More leadership qualities

 

THE REALITY OF LIFE

 

1.      The life of dynamic ministry, 90% regular or even boring and 10% action.

a.       The reality of life is as such. We sleep 8 hours a day. We wake up and shower, eat, go to work, wash clothes, pay bills, fix the house, mow the lawn, cook dinner, raise children, change diapers, etc. 90% of what we do is labor.

b.      10% of what we do is preach, teach, minister, pray for others, go to church and worship or learn, etc.

2.      The Christian life is no different. 90% is regular or even boring.

a.       Calling up the sick or hurting and visiting them

b.      Preparing the sanctuary: setting up chairs, cleaning the bathrooms, vacuuming the carpet,

c.       Praying in the closet and fasting

d.      Dealing with others who we don’t like

 

We base our judgment of strong Christians upon that which we can see.

a.       Good preaching

b.      Good teaching

c.       Powerful ministry

d.      Knowledge of bible

e.       College degrees

f.        Quantity of work accomplished

 

God bases his judgement upon that which is less noticeable.

God bases his judgement upon relational attributes. These are the attributes that must be taught in the church.

 

RELATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF CHRISTIANITY

 

 

  1. Humor
    1. Can be used to displace tension
    2. Jokes allow people to know you are real
    3. One preacher said that he used humor as a condiment and a stimulant
  2. Anger
    1. Holy anger.

                                                               i.      Jesus through out the money changers

    1. Injustice

7 things that god hates Proverbs 6    16 There are six things the LORD hates,
       seven that are detestable to him:

    17 haughty eyes,
       a lying tongue,
       hands that shed innocent blood,

    18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
       feet that are quick to rush into evil,

    19 a false witness who pours out lies
       and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

    1.  
  1. Patience
    1. I am happy that God was patient with me because he could have killed my when I was still a sinner.
    2. How much more should I be patient with those around me
  2. Friendship - RELATIONSHIPS AS PLAYED OUT IN EVERYDAY LIFE

a.       Friends first Leaders second

                                                               i.      That each of us are the same. We are on a spiritual journey and the purpose is the same, to know God and to make him known.

                                                             ii.      Most of us like the same things and can hang out together.

                                                            iii.      That we agree with each other on most issues

    1. Relationships do mean:

                                                               i.      Conflict is normal and acceptable in most families and small church settings, in fact they are healthy.

                                                             ii.      As long as conflict is dealt with in a healthy way by:

1.      Always deferring to the head of the family or the leaders of the church.

2.      Taking unresolved issues to the pray closet, not to others (not to the street)

3.      Focusing on common issues

4.      Remember! Christ said “if a brother has something against us, leave our gift at the alter and go be reconciled.”

    1. Characteristics of Community

                                                               i.      Love

                                                             ii.      Sharing

                                                            iii.      Kindness

                                                           iv.      Concern

                                                             v.      Tears

                                                           vi.      Pain

                                                          vii.      Joy

                                                        viii.      Happiness

                                                           ix.      Goals

                                                             x.      Common Vision

                                                           xi.      Acts 2:41  So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42  And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43  And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44  And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; 45  and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46  And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

1.      Teaching                                   (Purpose)

2.      Fellowship                                (Relationship)

3.      Breaking of Bread                    (Relationship)

4.      Prayer                                      (Relationship)

5.      Result = Growth                                 (Time)

    1. Hanging out with Jesus

                                                               i.      (John 1:35-39 NASB)  Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and said^, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and said^ to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?" He said^ to them, "Come, and you will see." They came therefore and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two was Andrew, Peter’s brother, who then looked for Peter.

    1. Practical Application

                                                               i.      To make meals for a women who has just given birth

                                                             ii.      To help others financially during difficult times

                                                            iii.      To disciple others

                                                           iv.      To pray for each others needs

                                                             v.      It is in a local church that one learns about Jesus.

                                                           vi.      One learns to love and serve by seeing the example of other believers.

                                                          vii.      One learns to worship in a group setting and enjoy the benefits of group worship.

                                                        viii.      A church is a group of people dedicated to God and each other and there must be relational contact in order for this to be carried out.

                                                           ix.      Needs can and should be met at the church.

1.      Spiritual, emotional, relational, physical (healing)

    1. Problems

                                                               i.      Fighting

                                                             ii.      Disagreement

                                                            iii.      Lack of concern and love

                                                           iv.      These are very similar attributes of marital problems and we must remember that the church is likened to a marriage.

1.      Fighting is normal and O.K.

2.      We need to learn to fight fair.

3.      We need to learn to state what we feel and how we see the problem but we should not say words that can do irreparable damage.

    1. Friendship is eternal

                                                               i.      I am the god of Abraham, Issac and Jacob

                                                             ii.      Mount of transfiguration with his buddies, Moses and Elijah

    1. God is a relational God-Father-Son-Holy Spirit

                                                               i.      The relationship is a mystery. How can one God have three personalities? Three distinct persons yet they are one. The marriage relationship is the same. How can two become one? Yet God refers to a marriage in the same way. How about the church? We are many yet we are one bride.

                                                             ii.      Greater love has no man that he lay down his life for his friends

                                                            iii.      By this men shall know that you are my disciples, by your love for one another.

    1. Relationships do mean:

                                                               i.      That we learn to love each other

                                                             ii.      Deut 24:5 Man learn to love his wife.

                                                            iii.      Love your wife as Christ loved the church, giving his life for her

                                                           iv.      Transparency

                                                             v.      How many people show up to your funeral?

                                                           vi.      Hospitality

                                                          vii.      Strength – two cords or three cords are not easily broken

                                                        viii.      Why do people join churches?

                                                           ix.      Why do people stay in churches?

                                                             x.      Why do people leave churches

                                                           xi.      What do people want from a church?

                                                          xii.      Do people really know what they want from a church?

                                                        xiii.      Are we really building the kingdom of God and his church?

                                                        xiv.      Do pastors understand this?

                                                         xv.      A young man receives a call. His pastor sends him to Bible College. The Bible College sends him away somewhere to pastor. The pastor then starts to build his resume eventually looking for a church that pays good and that is in a good city or location.

                                                        xvi.      This is the worlds business model paradigm. Look out for number one and move up the corporate ladder.

                                                      xvii.      What about church planting? It is a little like a McDonalds franchise. A community expresses interest in a church. How does McDonalds choose locations?

    1. Relational Promises of God

                                                               i.      God is a relational God. In our quest to seek him and become like him we must seek the relational promises in our own life. How many times have I said to a friend, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”? How many times have we told an employee, “I no longer call you a servant (employee) but friend”? It is important to seek these promises in our own life and apply them to relationships that we have with others.

                                                             ii.      I will never leave you nor forsake you

                                                            iii.      I no longer call your servants but friends

                                                           iv.      Rev 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

    1. The equation for friends can best be described as such:

                                                               i.      Time + Energy + experiences = Friendship

                                                             ii.      Time + energy + experiences + commitment = good friendship

                                                            iii.      Time + energy  + experiences + commitment + heart tie = best friends

 

  1. Faithfulness
    1. Entrust the Gospel to Faithful men. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Tim 2:2
    2. We may be gifted in many areas but if we don’t show up we disqualify ourselves.
    3. Give me faithful over any other gift.
    4. Hudson Taylor. “a little thing is a little  thing, but faithfulness of a little thing is a great thing”

 

  1. Tact and Diplomacy (grace)
    1. Do you offend people regularly?
    2. Do you bring peace to difficult situations?
    3. Are you a peacemaker
  2. Inspirational Power
  3. Administrative Ability
    1.  
  4. A good listener
  5. A good letter writer or communicator
  6. Spirit Filled
    1. A person can have a brilliant mind, be a genius, have a doctorate and possess good administrative skills. But without the spirit of God he is incapable of giving truly spiritual leadership
    2. Book of Acts is short for the “Book of the Acts of the Holy Spirit”

                                                               i.      The Holy Spirit does the works. We just allow Him to move through us.

                                                             ii.       

 

UNFINISHED