Growth

What Leaders Are Looking For

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1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.   2 Timothy 2:1-2

I recently heard that Tilley, the Canadian company that makes a hat that can survive being eaten by a elephant, is looking for a new owner. Its ready to sell. Sadly it seems there is no one there in the company ready to take the helm as the owner. Surely there are people within the organization ready to lead it forward!

Leaders of churches or the teams and small groups within them also have to think about the future and the people who will lead. Multiplying disciple makers is Paul’s mandate to Timothy. These kinds of leaders reproduce themselves no matter the context or type of group they are leading. Paul wants Timothy to focus on finding “faithful” people who will be able to teach others the Gospel life and ministry.

When leaders look around for potential what are they looking for? How do they know when they see potential? I have learned variations of the acrostic FAITH, as a way to identify the reliable, faithful person, with whom I can share my life and leadership. Here’s what I am using:
1. F — Faithful. They fulfill their previous commitments.

2. A — Available. They are available to meet up and to accept responsibilities in this season of their lives.

3. I — Initiative. They take initiative to meet the needs of the organization and people; they take initiative to ask questions.

4. T — Teachable. They are ready and willing to learn from me.

5. H — Heart. They Have IT— a growing, courageous, love for Jesus Christ and people.
So if you are a leader ask yourself:
Am I also demonstrating FAITH?
Who are the FAITH-full men and women around me?
What am I going to ask them to do next?

So if you are a member of an organization ask yourself:
Am I FAITH-full?
What are my growth areas?
How can I move from consuming to contributing?
Have I made myself available and accepted responsibility?

What to do with youthful passions contrary to God’s grace

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19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:19-22

Knowing Jesus generates response and the desire to honour Him with our lives. But our passions may seem to get in the way of responding honourably to Jesus and the Gospel. We may be disappointed that passions, our desires, do not automatically align themselves with the purity of the Holy Spirit. This is where we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit for a lifetime.

We can lock onto God’s vision for our lives and return to Him over and over; set apart for Him; holy by His grace; useful to the Master of this house.

We can cleanse ourselves of what is dishonourable to Jesus through confession and deliberate gatekeeping. In His loving presence we learn to recognize our temptations drawing us away from the sincere satisfaction available in His grace and truth.

We can flee youthful passions, deciding not to feed and entertain them.

We can pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, redirecting the energy and youthfulness of our lives into participation in His work.

We can connect with the fellowship of Jesus’ followers who call on the Lord in the promise of a heart forgiven and cleansed by Jesus’ labour of love at the cross, for support and encouragement.

Rock Bottom Prayers

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17Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!    Psalm 107:17-22

Psalm 107 describes what its like to be intercepted by the grace of God when we come to end of ourselves and finally cry out to Him. I love this description: “he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.”

Some wandered in desert wastes, looking for a city…
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death… prisoners…
Some were fools through their sinful ways…
Some went down to sea in ships doing business on the great waters…

When we quit mistaking our deepest desires for God as some kind of drive to be fulfilled by our own achievements, collections, or meditations, God is ready for our call. When we are at the end of ourselves, God is available. When we attain our dreams and discover a prevailing emptiness, God is listening.

He rescues. His word heals. His love lasts. When the world offers no reason for celebration, God provides hope and help. Jesus presented Himself to those who had come to end of themselves… and would admit it. To some Matthew’s party was full of losers. But not to Jesus! He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  (Luke 5:31)
Rock-bottom prayers may not sound pretty, but they are the sound of grace.

Young and Strong, Part 2

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11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.  1 Timothy 4:11-16

Sometimes we treat “youth” as an excuse for excess and for sin. So you are young and strong!? These are the days in which your process of digging a deep foundation for your life in the Gospel will open the way for you to lead and serve others. “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”

Paul wants Timothy to continue in his pastoral assignment in Ephesus without succumbing to a “I’m young” or “You are so young” point of view. Leadership under the grace of God is possible even as a young person. So Paul commends Timothy to keep a high view of himself because of the Gospel. Not just a high view of self-respect and self-leadership but also a large view of the character Jesus will reveal through his speech, conduct, love, faith and purity.

Timothy’s authority for leadership would not be his just because he had been given a position. The authority for the Gospel ministry came from the Scripture, so Paul tells him to “devote himself to the public reading of Scripture.” The power of the ministry wasn’t just his own power; it came from the gift of the Holy Spirit recognized and called out in the leadership of the Church. But, it is Timothy’s character being built by Christ that will  ultimately yield the lasting fruit. So, Paul tells this young and strong leader: watch your life and doctrine, for by so doing you save both yourself and your hearers.”

Keep a close watch on your life.  Keep a close watch on the content of your teaching.

Young and Strong, Part 1

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7Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:7-10

So you’re young and strong. What to do with your time and strength? Just hit the gym and the books? No. Paul encourages Timothy not to miss the opportunity his youth provides to train himself for godliness.

Godliness is strength of character. Its becoming like God as revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Character has been described as hardened habits. Habits are formed by repeated little decisions.

Godliness is the capacity to speak the language of truth and grace. Godliness is the capacity to be who God intends you to be with Him and in community. Godliness has its wisdom. Godliness lasts. It has value for today and for the future. Godliness forms because of our hope for life and reality is set on the living God. Jesus the King positions our hope so that Life and how we live today as His Church really does matter… forever.

How to training yourself for godliness?

On your own:
Stick close to Jesus. Access His grace over and over through repentance and belief. Make decisions in response to Him and His Gospel. Bear up under the struggle and temptations heightened through your adjustments to obey Him trusting that He is still shaping you. Dive deep into the Gospel immersing yourself into the communion of God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Together with the church:
Celebrate God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Exercise your gifts. Develop responsive intentionality as a disciple-maker. Serve sacrificially. Live the “one-anothers.” Bear up under the struggle to keep maturing in Christ emotionally, mentally, and socially without losing hope. To lose this hope in Christ, who shows us the mystery of godliness, is to lose our way; its to slide into the ditches of legalism or license. So, become fluent in the Gospel of God’s grace. Love.