Transcript CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IS… a servant oriented relational process whereby those who lead, under God’s leadership, using their God given capacity seek to influence others towards.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IS…
a servant oriented relational process
whereby those who lead, under God’s
leadership, using their God given
capacity seek to influence others
towards a kingdom honouring goal.
James Lawrence, Growing Leaders
Who or what is a pioneer ?
What does a planter look like?
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Field research on what has been sustained
and what failed to thrive suggests:
Visionary leadership
Willing to take responsibility
Tenacity and perseverance
Effectiveness at planning and evaluating
Having an indigenous support system
Hard working
Problem solving ability
Capacity to mobilise people and resources
Stuart Murray: Ch 7 Planting Churches: who?
BUT…
Caveats from Murray
• What’s needed: Evangelist OR Community Developer?
• What cultural bias about a leader does a predetermined
list have? e.g. in USA – John Wayne or Bruce Willis
• Is it the same in the suburbs as the inner city?
• Differentiate the apostolic/catalyst – start and move and
the founder pastor – start and stay
• Does a profile exclude the woman leader?
• Does the profile require the Archangel Gabriel?
• “Planter” isn’t a listed gift: how does it map to the
various NT lists? Is it identical to Apostle or Evangelist?
• How does this change with kind of plant? E.g. Cross
cultural or Multiple Congregation
Four enduring features?
• Dissatisfied
– Not grumbler but wanting change for the
better
• Visionary
– Looks beyond what is to what could be
• Hopeful
– Change is possible and this inspires others
• Risk takers
– Acts on convictions and out of comfort zones
Stuart Murray: Ch 7 Planting Churches: who?
Murray’s list of key qualities
Self awareness
Flexibility
Perseverance
Creativity
Team building
Stuart Murray: Ch 7 Planting Churches: who?
C of E list of qualities for Pioneers
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Authentic integrated understanding of this ministry
Capacity to innovate and initiate
Mature and developed devotional life
Well developed abilities to initiate change and enable
others to face it in flexible and balanced way
• Demonstrable maturity and robustness in face of
demands of pioneering
• Self motivation
• Good understanding of Gospel and Culture
• Clear vision of how pioneering fits with the wider
Church’s response to the missio Dei
• Ability and desire to work in teams
• Commitment to reshaping the church for mission
Charles Ridley’s Characteristics of a church planter
1. Visioning Capacity
2. Intrinsically Motivated
3. Creates Ownership of Ministry
4. Relates to the Unchurched
5. Spousal Cooperation
6. Builds Relationships
7. Committed to Church Growth
8. Responsive to Community
9. Utilizes Giftedness of Others
10. Flexible and Adaptable
11. Team Builder
12. Resilience
13. Exercises Faith
1. Catalytic innovator
2. Vibrant faith in God
3. Visionary/vision caster
4. Empowering leadership
5. Passion for people
6. Personal and relational health
7. Passion for faith-sharing
8. Inspiring preaching or worship
Dr H Stanley Wood
In groups of 4/5
list your top 5 qualities
of a pioneer and explain why
you choose these?
How do we grow as pioneers ?
Competence
Community
Chosen
Courage
Call
James Lawrence; Growing Leaders
Character
How do we grow in our
relationship with God ?
‘The forming of the soul that it might
be a dwelling place for God is the
primary work of the Christian leader.
This is not an add-on, an option, or a
third-level priority. Without this core
activity, one almost guarantees that
she/he will not last in leadership for
a life-time or that what work is
accomplished will become less
and less reflective of God's honour
and God's purposes. ’
Gordon MacDonald
For most of us, the great danger is not
that we will renounce our faith. It is
that we will become so distracted and
rushed and preoccupied that we will
settle for a mediocre version of it.
We will just skim our lives instead of
actually living them.’
John Ortberg
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
‘Discipline: any activity I can do by direct
effort that will help me to do what I cannot
now do by direct effort.
Spiritual discipline: any activity that can
help me gain power to live as Jesus
taught and modelled it.’
John Ortberg
Abstinence
Solitude
Silence
Fasting
Frugality
Chastity
Secrecy
Sacrifice
Engagement
Study
Worship
Celebration
Service
Prayer
Fellowship
Confession
Submission
What leads us to neglect our
relationship with God ?
What helps us to grow in it ?
How do we grow in the
clarity of our call?
What do we struggle with in our calling ?
What helps you work out your
priorities ?
How do we grow in character ?
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Mature: humble about strengths, prayerful about
weaknesses, committed to growth
Character
Personality
Mature: build on strengths, manage around
weaknesses
Fulfilling
personal
commitments
Handling
suffering
well
Facing
our dark
side
Exercising
spiritual
disciplines
Develop
selfawareness
Dealing with
disappointments
Breaking
through
quitting points
Self-leadership. Nobody - I mean nobody - can do this
work for us. Every leader has to do this work alone, and it
isn’t easy. In fact, because it’s such tough work most
leaders avoid it. We would rather try to inspire or control
the behaviour of others than face the rigorous work of self
reflection and inner growth.
Bill Hybels
How can we grow in character?
What stops this happening?
How do we grow in competence ?
Passion
Knowledge
Skill
Something
you can
learn
Something you
acquire through
training
Ability
strength
Gift
Talent
Something that is given
to Christians by God
Temperament
Something that is formed
by the time you’re an adult
Where do I need to develop?
What support do I require
to help with this?
From this morning
•What are my next 3 steps ?
•What resources might I need?
•Who will provide support/accountability