Leading Well

My father moved into assisted living several years ago. His home in southern California is now vacant. Slowly we are boxing up dishes, sorting family photos, and selling furniture and household items. When I travel to the West Coast, I stay there. It is starting to feel like a house rather than feeling like “home.” Home was where we lived and had our shared memories. Now, in its semi-empty, silent condition, it is reverting to being just a structure, a residence, a “house.” Someone else will soon buy it and transform it from a house back into a “home.” It struck me that family – shared life with others – is what makes a place “home.” The relationships, not the residence, are what change a house into a home.

The same applies to God’s family. Our relationships are what make church a family, not the structure we gather in – a church building. The church is called to purposeful relationship, not simply to relationship as an end by itself. As the apostle Paul urged, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” Later, in that same letter, he said, “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind…. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:27, 2:2, 5) As followers of Christ, church is “home” where we practice and grow in living out His purpose in our relationships so we can be Christ-like in the world.

This book is about experiencing the fingerprints of God upon your life and ministry. God’s heartbeat is for relationship – moving people God-ward in genuine transformation. The apostle Paul labored until “Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19) He was committed to presenting every person “complete in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28-29) He understood that God intends to morph us (the meaning of transformation) into the image of God (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Alignment gets everything moving in the same direction. If a car is out of alignment, the steering wheel may be centered, but the front tires may veer to the right or to the left. In the same way, alignment in a church moves the entire church body forward in the same direction.

I am convinced that second only to the moving of the Spirit, competent, biblically-grounded leadership is the next most vital factor in healthy fruitful ministry. “Leading well” does not guarantee results – nothing can – but competent, biblically-grounded leadership markedly increases the odds of healthy, sustained, Christ-honoring ministry.

This book is for Christian leaders, whether in the ministry or in the marketplace. How do we experience the fingerprints of God upon us and upon the ministry He has given us? Leading Well is arranged by sections – the Purpose, Power, Personalities, and Practice of “leading well” as a Christ-like servant leader.

I have written this book to spark renewal in your own life, while equipping you to lead well in ministry. I hope you will experience a caring arm around your shoulder and a firm hand in the middle of your back as we discover what it means for leaders to help Christian ministries meet the challenge of their calling. Our calling is worth it. The world for which Jesus gave His life needs the body of Christ to be who it is, because “if it is who it ain’t, then it ain’t who it is.”

While fictional, I am moved by the story imagining the resurrected Jesus returning to enter heaven. Eager angels crowd around Him to hear Jesus share about His earthly ministry. He describes His three years of public ministry, the miracles, the crowds, and His suffering and death. The angels ask what happens now. Jesus replies, “I have placed twelve men in charge of spreading the gospel and making disciples worldwide.” Stunned, the angels express their concern. “But these few men are not the brightest. Some already have denied knowing You. If they fail, what is Plan B?” Jesus says, “There is no Plan B.”

Indeed, there is no “Plan B.” God calls Christians into a restored and vibrant vertical relationship with Himself, and to loving and caring horizontal relationships with believers and not-yet believers.

Our calling is worth it. The world for which Jesus gave His life needs the body of Christ to be who it is, because if it is who it ain’t, then it ain’t who it is.