Leadership Training (Session 7)

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV)

1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Set/Raise the bar across all ministry platforms.

(3 years in - back from Covid)…reestablishing the bar for our ministries.

(Challenge) we can get lax or just have forgotten or maybe there was no bar to begin with and it was something that we have always done.

What are the expectations?

we have just always done this or we feel like we should do this but without really evaluating the purpose.

What is the bar? What is the standard for this program and for the people that run the program and the people that this program ministers too? (We have to know what this bar is…we need to set it). Across all ministry platforms.

Aim at nothing, hit it every time (make your effort to please him last year 2022 - pretty generic.

This next year we want to get specific and this is something that the leadership will be looking at this next year as we seek to honor the Lord with the specific assignments that He has given us in this little corner of His Kingdom.

Map out our ministries and ask what is the purpose and what bar do we hope to set or raise and what key people need to be on board, or trained to meet the standard. How will we know if they standard is being met?

Sounds like a lot of work. yup. that is leadership!

Leadership is influence.

We must, from this room, influence all the ministries of this church.

Raise the bar. Never be content with where we are at. (Outdo one another in showing honor, verses about zeal and ambition, striving, pressing on, etc.

The idiom raise the bar refers to setting a higher standard or expectation in any endeavor. It embodies the spirit of progression and ambition, urging individuals or groups to not just meet existing standards but to go beyond and establish new benchmarks.

How would I do this ministry function differently if I “worked at this with all my heart” as if working for the Lord Jesus Christ.

and not just for these human’s in front of me. What does Jesus say. Whatever you have done for the least of these you have done for me.

Colossians 4:17 (ESV)

17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

Philemon - “fellow soldier.”

Who can I say hi too? Who can I connect this person with besides me?

What would it look like for me to do a better job at what I am doing?

How would I do this ministry function different if I “worked at this with all my heart” as if working for the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ who spilled His blood to purchase this bride?

He has been given all authority in His Kingdom and He has appointed you in your role and has appointed every blood bought priest in the kingdom to do the awesome work of reconciliation.

What does Jesus say. Whatever you have done for the least of these you have done for me.

Specific Deacon Training

Specific Elder Training

Specific Staff Training (Danny and Shane - Support staff)

Become a caring community that cares for the community.

Assimilation process

Before they even come (Online, website and social media)

Once they come (facilities - sign???) - New people notice things that we don’t. (Rip in the curtain)

Once they are in the building (GREETING) - NT SPEAL

3 John 13–15 (ESV)

13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

2 Corinthians 13:11–13 (ESV)

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.

Philippians 4:21 (ESV)

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.

Paul tells the Thessalonians

Peter says it in his epistles

Romans 16 - Greet is used 22 times!

A place he hadn’t even been).

We must love the brothers.

1 John 3:14 (ESV)

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

John 13:34–35 (ESV)

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Who is coming in, who is going out. Do we know how those coming or going are doing? (Elder care list)

Life Groups/ Bible studies (Men and women) / Equipping Hour

Reporting (How do we know how it is going?)

Position ourselves within the community to be a spiritual hub for the thousands of people moving into the area. Landing spot for the newbies.

(Chamber of Commerce - church mailings to new families - gift basket)

Be the perfect church for imperfect people to meet the perfect Savior.

This must be a place were sinners can find help in time of need. That is what will make this church perfect.

For this place to be a perfect place for imperfect people we are going to have to get a firm grasp on God’s grace.

John 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

There is no way that we will be a “perfect church” for imperfect people if we don’t know about God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 5:19–21 (ESV)

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is GRACE - is unmerited divine favor, a favor from which comes many gifts.

Perfect church - Perfect means having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

Do you know how we become a “perfect” church? We dispense “GRACE.” We dispense the grace that has been so wonderfully lavished on us.

Ephesians 1:7–8 (ESV)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us…

We need to be very generous with grace

God’s Grace is the causative agent for life change.

Titus 2:11–14 (ESV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

God’s grace is what draws us to Him and Grace is what makes us zealous to change.

Grace has lead me safe thus far and grace shall lead me home.

That tells me that GRACE is sufficient. That rings a bell right? Sufficient grace?

Paul said that he had a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan sent to harass him, but God gave grace, that proved to be sufficient to make His Power perfect in His weakness as He was forced to rely on God and not himself.

2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (ESV)

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

We are real people, with real problems. We also probably have some “messengers from Satan” among us that will keep us on our toes.

So, let’s stay on our toes and “run to the throne of grace often” so that we can get mercy and and grace in our time of need and so that we can gather it up and dispence it to the imperfect people that come through our doors.

We can also admit our own imperfections and become a safe place for imperfect people to meet the perfect Savior.

Set/Raise the bar across all ministry platforms.

Become a caring community that cares for the community.

Be the perfect church for imperfect people to meet the perfect Savior.