Previous Session
In session 6 we spent the first few minutes reflecting on what had been helpful or puzzling from the previous session.
Helpful things included:
- Diagrams,
- Lifeboat story,
- C.S Lewis,
- Acts 2 comparison.
Puzzling things included:
- The Quiz,
- Transition Curve
- and Planting the seed.
Developing Leaders
Introduction
Looking at ingredients needed in a leader who can develop others, the group came up with these ideas:
- God's vision for them;
- willingness to take risks;
- commitment;
- ability to listen;
- setting a good example;
- encouragement;
- prayer.
After a brief reflection on how Samuel debated over Jesse's sons in 1 Samuel 16 v6-13, we looked at the passages in the Gospels that indicated how Jesus chose his disciples. Each group looked at a different passage and then fed back to the main group:
Identify
Matthew 4 v18-22: the context was Jesus just returning from the wilderness: He chose ordinary people in mundane jobs; he was inspired to pick them.
Mark 3 v 13-19: Jesus was definite and deliberate, choosing people with different skills and from different backgrounds.
Luke 5 v 1-11: Jesus just did it, choosing his disciples with authority and without arrogance.
Luke 5 v 27-31: At Levi's banquet he gave an open invitation, getting involved with people who were classed as sinners.
John 1 v 35-42: John the Baptist declared: "Behold the Lamb of God" – got some interested and then one gets another to listen. Jesus demonstrated a charismatic presence.
John 1 v 43-51: Jesus says "Follow me" with charismatic confidence. He then used Philip to reach Nathaniel removing skepticism and using discernment.
Invest
- takes intention
- takes time
- takes its toll
Entrust
Why develop leaders?
- if we didn't then there wouldn't be any more leaders.
- it encourages church growth
- because Jesus told us to (Great Commission)
How did Jesus develop his leaders? – Looked at Mark 3-6
Chapter 3 –
Chapter 4 – Exposes them to new experiences + v33 "as much as they could understand" Jesus gave them as much as they cope with. Jesus stretched them, without straining them – he didn't push them too hard. He taught them – taking them aside and giving them ongoing input.
Chapter 5 – Modelled how to behave. Disciples followed Jesus around learning how to deal with different situations. He demonstrated no fixed patterns but modelled dealing with individuals.
Chapter 6 – Jesus gave a lot of authority – casting out demons. He didn't let them be isolated. He gave them the responsibility to fix the problems like in the feeding of the 5000.
What are the blockages to developing leaders?
- middle-class models
- basing decision on leadership based on middle-class credentials
- logic before creativity.
- not what we know but who we know (PLUs – People Like Us)
- they might not do it like we do
- they might be better than us
- they might make a mistake
- time – it's quicker to do jobs ourselves – but then others won't develop their independence.
Harvey shared an experience of finding it difficult to lead others without having a relationship with people. Matt J and Dave both demonstrated good coaching by asking open-ended questions like
- "What would you do differently now?"
- "Why do you think that that happened?"
We commented on the quality of this questioning and compared it with how Emma, Steve and Alison had all tried a mentoring approach – giving advice to Harvey. Richard pointed out that just becomes something feels awkward, it's not necessarily wrong.
Other common blockages include:
- a critical atmosphere – "failure not success takes you to the core of Christian ministry."
- limited view of leadership – e.g. David, Gideon, Saul / Paul
- No sense of call
- Heirarchy
We finished the session with time to reflect.
I appreciate this wonderful work of God