Showing posts with label Leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leadership. Show all posts

November 26, 2009

Theological vision for ministry

"A statement of how we intend to discharge Christian ministry and interact with our culture in biblical and theological faithfulness" from the Gospel Coalition. Asks five questions:

  1. How should we respond to the cultural crisis of truth? (The epistemological issue)
  2. How should we read the Bible? (The hermeneutical issue)
  3. How should we relate to the culture around us? (The contextualization issue)
  4. In what ways is the gospel unique?
  5. What is gospel–centered ministry?


September 10, 2009

Hosier's reflections on 40 years of leadership

John Hosier's thoughts:

1. Have faith in God
2. Pioneer or Persevere?
3. Be convinced
4. Implement the vision
5. Ask more from your people
6. Play to your strengths
7. Preaching and teaching
8. Go for students
9. Beware the latest fad
10. Don’t fret too much about those who leave
11. Use the different ministries
12. Pay attention to team
13. Be flexible
14. Develop an outside interest
15. Jesus before ministry

March 12, 2009

We can't do everything!

Bishop Ken Untener (though often attributed to Oscar Romero, Bishop of El Salvador) wrote:

"We cannot do everything. And there is a sense of liberation in realising that this enables us to do something and do it very well. It may be incomplete but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are the workers not the master builders, we are the ministers not messiahs, we are the prophets of a future not our own."

January 22, 2009

The world needs more...

PJ Smyth's series available to download here.

The world needs more apostles.
The world needs more elders.
The world needs more preachers.
The world needs more small group leaders.

January 19, 2009

Transition

Terry writes about change:

1. Beware fear or nostalgia.
2. "Hang loose and keep your eyes on the Lord!"
3. Biblical leadership.
4. Leadership is rooted in integrity.
5. Leadership listening and working with others.
6. Calling for faith and handling negativity.

January 15, 2009

Questions for church leaders

Driscoll asks twenty questions "for building a city within the city" from Nehemiah.

1. What has God revealed to you (1:1-11a)?
2. What must you walk away from to pursue God's calling (1:11b)?
3. How will you communicate your vision to others (2:1-3)?
4. Who must you ask for what resources (2:4-10)?
5. What research must you do to realistically assess the total cost (time, money, energy, emotion, etc.) of the mission (2:11-16)?
6. Which leaders must be strategically recruited first (2:17-20)?
7. Where is the best place to begin the work (3:1-32)?
8. Where are your gates (3:1-32)?
9. How will you respond to your critics (4:1-23)?
10. How can you show the gospel with mercy (5:1-19)?MarkD07
11. How will you handle escalating opposition and threats (6:1-14)?
12. What is the generational legacy you are laboring (7:4-73)?
13. How will you connect your ground war and your air war (8:1-18)?
14. Will you courageously and continuously call your people to repentance (9:1-38)?
15. What are your terms for covenant membership (10:38-11:36)?
16. How will you track and assimilate those whom God is bringing to your city (11:1-36)?
17. Who are your trustworthy priests who can work in the mission while you work on the mission (12:1-26)?
18. How will you celebrate your wins (12:27-47)?
19. How much will you demand of your men (13:1-22)?
20. Which closed-hand, practical life issues will you go to war (13:23-31)?

Clarifying the purposes for the church

Article by Tim Keller:
- Worship & Prayer
- Learning & Edification
- Fellowship & Community
- Outreach & Evangelism
- Mercy & Social Concern

Leadership responsibility vs freedom

Craig Groeschel prays:
- I pray you have the freedom to make decisions that are best for God’s Kingdom, your family, and your ministry.
- I pray you will feel the responsibility to make wise decisions and be a righteous example.

A leader's priorities

Noted by CJ particularly in regards to leader who is only person on staff:

1. Own soul
2. Wife and children
3. Sunday meeting

The god of options

CJ interviews Mark Dever, commenting: "Regardless of God’s will for your future, and without eliminating the real possibility of future transition, you can be certain that God’s will for you this day (and in the foreseeable future) is to serve him with gladness right where you are."

Driscoll's love for John Piper

From The Resurgence.

1. He is the most passionate guy I think I’ve ever met.
2. He does not seem to really care about his approval ratings.
3. He has a father’s heart.
4. By not trying to be cool . . . he’s cool.

Pray for the man of God

Spurgeon on the dangers facing leaders/pastors/ministers and thus the need to pray for them.

A bespoke church

Tim Chester on the need to create bespoke churches:
- Leadership development
- Evangelism

The pastor's calendar

From CJ Mahaney: "Determining priorities is crucial to shaping a schedule that is faithful to God’s expectations for you."

Right hand team

Advice on building a right-hand team rather than just having a right-hand man.