Ephesians 4:11-16 Equipping the Equippers

Equipping the Equippers

Take you back to my 22 year old self in my broom closet office where I served as the minister of miscellaneous at my first church. The sign on my desk read...

We the willing led by the unknowing are doing the impossible for the ungrateful, we have done so much for so long with so little that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

Expression of frustration and a cry for help.

I was aware of what the Bible what the Bible said...

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

I knew what I was supposed to do. I did not know how...

Unfortunately, the leadership training that I had received was similar to teaching a kid to swim by throwing them in the deep end of the pool.

My question today is...How do we train and equip the next generation of leaders?

Implication....If we do not equip the equippers then the saints will not get equipped to do the work of ministry.

Here is what I have noticed among our team and in other pastors….people either

Do not know how

They make it too hard

How do I help the team I work with equip the equippers? simple and reproducible

That’s it...help.

H.E.L.P.

Honest Evaluation

No one gets it right all of the time

Leaders are going to lead...problem is they may not know or care where they are going…

Illus Youth worker who said to an intern who just made a bad choice…”you are one those people who is going to do something even if it is wrong.

Leaders are going to make mistakes, particularly beginning leaders.,,

We owe them honest evaluation…for there good and for the sake of the gospel.

Illus: If there is a fly on my head...tell me

Encouragement

No one gets it wrong all of the time

Illus: Leadership class who is prone to honest evaluation/encouragement.

though I am prone to honest evaluation…just tell me. I need encouragement,

Letter from senior ladies class with specific encouragement about leadership during the pandemic

Those around you are looking to me for encouragement, literally.

Leadership Expectations

Not a to-do list

Written, clear job description...every leader in the church should have this, not just staff..

Basis for honest evaluation and encouragement. (informal and formal-monthly)

Personal Objectives

Internal and external

Character and Career

As you are going…take people with you. Culture of leadership development and teamwork.

Illus: IMB trustee...Why are people always with you? (I don’t have time)

Easier to pur you head down and do the work…

Here is the problem...

Cutting off the body from joining us…

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

When we fail to equip the saints(which includes equipping the equippers) we are cutting off the very thing that we desire…gospel growth.

“TRAINING IS THE ENGINE OF GOSPEL GROWTH. Under God, the way to get more gospel growth happening is to train more and more mature, godly Christians to be vine-workers--that is, to see more people equipped, resourced, and encouraged to speak the word prayerfully to other people, whether in outreach, follow-up, or Christian growth.” (The Trellis and the Vine, p. 90)

Jesus left the mission to a handful of trained, Holy Spirit indwelt people…

Who are you equipping to join you in the mIssion?

Who are you equipping to leave the mission to?

Yesterday I overheard Pastor Ken Lewis briefly explain a transition of leadership at Crosspoint…He said...”they are ready to take the lead…”

May your tribe increase my brother.

END