Gaining Ground

Exodus 18:13–27 ESV

The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

Sunday morning is never intended to hit every felt need. We are passionate about groups fostering these environments.

If were gonna gain ground…

1- Admit It’s Bigger Than You

What’s happening at faith is much bigger than the role you serve.

We are building leaders.

We can’t talk to everyone at every moment… no one can! That’s why we select people just like you. It’s delegation. It’s leadership.

If you can’t steward 10 well, don’t expect to lead 1,000.

___ years ago, there were three people sitting in a closet at another one of our campuses dreaming, and creating, and praying for God to move. And soon we had a hangout in a green barn where we had about a hundred people gathered tougher and we said: we need to point leaders. Soon after that, we were preparing to launch weekly services in a school and we knew that would require a new level of care for people so we established a new layer of leadership. We have to steward what God gives us.

My role as a part here looks a lot like every other pastor on our staff including Pastor Tyler: it’s not to sit in every meeting, but rather to help you think bigger. TO empower you to own the space you have and steward what you’ve been given. Your goal is to share this same kind of thinking and share it with those in your sphere of influence.

Are you a lone ranger or are you a leader? I have to give roles, I have to give responsibilities, etc.

Watch your language. It shows what happening behind the scenes.

2- Listen & Learn

Everyone should be learning from someone.

Healthy awareness of people watching us

First Impressions should be held to the same standard as the worship team.

Ask specific questions here… mention specific things…

3- Pick The Right People

“Who” is more important than “what”