Recruit character. Train skill.

Disciples That Stick

A Pastor's Relationship with His Servant Leaders
The Philippine Islands are a main source for expensive pearls including “The Pearl of Allah,” which was proclaimed to be the world’s largest pearl at the time it was discovered. The Muslims in the Sulu Archipelago have made their living as pearl divers for centuries. The life of a pearl diver is exciting. Very early in the morning, long before day break, boats make their way out to sea. When the sun comes up, the teams of divers go down to the bottom of the ocean to pick out the oysters containing pearls.

The men tie a rope to their waist and fasten a bucket full of rocks to the rope to help them reach the bottom quickly which is important since they don’t use oxygen tanks. The best divers are said to be able to stay under water for six minutes. I did not think that was possible until I read in the Guinness Book of Records that in 1959 a man named Robert Foster from San Rafael, California, stayed under water for 13 minutes and 42 seconds! (Of course he was dead when they pulled him out but he did get his name in the Guinness Book! Just joking about being dead.)
A pastor’s faithful coworkers are like those priceless pearls. Their ministry will depend much on the way they relate to each other.

The famous saying, “Everything rises and falls on leadership,” is never truer than on the New Testament church. The leaders a pastor trains to be his close coworkers in the ministry will most likely make or break his ministry. That is why Jesus spent most of His ministry training a few men who would carry on what He started.

First Samuel 18:1 says, “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” The Bible says that Jonathan loved David as his own soul. These two were probably closer than most of their own family members. Pastors need to be as close to their coworkers as Jonathan and David were to each other.

I am using the term “coworker” although I am referring only to those coworkers whom a pastor is training and leading. I am not speaking about other pastors, but converts and others from in the ministry. This article deals with how to work with those a pastor has already chosen to train.

Help Coworkers See the Value of Staying in the Same Place for a Long Time
A pastor must surround himself with some good men who will stay with him for a lifetime if that be the Lord’s will. If you think of the men of God who have influenced others greatly you will most likely discover two things: (1) that they have stayed in one place for a long time, and (2) they have trained some good men who have stayed with them for a long time.

When a team makes long-term commitments in their hearts, the whole becomes much greater than the individual parts combined. Long-term commitments help the entire team.

The pastor will do more if he can train some men to be trusted coworkers. This means that the pastor must be committed himself. The ministry the Lord has entrusted to me would be very different without the coworkers who have committed to a long-term partnership. If the Lord gives a pastor a team of coworkers who will assist him for many years, not only will they help each other, but the pastor will also make a great impact on the people the Lord has called him to serve.

Leaders envision a future and invest in the present.

Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.

The "Acts 6 Leadership" Model

In Acts 6 there are six principles that qualify a person for spiritual leadership:

1. The principle of proving - men who have a proven testimony in the church

2. The Principle of credibility - men of honest report and integrity

3. The Principle of spirituality - men "full of the Holy Ghost"

4. The Principle of wisdom - men full of God's wisdom

5. The Principle of humble service - men willing to assume a servant's role in the church

6. The Principle of active faith - men faithfully involved in the church body

Godly leadership is made up of distinct qualities not found in secular management books or seminars. Leadership development is not about finding prominent people or about appointing leaders to be prominent. It is about discerning spiritual qualities and developing those qualities for the service of Christ. One author wrote, "Never confuse prominence with significance. If you think because you are not prominent that your ministry is not significant, you are wrong."

Leading Others to Excellence

Making Sure Your Ministry Does Everything with Excellence
Excellence may become the forgotten attribute in our casual-obsessed culture. We seem to be mired in a mundane malaise of mediocrity.
Jesus did everything He did with excellence. The water He turned to wine was hailed as the best juice. In Mark chapter seven the people who witnessed Jesus perform miracles exclaimed, “He doth all things well.” When He fed the multitudes the Bible records that all were fed and all were filled. His sinless life is the highest example of His supreme excellence.
The human standard of personal excellence for anyone is to simply do one’s very best. Our best is always good enough for God no matter how bad it is or how small it is; yet, less than our best is never good enough for God no matter how good it is or how big it is.
We appreciate a “spirit of excellence” when we witness it in other people or organizations. Perhaps we have wondered why our ministry, or our home, or our business does not have a spirit of excellence. We forget the wisdom of Dr. Lee Roberson’s familiar quote, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” If we are to have excellence in our ministries, homes, and businesses it will come through deliberate and thorough leadership.
Consider these steps in leading others to excellence.
1. Lead Others to Excellence by Being Lead of the Holy Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
There is no real success outside the will of God. Leaders must constantly be submitting themselves to the leadership of the Holy Spirit who guides them “into all truth.” Practically speaking that means He guides them to all excellence.
2. Lead Others to Excellence by Setting an Excellent Example
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9
Very few followers set for themselves a higher standard than the leader sets for himself. A consistent demonstration of excellence will inspire followers to raise their efforts.
3. Lead Others to Excellence by Investing in Excellent Preparation
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. Luke 14:28-32
When we fail to prepare, the result is always less than our best—no matter how well the effort may have turned out. Thorough preparation would have made the effort better. If it could have been better it was not our best. No one ever did his best by accident.
4. Lead Others to Excellence by Developing Excellent Organization
Consider the record of the feeding of the five thousand. Christ led His disciples in structure, in order, and in delegation. First, He assessed what they had: the five loaves and two fish. Then He gave instructions to seat the multitudes in groups. He then delegated the distribution of the food to His disciples. The massive group was fully served. The job was completed by retaining the “left-overs” of which there was a specific accounting.
5. Lead Others to Excellence by Giving an Excellent Effort Yourself
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17
Followers respect and respond to an excellent effort from leadership even if the result is less than spectacular. Everyone appreciates the leader who honestly does his best.
6. Lead Others to Excellence by Completing the Task with Excellent Follow-through
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:13-14
Finishing the job well demonstrates that the value, priority, and enthusiasm placed in the task prior to the start was genuine and not an emotional ploy.
7. Lead Others to Excellence by Extending Excellent Appreciation
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10
Sincere expressions of thanks and gratitude for the excellent work of others are always appropriate. They are also necessary to keep followers encouraged.
Remember that what Jesus did, He did with excellence.

About Acts 6 Leadership

Acts chapter 6 describes the process by which the New Testament Church identified, selected, and involved spiritual leaders.
The purpose of "Acts 6 Leadership" is to equip and encourage the present and future servant leaders of Flat Rock Missionary Baptist Church by sharing my heart and vision for church ministry.
"Acts 6 Leadership" will include outlines, articles, quotes, etc., some original with me, some not, for the purpose mentioned above.
Enjoy!