Illation on Leaders 7, May 2019
Let someone else lead / train new leaders
Ephesians 4: 12 Leadership within the church:
- shape and deepen theological understandings so leaders can act with Wisdom
- listens to the voice of God within: the Holy Spirit
- trains and encourages growth that will produce fruit
- empowers individuals by creating leaders so they can accomplish “works of service”; either within or outside the church
In the modern North American church we ask leaders to make decisions and give us direction — that is our “marching orders” — defining what positions there will be (and how many) within the church, each of their descriptions, hours, and pay (if any). Yet leading, within the context of Jesus’ teaching and Paul’s expressed views, means leaders are servants (Jesus to His disciples in Luke 22: 24-27 ) given the job of building up the Saints (Paul in Ephesians 4: 11-15). Not seeking power or administrating through corporate structure as everyone’s boss.
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Think of the Marriage Relationship as God’s example for inter-personal communication skills. Plans are made but not always by one individual all the time. Also, a marriage does not function well without God in a leadership role. A triangular relationship. Marriage is enriched by the influence of a knowledge of God’s ways, an attentiveness to prayer, in short the overview God gives to our position in life: He has created each of us uniquely to reflect and serve each other.
Train people to lead. Let them do their God-given thing.
