Marcus Lynn’s adventures in life and ministry
When looking for good people to serve in any important capacity in the church, we look for FAT people. Faithful, Available, Teachable people.
At the same time, it’s important that even the leaders are “teachable.” When a leader is out of touch with God and the people, he loses his teach-ability.
G.K. Chesterton said,
Anything done in our own strength will fail miserably or succeed even more miserably.
So I have to keep asking myself “How well am I connected to God and the people?”
Jesus, knowing that He was God and that He was about to go to the Father, knelt and washed His disciples’ feet.
Jesus, Lord of Lords, saw Himself first and foremost as a servant.
Great leaders do the same.
The character of the leader underlines the content of the message. If you want to be a leader, you have to first check your motives to be sure your desire isn’t driven by ego or personal gain…then live your message. Simple? Uh-uh. I have to continually ask myself, “Does my character complement my message?”
Leaders not only know where they’re going, they take people with them. No great task is accomplished without both people to do the work and a leader to guide them. When there is a convergence of the opportunity of the moment, the need of the people, the purpose of the leader, and the calling of God, even the impossible becomes possible.
Not sure who said these. I don’t think I made them up. Found in my journal from this date in 2003.
Good leaders “fix what’s broke.” Great leaders help people to see that they “are broken.”
AND
Great conviction about great truth breeds great courage.
What do you think about those?
It takes God’s help to grow as a leader. True progress only occurs when God orchestrates it. Self-promotion can never replace divine promotion. How has God helped you grow as a leader, parent, spouse? I’ve been blessed in several ways. God has given me the gift of discernment. He’s brought about the circumstances in which I could get godly advice from those around me. Most importantly, God’s there with me during my biggest crisis.
Thinking back to my St. Louis days I can remember one of those experiences I will never forget. A friend committed suicide and even before the funeral I had to deal with an infidelity issue in our praise band. During that pressure/crisis, I thrived because God has built me that way and because he surrounded me with people who could give me wise counsel and because God was there too with me during it all!
How has God grown you through a crisis?
Review questions 1 and 2 in the first 2 parts and then return here.
Question #3: What is in my hand?
This is another way of asking, What has God already given me? Instead of wishing for and complaining about what I don’t have, what do I have today? Instead of dangerously comparing myself with others, what is within my grasp relationally, historically, and resources-wise right now?
In ministry, I’ve seen how easy it is for us to focus on what we lack: money, staff, encouragement, education, buildings, experience, etc. Instead, what is in our hands? What is in your hand? God’s ready to use it now.
Finished reading Dave Gibbons’ “The Monkey and the Fish” this weekend. Overall it was a good book that helped me understand what it means to help a church become a “third culture church.” I heard him speak at the Leadership Summit and thought he was great, but his book didn’t add THAT much more to the discussion. However, I was fascinated with one chapter, which is the title of this post. He thinks, and I agree, that questions often guide us because the answer finds residence in the question. In his case, 3 questions in particular have guided him.
Question #1: Where is Nazareth?
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” This question was asked about Jesus. Can anyone worthwhile come from that place on the other side of the railroad tracks?
Where is the other side of tracks in your city or region? In other words, who are the marginalized or the outsiders near you, people whom you feel pain for?
Focusing on them as a church may mean you won’t grow as fast. And you may lose some people. But your church will be fulfilling the most beautiful expression of who God is.
Paul said it perfectly in his letter to the church in Corinth–God uses the weak of the world to confound the mighty and accomplish God’s biggest dreams. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
While we at FCC have a long way to go, I am so proud of what we have accomplished in this area over the past few years, particularly because of the leadership of the Beverlys and Michele Menshouse. Besides our mission trips, now we are helping kids “from the other side of the tracks” with homework on Tuesdays and feeding the hungry on Mondays.
It takes trials to grow as a leader. Only in testing do people discover the nature and depth of their character. Do I make a practice from learning from the trials in life? What have you learned from your trials in life?
I’m spending most of my day tomorrow at an on-line conference, an unusal one. It’s call the 9s. Christian leaders/pastors from around the country/world will be given each 9 minutes to communicate to other Christian leaders what’s on their minds and hearts right now. I’m excited! Learn more about it HERE. Or watch below:
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