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The Leader as Patient.qxd
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits--
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:1-5
I m a g e s o f
L E A D E R S H I P
C O P Y R I G H T © 2 0 0 3
L E A D I N G E D G E®
R ELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
2
PSALM 50:7-15
"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against
you. I am God, your God. 8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your
burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I will not accept a bull from your
What do you
learn about
house, or goats from your folds. 10 For every wild animal of the forest is
how God
relates to his
mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the air, and all
people?
that moves in the field is mine. 12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for
the world and all that is in it is mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink
the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your
vows to the Most High. 15 Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you,
and you shall glorify me."
ISAIAH 64:4
From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has
seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
LUKE 12:35-38
"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who
are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that
they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed
are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you,
he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and
serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn,
and finds them so, blessed are those slaves."
R ELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
3
ACTS 17:22-25
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I
see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23 For as I went through
the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among
God is not
them an altar with the inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore
served by
human hands.
you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the
world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live
in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as
though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and
breath and all things.
What does each passage have in common? What picture of God emerges?
Of his relationship to his people?
MOTIVATION FOR DISCIPLESHIP
4
MARK 8:34-38
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any
want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and
What motives
those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will
does each pas-
sage address?
save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit
their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who
are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful genera-
tion, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels."
MARK 10:28-31
Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and fol-
lowed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left
house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my
sake and for the sake of the good news, 30who will not receive a hundred-
fold now in this age-houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and
fields with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many
who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
MARK 10:41-45
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and
John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the
Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and
their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but
whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son
of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for
many."
What does each passage have in common? What is different?
THE REWARDS OF MINISTRY
5
MINISTRY IS LIKE THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM:
IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO FOR GOD, BUT SOMETHING GOD DOES FOR US.
THE SACRIFICE
THE REWARD
The glory goes
Lay down our lives for Christ's sake and the
Life, real life, eternal life that begins now
gospel's
to the worker.
Homes, family,
security: both in this life and the
Leave behind everything that represents security
life to come
Choose the downward road toward servanthood
Greatness, a life of impact, touching the lives of
and being last
others
WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT WE ARE SERVANTS OF GOD?(MOSES: 1 CHR 6:49,
2 CHR 24:9, NEH 10:29, DAN 9:11, REV 15:3; PAUL: TITUS 1:1; JAMES: JAMES 1:1)
We serve
in God's
and with God's
in order that people might see, not our kindness
but God's
The result: People are drawn
We are
Others are served
God is
(The glory goes to the worker!)
THE ECONOMY OF GOD!
What then does God want from us? Does he receive nothing from us and
from our humble service? He wants offerings of thanksgiving (Ps 50:14): he
wants our gratitude and our worship, our honor and the best intentions of
our hearts. He desires these things and they honor him when we bring them.
He simply doesn't want us to work for him.
God is the
who
!
He is still the King. He calls the shots. Yet we wait for him -- for his mercy!
He is the shepherd-Lord, the Servant King.
J OB DESCRIPTION VS. DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
6
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous,
but sinners, to repentance" Mark 2:17
LEADERSHIP AS A JOB
LEADERSHIP AS A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
GOAL: RECEIVING
INTRINSIC REWARDS
GOAL: RECEIVING
IN THE FORM OF:
ASSOCIATED WITH TRUSTING GOD AND LOVING PEOPLE.
Often we
·
or respect from others
HEALING COULD INCLUDE:
begin as
(or God)
·healing from selfishness and self-focus
patients and
·paying down a debt of gratitude toward God
·healing from of
risk and
end up as
·feeling of
in having an impact
employees.
vulnerability
on others or the group
·healing from low self worth or sense of inability
·feeling of superiority because of being in lead-
to make a difference in the lives of others
ership
QUALIFICATIONS:
QUALIFICATIONS:
·
Bible knowledge, expertise, experience.
·
FAT: available
·
Typical leadership traits (extroversion, self-
·
Evidence of God's healing already: a testi-
confidence, etc).
mony of God's work.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH:
·Corporate worship, small group meetings
·
to learn how to love and lead
·leadership team meetings, training sessions
others, how to depend on God
·conferences & retreats
·
time spent with others helps us grow in love for them
·meetings with group members
·
:meetings with team
·meetings with leadership team members
members help us have insight to help others better
ATTITUDES:
ATTITUDES:
·I learn more than my SG members from each
·I just have to do it.
discussion.
·If I don't, no one will.
·How is God serving me in my role here? How
·They (you, God) need(s) me.
am I being healed?
·I am not really getting anything out of this.
·I need to be in leadership (in ministry) much
more than I am needed.
7
J OB DESCRIPTION VS. DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
Is our ministry
LEADERSHIP AS A JOB
LEADERSHIP AS A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION
our work for
God, or a part
LONG TERM RESULTS:
of his work for
LONG TERM RESULTS:
·
: God has done great things
us? The glory
·
: I have done great things for
for me! The glory goes to the worker
goes to the
God. The glory goes to the worker.
worker!
(i.e., God).
· Resentment : I have sacrificed a lot!-for God,
·
: I continue to receive much
for this church, for this ministry involvement.
more than I give!
·
: I have done as much as I can do.
·
:
I can never get enough!
MOTIVATIONAL APPEALS:
MOTIVATIONAL APPEALS:
·"Missed you at small group. Where were you?"
·"I wanted to come by to see you because I did-
·"I am really hoping everyone will be able to come to
n't get to see you at small group. How
the church retreat. You all really should go!"
are you doing?"
·"I would look forward to the chance to spend
ought
time with you at the church retreat."
Invitation
BIBLICAL IMAGES:
BIBLICAL IMAGES:
·Luke 7:35-50: Simon (proud, judging)
·Luke 7:35-50: the woman (forgiven, grateful)
·Luke 10:38-42: Martha, resentful while trying to
·Luke 10:38-42: Mary, eager to feed on Jesus'
feed Jesus
words
·Luke 15:11-32: The older son protesting the
·Luke 15:11-32: The younger son enjoying the
party "I have worked for you for years..."
party (no longer a slave but a son)
·Luke 18: 9-14: The Pharisee (proud)
·Luke 18:9-14: The tax collector (humble)
THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE DOCTOR WITHIN THE PATIENT
8
The Doctor-Patient Image, like any analogy, is limited in its ability
fully to model our relationship with God. God is much more invested in our
healthy recovery than even good doctors are in their patients; it would be
"Apart from
me you can
more fair to compare God to a doctor who not only treats his patients, but
do nothing."
John 15:6
then adopts them as his beloved children. And while the image of a father
is also important in Scripture, this doesn't also capture all of it either. It is as
if the Doctor goes home to live within the patient, to enable the patient to
make healthier choices and to stay in the center of the doctor's plan for the
patient's recovery. The Doctor-in-patient is spoken of in Scripture as the Holy
Spirit. It is crucial to understand the importance of the Holy Spirit's work.
We've been talking about it all along--the Holy Spirit is the shepherd of our
souls and the servant giving us wisdom and insight for ourselves and those
we serve and lead.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with
you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,
because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he
abides with you, and he will be in you.
"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the
world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also
will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me,
and I in you."
John 14:16-20
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he
will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come."
John 16:13
With Jesus in us in the way that the Father is in Jesus, we can have confi-
dence that our sincere efforts to allow Jesus to live his life in us will bear
fruit. We also know that this doctor is patient, loving, forgiving; he under-
stands our propensity to turn from his wise prescriptions for health, and he
guides us gently into increasingly trusting his wisdom for our lives over
time. This is not simply what we must
do, but this is also
who we are and
whose we are.
THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE DOCTOR WITHIN THE PATIENT
9
Implications of the Holy Spirit for the patient-leader:
"Until all of
We can believe that a real transaction has taken
us come to...
place when we come to God--we are his, adopted as children and
the measure of
given a guarantee of his consistent care (as a shepherd, as a ser-
the full stature
vant, as a doctor) through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.
of Christ."
Eph 4:13
Ephesians 1:13-14
We can step out in risky ways in our leadership
or ministry opportunities, because God both calls us into them, and
also empowers and resources us for them. This is especially signif-
icant if we're wrestling through identity formation and thus sensi-
tive about being affirmed or criticized, struggling with deep guilt
and shame, feeling emotionally fatigued, or even working through
depression. Sometimes we may not feel like we have the emotion-
al resources, self-definition, inner strength, and stamina to follow
through with our doctor's recommendations. But the Holy Spirit
meets us in whatever condition we are in, and empowers us in ways
we might think are small, but which are deeply significant never-
theless. Acts 1:8
The work of the Holy Spirit doesn't end with pro-
viding us the resouces with which to serve. The Holy Spirit acts the
way a father does teaching a toddler to walk--holding fingers, pac-
ing the child's progress, and preventing injury while the tot is build-
ing up the muscles with which to master the act of walking. The
Holy Spirit's presence in our lives makes it possible to know that our
mistakes will be forgiven while we continue to try to live as we are
created to live. John 16:13
Finally, the relationship doesn't stop when the
prescription first takes affect. The doctor-father-indweller has more
hope for us than simply to get better. He remains in our life, contin-
uing to work and to empower us to become more and more the spit-
ting image of his Son and our older brother, Jesus. Ephesians 4:13-16
N EXT STEPS TOOL
10
1 THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN LIFE. IN WHAT SETTINGS ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO
STRUGGLE WITH "WORKING FOR GOD"?
Goal: wages or health. Everyone is a mixture of agendas; purity of motive
is impossible to attain. What would it look like to be more focused on
the good change God can bring about in your own heart and life
rather than any comparative feelings you might have towards others
or even towards God? Perhaps spend some time identifying the good
work God is doing in your heart through recent struggles or challenges
in ministry.
Long-term results: What do you see as the most obvious long-term
results of ministry in your own life: pride, resentment & burnout or
gratitude, humility, & enduring motivation? How can you make choic-
es to honor God's work?
2 THINK ABOUT YOUR CURRENT MINISTRY CONTEXT. WHAT MIGHT BE THE MOST
IMPORTANT NEXT STEP IN MOVING THE MINISTRY FROM A WORKING FOR GOD OUTLOOK
TO A RECEIVING HEALING FROM THE DOCTOR OUTLOOK?
Qualifications: How do you see people as ready for leadership? How do
you consider people for ministry roles?
Job requirements vs. Prescription for health: Do you need to consider
how you communicate the expectations for involvement in a way that
connects what people do with how it is helping them grow in faith
and character?
Motivation appeals: When you were invited into your ministry position,
did the appeal focus on the opportunity for you, or the need in the
ministry? What was most attractive about saying "Yes"? How do you
invite others into ministry with you?
O N HIS BLINDNESS
11
BY JOHN MILTON
In 1652 John Milton went blind. it was only after this event that he
dictated his great epic Paradise Lost, one of the most profound pieces of
English poetry. This sonnet indicates some of how he saw his affliction.
They also
serve who
only stand
and wait.
"When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodge within me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker and present
My true account, lest he returning chide.
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent
That murmur soon replies "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him the best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."
A NSWERS AND RESOURCES
12
PAGE 5
others, name, resources, great love
to God, blessed, glorified
master, serves
PAGE 6
FIRST COLUMN
wages, approval, significance
what things leaders do
SECOND COLUMN
health, fear
faithful, available, teachable
What things leaders need, training, partnership
PAGE 7
FIRST COLUMN
pride, burnout
Obligation, Guilt, duty
SECOND COLUMN
gratitude to God, humility, enduring motivation
Opportunity, appeal, growth
PAGE 9
pledge, power, trainer, perfector
OTHER RESOURCES
"If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own
good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit
that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the
Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward
and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels, it
would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambi-
tion when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go
on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant
by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." C.S.
Lewis, "The Weight of Glory" in The Weight of Glory and Other
Addresses. Collier Books, 1980.
Scriptures taken from New Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
© U.S. Council of Churches. Used by permission.
L E A D I N G E D G E® ©InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 2003
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