What leadership essentials exist for a pastor as she/he leads a congregation in fresh steps in ministry and mission? Are there ways of leading that are non negotiable for successful fresh steps? In previous posts, we saw that the first 4 essentials are trust, compassion, stability, and hope. In the following post, we will look at the 4 e’s of … Read More
Empower: 4X4 Leadership Essentials
Leadership essentials. Good leaders are trustworthy, show compassion, give stability, and instill hope. Good leaders also engage and empower people in ministry and mission. Once people are involved in living out the ministry and mission, the pastor takes the next step by supporting people in their work. To bring this support, the pastor follows Jesus in being a servant leader. … Read More
Equip: 4×4 Leadership Essentials
We are exploring the leadership essentials that pastors need for successfully taking their congregation into fresh steps in ministry and mission. So far, we’ve seen the first 4 essentials are trust, compassion, stability, and hope. In our last post, we saw the first of the 4e’s of leadership: engage. The second of the 4e’s is equip. Pastors engaged in fresh … Read More
Expand: 4×4 Leadership Essentials
Leaders increasingly desire people to live in the ways of God’s kingdom and to spread God’s glory into the earth. In other words, leaders long to increase the impact of the local church’s ministry and mission. To expand the mission, leaders cultivate a missional imagination in and among their people. They grow this imagination through preaching, podcasts, blog posts, and … Read More
Hope 4×4 Leadership Essentials
There is a Greek myth about Zeus giving the people of earth a jar filled with all good things. Sadly, someone leaves the top off the jar, and all the good things escape. The people filled with sorrow go to Zeus and ask him what to do. Zeus asks them if there is anything left in the jar. They look … Read More
Stability: 4×4 Leadership Essentials
What makes you afraid? How about change? Taking fresh steps in ministry and mission means change. While people are not against change, what they do fear is loss. They are afraid they will lose something precious or important to take fresh steps into the congregation’s God-given, hope-filled future. When people fear loss, leaders provide stability. Stability comes as the pastor … Read More
Compassion: 4×4 Leadership Essentials
Does the pastor genuinely care about people? That’s the question that lies behind the essence of compassion. The congregation wants to know and wants to see deep compassion for God’s family: a heart that touches on physical and spiritual needs. For the leader, this does not mean having to attend to every need; rather, it means ensuring that needs are … Read More
Trust: 4×4 Leadership Essentials
People who trust each other make things happen. Trust means that I accept your ideas for fresh steps in ministry and mission without suspicion. Trust says that I know you want the best for our congregation and God’s kingdom. Trust knows that you’re a person of integrity in every and all situations. Warren Buffet writes, “I look for three things … Read More
