Being the Leader They Need

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, 

Ephesians 4:12 (NASB) 

A truth we must all come to grips with is, "One size does not fit all."  I have learned this over the years.  I am a rather stout individual, and I hate when I find a shirt I like that says "One size fits all" because it never does.  So what does my clothing issue have to do with leadership?  Well it doesn't but it does give us a great leadership illustration.  If you are going to equip your church for ministry don't expect that you can equip or lead everyone the same way.

In equipping you will need to wear at least four different hats to help the church in doing the work of service.

1. Sometimes you will need to be an Instructor.  An instructor is more like a parent.  This is needed when the saints are unwilling and unable to do what needs to be done.  A Parent or instructor will have to show them the need, motivate and instruct them how to do what needs to be done.  This sometimes will include hand holding and personal correction.  But don't throw them away.  Take the time to instruct and pour some of yourself into them, just as you would your own child.
2. Sometimes we need to be a Coach.  A coach is needed when people are willing but unable to do the work.  They need someone who can show them the how.  They will not need you to show them why things should be done.  They will not need a lot of motivation.  But they will need you to teach them how to do the ministry.
3. Sometimes we need to be a cheerleader.  A cheerleader is someone who will support the person in the ministry they are doing.  Cheer leading is part of a mentoring process.  This individual is able to do the ministry but lacks the confidence to step out and do it.  Your role in this scenario is to encourage, mentor, cheer them on.  Help them to know that God has gifted, prepared and equipped them to accomplish His task for them.
4. Sometimes we need to be the Delegator.  This is when the people are willing and able to do the work.  For many of us, this is the most challenging aspect of leading.  Why?  Honest moment here:  because we are not in charge.  It is hard for us to hand off a ministry to someone else.  However, delegation can be the most rewarding and beneficial type of leadership to the Church.  Pastor, you don't have to have your hands in everything.  If they are ready.  Let them Go!

We must be careful as leaders.  We need to make sure that we are using the right kind of leadership with the right people at the right time.  This will require a gut check on our part.  It will also require a prayerful evaluation of the people we are leading.

Build Carefully

According to God’s grace that was given to me, as a skilled master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,

1 Cor 3:10 (HCSB)

Build carefully!  What a great word of encouragement.  In ministry it is easy to get in the rut.  We get used to a routine.  Sometimes the routine is healthy.  Sometimes it is following culture or tradition.  Sometimes it is down right dysfunctional.  Being careful how we build requires that sometimes we evaluate the work.

We should ask ourselves some questions:

• Am I doing this because it is what God has called me too?
• Is what I am doing healthy for me, my family and the Church?
• Am I doing what is God's (Biblical) job description or what is expected of me by church culture and tradition?
• Are my motives pure?
• Is the vision clear?
• Am I accomplishing anything worthy of the Kingdom of God?

This passage (1 Corinthians 3.10-15) reminds us that their is reward for faithful, consistent service.  It also warns that an unexamined work might be worthless in God's eyes.  Let me challenge you fellow leader in the Kingdom, Lay the right foundation, examine what you are doing and enjoy the fruit and rewards of our gracious King Jesus!

Vision

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.

Proverbs 29.18 (RV)

I have found that one of the most challenging problems of ministry is understanding the balance between what I am doing and what God is doing.  So many times in ministry we want to be industrious.  We are passionate about the ministry challenges before us.  But we seem (I seem) to forget that its not me that brings about spiritual change in the lives of others it is God.  Oswald Chambers speaks to that in My Utmost for His Highest (May 9th)  He writes: 

If we are eating what we have out of our own hand, doing things on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on the downward path, we have lost the vision.  Is our attitude today an attitude that springs from our vision of God?  Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done?  Is there a freshness and vigour in our spiritual outlook?

How convicting this thought was to me today.  There are many things in ministry that I shy away from because I am not sure how that will work.  I can't see how I can ever accomplish that.  But that is Chambers point isn't it.  If it is our hand then perhaps we have missed God's vision. 

What big things does God want to do with us that we are missing because we have lost the vision of Him?