Equipping Leadership

Some Random Thoughts...

Stop surfing the internet. Put down your pen. Hang up the phone. I want to ask you a very simple question, one that will require some reflection for just a few moments. Are you ready?

As a leader, what have you been called to do? What’s your role as a pastor or leader in the church where you serve?

That’s a simple enough question isn’t it? Think about it for a moment. What is the role that you have been called to play within the church? What has God called you to do?

It’s not as simple as it sounds. For the most part, this is a tough question that many church leaders have trouble answering. Throughout the years, I’ve asked this same question of church leaders. The typical responses I’ve heard are…

- Preach
- Lead
- Shepherd and take care of the “saints.”
- Cast vision
- Counsel
- Protect the flock
- Direct ministry
- Make ministry happen

The are fine answers, but the hard, cold truth is that most pastors and church leaders don’t really know what their role is in the church. As a result, many are frustrated, over-worked, stressed out, lonely, and overwhelmed – and all this happens before lunch. They experience these feelings because of their lack of clarification around what their role is.

Unfortunately, when leaders do attempt to answer this simple question, instead of searching the scriptures for their role, they look to resources, people and other churches for the answer. Please know I’m not against outside advice and information, I think it’s important we continually look at best practices for direction. However, what concerns me is when we replace knowing our biblical role with the information found in the latest and greatest books or from well known speakers we’ve heard.

The other day, I got into an argument. It happened because a colleague of mine told me they would do something within an agreed time frame. I remember the conversation, almost word for word. The time came and went, but nothing. They didn’t do it, and then had the audacity to deny they had committed to do it in the first place. I was convinced, beyond any doubt, they had committed to the task. The argument occurred because neither of us was going to budge. I was right. They were right.

Have you ever been there? So convinced of something that no one could change your mind? I regularly find myself at this place. It could be, according to my wife, I have a strong opinion about things and can be rather hard-headed. I like to think it’s because my passion spills over. Regardless, today as I sit here writing this article I find myself at this place of conviction.

I find myself prepared to argue because of the topic I’m writing about. It’s about Team Ministry, and how all of us have been called to “do church as a team.” I believe, without wavering, that team ministry is our biblical role as leaders. The scriptures are filled with answers to this question. So, for just a few moments, let me present the premise that I’m convinced is correct.

Let me share five examples of what the bible says is the role of leaders.

God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit as the first team in Genesis 1:1.
How Jethro, Moses father-in-law, helped him create one of the first systemic team-based structures in Exodus 18.
The model of Jesus with His disciples in Matthew 4.
The call of Ephesians 4:11-12 to equip and develop God’s people.
The model of body life in 1 Corinthians 12:18-21.

Have you ever been on a really good team? A team where everyone worked together, knew their roles, depended on each others strengths, cared about one another and successfully accomplished the goals before them. If so, then you know when this kind of team works together, there’s no telling what they can do.

What would the people who know you well, perhaps those you minister alongside, say is your natural leadership style? How would they describe you? As they experience your leadership, what would they say about it? Think about this for a moment. Pretty tough questions huh? Let me give you some examples that may help:

Perhaps your coworkers and friends would consider you a…
- Micro-manager – Someone that has a constant eye on the details.
- Star performer – A “do-it-yourselfer”.
- Macro-creator – A leader that is constantly coming up with new ideas and opportunities.
- Absentee leader – Someone that appears only when things go wrong or right.
- Team builder – A leader focused on the development of others.
Which one would they say you’re most like? Don’t lie. Be honest.

Now, which one would you like them to say you’re most like? I would tend to think most of us would say “team builder.” I’m confident in making this statement because “team ministry” is the current buzz word in the church. Here lately, it’s being spoken and written about by everybody that’s somebody. Books such as Doing Church as a Team by Wayne Cordeiro, Leading the Team-based Church by George Cladis or The Equipping Church by Sue Mallory, describe the successes of team-based ministry. In addition, numerous magazine articles, other books, seminars and training events focus on what team ministry is, why it’s important and the benefits of working with and through people.

Churches left and right are becoming more team-oriented, turning their committees into teams. In fact, one church I know renamed all their committees, teams. They wanted to become a team-based church and felt this was the easiest way to begin to make this happen. Never mind the fact that the ministry staff continued to do things the way they’d always done. It was easy, it made sense and it was the hip thing to do. Is it just me, or is something wrong with that picture?

It’s easier to answer this last question if you know what the bible says about it.

5. God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit as the first team in Genesis 1:1.
6. How Jethro, Moses father-in-law, helped him create one of the first systemic team-based structures in Numbers 18.
7. The call of Ephesians 4:11-16 to equip and develop God’s people.
8. The model of body life in 1 Corinthians 12:18-21.
9. The model of Jesus with His disciples in the Gospels.