Special Studies Past. Lead. Lecture 3

You must decide whether or not you will design your life after the pattern of Jesus, or design your life around the best thinking the world has to offer — C. Gene Wilkes

Important Principle: There is a big difference between a shepherd and a butcher

Common Distorted Leadership Models

The Hired Hand

John 10:12 NIV

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

Career ministry positions will involve an interview process, etc. but it is vitally important that we understand this: no matter what label you place on it, ministry leadership is first and foremost, a calling from God

We do have sites like “churchstaffing.com” or open positions listed on district websites or Bible College bulletin board.

They people looking to fill those positions do require resumes or CV’s and references — some even want to do a credit check, background check, and to explore your social media.

Those things are not bad…but it is bad to look at ministry leadership as a “job” or a “job hunt”

Lay leadership positions (Elders, deacons, various ministry leadership positions) are just as much a calling

When selecting people for these positions, a lot of things are important, but the most important thing is their heart for God and for the ministry He is calling them into.

The hired hand is motivated by a paycheck — he or she needs a job in order to pay the bills

Sometimes they like the job…sometimes they hate it!

If they don’t care for the job…they will abandon it for pretty much any inconvenience or unpleasant situations

Jobs like that are a dime a dozen…they will just go find something else

If people enter into ministry as just a job…just a paycheck, they are in the wrong place

In ministry leadership, our attitude should be one of humble thanksgiving for the honor of being able to have such an opportunity to serve the Lord and His people.

Some hireling “church leaders” desire the leadership position only to garner power or visibility for themselves, but when the role requires time-consuming counseling or elicits uncomfortable criticism, they “abandon the sheep and run away.” — Lynn Anderson

The Cowboy

This should be a no brainer

Shepherds lead…Cowboys drive

Cowboys are just that — cowboys — they have a job to do — get the cows or horses from one place to another - cowboys forces the herd to get them going (using a whip or other ways to get their attention)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd — The shepherd depends upon relationship

When a leader has relationships with those he leads, they will follow much more readily

Matthew 16:24 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

People won’t follow someone, possibly to their death, unless there is a deep relationship

The Sheriff

…flashes a badge and brandishes a gun. He says he wants to enforce the law and keep the peace, and he “don’’t take nuthin off nobody.” — Anderson

How can the “Sheriff” leader get anything done? What kind of tactics would they use?

Pull rank, don’t ask opinions - just demand action — quote scripture — etc.

How do people respond to such tactics?

Half-hearted compliance all the way to full-on rebellion

What did Jesus say about “Sheriff” tactics?

Matthew 20:25–26 NIV

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

“Because I said so” doesn’t work with our kids and it definitely won’t be taken kindly to with grown adults

The “Pop” Manager

There is a temptation to find modern leadership models in “pop-management” shortcuts

We might learn a few helpful principles for specific uses…but biblical shepherd/leaders are meant to fit the mold of modern leadership models —

Today’s pastors and church leaders don’t have a new foundation to build upon — our foundation is still Jesus Christ, the “Good Shepherd”

The CEO/Chairman of the Board

You might not think you are that type of leader but if you distance yourself from opportunities to shepherd the sheep in close quarters, think again

Type- personalities…often regard fellowship events, small groups, and in-depth personal discussions as “fluff” or “touchy-feely” stuff—which, like quiche, is not palatable to “real men.” — Anderson

The church body is more sensitive to things like this than you might think — they notice the demeanor of their pastors, elders, and other leaders. They can easily feel like they are not as important as other priorities

The proof that the CEO model doesn’t work is in the absence of a following, for this kind of leader has no flock — Anderson

If we could design a family crest for biblical leaders — somehow it would need to include a shepherd’s crook, a towel, and a basin

Flocks in the Fast Lane

Reality in the fast lane

More School Activities — no day or time is sacred any longer

More access to more activities than ever before

The biggest culprit is the internet — it is a double edged sword

Seemingly infinite ways to watch or interact digitally: TV, movies, sports, and many other kinds of content

YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facetime, etc.

The more responsibility career people have…the more they are away…the longer their days

Priorities!!!! Are!!!! Really!!!! Different!!!!

BREAKOUT TIME

Quickly review: , ,

Make a list of all the excuses (legitimate or not) people have for not being more involved church, their own spiritual growth and that of others.

What is the reality of your church culture — the way people live and prioritize their lives?

Brainstorm intentional ways pastors, elders, ministry leaders etc. can creatively minister to the flock in spite of the many roadblocks we face in the fast-lane

Assume that people probably won’t change a lot in their busy schedules

How can you work around this reality?

Ministry Demands Healthy Priorities

Gut-punched in the Gulf

My first position out of college — Youth Pastor in TX

False advertising and unreasonable expectations

My first funeral — a 16 year old boy

Our first daughter

Japan? Air Force? Really?

Our second daughter

Shredded in Potato Land

Second youth pastor position in Wilder, ID

Disappointment with leadership

Fire on the plains

My first pastorate was in Eads CO

Definitely a “hired hand” —

Our first (and only) son

Became infamous

My first double funeral

Melancholy in Missouri

Longing to be in “real” ministry

Hanging out with the dead…you can learn a lot

Angels, Angles and Anorexia in Arizona

Surprise!

Associate Pastor - father of 3 growing people

God’s amazing timing blew us away

Bi -vocational

It felt like tri or quad vocational

My first triple funeral

Overwhelmed in Oregon

I’d tell you the story but you don’t want to know

It was a learning experience that really hurt…bad!

Disappointment with leadership

A place of healing in the lions’ den

Prickly Peace in Potato Land

With success comes battles, discouragement, and times of self-discovery that can be very painful

My first funeral for multiple family members within only 3 years

My wife faces cancer

Disneyland

Sabbatical

Many ministry opportunities

Lots of love and crazy adventures with my family — especially grand-kids

To Sum up: if you are called to ministry leadership — expect it to be fun and exciting — expect it to be humbling and overwhelming — expect to be tested and forced to look into the mirror a lot

The key to thriving (not just surviving) ministry leadership is developing the right priorities

PRIORITIES TO NURTURE

Keep the fire burning on the altar of you heart

Leviticus 6:12 NIV

The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.

The presence of God in your inner most being must be perpetually and intentionally nurture

Think of it this way: God has requested your time…just you and Him…for some one-on-one fellowship…daily

…the inner flow of God’s Spirit must be commensurate with the outward demands of ministry. Imbalance here is a sure path to aborted ministry and ruined influence — Richard Dresselhaus

Nurture spiritual disciplines

Regularly recognize your need for God

Matthew 5:3 NIV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Be broken before the Lord

Stop demanding your personal rights

Mt. 5:

Matthew 5:4–5 NIV

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Hunger and thirst for God

Identify with people in need

Matthew 5:6–7 NIV

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Maintain a pure heart

Cultivate peace

Take criticism as an opportunity for growth

Mat 5:7

Matthew 5:8–10 NIV

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Pursue relationships that strengthen ministry

Healthy and positive relationships

First and most important: family relationships

Community, Colleagues, Church

Healthy ministry flows out of healthy relationships

We need a healthy relational base — you can build a fruitful ministry on that kind of base

List some of the areas where we can build this base

Staff, board, elders, team leaders, difficult members, fellow leaders, mentors, the mayor, the dogcatcher, etc.