I just started a new book and study entitled “Lead Like Jesus” you can check out the study here. As a pastor I know that one of the most important things is to love the people. Jesus gives us a great example in the life that He led on earth. He was the forerunner and model for servant leadership.
[youversion]Matthew 20:25-28[/youversion] states that Jesus came into this world to serve and not to be served. What a powerful statement!
How are you being a servant in the areas that you lead?
What will you do today to model your leadership style after Jesus?
Filed under: Leadership , God, Jesus, Leadership, Relevant Church Charlotte
February 20, 2009 • 11:50 am
I am currently reading Andy Stanley’s book 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, and I just came across something that made me think. It was his idea of running “programs” or creating “steps” for ministry.
How many churches out there are measuring themselves on the amount of programs they are running? Are you too busy with the calendar that you are missing the mark of effective ministry? Andy states that many “churches have a reputation of doing ministry without an end in mind”. Having the goal in mind makes all the difference in effective ministry.
Being a church planter, I have read many books and studied many ways to do church. The one thing that I have concluded is that ministry is about being focused on what God called you to do. There are a ton of “good” things out there to do, but there are a few “God” things that each church is supposed to do. We can get wrapped up in doing the “good” things and miss the “God” things.
I am challenged to make sure that we are focused on what God is calling us to do.
How about you? Are there some things that need to be pruned at your church? Are there some things that need more focused attention? The process of focused ministry can be challenging if you are a well established church, but the effectivness that can come out of it can be greatly rewarding.
Filed under: Church Planting, Leadership , andy stanley, church, effective ministry, Leadership, ministry, Religion
January 1, 2009 • 3:59 pm
This post was inspired after I read a twitter post that lead me to Chris Brogan’s blog “Your 3 Goals for 2009″
If you want to try the process, it works something like this: think of how you want to be successful in 2009. Then, try to think in even broader terms. Extrapolate on the broader terms, and find one word to hang the idea on. Chris Brogan.
Below are my 3 goal words for 2009.
Lead – This year I want to learn how to become a better leader of myself and others. I want to lead in a way that glorifies God and it helps others strive toward God. Every day I want to see opportunities to lead with excellence. Maxwell says that everything rises and falls on leadership. So knowing this, how I lead my family, myself and the church God has for us is critical. It is up to me to become a better leader.
Build – This year I want to be a builder not a destroyer. I want to build relationships with others that I do not know, cultivate my relationship with my wife and children. I want to build my confidence in what God has called me to do. Every day I want to look for opportunities to build people up. I am a pessimist by nature so in 2009 I am going to work hard on pressing back the pessimistic nature and learn how to be an encourager. This won’t be easy, but it will stretch me.
Grow – This year I want to grow in several ways. First I want to grow my walk with God. I blogged about becoming a student of the word and that is just want I want to do. I want see my walk with Him stretched and grown to another level. I am sad to say that in 2008 I became lackadaisical in my reading and prayer life. I also want to grow in knowledge this year. I want to learn and try new things. I want to expand my views and knowledge of the things that affect me.
How about you. What are your 3 goal words.
Filed under: Leadership, My Journal, Uncategorized , 2009, goals, Leadership, New Year, relationships, Relevant Church Charlotte
November 13, 2008 • 2:23 pm
John Maxwell is one of the current times leadership gurus. He has written countless books on the subject of leadership that has helped shape many leaders. Below I wanted to list the 7 Myths of Leadership that come out of his book “Developing the Leader Within You”. Many people that feel like they are leadership material often fall into one or multiple myths. We must be careful not to allow ourselves to be carried away from the truth.
- Position Myth – I can’t from the top.
- Destination Myth – When I get to the top, then I will learn to lead.
- Influence Myth – If I were on top, then people would follow me.
- Inexperience Myth – When I get to the top, I will be in control.
- Freedom Myth – When I get to the top, I will no longer be limited.
- Potential Myth – I can’t reach my potential if I am not the top leader.
- All-or-Nothing Myth – If I can’t get to the top, then I won’t try to lead.
Take a look at your leadership. Do you fall into one of these myths of thinking? If so, you may want to pick up John’s book and begin to develop you leadership style.
Filed under: Uncategorized , developing leaders, john maxwell, leaders, Leadership, leading
November 9, 2008 • 7:50 am
Here is a great leadership blog from Craig Groeschel at Lifechurch.tv.
Team Dynamics
In the early stages of ministry, I suggest you never make anyone a
permanent member of a leadership team. Things change too quickly.
Determine limited time periods for a leader to serve. You can always
ask her to rejoin easier than you can ask her to leave.
When you’re building a team, you have to remember a team takes
time to build. (When you determine you have a “wrong”
player on the team, you must remove him sooner rather than later.)
You must be willing:
- To fight together. A team that can’t work through conflict will never be a team.
- To be loyal to the death. Even though you can fight behind closed doors, you ALWAYS stand together publicly. Disloyalty is never tolerated.
- To be transparent. If you can’t be brutally honest about everything, you don’t have a team.
- To care for each other. A team that is “all business” will eventually deteriorate. A ministry team must become a family.
- To have fun together. I always know a team is not healthy when I don’t hear them laughing often.
Filed under: Uncategorized , craig groeschel, Leadership, lifechurch.tv, team, working together
October 22, 2008 • 4:43 pm
I just ran across this website and found some great videos from Wayne Corderio. He is talking to a bunch of church planters.
Check it out here.
Filed under: Church Planting , Church Planting, church, Leadership, wayne corderio, axioms, planting
October 16, 2008 • 1:07 pm
Over the past 3 days I have had the privilege of leading a team of volunteers during our District Conference. I was placed in charge of the hospitality piece of the event as my first official duties of pastoralship. Not knowing how or what to do gave me the feeling of being lost in the woods without a compass. The great thing about it all was the people that made themselves available to me for information. In thinking about this I really saw the value of how “team” is supposed to work. We are all there to make the project run efficiently no matter our role. So from the beginning many of our staff came to my aid. I was able to identify key leaders to help with the design and set-up of the hospitality event.
Once the conference was in full swing I was amazed at the volunteers that stepped up and gave their time sacrificially. Many of them pulled two or more shifts to get us through. I was overwhelmed that they would step up and serve with me when many of them didn’t even know me. Talk about feeling humbled.
Lastly, there were some valuable lessons learned through this experience.
- Never do anything alone. You always need a good team to back you up.
- Always find a point person. You should always have a great key person on your team.
- Staff your weaknesses. Find what you are not good at and find those that are.
- Let your people work in there strengths.
Overall it was a great time and very exhausting. The team of volunteers made all it happen without a hitch.
Filed under: Uncategorized , Leadership, leading, pastoring, team building, volunteers
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