BUILDING PEOPLE --- questions of leadership
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com I did this in three parts.
I went searching for a beautiful tree, I searched all through the forest, I learned one thing in the forest, it is hard to see a tree, I can’t see a tree.
We are so busy, we run here and there, doing this and that, where is our time?
Some experts write that our children suffer because their time is so over scheduled.
If we are too busy to read our Bible, to pray, to attend church, to communicate with our families,
WE ARE TOO BUSY.
We praise a busy bee, we swat a busy mosquito? What’s the difference?
Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken. So shall thy seed be.
GREAT TEACHERS NOT ONLY GIVE FACTS, BUT THEY LEARN HOW TO ASK THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTIONS!
Great teachers use different strategies and techniques to change attitudes and develop thought processes.
Good teachers must learn how to ask good questions. Aristotle, Socrates, Jesus learned how to ask good questions.
What a powerful study one can learn from studying the questions of the Bible.
A brother asked, AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?
If a man die shall he live again?
1. WHAT IS MY PURPOSE HERE ON EARTH? WHAT IS MY PRIMARY PURPOSE?
A.YOU WILL FIND TIME FOR WHAT YOU LOVE!
B. THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING!
BY THE WAY, WHAT IS THE MAIN THING? What are you building today?
C. Does the words we say that are important and our daily actions match? What is my plan to accomplish
my purpose?
2. WHAT WILL BE MY TOOLS AND MY RESOURCES?
A. We need more than toys we need tools. If we build wisely we need a tool box of good tools to accomplish our work.
What shall we use to accomplish our tasks?
B. On what resources shall we depend? Where will I get information..... to form my plan?
Mat. 14:8 Herodias daughter could have had a fancy home and a fast chariot? But this young girl
went to a sinful --- Bitter Mom and received poor advice and had a preacher’s head on a silver tray?
Mary gave the crowd a good plan --- John 2:3 Mary said - Whatsoever he saith - do it
C. Go to smart, successful God workers...
Eccl. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God, and keep His commandments;
for this is the whole duty of man.
3. WHAT IS MY MINISTRY? GOD HAS UNIQUELY GIFTED ME , WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?
Ministry is to see needs, to touch God for that need --and then do something to try and help...
What office, duty, or work can I help accomplish and in the end do effectively?
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with you, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Romans. 12:7 ---Or ministry - let us wait on our ministry
Addicted to ministry
1 Cor. 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.)
4. HOW WILL I GO ABOUT DOING WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO?
Eph. 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
13: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
5. DEVELOP AN EVALUATION SYSTEM ---IS MY MINISTRY EFFECTIVE? WHY OR WHY NOT?
HOW CAN I IMPROVE MYSELF AND MY MINISTRY?
Do I hold my self accountable? What criteria will I use to submit myself to improvement?
Do I study, learn, and reach to the higher?
1 Cor. 16:9 --- For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
6. AM I A PRODUCER OR A DEMANDER?
AM I A GIVER OR A TAKER? A FEEDER OR AN EATER?
Mat. 3:10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
7. HONESTLY, LOOK AND DECIDE IS MY MINISTRY GROWING OR DYING?
Is my ministry growing or dying? Do I make an attempt to advance, increase, mature, develop?
Am I satisfied where I am and the way I am? If my ministry is not thriving, what can I do to bring new growth?
11 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
8. DO I VACILLATE AND SWAY WITH THE MOMENT AND THE CROWD?
Am I faithful to my ministry and post of duty? Am I always Up and Down? Do I waver when I should not?
Do I waver in my mind, will, or feelings and thus hesitate in my choices?
Do I just barely do the Requirements?
1 Cor. 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
9. AM I LACKING IN ZEAL AND ENTHUSIASM OR AM I ALWAYS LAST MINUTE WORKER.
PEOPLE DON’T PLAN TO FAIL, THEY FAIL TO PLAN.
A leader that is not early is very late! Time before and after the service, is ministry time!
Am I always doing my work at the last minute?
Am I on time or a cow’s tail?
Are you waiting for perfect conditions?
Acts 24:25 When I have a convenient season, I will....
10. WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE, PATTERN, OR MENTOR ARE YOU?
We know every where you step you leave a scent! A good hound dog can find the scent and follow the trail
you leave? Where does your trail lead?
What kind of example/mentor is your pattern?
1 Tim. 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsufferings, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.
11. DO YOU ANGER EASY? ARE YOU EASILY UPSET AND SHAKEN?
Do you control your emotions or do your emotions control you? Who is in charge? Who do you blame?
How easily are you shaken? Vulnerable deceit? Are you patient with people?
A little boy was praying at our altar? I asked could I help?
He said, PRAY MOMMY WILL LOVE ME AS MUCH AS OUR DOG!
11 Thes. 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Unstable in ALL = Wave & Wind - James 1:8
12. DOES YOUR SPIRIT GIVE BIRTH TO UNDERSTANDING AND EDIFICATION AT HOME? AT WORK? AT CHURCH?
If you are not understanding at home? work? play? church? You are a quack! We live in a put down, dog eat dog world.
Can you see the hurting? Do you analyze the hurt away? They deserve it? What do you deserve?
We need leadership to be sensitive to reality, not religious expectations.
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
1 Thes.5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Solomon asked for an understanding heart, have you?
13. ARE WE SO FOCUSED ON THE CROWD AND THE OFFERINGS THAT WE CAN’T SEE? ARE WE MATERIALISTIC MINDED?
I love Indian arrow heads. I lived in Virginia and I collected arrow heads for me and a few friends. I had a super collection.
I displayed my arrow heads in my office at church.
Someone broke into the church and stole my arrow heads, gone, my pride was forever gone.
My inheritance to my sons was gone.
Down through the years I had given away many of the arrow heads I had collected as gifts.
Some of my friends heard that my arrowheads were gone, and they returned to me what I had given,
now all I have is what I gave away.... is that strange?
14. WHAT IS OF GREAT VALUE TO YOU? WHERE ARE YOUR VALUABLES?
Mat. 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doeth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
15. DO YOU VOLUNTEER OR DO YOU HAVE TO BE DRAFTED?
I have never pastored in Tennessee the volunteer state, but sometimes I wish I did?
Will you do this? Well, let me pray about it?
I am told there is a little test to see who the leaders are in a church. Tear up some paper in little pieces and place around on the floor? I am told as a whole, leaders will pick up the paper, others will just walk past. Set up a camera and see?
Tommy Barnett in Phoenix, AZ. kept hearing people complain about cigarette butts in front of the church.
Some demanded Tommy to preach against throwing cigarette butts down, but Tommy knew this would hurt some and they would never come back. After prayer, Tommy started picking up the cigarette butts by each door after every service.
What a terrible shame, this great man of God having to pick up cigarette butts. Board members would watch Pastor Tommy as he picked up cigarette butts? Wow?
16. CAN YOU DO WORK THAT GOES UNSEEN AND NEVER APPLAUDED?
The Oak Ridge boys had a hit song, it went something like: everybody wants to play lead guitar for Jesus.
We live in a trophy day, you better give me a trophy in front of the crowd. Can you do unapplauded work?
The great office of Interceder in the church is rarely publicly known, yet here is where the rubber meets the road.
Exo. 17:10-12;
Exo. 24:14
Moses was a great man of God but he had some men that were nothing but arm lifters.
Hur and Aaron quietly worked, great helpers, great supporters, with little to no fan fare.
17. HOW OFTEN DO YOU WANT TO QUIT? HOW OFTEN DO YOU FACE DISCOURAGEMENT?
Why do we often think of quitting? How often do you want to quit? How often are you discouraged?
Sure, you talked about wanting to quit high school sometimes, sure you talked about wanting to quit college, and wanting to quit life, but we cannot afford to quit!
It is always to soon to quit! How many quit the day before the breakthrough?
Obstacles are but opportunities. Try again!
Triumph is just try with a little ---umph behind it!
18. HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST?
Have you counted the cost? Cost if you do? Cost if you don’t?
How much does a quart of oil cost? 2 bucks? How much does not buying a quart of oil cost? $2,000 for a new motor?
Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it.’
19. ARE YOU DEDICATED OR COMMITTED?
We have many prayer partners, but God give us prayer warriors. Take the sword and go to battle!
Are you committed to: mate, mission, master, membership, maturity, ministry?
The chicken and pig discussed breakfast?
The chicken discussed --- "Bacon & eggs."
See, for the chicken that was dedication, for the pig that was total commitment.
Leadership needs to take a honest look at where we are? Why are we here? How do we advance from here?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
For payment of my time and effort could you help me and pass this on to another minister?
