I don't really want to lead: Part 2

Moses - was kind of 'shoved' or goaded into being a leader of God's people to get them out of Eygpt. Wasn't really his thing until God promised him a lot of help through Aaron, etc...

Saul - hid in the luggage whenever he was being called to be the king over God's people.

David - was out tending sheep with no apparent awareness that he was even in the running to be considered as a leader of anything when he was called and annointed as king.

Jonah - ran the other way when God called him to go to Ninevah. God took him on a three day underwater tour to help him think about it.

Timothy - was in need of a strong reminder/encouragment from Paul to keep on leading and to not let himself get 'run over' in what was an apparently difficult (at times) group of people to work with in Ephesus.

John Mark - apparently wasn't a big fan of some of the trips/dangers faced by Paul and Barnabus and went AWOL at inappropriate times.

The apostles - for all their bravado when with Jesus, the all fled when he was arrested. Only Peter followed at a distance but denied knowing Jesus.

And the list really could go on...

The thing about all of these folks is that they had times when the last thing they wanted to do was to be 'in' leadership. It took each of them a time of learning or an event or a time of seeing God's power at work before they stepped up and were seen and discussed as having grown up into leadership. Doesn't mean they were perfect in that role for the rest of their lives, but that it was a process for them to get there.

Today it's the case that sometimes leaders don't materialize because they don't want to throw the balance off in their life as they desire it to be (I.e. I have way too much work, a lot of family, a little 'me time', and just enough of church/Jesus). In other words, good old fashioned idolatry and control issues. Others are rejected because their leadership is perceived to be a threat to the aforementioned balance in others' lives.

Yet at the same time, perhaps it is the case that some people don't make it in leadership yet because God wants to shape them and grow them through things they don't see yet.

It's interesting. As with previous comments on last week's post, the question really is - what is leadership today? It seems that some people equate leadership with being up front in a church service leading a song, a prayer, preaching, etc. Others seem to perceive it as being a catalyst who moves people and resources along toward a goal or in a direction.

Each of the examples from the Bible mentioned above played very different public roles and at different times for different durations. Lots of 'leadership' type roles are simply mentioned in passing in the Biblical text - leading songs, praying in public, and other things we often consider to be 'the choice roles' to have. Most of Biblical leadership seems to have to do with pointing people in the direction of the Kingdom, either for short term activities or for long range changes that might never be apparent in the life of the individual who is called into them.

Maybe it's out culture with its up to the minute news coverage and our demand for things to change now to fit what we want that has warped what God has said and called us into. Maybe it's time to spend even more time in prayer, reflecting on where and when we live, what God has already blessed us with, where he seems to be moving already and/or where he appears to be calling us to go.

I'll admit, it's tempting to demand a leadership postion that's ready made with clear objectives, a regular public 'facetime' in which I can feel acknowledged and honors, and a guaranteed successful outcome so I don't have to risk failure. That type of leadership or place in the body of Christ completely foreign to the Bible and to life in the Kingdom.

Think through the New Testament and the way 'leadership' and different gifts play out in the NT church. How similar or different are we?

"I don't really want to lead" Part 1

Why is it the case that leadership is so hard to come by in the church? It seems at times that the people you both want and need to step up and lead are reluctant to do so. At other times, the people who want to be the leader (even if they won't admit it), are the very people you don't want to lead because of their lack of vision, maturity or direction.

What makes a good leader in the church? Do we really follow the guidelines that Paul lays out in his letters to Timothy and Titus? Do we follow Jesus' model of being a disciple makers? Or do we follow a 'business model' and pick out folks who seem like they've got it together? Or do we just look for 'good folks' who don't seem too messed up?

Have you ever seen someone be chosen as a leader (teacher, ministry leader, minister, elder, deacon, etc) only to find out that they really weren't or aren't cut out for that job? Or to later find out that their vision of what their role is supposed to be is very different than what yourself and others thought it was?

Have you ever been asked to lead in some role? What went into your decision to accept or decline a leadership role? Have you ever taken a leadership role that you probably shouldn't have? What happened? Have you ever wanted to be a leader but have been overlooked or not considered? How did you respond?

There are different kinds of leaders - some are good at managing a system that's already in place, but aren't that creative or able to adjust to changes in the system. Some leaders are people with creativity and vision and can develop a picture in their mind and move people and resources toward it by helping them see their picture. And there are folks that fall somewhere in between.

Next week...reluctant leaders from the Bible.

What will that look like?

Well, the news is finally out! Beginning in June, all members of Central are asked to begin using the time on Sunday nights to get involved in some kind of service project, home Bible study, small group, or in some other activities that will help them to grow more in their journey in God’s Kingdom. Everyone is asked to feel free to do a variety of things and not necessarily the same activity every week. Basically everyone should use the time to invest themselves and their family into God’s Kingdom.

We've thought and prayed a lot about it and decided as a leadership that to seek The Kingdom of God even more than we have been, we’re at a point where we need to realign our resources & meeting times & asking the members of Central to use the time we normally set aside for “Sunday Nights @ Central” to become a part of some activities that will help the reign of our Lord extend even farther into a) our relationships with each other as believers, b) our neighborhoods &/or communities & c) into our homes and families.

We know that many of our folks will hit the ground running and will pray about it and let God lead them into areas of relationship development, outreach, service and growth that others may not think about. That kind of ‘entrepreneurial’ thinking, direction and action is highly encouraged. If you’re that kind of person, go where God leads you in this new format and remember to share with others at Central the great things that are happening as a result.

For those who want ideas, suggestions or a little bit of structure in which to begin using this time, we will have (upon request) some suggestions or possible ideas to get you going. Know that, at minimum, Life Stage Groups will be planning events and activities that can also help provide you with ways to get involved in the new format. Please do not feel locked into any particular option or idea that anyone suggests or throws out to you, but instead to use them as guidelines to get you down the road a little further.

When you think about the area of ministry that you are over, how do you think the changes in our format will impact of effect your work or the work of others at Central?

PS: Our 7th Wednesday at Central will have 'part 2' on April 12th since we didn't quite have enough time to get into our clusters to do work and planning this past week.