LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING MY TOP TEN FAVORITE MLK QUOTES

One of the greatest privileges of my life was being invited by Dr. King’s children and family to preach from the same pulpit that he preached from at the great Ebenezer Baptist Church, the congregation that Martin Luther King pastored in Atlanta. I was asked to be the speaker on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Dr. King’s death. Dr, King's family told me that I was the first white preacher invited to preach there, and I was deeply humbled by that,

People forget that, first and foremost, Martin Luther King was a PASTOR! He was not a politician. He was a Baptist minister of the Gospel, and a pastor of a local church.

Everything he did to promote freedom, justice, and racial equality flowed out of his deep understanding of God’s Word. I have read hundreds of his sermons and they are rich in biblical content.

Hanging on the wall of my study at Saddleback Church is hand typed and signed note from Dr. King. It hangs next to a handwritten note from Mother Teresa and a letter of encouragement from Billy Graham. Each of these 3 Christian leaders left their mark on me as I was a young man.

In honor of Pastor Martin Luther King on yesterday's MLK holiday, I give you my 10 FAVORITE QUOTES from a man who was model to many other pastors:

1. “The purpose of life is not to be happy, nor to achieve pleasure nor avoid pain, but to do the will of God, come what may.”

2. “I just want to do God’s will.”

3. “When I took up the cross I recognized it's meaning. The cross is something that you bear, and ultimately, that you die on.”

4. “The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

5. "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

6. "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict."

7. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

8. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”

9. "The gospel at its best deals with the whole man, not only his soul but his body, not only his spiritual well-being, but his material well being as well.”

10. "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."