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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #8

Posted on 11/07/2023 | Comments Off on Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #8

The Ministry of Delegation

As the ministry grows, the necessity of delegation grows as well. The need for delegation arises when we reach our natural and spiritual limitations. When a ministry becomes more complex, a point is reached where the leader is no longer able to cope with every aspect of the ministry on their own. Realizing that neither time nor their efforts are adequate to meet the needs of the people they lead. Before this point is reached, a plan for delegation should already be in place.

The inability or unwillingness to delegate to others can stall ministry growth and produce burnout in the leadership team. This is a common mistake that small ministries make, and often, it is the reason they stay small.

          An excellent analogy for delegation is “the ability to score without touching the ball.” Learning to accomplish things through others involves the skill of delegation. It is an essential part of effective leadership. Delegation should be viewed as a ministry in itself.

Self-awareness

The Ministry of Delegation begins with self-awareness and an honest assessment of our limitations. Identifying the areas where we are weak will help us target the right people with the proper graces and abilities to complement the ministry. No one likes to admit they have areas of weakness, but we all have them.

An honest self-assessment can be brutal and usually requires the input and feedback of other peers and leaders. If married, our spouse can be a tremendous asset in this department. We don’t just trust our point of view because our perspective can often be filled with blind spots. We all have blind spots, and we need others to help us see from a broader point of view. One of the most common blind spots is believing others have them and we don’t. The need for a ministry of delegation is a blind spot with many leaders that can cripple a ministry.

In Exodus 18, we see a powerful example of the need to delegate. When Moses was leading the children of Israel, he came to a point where Jethro, his father-in-law, had to point out his need to delegate responsibilities. Moses was sincere, but the need to delegate was his blind spot.

Exodus 18:13-23 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

Bearing the burden of ministry ourselves is never God’s plan. As individuals, we are not capable of fulfilling all He has called us to do. We are called into a community with relationships that God flows through. Every part of the body has a role to play, a function and purpose that will help edify the body as a whole.

Every leader must realize that they need to surround themselves with solid relationships that can share the ministry load. This is the only way to fulfill God’s plan.

There is a powerful truth in Ephesians 4 that will help us understand this.

Ephesians 4:16 – From whom (Christ) the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Notice in this passage that supply comes primarily from the jointsin the body, not the parts of the body.

A joint is where two parts meet together, like an elbow or a knee joint. It is the relationship between the parts that bring spiritual supply.

A healthy relationship causes the connected parts to be more mobile and more effective, increasing the ability and strength of all the connected parts. It is no coincidence that Jesus used this analogy. If you have ever had an injured joint like an ankle, knee, elbow, or wrist, you know how debilitating and restricting it can be.

          It is the relationships between the parts that bring the needed supply of the Spirit for ministry growth. If relationships are healthy and every part is in place, effectively working and doing its share, growth, and edification in love is the result.

This is why it is essential to be deliberate about who you delegate to. Maintaining a healthy relationship with those you delegate to is crucial to success.

General Guidelines for the ministry of delegation:

  • Define the responsibility to be delegated.
  • Select faithful individuals (at least two) who can carry that responsibility.
  • Assess their gifts, graces, and skills and tailor the training accordingly.
  • Give clear and precise expectations in writing.
  • Supply them with all the necessary tools and resources needed for success.
  • Develop a plan to support and communicate.
  • Provide regular feedback on results.

Delegate early

Try to delegate responsibilities early to avoid unnecessary pressure. Having a ministry of delegation in place early prevents stress on the leaders and sets up the person we are delegating to for success. Waiting until things get to the point of neglect and panic makes it difficult for everyone involved. If we want to do great things for God and have the most impact on our circle of influence, delegation must be a part of our leadership culture.

Select the Right People

Always delegate to a deacon or elder. This ensures that the person has the character to represent the ministry. Make sure they have the time to take on the responsibility. Before sending them out to tackle the new responsibility, ensure the person has all the training and resources needed to succeed. Try to delegate to people who are better than you in that specific area and let them do the work. Look for people who already have a mindset of excellence and refuse to settle for anything less than remarkable results.

Set Clear Goals and Expectations

Be clear and specific about what is expected. Give information on what, why, when, who, and where, but leave the “how” to them. Don’t be too concerned about how it gets done, but that it gets done right, with integrity, and on time. Confirm and verify goals and expectations regularly and get updates on progress. This allows you to give needed feedback and encouragement and identify any areas of further training that will help and support them.

“Don’t tell people how to do things; tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” ~ George S. Patton ~

Delegate Authority with the Responsibility

Giving people the authority to make certain decisions, use their creativity, and even recruit others to help accomplish the task allows the person to take ownership of the responsibility. It shows that we value their opinions and trust their judgment. This helps maintain a healthy relationship and grooms them for leadership in other areas.

          It is frustrating to be given a task without the authority to decide how it gets done. Micro-managing every task we delegate will run people off and prevent us from building a solid leadership team. The best leaders are the ones who have enough sense to pick good people to do what they want done and self-restraint to keep from micro-managing while they do it. When we delegate authority with responsibility, we create healthy environments that groom and encourage emerging leaders.

Evaluate and Recognize Performance

Evaluations focus on the results more than the methods. Celebrate the wins and give credit where credit is due. Analyze the cause of insufficient performance and bring corrections as necessary, but don’t be too quick to take a project away from someone. Instead, continue to work with the person and ensure they understand the project as their responsibility. Advise on ways to improve and be willing to be a resource yourself. This sends a message that you believe in them and want them to succeed. This approach inspires people to be better, empowers them to reach higher, and motivates them to try harder.

Every person we lead has God-given gifts and talents. Delegation is an excellent way for people to function and develop in their gifts and graces. This promotes growth in the individual and brings healthy challenges that stretch their faith and empower them for Kingdom use. Great leaders empower others to become all God created them to be.

Question: What are two reasons that delegation is essential?

Question: Why is self-awareness critical when delegating responsibilities?

Question: What are two areas you are weak in?

Question: Can you name some guidelines for delegation?

Question: What was Moses “blind spot” in Exodus 18?

Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. Please share and help reach more people with the truth.

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #6

Posted on 11/06/2023 | Comments Off on Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #6

Skillful Listening

Great leadership depends on effective communication. A leader who cannot skillfully communicate will not lead very well or for very long.

In his famous prayer, St. Francis of Assisi asked God to help him to “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” When we are talking, we are simply repeating things we already know and understand. It is only through listening that we have the opportunity and ability to learn something new.

Understanding doesn’t come by talking. It only comes from listening and being attentive to what and how it is being said. Skilled listening is one of the most critical parts of being a great communicator. Learning to hold our tongue is a valuable skill for anyone, but for leaders, this is a must.

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

To be quick to hear and slow to speak means having both humility and respect for others. It means we take the time to sincerely listen to people instead of just voicing our opinions.

A simple skill to practice is to control our body language in the listening process. Sit up straight, lean forward, act interested, nod your head to show that you are tuned in and fully engaged, and track the speaker with your eyes.

If we practice these simple techniques, we do two important things. First, we position ourselves to hear what is being said, reading between the lines and discerning the true nature of the conversation. Second, it encourages the other person to be more open and comfortable sharing details, giving more specifics, and being more vulnerable.

3 Keys to Effective Listening

  1. Listen to God

Good communication with people starts with good communication with God. After all, it is His people we are ministering to. Always remember that we are the gift He has chosen to give to the people. Suppose we prayerfully seek God’s will and direction before ministering to others, inviting His involvement, and being mindful of His perspective. In that case, we will tap into His wisdom and better express His heart in any given situation. If leaders first practice this in their prayer life, the fruit of it will show up when it’s time to communicate.

When leaders don’t first communicate with God, they tend to lean too much on their understanding and their strengths and abilities. This often leads to misunderstandings, offenses, broken relationships, and eventually burnout. Trusting in God and inviting Him into the conversation brings the fruits of the Spirit and promotes healthy relationships.

Leaders must learn to first communicate with God before they even consider speaking with people. Don’t find this point to be over-stressed; it’s not. Keeping that practice in order will help produce the most effective communication available.

So often in the church, we find too much counseling of others without first seeking God. There are too many meetings in which the church’s affairs are discussed without first seeking God’s guidance in prayer, and far too many decisions being made without adequate preparation in prayer, and yet we still expect God to bless it.

           Prayer is one of the most critical parts of any leader’s life. Not their talents, not their gifting and abilities, not their personality and charisma, but getting direction from The LORD on how to proceed.

“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” ~Aristotle~

The best leaders are always the best followers of Christ. If the Lord is not leading a leader, how is he to properly lead those who are following him in the ministry? To be an authority with dynamic influence, we must submit to God’s authority and invite His influence. Christians follow leaders primarily because of their relationship with God, a relationship that is birthed and cultivated in the secret place but is evident to all.

  • Listen to people.

Listening to people is more than just hearing words. Listen with our eyes when people are talking, and pay attention to how they enter a room, their tone, body language, eye contact, emotions, and any emphasis on words or phrases. Listening to people is about gathering information to provide the proper response. If we pay close attention and let people do most of the talking up front, the appropriate responses will usually become apparent—many times, from the one talking.

Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

Give people plenty of time to share their thoughts, and don’t interrupt. Interruptions send a message that we don’t value what they say. If we’re going to understand a person’s situation and honor them correctly, we should always let them fully express themselves.

Silence can be our friend. A nod and a thoughtful look will often keep them talking and bring out more important details they may be hesitant to share. The skillful use of silence can do some of the heavy lifting in a conversation.

When we speak, it should be an improvement on silence.

Making a habit of weighing what we say against the current silence will prevent us from speaking harshly or out of turn. It avoids offense and protects relationships.

Beware of the Lobbyist

Some people do not seek answers or counsel; they lobby for agreement. If a person uses phrases like “God said, or God told me,” Don’t get trapped in a debate or argument. If God honestly did say something, that leaves no room for us to argue or disagree, and we need to make that clear to them. This puts the responsibility of their future actions squarely on their shoulders.

We can ask questions like, “Are you sure God spoke to you?” If they insist that He did, we can counsel them to be patient and pray for God’s will, timing, and purpose to prevail in the situation, but we shouldn’t speak against what they believe God said unless it blatantly opposes God’s Word. On the other hand, if they are sincere and submit to leadership, using language like, “I think God is telling me this, or I believe God is directing me to,” then we have an open door to lead and council.

  • Listen to our heart.

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

We must give our heart time to tell our mouth what to say.

There is tremendous discipline involved in being slow to speak. It also creates the potential for immense power to be released. It shapes the atmosphere and allows us to hear the Holy Spirit talk to us before we speak to others. It’s so easy, when someone comes to us in a hurricane of emotions, to write them off because of their delivery and not listen to what they have to say. In times like this, we need to lean on the Holy Spirit for patience, love, and grace so that we don’t respond in the same manner.

Good communication is not a one-way dialogue but a two-way street. Good communicators promote an equal amount of traffic in both lanes, understanding that the listening lane is the first one traveled.

Question: Why is listening important when communicating?

Question: What is the first key to effective listening?

Question: What percentage of time do we spend listening when in prayer?

Question: How would you describe communication in your own prayer life?

Question: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank yourself as a skilled listener?

Question: What can you change to raise that number?

Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. Please share and help reach more people with the truth.

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #3

Posted on 11/06/2023 | Comments Off on Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #3

Mentoring and Discipleship

Not all followers of Christ are qualified to lead, and not all emerging leaders are qualified to lead right now. Being an end-time leader will require a deep and ever-increasing understanding of God’s written word, the development of Christ-like character, and leadership skills.

The word of God is the most essential thing in any believer’s life and ministry. It is the foundation upon which all wisdom, understanding, and godly character are built. Without constant intake and exposure to God’s word, character and skills will never reach their highest expression. A deep love and respect for the things of God creates provides a sound example for others to follow. And helps keep us on a steady path of spiritual growth.

Character is developed in us as we give ourselves to understanding and obeying God’s word. However, Godly character without the needed leadership skills can cause frustration and discontent within the body and the leadership team.

In turn, having a leader who has an abundance of skills without a Christ-like character produces animosity and mistrust from the body and other leaders. Both situations can set the leaders up for failure and create an abiding tension among our followers and in relationships within the leadership team. This hinders the overall growth, development, and fruitfulness of the ministry.

Developing both character and skills ensures the leader will become a pillar in the church and not a stumbling block. Pillars are always placed squarely and solidly on the word of God.

Character

Godly character reflects God’s nature, and character is developed with maturity. Character is the nature of God being expressed in our lives. This should be every Christian’s goal, not just leaders. The character and nature of God is what we are leading others to. We can’t lead another person to a place we have never been. God’s nature must be established in us before we are qualified to lead others. Love is God’s nature. Without love, we cannot lead others into a relationship with God.

1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.

According to John, love isn’t just the nature of God. Love is the embodiment of God. God IS love.

In 1 Corinthians 13, we see how God (love) behaves. These behaviors must be developed and continually strengthened in a leader so that God’s nature can be evident to all. Embracing love will bear the fruit of the Spirit. The development of this behavior doesn’t come through striving and trying to “be better.” It grows through intimacy with God and a devotion to His word.

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

In Matthew 12:33 it tells us that a tree is known by its fruit, so let’s take a closer look at the fruit that should be hanging from the tree of a leader.

1) Love: The opposite of love is not hate; it is selfishness. A leader lays down his life for others, denying himself in favor of another. It should never be about you.

2) Joy: Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy not only brings strength to the leader but to those around him. A good leader enjoys what he is doing, and others want to work with them and be involved with them in other capacities.

3) Peace: Peacemakers create an atmosphere that promotes healthy relationships with God and others. They avoid unfruitful confrontations and diffuse strife and contentious situations. A leader will find common ground to build on and will magnify the positive, not the negative, creating a safe environment for learning and development of leadership skills.

4) Patience: Patience makes room for others to grow in their gifts and calling, providing an environment that makes others feel safe, allowing them to make mistakes without the danger of condemnation and shame. Patience doesn’t just see the individual but has a view of what that individual will look like when wholly submitted to God.

5) Goodness: Romans 2:4 tells us that it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance. Being good to people, even when it costs you, and doing the right thing even when it is not convenient causes people to turn to God and away from self-centered living. People notice goodness because it is a characteristic of God’s nature that attracts people to Him.

6) Gentleness: 2 Timothy 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.

A leader must always be mindful of proper etiquette and understand that etiquette may be different in any given situation. Being mindful of culture, gender, age, position, and the emotional state of those we deal with is essential. Using kind words tempered with wisdom and discernment tremendously impacts the conversations. Expressing genuine concern for the individual creates a platform to minister from and provides the needed influence to speak effectively into the lives of others.

7) Faithfulness: 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Leadership is a stewardship from God. Being steadfast, reliable, honorable, and consistent speaks volumes about the heart and character of the leader. Faithfulness is a consistent behavior that is noticed by all, especially God.

8) Meekness: Meekness is not being a doormat or pushover but the humility of controlled strength. Numbers 12:3 says that Moses was the meekest man in all the earth, and yet he was the one used most in the earth at that time. There is a connection between humility and a vessel God can use and move through.

9) Self-control: This can’t be accomplished without a healthy prayer life and regular intake of God’s word. We can’t control ourselves without the Father’s help. The more intimate time we spend with God when no one else is looking, the more effortless self-control will be. A robust prayer life creates a constant awareness of God that makes it easier for us to resist temptation and make the right decisions. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit that helps us to die to our carnal nature more quickly.

Question: As a leader, are you stronger in your character or skillset?

Question: Do you, or did you have strong leaders to mentor you and help you develop as a leader?

Question: What are you a steward over right now, and what would you like to be a steward over in the future?

Question: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rank your faithfulness?

Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. Please share and help reach more people with the truth.

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Christian Leadership Development #4

Posted on 12/24/2018 | Comments Off on Christian Leadership Development #4

  Developing Culture.

culture1

Culture = the shared values, goals, attitudes and practices that characterizes any organized group of people.

Culture identifies what is important to a body of believers, reflecting the vision, values and purpose of the assembly. A well-defined culture promotes momentum, creates unity and provides stability.

            With culture, everything rises and falls on the leadership. Leaders provide more influence in shaping a church’s culture than any other factor and the senior pastor/leader is the key player when it comes to establishing culture.

3 ways leaders shape culture:

1) Leaders shape culture through personal influence.

            All leaders must embody the culture in which they are endeavoring to establish. Culture is always established within the leadership team before it can be effectively established in the congregation. Once there is unity of culture in the leadership team you can begin to cast the vision of culture to those following. Remember that establishing culture is a marathon and not a sprint.

2) Leaders set direction and cast vision.

culture2            The focus of the congregation on its future and direction is vital to the success and health of the ministry. The vision of the church must be well defined and consistently emphasized. Not with long wordy explanations, but with short concise statements that embody the culture of the ministry and speaks to who you are as a people. The skillful use of language and terminology is a powerful tool. Language impacts the way people think and behave, what they value, and ultimately what they begin to believe. It is the belief in the vision that the leader is after and being creative in how you cast vision and set direction shapes culture faster and more effectively.

3) Leaders equip the saints and hold God’s word in the highest regard.

Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ          

            The purpose of 5-fold ministry is to equip the body to do the work of the ministry. Not all leaders are 5-fold ministry gifts, but all leaders are called to help equip the saints. Great leaders shape their church’s culture in ways that reflect obedience to the Word of God. The most powerful way to shape or change a church’s culture is through teaching what God’s Word has to say about the church. Associate pastors, team leaders and department heads should be knowledgeable in the Word, emphasizing what is spoken from the pulpit and inspiring the flock to run with the vision of the house.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

            In order to change the behavior of a church, the values of the church must first be changed. To change the values of the church, the beliefs of the church must be changed. The most effective way of addressing people’s deeply held assumptions and wrong beliefs is to teach God’s Word. Many people will not change what they believe simply because the pastors and leaders believe it. They must be shown from the Bible why they need to change.

            Great leaders always demonstrate to the people that the change they are proposing is rooted in scripture. This helps them recognize the need for change and see that the authority to demand that change goes beyond the influence of the pastoral leadership and comes directly from God.

            Developing a culture where the Word of God is final authority is the only solid foundation to build upon. Taking time with your leaders to help define the culture of the house will produce much fruit in the future.

            Don’t be rushed into defining your culture. Have leadership meetings to discuss ideas and hold it up as a prayer target. Visit other successful ministries to experience their culture. Read books on church culture. Give a survey to the faithful, active members of your congregation and get their feedback. Allowing these people to have a voice develops influence. You don’t necessarily have to follow their suggestions, but allowing them input gives them a sense of belonging and importance that makes them feel like they are a part of the process and an important part of the ministry.

3 important questions to help you define your church culture:

1) What do you care most about as a ministry or congregation?

important            The truth is, you can’t care about everything. This doesn’t suggest that there are some things you actually don’t care about, but helps you understanding that each ministry and every local assembly has a specific role to play and a specific mission to accomplish. Your church/ministry is a part of the body, not the whole body, and each part needs to focus on, and emphasize the things that God has assigned to you specifically. Clearly defining God’s assignment is the foundation upon which culture is established.

Here are a few questions that will help identify what is important to your culture. 

  • What has God put on your heart and the heart of the leadership team?
  • What are you passionate about?
  • What keeps you awake at night because you feel something must be done?
  • What ministries are currently thriving and effective?
  • What ministries are non-negotiable?

            2) What are you doing about what you care about?

            What you do is an expression of who you are. Selecting what ministries you do and don’t do plays a major part in setting the culture. It’s not enough to say “we have a heart for the homeless,” what are you actually doing about it?

James 2:18-20 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

  Culture is an expression of your faith, a reflection of your beliefs. What you do, and don’t do, from missions to local outreach, to how you embrace first time guests, to developing leaders all plays a significant role in shaping your culture. You don’t need to tell visitors what your culture is, they experience it. What you do from the parking lot to the pulpit shouts culture.

            Every ministry will find its own cultural expression. Culture is impacted by things like age demographic, location, and ethnic mix. Also, style and preference play a big part. Is your church more casual or formal? What is your style of worship? Don’t worry too much about these factors, they will develop naturally. It is what you do about what you care about that sets the culture.

3) How do you do ministry?

            It’s a given that churches do ministry differently. Leadership style, theology, ministry priorities, finances, etc. will naturally cause the leaders to practice ministry a little differently from church to church. How you do what you do sends a message about who you are.

            Every church should strive for excellence in ministry in every department, from the cleaning team to the worship team to the leadership team. Excellence is simply doing your very best with every task, every function, in every area, and every department. Your best is only your best until you can do better.

            If you are starting a ministry you may have all the responsibilities, from cleaning the toilets to preaching from the pulpit. This doesn’t excuse you from excellence. You should give Christ your best in every situation and if you start with this attitude it will be easier to acclimate others to a culture of excellence as they come on board.

Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

            This has a huge impact on culture. Excellence, as with most things, begins and ends with leadership. Leaders should regularly be asking themselves, “Can we do better?” As more staff and volunteers are added and more resources become available the level of excellence should evolve and become more apparent.

excellence

            Excellence is a mentality that requires constant training, emphasis and maintenance. People can easily slip into the “it’s good enough” mentality. This shows a lack of understanding about what they are doing and why they are doing it. A congregation will never rise above the level of excellence portrayed by their leaders so it is your responsibility to model excellence in everything you do.

When culture is healthy and well defined, it prepares you for growth and success in ministry.

3 things that happen with a well-defined church culture:

1) Evangelism will increase.

            People will love being there and talk to others about the amazing church they attend. It creates a desire within the body to invite others to get involved. Your church will become attractive to the community and make it easier to fulfill its vision.

2) Spiritual growth increases throughout the body.

            People flourish in the place of their assignment. A strong culture creates a sense of belonging and inspires people to get involved, taking ownership of some portion of the ministry. This allows people to develop and use their gifts and talents causing growth and strength in the individual. In turn, this develops strong, healthy relationships and edifies the body as a whole. One of the most rewarding things for leaders to witness is growth and health of their followers. This is what makes leadership exciting and rewarding.

3) It attracts great leaders.

            Up and coming leaders will join themselves to the ministry. This creates a pool of leaders to mentor and disciple which will prepare you for future growth and additional ministry outreach.

Question: Can you define the culture of your ministry right now?

Question: Who sets the culture of a ministry?

Question: What systems need to be in place in order to define your culture?

Question: What is happening right now in your ministry that does not reflect your culture?

Question: Is excellence in ministry a focus of the leadership?

Question: What areas of ministry can you do better with minimal effort, and why aren’t you doing it?

Question: What changes need to take place within your leadership team?

Thank you for visiting truthpressure.com. I hope this has been a blessing to you.

JC

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