John Oswald Sanders Quotes

49 Sourced Quotes

Desiring to excel is not a sin. It is motivation that determines ambition's character. Our Lord never taught against the urge to high achievement, but He did expose and condemn unworthy motivation.

John Oswald Sanders
If those who hold influence over others fail to lead toward the spiritual uplands, then surely the path to the lowlands will be well worn.

John Oswald Sanders
If you would rather pick a fight than solve a problem, do not consider leading the church

John Oswald Sanders
Often truly authoritative leadership falls on someone who years earlier dedicated themselves to practice the discipline of seeking first the kingdom of God. Then, as that person matures, God confers a leadership role, and the Spirit of God goes to work through him.

John Oswald Sanders
Leadership is the ability to recognize the special abilities and limitations of others, combined with the capacity to fit each one into the job where he will do his best.

John Oswald Sanders
The original meaning of the word tact referred to the sense of touch (as in 'tactile'), and came to mean skill in dealing with persons or sensitive situations. Tact is defined as: 'intuitive perception, especially a quick and fine perception of what is fit and proper and right.' It alludes to one's ability to conduct delicate negotiations and personal matters in a way that recognizes mutual rights, and yet leads to a harmonious solution.

John Oswald Sanders
God prepares leaders with a specific place and task in mind. Training methods are adapted to the mission, and natural and spiritual gifts are given with clear purpose.

John Oswald Sanders
Pride takes many forms, but spiritual pride is the most grievous. To become proud of spiritual gifts or leadership position is to forget that all we have is from God, all the position we occupy is God's appointment.

John Oswald Sanders
The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office he has held, but only the quality of his deeds and the character of his mind and heart.

John Oswald Sanders
Time lost can never be retrieved. Time cannot be hoarded, only spent well.

John Oswald Sanders
If Jesus is not God, then there is no Christianity, and we who worship Him are nothing more than idolaters. Conversely, if He is God, those who say He was merely a good man, or even the best of men, are blasphemers. More serious still, if He is not God, then He is a blasphemer in the fullest sense of the word. If He is not God, He is not even good.

John Oswald Sanders
Will the leader reflect the ugliness of egotism or the transfigured glory of Christ the Lord?

John Oswald Sanders
We can lead others only as far along the road as we ourselves have traveled. merely pointing the way is not enough. If we are not walking, then no one can be following, and ware not leading anyone.

John Oswald Sanders
If the world is to hear the church's voice today, leaders are needed who are authoritative, spiritual, and sacrificial. Sacrificial, because this trait follows the model of Jesus, who gave Himself for the whole world and who calls us to follow in His steps.

John Oswald Sanders
Often the crowd does not recognize a leader until he has gone, and then they build a monument for him with the stones they threw at him in life.

John Oswald Sanders
Faith never knows where it is being led, or it would not be faith. True faith is content to travel under sealed orders.

John Oswald Sanders
Jesus was the meeting place of eternity and time, the blending of deity and humanity, the junction of heaven and earth.

John Oswald Sanders
Once the joy of intimacy with God has been experienced, life becomes unbearable without it.

John Oswald Sanders
One reason why people are unable to understand great Christian classics is that they are trying to understand without any intention of obeying them.

John Oswald Sanders
Spirituality is not easy to define, but you can tell when it is present. It is the fragrance of the garden of the Lord, the power to change the atmosphere around you, the influence that makes Christ real to others.

John Oswald Sanders
The spiritual leader will choose the hidden path of sacrificial service and approval of the Lord over the flamboyant self-advertising of the world.

John Oswald Sanders
True greatness,true leadership,is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. True service is never without cost. Often it comes with a painful baptism of suffering. But the true spiritual leader is focused on the service he and she can render to God and other people, not on the residuals and perks of high office or holy title. We must aim to put more into life than we take out.

John Oswald Sanders
Leaders who want to show sensitivity should listen often and long and talk short and seldom. Many so-called leaders are too busy to listen. True leaders know that time spent listening is well invested.

John Oswald Sanders
We are not responsible for our endowments or natural abilities, but we are responsible for the strategic use of time.

John Oswald Sanders
Our problem is not too little time, but making better use of the time we have. Each of us has as much time as anyone else.

John Oswald Sanders
The secular mind and heart, however gifted and personally charming, has no place in the leadership of the church.

John Oswald Sanders
If a man is known by the company he keeps, so also his character is reflected in the books he reads.

John Oswald Sanders
True leaders must be willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience.

John Oswald Sanders
Before we can conquer the world, we must first conquer the self.

John Oswald Sanders
When God lays a burden on our hearts and thus keeps us praying, He obviously intends to grant the answer.

John Oswald Sanders