John Maxwell - Think on These Things: Meditations for Leaders

Copyright 1979, 1999
by Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
Revised edition 1999

ISBN 083-410-6000
eISBN-13: 978-0-8341-2540-7

Printed in the United States of America

Cover Design: Ted Ferguson

All Scripture quotations not otherwise designated are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Permission to quote from the following additional copyrighted versions of the Bible is acknowledged with appreciation:

New American Standard Bible (NASB), 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation.

The New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The New Testament in Modern English (PHILLIPS), Revised Student Edition, by J. B. Phillips, translator. Copyright 1958, 1960, 1972 by J. B. Phillips. Reprinted with the permission of the Macmillan Publishing Company.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Maxwell, John C., 1947

Think on these things : meditations for leaders / John Maxwell.Rev.ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 0-8341-0600-0 (pbk.)

1. Christian leadership Prayer-books and devotionsEnglish.

I. Title.

BV652.1.M37 1999

242'.69DC21 99-28532

CIP

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

To
Melvin Maxwell
An example of holy living,
a builder of Gods kingdom,
an organizer of churches,
a positive thinker,
a wonderful father.

CONTENTS

T he idea for writing this book was born in a church growth conference I was conducting. A pastor during a question-and-answer time asked me where I had picked up my knowledge concerning church growth at such a young age. (The extent of knowledge may be questioned, although I agree that my age at the time, 32, was indeed young!) In all fairness to his question, I replied, Ive known many of these principles of success all my life.

At that moment I realized how privileged I was to have such a wonderful heritage. The encouragement of church leaders to write down some of these important principles has been the motivating force behind this book. Hopefully these chapters will be the springboard to more successful living.

H ow you think determines who you are. Thats why Scripture directs us to be careful about where we focus our attention. Phil. 4:8-9 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in meput it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It was from my parents, Melvin and Laura Maxwell, that I learned early in life this lesson about thinking right. They are two of the most godly and most positive people Ive ever known. In all my years growing up, I never heard them talk negatively about other people. They continually dwell on what is good and live out their beliefs every single day.

That wonderful legacyand my desire to pass it on to othersis what prompted me write Think on These Things 20 years ago. I wanted to pass on what I had received, especially to pastors and other church leaders. I knew that a leaders ability to achieve anything great for God begins in his or her heart and mind.

A lot has happened to me in the last 20 years. God has been very good to me. I was blessed to enjoy 26 years of ministry in the local church. I was able to found The INJOY Group, an organization that partners with pastors across America and around the world. Ive had the privilege of speaking to millions of people. And Ive also written an additional 20 books. Ive grown a lot, but my heart is still the same. I want more than anything else to add value to people in any way I can.

As I sat down to reread this book, I was delighted to see that the principles are as relevant today as they were when I first wrote them. But that shouldnt be a surprise. Theyre based on the Bible, and Scripture is timeless. My prayer is that these pages will add value to you, that they would help you to focus on what is noble, right, and praiseworthy so that the God of peace will be with you.

THINK ON THESE THINGS

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Phil. 4:8, KJV).

I consider Phil. 4:8 to be one of the most important verses in the Bible. What occupies your mind and what you think means more than anything else in your life. Your thought life will determine how much you earn, where you live, and what you become in life.

Your life today is a result of your thinking yesterday. Your life tomorrow will be determined by what you think today. During a question-and-answer period in a recent ministerial conference, a pastor spoke up and said, I think I can build a church to average 200. What do you think?

I said, I agreeyou can build one to that size.

Another pastor, without raising his hand, blurted out, I think I can build a church up to 500. What do you think?

I replied, I agreeyou can build a church up to that size.

The first pastor stood up and said, That doesnt seem fair. Why do you think he can build a larger church than I can when you dont even know our abilities and talents?

My reply to the protesting pastor was, It doesnt matter which of you has the greater ability. That which determines the success of your churchs growth more than any other ingredient is what you think you can do. If you think you can, you can. If you think you are, you are.

Words have never been more true than those of the proverb As he thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov. 23:7, NKJV). Weve all heard the comment about a man who lacks tact in his conversation: He says what he thinks. That comment could be made about each of us as well. Although we may not instantly blurt out our initial reactions, they will come out sooner or later if we continue to think about them. What enters our mind and occupies our thought process will somewhere, sometime come out of our mouth.

My father is an example of the preceding statement. He has been successful in church leadership throughout his adult life, as a pastor, district superintendent, and for many years as president of Circleville Bible College. One of the reasons for his success has been his ability to study and concentrate on church-related subjects. Since this specific area has occupied his thinking process for several decades, he opens his mouth, and out come church growth principles. He has become what he thinks about.

It has been said, Be careful about what you set your heart on, for youll surely get it. Be careful about what occupies your mind, because it will greatly determine what youll become tomorrow.

Much of my counseling with people centers on their desire to make changes in their lives. I share with them a simple two-step formula that will help make each one a different person.

First, I have them read 2 Cor. 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (KJV). The new birth that Jesus said we all must experience to be assured of going to heaven not only determines our eternal destiny but also changes our life right now. Forgiveness of sins removes much heartache and all guilt from the past. The love, joy, and peace that Jesus gives when one becomes His child will without question make a change in any individuals life.