The most potent organizations in the world are those in which individuals possess a common group identity. There’s a shared sense of “This is us. This is who we are. This is how it’s like us to act.”
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For most of my years as a Senior Pastor, I took time off during the month of July to rest, think, pray, and plan. In addition to allowing me to slow down and engage in personal renewal, I also used this time to do long-range sermon planning and study.
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Jesus was the greatest leader who ever lived. He inspired multitudes with His teaching. He performed miracles before thousands. Yet, for all of His interaction with large numbers of people, His primary investment was with a small group of individuals.
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One of the unique challenges that pastors have in these difficult days is that of shouldering responsibility for the well-being of others. The role requires wearing multiple hats: spouse, parent, child (if there are elderly parents involved), and shepherd of the flock.
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Like it or not, all of us are establishing new patterns during this time of crisis. These patterns are reflected in adjusted rhythms of work and rest. They’re seen in the ways we relate to people virtually rather than physically. They’re evidenced in the ways we shop and the places we worship. All of these carry a significant impact. However, one of the most crucial patterns that we need to consider is the way we think.
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If this question hasn’t been posed to you lately, it will be soon…especially when COVID-19 hits close to home through the death of a friend or family member. It’s then that the issue isn’t merely hypothetical but intensely personal. And people will be looking for an answer.
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The great general Napoleon Bonaparte is credited with saying: “The role of the leader is to define reality and give hope.” While true at all times, this is especially true during times of severe crisis – such as the one we’re currently facing. This is when leaders need to balance realism with optimism.
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Even though the coronavirus crisis continues to rage, there’s already talk of when we can expect things to get back to normal. When life as we once knew it will return. Please allow me to offer an observation. Things will never get back to normal.
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These are dark days. The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is growing more and more serious. The infection rate is soaring. Hospitals are being overwhelmed. The death rate is advancing. For those of us in church leadership, this Easter will be unlike any other in our lives.
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What an unbelievable time we’re living in! The other day, my wife quietly observed, “It’s almost surreal. This can’t be happening.” Yet it is. As a pastor or church leader you’ve faced crises before, but none like this.
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I’m asked quite often, “What is the discipleship method that you have found to be the most effective?” When I hear that, I know what the individual is looking for. They’re hoping to find a neatly packaged program that they can implement in their church to dramatic results.
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The Old Testament is filled with illustrations of great leaders: Moses, Joshua, Esther, David, Hezekiah, Josiah, etc. I love to read of their exploits and marvel at their victories. Yet there’s another who is right at the top of my list of favorites. It’s the son of King Saul – Jonathan.
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Pastor and author John Ortberg describes an interview he heard on the radio with a woman who ran the largest speaker bureau in the world. Her job was to identify and represent world-class communicators. She was asked, “What is the #1 thing you look for in a speaker?”
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I have worked with scores of board members during my 30+ years of pastoral leadership. In the early years, they were deacons who represented a particular area of ministry (missions, facility, finance, etc.). Later on, when we added staff to oversee those ministries, we moved to an elder board.
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One of the occupational hazards of being a leader is receiving criticism. It just comes with the territory. Indeed, I believe that the leader who does anything different, worthwhile or visionary can count on criticism.
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The old adage is still true: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. I’ve seen this in spades recently. As part of my new role, I am visiting more churches than I ever have before. I am experiencing first-hand what it’s like to be a first-time attender. I’m also discovering the insecurity and confusion that goes with that
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Suicide is a tragedy that is increasingly common in our day. It is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. for all ages and the 2nd leading cause of death in the world for those aged 15-24 years. There is one death by suicide every ten minutes. It takes the lives of nearly 45,000 every year. The loss of those lives is incalculable.
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We’ve all heard of “worship wars” in the church. They’re usually about musical styles – those who want contemporary music vs. those that prefer the traditional. They can be contentious and divisive. But perhaps even more costly to the life of a church are the “worship wars” that often take place between the senior pastor and the worship leader.
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It happens in every church and it impacts every leader. A long-time volunteer tells you he needs a break and wants to step down. Your most dependable leader in the nursery says she’s interested in moving to another ministry area. A faithful worker quits without any explanation.
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Ask any pastor about the importance of discipleship and you’ll get a vigorous nod accompanied by passionate words: “Absolutely what we’re to be about”… ”The bottom line by which to measure success”… ”Jesus’ marching orders couldn’t be clearer.” That being the case, why do we see discipleship languishing in the vast majority of churches?
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