When the Church is Lead by the Call of Christ, All Are Important Participants in Vital Ministry

I met with other clergy members this morning for the monthly meeting of the Vital Church Initiative Clergy Peer Mentoring Group. All of the clergy who meet come from larger churches who are currently preparing for VCI prescriptions or implementing them.

Today our group leader, Rev. Rich Dake from Clarkston United Methodist Church, talked through key points in the book Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. Dake said to the group, "We are not here with the expectation of a 40 year kingdom. We need equip the church to carry on long after we are gone."

He pointed out there is a difference between being a leader driven by internal goals and passions and a leader who is fulfilling the goals of Jesus Christ, an external call. When we are driven by individual goals, we don't need other people. But when we are called, we understand that many people are essential to accomplishing the task. Being called by God isn't about particular leader's desires or accomplishments, it's about what God wants in this world.

And the calling of Jesus Christ to share the Good News of life through his grace continues whether we are around to lead it or not. Our task as a church is to be continually equipping people to carry on the specific task of bringing people to faith and making disciples. 

That means that whatever our leadership roles are in the Body of Christ, we must be thinking ahead beyond our tenure and equipping people to do what we are doing. Not equipping them to do thing exactly the way we do them, but equipping them to fulfill the call of Christ.

I think that there have been times (and continues to be times) in my ministry when I find it more comfortable or expedient to do a task rather than equip someone else to do it. Some of that practice may be the result of pride. "How could anyone do it better than I can?" Some might be out of a need for approval and affirmation. "If I do this, people will appreciate me." If my role as pastor is to fulfill God's call upon my life, I need to be careful about doing things to serve myself or even serve others. I need to figure out, first, if what I'm doing is serving God. And answering the call is not always "doing"; it is leading other committed disciples to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ.

When the Church is Lead by the Call of Christ, All Are Important Participants in Vital Ministry

I met with other clergy members this morning for the monthly meeting of the Vital Church Initiative Clergy Peer Mentoring Group. All of the clergy who meet come from larger churches who are currently preparing for VCI prescriptions or implementing them.

Today our group leader, Rev. Rich Dake from Clarkston United Methodist Church, talked through key points in the book Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. Dake said to the group, "We are not here with the expectation of a 40 year kingdom. We need equip the church to carry on long after we are gone."

He pointed out there is a difference between being a leader driven by internal goals and passions and a leader who is fulfilling the goals of Jesus Christ, an external call. When we are driven by individual goals, we don't need other people. But when we are called, we understand that many people are essential to accomplishing the task. Being called by God isn't about particular leader's desires or accomplishments, it's about what God wants in this world.

And the calling of Jesus Christ to share the Good News of life through his grace continues whether we are around to lead it or not. Our task as a church is to be continually equipping people to carry on the specific task of bringing people to faith and making disciples. 

That means that whatever our leadership roles are in the Body of Christ, we must be thinking ahead beyond our tenure and equipping people to do what we are doing. Not equipping them to do thing exactly the way we do them, but equipping them to fulfill the call of Christ.

I think that there have been times (and continues to be times) in my ministry when I find it more comfortable or expedient to do a task rather than equip someone else to do it. Some of that practice may be the result of pride. "How could anyone do it better than I can?" Some might be out of a need for approval and affirmation. "If I do this, people will appreciate me." If my role as pastor is to fulfill God's call upon my life, I need to be careful about doing things to serve myself or even serve others. I need to figure out, first, if what I'm doing is serving God. And answering the call is not always "doing"; it is leading other committed disciples to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Lead Like Jesus: A Leadership Model Filled with Grace

As part of a Vital Church Initiative Clergy Mentoring Group, Deacon Loretta and I meet monthly with other clergy leaders who are part of Vital Church Initiative. Each month we are asked to read a book on leadership or spiritual practices. I recently finished the assigned reading Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard (author of The One Minute Manager) and Phil Hodges.

The authors suggest that in his life on earth, Jesus modeled effective leadership. The book is separated into four specific characteristics, The heart, head, hands and habits of servant leaders. While some of the conclusions of the authors, seem to simply tie Jesus' leadership style to leadership prescriptions popular today, there are some thought-provoking sections.

Blanchard and Hodges emphasize that Jesus put the interest of others over his own. They spend time helping readers to sort out whether their "EGO" is "edging God out" or "exalting God only". There is a difference between a self-serving leader and a servant leader. The servant leader accepts feedback graciously and seeks to grow with it. The servant leader assumes that there will be a successor and works to empower other leaders. The servant leader understands they have been entrusted with responsibility only for a season, and they hold leadership humbly.

I was especially interested in the authors' guide for the habits needed to lead like Jesus. The list of leadership habits are helpful for anyone in any sort of leadership role, in business, the church or at home:
      The Habit of Solitude - take time for quiet to rest in God.
      The Habit of Prayer - look to the Gospels, examine Jesus' prayer habits, practice them
      The Habit of Dwelling in the Word - use the Bible as a guide for daily living
      The Habit of Trusting in God's Unconditional Love - lead with trust and hope in God
      The Habit of Intimate Community - develop a circle of friends for support and accountability

At the end of the book, Blanchard and Hodges make a case for leading like Jesus. They suggest that their is spiritual benefit at servant leaders seek the reign of God, honor God and put the love of Jesus into action. Practical reasons for leading like Jesus include: providing better service and leadership and closing the gap we tend to create between success and significance. Leading like Jesus means to work for meaning in our lives.

I would recommend this book to leaders who are seeking to reflect Jesus in their leadership style, no matter the area in which they lead.

Lead Like Jesus: A Leadership Model Filled with Grace

As part of a Vital Church Initiative Clergy Mentoring Group, Deacon Loretta and I meet monthly with other clergy leaders who are part of Vital Church Initiative. Each month we are asked to read a book on leadership or spiritual practices. I recently finished the assigned reading Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard (author of The One Minute Manager) and Phil Hodges.

The authors suggest that in his life on earth, Jesus modeled effective leadership. The book is separated into four specific characteristics, The heart, head, hands and habits of servant leaders. While some of the conclusions of the authors, seem to simply tie Jesus' leadership style to leadership prescriptions popular today, there are some thought-provoking sections.

Blanchard and Hodges emphasize that Jesus put the interest of others over his own. They spend time helping readers to sort out whether their "EGO" is "edging God out" or "exalting God only". There is a difference between a self-serving leader and a servant leader. The servant leader accepts feedback graciously and seeks to grow with it. The servant leader assumes that there will be a successor and works to empower other leaders. The servant leader understands they have been entrusted with responsibility only for a season, and they hold leadership humbly.

I was especially interested in the authors' guide for the habits needed to lead like Jesus. The list of leadership habits are helpful for anyone in any sort of leadership role, in business, the church or at home:
      The Habit of Solitude - take time for quiet to rest in God.
      The Habit of Prayer - look to the Gospels, examine Jesus' prayer habits, practice them
      The Habit of Dwelling in the Word - use the Bible as a guide for daily living
      The Habit of Trusting in God's Unconditional Love - lead with trust and hope in God
      The Habit of Intimate Community - develop a circle of friends for support and accountability

At the end of the book, Blanchard and Hodges make a case for leading like Jesus. They suggest that their is spiritual benefit at servant leaders seek the reign of God, honor God and put the love of Jesus into action. Practical reasons for leading like Jesus include: providing better service and leadership and closing the gap we tend to create between success and significance. Leading like Jesus means to work for meaning in our lives.

I would recommend this book to leaders who are seeking to reflect Jesus in their leadership style, no matter the area in which they lead.