Multiply

Today’s podcast is about problem solving in the church. If you have been working to plant a church for more than 10 days, I am sure you have already confronted a challenge that you were not expecting!  Today we look at the example of the 12 Apostles as they faced head on a problem that could have divided the first church.

Here is Jesus’s command in John 13:34; “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

I would like to pose two questions as we consider this command.

• Why is it new?
• What does “love one another” have to do with spiritual leadership?

Today’s podcast is about church discipline.  We usually think that church discipline means correcting the mistakes and sinful behaviours of others.  But strong churches don’t just practice corrective discipline, they practice directive discipline.

The word balance is defined as; “stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side, and to bring into harmony or proportion.”

This is needed both in our personal lives and in the church, a balance of evangelizing the world and building-up in the Word of God.

Today’s podcast is about selecting elders for newly planted churches. Wisdom from on high can help you avoid two common mistakes that church planters make as they consider naming elders:

• Naming elders whose spiritual gifts are the same as the church planters.
• Naming people who, without thinking say “yes” to every ministry idea the church planter suggests.

I am reminded of the time of David when Samuel anointed him to be the king of Israel. The image I see is that Samuel pouring all of the oil upon David’s head not just a few drops. It is that fresh anointing that will equip our minds as to allow God to guide us. The Lord has given great victories this past year and as we look to the New Year it is so important to seek His fresh oil of anointing.

 Principles of Leadership

Share the vision – 

Facilitate equipping – 

Define the expectations –

Explain the ground rules –  

Be available – 

Empower others –

Provide feedback – 

Practice accountability – 

Communicate! –

 

Today’s podcast is about the incarnation of Christ.  The eternal God who was present before creation, the one who brought into being all that exists, that very God took on human life in flesh and blood.  The God of all glory came to live as one of us. His birth was miraculous. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  But in so very many ways, his life was like ours.  His life was hard. He suffered much. He identifies with us in our weakness.  He is Immanuel, God with us.

The equipping gifts bring a unifying balance to the church, as it can then function as God created the church to be!

One of the greatest demonstrations of love a leader can provide is to model, assist, watch, and leave ministry responsibility with a disciple.

Today’s podcast is about Jesus’ way of equipping his disciples to minster with skill, power, and authority. The way Jesus equipped his disciples can be described with four command form verbs: Model, Assist, Watch and Leave.