and a reputation built will last forever it will last and and even now anytime if you know pastor decides let's go to this state we do a conference there will be people they will come because they know over time over years 15 20 years of just being faithful being true to the ministry a good name, good reputation building the ministry creating value integrity just walking in these values has caused it we will reap the benefits in due time starting now look 10 years down the line don't look at now what's happening look 10 years down the line okay I will reap the benefits of my faithfulness of the way I build this organization I got a choice I can try to use devious methods or I can protect the organization have a good name good reputation book of proverbs says that if you have to choose between good reputation and great wealth many times people choose great wealth first but the writer here Solomon full of wisdom says choose a good reputation first money will follow later on things will fall into place right so next one protect your brand a little foolishness can destroy good reputation Ecclesiastes 10 1 dead flies can make a whole bottle of perfumed stink and a little stupidity can cancel out the greatest wisdom look at this proverbs Ecclesiastes has so much the peak of our blood stink and little stupidity can cancel out the greatest wisdom it takes long time to build a good reputation a good name or one mistake or one thing that is done foolishly can tear apart the entire organization right just tear apart protect your brand carefully protect what God has given you in your hands everyone on the team has a role to play check on people as a leader you know counter checks ensure there is credibility ensure there is good reputation things are maintained especially if you are leading a business leading an organization we talked about this right don't choose people immediately as leaders let them go through their season of training see if they have been faithful see if they are able to do the smallest of things check their hard attitudes and then you give them leadership yes they may have a lot of skills they may have a lot of ability they are ready to become leaders but most often leaders don't do that they take their people through process of training process of be faithful and then protect your brand check for credibility and whether they are doing well when it comes to marketing don't cheat people don't deceive people very sad very very sad a clip of somebody sent me a clip of this video of these pastors these so called prophets this is all happening in different countries it's not yet, I'm not sure if it's happening in our nation but happening in different countries where as I was saying these prophets are saying if you put a $2,000 seed I cannot pray for you because you are coming empty handed and then there was another one where the preacher says, there is a prophet self-proclaimed prophet he says the Lord Jesus is not yet coming the rapture is not yet happening because people are not giving to the Lord and so all these kinds of things and it's deceiving people and we are not called to deceive people whether it's ministry, whether it is in business guard your intent and okay next one advertisements avoid sexual, suggestive provocative and indecent kind so people's mind are not a garbage dump it's not a place where we always suggest these sexually active things that are happening be wise in your advertisements the way we do especially in the corporate sector be wise, be mindful right and how we do just because of certain gain you want publicity wrong methods sexually suggestive provocative kind of advertisements stay away from it your next one unique sales proposition must be well expressed Proverbs 25 11 an idea well expressed is like a design of gold set in silver so basically your unique sales proposition your USP should be must be well expressed if you've got a business this is your unique selling or sales proposition express it, there's nothing wrong in advertising something that you're good at but express it in the right way to capture people's attention and communicate it effectively right now it is not how much you say but what you say that matters right Proverbs 15 23 and has joy by the answer of his mouth the word spoken in due season how good it is now it's not how much we can say but what you say that matters that's a nice saying right the right word at the right time can bring all the difference to an organization right it's not really how much you sell I remember I think in the late 90s or mid 90s there used to be this ad forget the details of the ad but one thing I do remember that ad did not have even one word right and you would wait for this very nice music to it and it was the ad of the car tires and these cars are just going really fast and they're going in water they're going in slushy areas it was all pictures and there was music intriguing music very catchy music and not a word and then the car would come and stop and this man would get off and with a suitcase walking into his office now the pictures are so different it was a big car big tires but the least thing you expect is somebody coming out with a suit going into a corporate office at the end in the name of the tires bought it people bought the ad people took it and as kids I remember we loved watching that ad we didn't want to buy tires for any reason but we loved watching it because there was something about it so there was this unique selling point when you capture people's attention it's not always about how much you say it's how you get what you say and how you get their attention right next one don't overdo your selling watch what you say so resist the temptation of overdoing the selling this do what you have to do do it right you cannot get away with lies for too long we talked about that right so don't lie about your product don't lie about things that we are teaching or preaching and doing in the ministry as well for a while we may you know get away with it but over time those lies will be exposed from 1290 the truth the lip shall be established forever but a lying tongue is but for a moment right so just say the truth let the truth resonate in whatever we are doing but out smooth talking and flattery don't fall for it either we always say this don't give it don't take it sometimes if we are going to a customer meeting right or we are selling a product we are going to another office we need to talk to them about our product or we can flatter we can smooth talk tell it out talk about your product talk about the pros of your product whether even in ministry right cut out smooth talking or you are the best preacher ever nobody can prophesy like you nobody else can reach like you nobody else can worship like you you are the greatest ever after Jesus all of that is not required right then we sometimes flatter others we smooth talk others avoid all of that just be genuine and when people are flattering you don't fall for it oh yes I am the greatest just say God people are appreciating you flattering you ok thank you praise God leave it over don't have to sit and linger on it oh they all said this don't have to do that your words this is the most powerful thing your words must be bad your work 1214 well spoken words bring satisfaction work has its own reward back up your words with your words I did this I was able to start this ministry I was able to start this business and now we grew up to this place and then we did this and this back it up or if you say I want to do this in ministry in the next 5 years I want to see this happening this kind of a change in the corporate sector and it will happen these are the things we will change back it up by your work because it's easy to speak but to get things done is secondary it's easy for me to say I want 200, 300 people in church but I got to back it up what must I do spend more time in prayer spend more time in God's work God for wisdom to do the right kind of ministry and learn to have all these godly attitudes in whatever I'm doing there's so much to learn I can't just say I want to do this and then do nothing about it a greater call, greater sacrifice right sheep can thrive among wolves if they stay wise and here at Matthew 10, 16, behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves this is when Jesus sent out the 12 to evangelize to reach out, to share the gospel it was a risky task because already Jesus was being persecuted in Jerusalem they didn't like him, they didn't want him they didn't want to hear of him all they wanted was the miracles now he's sending his disciples and he's saying as a risk there are wolves they can, and you are sheep they can eat you up but if you be wise you will know how to handle them the word harmless literally means unmixed or being simple being pure right that's what it is so I the world, the corporate sector we look at this, what's happening there are wolves all around trying to just bring us down but you and I can be sheep and we can thrive in that place they come back the disciples come back what report do they give God in your name everything's happening whatever you did thrived initially and then later on we see after the Holy Spirit after the baptism of the Holy Spirit just give me one minute I'll just finish these two points negotiations patiently, gently press towards an agreement while making negotiations stay calm don't be don't get angry or don't say this remain fair be kind, be gracious, be gentle don't place unreasonable demands sometimes these demands are ridiculous they don't really make sense so making agreements make it in the right way both parties can agree to it those can be mountain sorry, those can be open mountains can be level this can happen supernaturally whatever the market conditions are whatever things that are happening around us look at ministry as well things may be happening around us you and I must remember that supernaturally God is working so we'll stop here and we'll pick up from next class on Wednesday thank you so much have a great day ahead and I'll see you on Wednesday God bless thank you