Effective Leadership
We are God's living stones, so let's live it! Remember, God is also our Peace. Nothing will destroy a church or ministry quicker than when peace is absent, because strife, competition, dissension, power plays, personal agendas and gossip will take root, all of which eventually lead to divisions in a church (Rom.13: 13; Gal. 5:19-20).
The administration of our church is not about personal wants, needs, and/or comforts; it is about Christ working in us in unity more powerfully and triumphantly. The key to turn on this engine of our collective spiritual formation is our willingness to effectively teach, disciple, pursue, endure, and grow in Him as Lord. Allow the holiness of our Lord, His grace, His patience, understanding, faith, loyalty, goodness, and love to be exhibited in the leadership--not just by imitation, but with gratitude and submission, saved by His blood, kept by His power (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:27; Gal. 5:21-23; 1 Pet. 1:5)!
We are never to forget or forsake the basics of our Christianity, by Grace alone, by faith alone, by Christ alone, which we get through Scripture alone all to give God the Glory. The church leadership and pastor's job is to point to Christ, His Word, and help manage a response to our house and community.
Being filled with Jesus is a requirement for being a Christian, and this must be evident in us. This is what the Fruit of the Spirit is all about: God is working in and through us. It is imperative that the leadership of the church exhibits the life and power of Christ. If not, what are we there for? If it is weak, it's time to step up the personal and corporate prayer, daily Bible reading. We must be aware of our sinful desires and place them at the foot of the Cross. People will not see Jesus at work unless they see that He is at work in the leadership. This sets the tone for the congregation!
We are called to be agents of reconciliation to a world that is dying to sin! We are to proclaim that people's lives matter. The world is a mess because most people do not know that God accepts us by His sacrifice for our sins! Because of His work, we are deeply loved and complete in Him, and we do not need to have acceptance by any other person or means to be fulfilled (Rom. 5:1; Col. 1:21-22; 2:13-15; Heb.13: 15-16; James 1:4; 1 John 4:9-11)!
Now that we know what God has lavished upon us, what do we do as a church leader to model that to those around us? If your church is stagnant, one of the main reasons is because you are not getting what His grace is about and it has become stale, like out-of-date milk. Pray, seek forgiveness, and get back to your call.
Christ is to be our prime focus--first, foremost, over anything or anyone else. If we are not leading our people to Christ and explaining Who He is and What He does, we are not pastoring, we are pestering. We are simply being prideful and promoting ourselves.
