WHAT GREAT LEADERS DO – LEADERSHIP IN CHURCHES
It was a privilege to have attended a seminar while I was in England attended by leaders from smaller churches located in Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The whole purpose was to instruct on leadership in churches.
Stuart Bell took a session called “What Great Leaders Do” and I would like to share a few notes I took from that presentation using the 10 pointers but I have added to those thoughts and expanded the ideas to develop more viewpoints. For those who are in church leadership, all must keep learning; all must keep humble; and all must be aware of the role of being servants to others. If a man begins well and becomes puffed up, putting himself outside the mission of leading others, then he is a Saul. A broken and contrite heart is what God values.
GREAT LEADERS ARE MARKED BY THESE:
1. CONSTANTLY CATCH THE VISION. These are ones who have the new ideas (not radical ones) but catch the vision for time and place. In these people vision always oozes out. Most people either don’t know the vision of the church or never give it a thought. In that way apathy can set in. There is a church in Lincoln with the motto “Knowing, Growing, Going”. There is a bible verse of importance here – {{Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.”}} (NASB) {{“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”}} (KJV).
2. THEY BUILD TEAMS. Leaders build teams. Teams function at all levels in the ministry. Even in small churches one needs to develop teams. Of course there are two dangers in this whole area. A total one man ministry can become autocratic while an excessive team structure can run into various conflicts. Teams themselves need a calling, and if not, have no vision themselves.
3. THEY CREATE ATMOSPHERE AND DEVELOP CULTURE. There must be reflecting on a new culture as opposed to failed tradition. The presenter spoke of having a service where visitors don’t feel out of it. In his church they pray the sinners’ prayer each week at the service. “We lost Sunday night because the lost stopped coming”. When the lost come they must be shown hospitality, warmness, and kindness. The illustration given of the way Christians feel lost in a betting shop is how outsiders might feel in a church.
4. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY LEARNING. Learning comes from God and from the bible but we all learn from one another, that is, from fellow Christians. A special addition was added in this presentation –“learn from others, even lesser ones.” Too often the position of leadership can go to one’s head and pride dismisses those who are not always vocal or in the front line. The most humble Christian is often the one with the greatest depth. When the “greater” shows interest in the “lesser” without condescension, then the greater can learn from the lesser. Great leaders always learn something from others. Avoid tunnel vision, which in you, becomes the tunnel for the exclusion of all others.
5. THEY ARE THE FIRST TO ENTER IN. Leaders are the first to be into worship. The presenter stated he had a problem with good speakers who folded arms when worship happens. Great leaders are the first to volunteer. I suppose this is “leading the way” and “showing the way”. Some say a leader is good at delegating but in the Christian way of thinking I don’t believe that to be correct. The best leader is he who is out front setting the example. Those who keep delegating often “don’t get their hands dirty”.
6. THEY MAKE STEWARDSHIP A GREAT PRIORITY. Leaders lead by example and behaviour. In great leaders this comes sacrificially through commitment, pure and honest. The outcome is shown in family and resources and finance. These are the great areas of testing. Ask the question, “Am I in a place where I am just a receiver and not a contributor?” One can not have any effective preaching without doing. A man grows through the effort of growing, and in maturity has been established through experience. Stewardship is inclusive in time, in commitments and in delegation. Nothing is clearer than the light that shines through a false profession.
7. THEY BRING SAFETY AND SECURITY TO THE HOUSE. Just the presence of a man brings this security. It not action all the time or anything to do with what is expected. He does not have to do anything. Our presence alone should bring security and safety. It must bring comfort and stability and assurance to others.
8. THEY RAISE UP LEADERS. One function of a leader is to raise up others in his train. A profitless leader is one who leaves behind no successor because he has neglected the essential of training others. A great leader should be a great trainer. Those we raise up we may lose to some other aspect of service in the kingdom. God raises up leaders for a purpose and may move a man on in service elsewhere. One of the problems many churches have is the vacuum created when a minister, even a high profile one, is absent and there is no gift there present to fall back on because there has not been any great leadership in training. That is a disgrace. Great leaders raise up potentially great leaders.
9. THEY MAXIMISE RELATIONSHIPS FOUNDED IN GOD. Great leaders develop and grow relationships in themselves and especially in others. This is part of the responsibility of stewardship. All Christians need to be brought to their potential with God. Therefore realisation and appreciation of another’s spiritual position is important in that person’s development. Stewardship means committed time, graciously willingly, NOT ever out of some feeling of responsibility.
10. THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUT HOPE. Leaders walk into rooms where despair reigns, and hope emerges. It is similar in some way to this verse – {{John 20:20 “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”}} (KJV). Despair turned in rejoicing when they beheld the Lord. Great leaders have a positive effect on others especially to hurting and needy. Meals are important aspects. It is necessary to have a good laugh. In fact it is a positive thing to share your life with others.
BRINGING IT TOGETHER
The bible has great examples of great leaders and when their lives are examined we can see many parallels. Firstly though, who are some of these? The ones that immediately come to mind are Moses, Joshua, David, and Nehemiah, and just those four I will limit this to, though there are others just as relevant.
When we analyse those four we see some interesting parallels:
1. ALL were men of great trust and faith. That is absolutely basic because without faith it is impossible to please God. Their faith did not fail. The steadfastness of faith is essential in leadership.
2. ALL were men of communication and expression. Some may think Moses was a bit reticent and maybe that was in the early stage, but all great men grow in expressing the will of God.
3. ALL were great men of prayer and intercession. For a leader to be successful he needs to be a prayer warrior and an intercessor for his people. A man of charismatic showmanship might be a performer but not a true leader for the Lord.
4. ALL were men of the greatest humility. It is of the greatest importance for a man to be humble before God, for God will not use anyone puffed up in pride, or who thinks he has something to offer to the Lord, or that he is irreplaceable, or more gifted that others. {{Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”}}
5. ALL were men of confidence and action. Yes, Moses did have a problem in his early call. Confidence is actually one of the outcomes of faith so it is natural that faithful men are confident men. In this verse Paul is speaking about deacons but it would apply to all in leadership – {{1Timothy 3:13 “Those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”}}
May we all, whether in leadership or learning, or faithfully serving the lord, seek to do His will and KEEP FAITHFUL.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
