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Take Care of Yourself: Survive and Thrive in Christian Ministry, Pablo Martinez, Lausanne Library / Hendrickson, 2018, 100 pages, ISBN: 9781683071785, List price: £4.99 In recent years there has been a welcome increase in interest in the wellbeing of Christian leaders. The spiritual health of pastors and other Christian workers, and their spouses too, is at the core of our mission in Living Leadership and we welcome this fresh attention to the needs of those who serve others. Pablo Martinez, an experienced psychiatrist and leader among evangelicals in his native Spain, has made a valuable contribution in this succinct and accessible book which, as the self-explanatory title suggests, aims to help people in Christian ministry to survive and thrive by taking care of themselves. It is packed with warmth and wisdom gleaned from the experience of supporting many leaders who have come close to the edge or crashed over it into burnout. Martinez makes judicious use of insights from the world of psychology, but grounds everything he says in Scripture first and foremost. The book comprises five brief chapters followed by a two-page Epilogue and an Appendix. The first chapter reminds us of the biblical principle that we are ‘Jars of Clay’ and describes God’s intention for us to live quiet lives in terms of ensuring that we are not living under constant stress on the verge of exhaustion. In Chapter 2, Martinez introduces his key image of a pool of water which must constantly receive fresh filling as water flows out, establishing the principle of resting daily (in sleep), weekly (Sabbath) and yearly (holiday) and outlining some of the signs that signal a pool that is close to empty. This image is carried into the following chapter as he urges us to avoid self-inflicted mistakes that empty the pool: perfectionism, activism, self-ambition and haste. Chapter 4 introduces a new metaphor, of life as a vineyard to be tended under God, while the final chapter explores the central importance of resting and trusting in God for our personal renewal. The Epilogue is really a conclusion to Chapter 5 and the Appendix contains additional material about dealing with our pasts that, whilst relevant to burdened leaders, is not clearly related to the main body of the book. This book is suitably brief – an important quality for anything that people may need to read when they are exhausted and concentration is limited – but it is rich in wisdom. Martinez’s imagery – from the rhythms of the heart moving between relaxed diastole and active systole (p.16) to the well-watered vineyard that bears much fruit – and memorable aphorisms – “The word ‘yes’ is very powerful, but the word ‘no’ is very healthy” (p.33) or “God wants our ministries to be like oaks, not mushrooms” (p.60) – help to embed his wisdom into the reader’s mind. I was also challenged and helped by his reminder that both “Moses and Elijah, giants of the faith, the symbols of the Law and the Prophets who accompanied Jesus in the Transfiguration” (p.20) experienced points of near-collapse in ministry. Most helpful, however, was his constant reminders, brought to the fore in the final chapter, that our strength is only renewed by God as we are still and acknowledge him, remaining in Christ and being constantly renewed in our love for him and for others. The main weakness of Take Care of Yourself is its lack of interconnectedness. It is less a coherent thesis and more a collection of vignettes of wisdom for anyone in Christian ministry. With its lack of flow of ideas between chapters, its occasional repetition of concepts, and a detached Appendix, it could have benefited from a clear introductory statement of what makes for healthy life in ministry which could be developed through the chapters and restated in a conclusion. Its use as a tool in mentoring others and in group study is somewhat limited by the brevity of the ‘Questions for Study and Reflection’ section, which comprises seven questions that seem to be an afterthought. It would have been more helpful to have a more detailed study guide after each chapter along with some tools for self-assessment. Whilst the book’s dependence on Scripture is a strength, there are a few points where verses are used as prooftexts to bear more weight than they may have been intended to. Importantly, however, in his integration of biblical truth with ideas from psychology, Martinez never strays into the pitfall of using Scripture as a pretext for psychological theories. Martinez is at his strongest, as we might expect from an experienced psychiatrist, when challenging unhealthy patterns of thinking and feeling. Each of his suggestions could benefit from more concrete, practical advice about how to work the right attitudes he encourages out in practice. A few practical tips emerge in Chapter 4, but important ideas like the habit of weekly Sabbath, finding supportive relationships within the church we lead, and prioritising family time could do with more development for readers who may have distorted understandings or who have good intentions but are uncertain where to start. A surprising omission from the set of relationships Martinez recommends (family, church, close friends, nature and books) is the need to have accountability to a more senior leader or a group of peers (fellow-elders). The book could be enriched by marrying Martinez’s experience as someone who cares for pastors with reflections from someone who has experienced life in paid church ministry. In conclusion, Martinez proves to be a trustworthy guide on the first steps in self-care for those in ministry. His central emphasis on intentionality in keeping life centred on Christ and ensuring habitual enjoyment of God is refreshing and thoroughly biblical. A book of this length will never be the final word on any of the issues it touches on, but this is certainly a useful addition to the libraries of pastors and those who care for them. The chapters are short enough for a mentor and mentee to read between meetings and rich enough to provoke helpful discussion. To get your own copy on 10ofThose, Eden or most other book retailers.

How do you recognise good leadership? When you’ve been well led. Really well led. Introducing two super supers - Greg and Patricia. Greg was the news director at BBC Radio Solent when I worked there during the 1990s. Patricia was my supervisor at the American Red Cross Blood Services during the late 1990s-early 2000s. They were both super supers. I learnt a lot from both of them. Competence They were both outstanding at their jobs. Greg was a wonderful journalist. He asked the right questions, was extremely well-informed, wrote well, and he had confidence in his own judgement. In a fast-paced newsroom, decisions over which stories to pursue demands an unerring intuition about what constitutes real news and what is just fluff. He was miles ahead of me, so every day I learnt something new from him. Things are moving so quickly in a newsroom that a leader must make decisions and project confidence that those decisions are the right ones. He was rock solid. Patricia was – and still is – a trained nurse with a vast knowledge base. She knew the procedures for every department, and she understood how the whole – rather cumbersome – system worked. I trusted her to answer my questions and do so clearly. What does it mean for a church leader to be competent? Perhaps you’re expecting me now to write about servant leadership. Or maybe you think I should mention integrity. I certainly wouldn’t want to downplay the importance of either of those. Not at all. They’re both essential. However, I take it for granted that leaders should be people of integrity who follow in Jesus’ footsteps, who live out his words in Mark’s gospel. Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10. 44b – 45a.) Integrity and humble service are the absolute minimum requirements of leadership. Without these, a leader cannot lead the people of God. So perhaps my focus should be on a leader’s ability to preach the Word of God. There isn’t a shadow of doubt that teaching and preaching are essential skills for a leader in the church. They are tools which every leader must have, and gifts that all leaders should develop. No question. But is that enough? Integrity and humble servanthood are essential character traits. Preaching is an essential skill. But when you put these together, are they enough? If I have these, does that make me a leader? I wish I could answer “yes.” But I can’t. Nor is “being a lovely person” enough. There are lots of lovely people around. They’re not all leaders. Preaching well is wonderful, but preaching is just one means by which people grow in their knowledge of the Lord. It is important, but not sufficient. Leadership is a skill. Just like preaching, motorcycle maintenance, and software programming. It doesn’t just appear and settle on a person once they are appointed a Rev/Pastor.* Sadly, church leaders often take on their jobs with a list of tasks that need to be completed. Those tasks then become the masters, demanding that the leader complete them to the best of their ability. Running a Sunday service. Preaching. Leading a prayer meeting. Chairing meetings. These tasks may be important but they are not your masters. As a leader, these tasks are supposed to help you achieve your goals; they do not constitute the limits of your leadership. So what is effective Christian leadership? Dallas Willard, writing on spiritual formation, uses the acronym VIM. Vision, Intention, Means. The vision to know where you’re going, the intention to reach the destination, and the means to get there. For leaders, the acronym needs slight modification. It’s VIPM. Whoops, not much of an acronym. Vision – (see our earlier blog post here) Inspiration – the ability to inspire followers Plan – a plan to achieve the goal Means – a means to implement the plan The vision is simply a clear idea over the primary goal of the church. For leaders, this is very straightforward. (See our 'Forming Followers' post.) Make disciples (Matt. 28). Equip and release people for works of service (Eph. 4.11-13). How did my super supers do this? Vision They “made disciples” by giving me a vision of what they wanted and encouraging me to improve. They lifted my eyes to help me believe that I could become a better journalist/teacher. They accomplished this in a couple of ways, which made me their follower. First, their competence was a model which I followed. Second, they showed interest in me as a person. Patricia achieved this in various ways. She didn’t just see me as a member of the department, she knew all about me as a person. Or at least as much as I would reveal to her. She wasn’t being nosey. She was showing that she cared about me. She encouraged me, supported me, trained me, and yes, inspired me to aim high. I am forever grateful for her inspirational leadership. Greg noticed everything I did. He noticed everything that everyone did. He was brutally honest about our mistakes – we knew when we’d messed up – but he didn’t run us down. He lifted us up. I once went to interview a government minister (Kenneth Clarke) when I shouldn’t have done. (Long story.) I knew I had disappointed him; I’d followed my own ego instead of focusing on the right priorities. But I admired him so much that my error fed a desire to improve, to ensure that I would never make the same mistake again. During the local elections, I had the chance to redeem myself. I was sent to report from a polling station, where I sent in a creative piece (uncommon in local radio) on the various candidates. Some of the other reporters were superb; I didn’t expect much feedback from him, but of course, he was Greg. He had listened, and he had noticed. His praise for my report, when it came, swelled my heart. I will be forever grateful to him for showing interest in my development as a journalist. My super supers trained me, encouraged and supported me; they inspired me. That’s why I followed them. That’s why I listened to them. They modelled professional excellence in their behaviour and with their guidance, I improved as a journalist and as a teacher. How well do you know your people? I mean, really know them. Asking about the football or the children has its place, but for a leader, it’s not enough. You’re making disciples, and you can’t do that unless you show you care about how your people are growing. Isn’t it astounding that we will ask how the children are doing or if a person likes their new job, but when it comes to the most important question of all, we back off? We can do better. If you care about the growth of your people, it is necessary to ask, now and then, these kinds of questions: What has God been teaching you recently? How is your prayer life nowadays? How is God challenging you? These questions go deeper, and they show you care about the most important thing in life: following Jesus. Somehow, then, we must push past our fears, and show interest in the spiritual growth of those in our community. That’s what Patricia and Greg did. They showed interest in my professional growth. I couldn’t just show up and tread water, and hope they wouldn’t notice. They noticed. They always noticed. Because they cared. That’s why those questions are necessary. Not all the time, of course, but when the time is right. When God nudges you forward. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? A leader interested in how I’m doing in my faith – how can that not be an encouragement to me as I stand in front of you holding my coffee cup and . . . In despair over possibly losing my job Struggling in my marriage Excited about what I read in the Bible this week Confused about the future At last, a leader who doesn’t just make jokes about the local football team. Here is someone who will help me grow, who will pray with me as I face challenges in my life, or rejoice with me over what I’ve been learning in God’s Word. Plan and Means Greg and Patricia knew exactly what my job was, and how to equip me with the skills to do it well. Better journalism, better training, they showed me the way. For a church leader, it’s not so simple. A better way of living? More obedience? More sacrifice? No wonder leaders feel out of their depth when faced with the many struggles that people face. Plan and Means for leaders has to do with one thing alone: implementing a plan to make disciples. I wrote about that a couple of weeks ago. More obedience? More faith? Leaders joyfully throw up their hands and say, “I give up! I can’t do! But I know someone who can help.” How wonderful that when facing the impossible task of forming followers, we have a supervisor who stands out as exceptional, who carries us when we’re weary, who equips us, knows us and cares for us. He is our all-sufficient Saviour. He truly is a super super. *Other titles are available.

Today, a journey of reflection. Do join me. In Isaiah 42 we have one of the “Servant Songs” that paints beautiful pictures of the perfect servant of God. Jesus is, of course, in view. But, as God speaks through Isaiah, he contrasts this faithful servant with the nation of Israel. Called to be God’s servant, Israel had stopped listening, seemed to have no faith, and became self-serving (see Isaiah 42:18-20). The challenge for us is clear. Will we be a deaf “servant” or will we be attentive to our Master? Christian leaders are called to be God’s servants in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus. More than that, through the work of the Spirit, we are “in Christ” and Christ is in us. So, we can hear these verses as our Father’s words to us. We’ll be immersing ourselves in Isaiah 42.1-8. Please don’t hurry through these verses. You don’t rush when your Master is speaking! You stop and soak in every word. As you read, pause often and long. Reflect on what your Father is saying to you. What do the verses affirm and what do they expect? How do they reassure you and what must you reassess? I’ll try to help you with questions and comments between each thought, but ignore them if you find the Spirit whispering something else to your soul. Here we go. Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; Do you know your Father chose you? Do you know that he upholds you? He won’t let you fall. But upholding you is no chore for him because his soul delights in you. You bring pleasure to his heart and a smile to his face. You have nothing to prove. I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Do you know you’re empowered by the same Spirit who empowered the Lord Jesus? The personal, powerful presence of God rests on you and indwells you. So, let him fill your life, infiltrating every hidden recess and shaping every thought. Enjoy that! But remember, his empowerment is not only for your pleasure, but for this purpose: so that, like Jesus, you will act justly towards others. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; Do you long to be recognised? Craving thanks? Hungry for praise? Ambition for the big lights? Remember, you’re a servant. I know you’re so much more besides, but you’re never more than the one whom God called to serve. So, avoid drawing attention to yourself. That’s not what servants do! Your Lord didn’t do it and nor should you. You shouldn’t want to do it, because your desire should be for his glory. The Spirit can get people’s attention just fine without your help. Instead, be attentive to your Master. Keep your head down and keep serving. a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Do you crush people or encourage them? Yes, we all need encouragement, but when it doesn’t come, we can become testy, even critical of others. Who are the bruised reeds and smouldering wicks around you? Have you hurt them? How can you put that right? How can you make your goal justice for them, strengthening them in God’s truth, leading them in his grace? He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. In these verses, we’re back to your own discouragement. Maybe you feel faint. Like you’ve nothing left to give. The last thing I said just passed you by because you’re feeling too wounded. But the work isn’t finished. People are still waiting for the law of Christ – the liberating law of love – the justification that makes it possible. There are people to be served. Will you give up? How will you keep going? Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: Now we’re in a different league. From our faintness to his power. From our smallness to his bigness. From our discouragement to his unfathomable majesty. Stretching out the heavens, spreading out the earth, like some cosmic potter rolling out the clay. Crafting each body and gently breathing life into their nostrils. Did you think he didn’t know you? Did you suspect he didn’t care? Did you doubt that he knows how you tick? He knows you better than you know yourself and he knows the people you serve. “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; He has a name. Yahweh. The I AM - the ever-existent, self-sufficient, unchanging One. He called you, but maybe you think he chose the wrong person for this job? He doesn’t make mistakes. Perhaps you think he tricked you and promised you what he can’t deliver? He doesn’t tell lies. He called you in righteousness. He knew what he was doing, and he won’t let you go. Like a parent with a toddler, he holds your hand and he won’t ever let go. However close the crowd and however fast the pace. So toddle on and let him lead you! I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. So there it is. Don’t forget it’s first about Jesus. He is the One who was given as a covenant for the people and the light for the nations. He brought you into the new covenant in his blood. In him, you’re bound to God in an everlasting bond of love. Held in his promises. And you’re the declaration of those promises to the people you serve. Extolling his greatness. Expounding his word. Echoing his call. Embodying his promises. Exemplifying his faithfulness. And you’re a light too, because his light is in you. Jesus is the Light of the World, but we, his people, bear his light. You shine in the darkness. You bring the hope of Christ and the gospel of grace to the nations, by which the Spirit opens blind eyes and releases captives. Don’t forget that. Don’t settle for something less. Your service is needed because people need Jesus. Perhaps you find yourself in these verses. Broken and bruised. Down but not out. A jar of clay with a treasure inside. God’s servant whom he upholds and in whom he delights. So, remember who you are – God's precious child. And be encouraged today as you serve him. You do so by serving others in his mighty name.

Everyone loves a testimony. What’s not to like? They are stories, and everyone loves stories. They come from the heart, so they provoke an emotional response. They are filled with hope. They speak of God’s power and his love. They are often inspiring. So what’s not to love? Very little, which is why I don’t want to pour cold water on the idea of testimonies. I think they’re a great way to encourage believers, to give us insight into what God is doing in the midst of a community, and yes, to inspire us. However, there are a few things to be aware of when including a testimony in a service. First, a short story from my own life. I work with disadvantaged people. I’m in a team that serves breakfast once a week to people who are struggling in life. Our guests come with a variety of challenges. Some are homeless, some are addicts, and some are just lonely. Most are on benefits. Some smell; many don’t. Some are educated; many left school at 16. Most are men. During breakfast, there is a short talk. For a while, we were inviting various ex-offenders and ex-drug addicts to give their testimonies. They were fantastic. Inspirational. I would listen to their stories and wonder how anyone could listen and not believe immediately. Our guests were so needy, so desperate, and some were so similar to the speakers, I was certain they would respond to a message of love and grace. But they rarely did. It made me sad, and still makes me sad. One morning, I was sitting with a guest, who asked me this question, Do you think we’re all addicts, then? I was shocked, but my eyes were opened in an instant. While I was hearing a message of hope, this man was hearing something completely different. All he heard was criticism and labelling. He thought we were putting him in a box marked, “person with addiction problems. Perhaps a criminal.” We weren’t, but he thought we were. What did I learn? That when a person gives a testimony, we don’t all hear it with the same ears. I learnt that it comes with assumptions, which not everyone shares. Choosing the right testimony for the right occasion feeds into the concept of messaging. Messaging is defined as follows: All the words used to communicate publicly with the church body. Words are extremely powerful. They communicate our values, our beliefs, our culture – those things we value and affirm as a group. So the words used during a testimony are part of a church’s messaging. They validate and communicate the values of the church. They become part of the culture. If you only interview ex-drug addicts, you include assumptions that come along with that choice. It’s not wrong to interview ex-addicts, of course, but if you only choose ex-addicts or ex-criminals, then consider carefully what you are communicating to your church. Choosing a testimony It’s easy to be sloppy. We’re looking for stories, so we choose the latest story to come to our attention. However, over time, we will inevitably choose certain kinds of stories that appeal to us personally, without even thinking. So consider carefully what kinds of testimonies have been given recently in your church before selecting the next one. When I was in my late teens, I read two memoirs that had a profound impact on my life. One was “The Cross and the Switchblade,” by David Wilkerson, and the other was “Run, Baby, Run,” by Nicky Cruz. Every young evangelical read these two books back then. They tell the story of a pastor who preaches to violent gangs in New York. Miracles happen. Wilkerson is a man of great faith and extraordinary bravery. Nicky Cruz, a gang leader, comes to faith and has his life turned upside down by God. This is going to sound absurd, but as a young man, I spent a long time wishing I could have been a drug addict or a gangster. It’s not hard to follow the logic. If I had been, then I could have had a testimony like Nicky Cruz’s. And who wouldn’t want that? When a person gives a testimony, those listening will inevitably think of their own testimony. And while that’s a normal response, it can create problems. We expect testimonies to be dramatic, perhaps to contain miracles. That’s what makes them extraordinary. That’s why they inspire us. But they can also make people feel excluded; they can indicate to us that our own stories have lesser value. That’s not the intention, but it’s the reality. Is there a solution? Not really, but a good leader should be aware of how a testimony will come across. A good leader knows that God works in myriad ways that aren’t always dramatic and exciting. So a good leader will sometimes choose testimonies that don’t involve drugs and miracles, but simply the slow burn or the persistent inquiry leading to faith. And don’t we sometimes need to hear from people who’ve struggled to believe and have held on? Not everyone worth listening to has gone to prison or fought an addiction. Testimonies should span the demographic spectrum of the church – young, old, rich, poor – because we connect with a testimony and if we don’t see ourselves mirrored up there, we can begin to think that our spiritual experience isn’t valid. Or it’s not worth sharing. Too Soon Be careful of putting people up on stage too soon. This happens a lot. A new believer, someone who has come through Alpha perhaps, is suddenly asked all kinds of questions in front of hundreds of people. We should be hesitant about doing that. It draws attention to a person when what they need is discipleship and relationship. It can provoke unwanted questions. The person can be asked theological questions which they are ill-equipped to answer. They are assumed to know a lot more than they do. Unwelcome Assumptions and Telling the Story I think sometimes we project unwelcome (or even untrue) assumptions when we conduct our interviews. Here’s one: If you don’t follow Jesus, you must be miserable and lost. The problem is, while Jesus does indeed make sense of life, it’s simply not true that all those who are not Christians are, by definition, miserable and lost. That’s not true and it’s not helpful. It’s also important not to ask leading questions. Leading questions are those which contain unwarranted assumptions. Here’s one: So, Jerry, when did you realise that life was meaningless without Jesus? To be fair, I haven’t heard that one, but I’ve heard similar ones. Here’s another: So, Jerry, tell us just how difficult things were for you when you were living on the streets. That’s not a good question. Here’s a better alternative: Jerry, tell us about your life on the streets. Allow the interviewee to set the scene and tell the story without projecting your own ideas and assumptions into your questions. A good interview focuses all our attention on the person giving the testimony. The story is what draws us, teaches us, inspires us. The interviewer’s job is to help the person move through the story. “What happened when you” . . . “What did you learn from that course/relationship/incident?” . . . “You said God spoke to you through a chance encounter with a woman at the bus stop, tell us more about that” . . . “Tell us about your life now . . .” These are all open questions/statements that move the story forward. Many people nowadays are savvy. They know when they’re hearing hype, when they’re hearing something that doesn’t quite ring true. So stick to the truth. Never ask the person to amp up the story so that it sounds a little more dramatic. God’s work in our lives is dramatic enough. In fact, when a story contains disappointment and struggle, it’s all the more powerful, because it’s real. Life isn’t just mountaintops, it’s valleys too. We all know that. In truth, the Spirit blows where He wills. Sometimes He will draw out testimonies from who knows where, that make us uncomfortable (or inspire us) and only He knows what he’s doing. I can no more contain God than lasso the wind. Praise God for that! So tell stories in your services. Choose stories that give glory to God. And trust those words to bring life and encouragement to those who hear.

What’s your job description? If you had to boil it down to one sentence, what would it be? Try some of these: • Preaching, praying, appointing ministry leaders. • Giving vision to a community of believers. • Inspiring and encouraging a group of believers to follow Jesus • Teaching and developing the gifts of a group of believers. There’s a lot to like about all of the above, but in reality a church leader’s job can be expressed in just two words: • Making disciples That’s the job, and once you understand that everything you do as a leader should be evaluated in terms of those two words, then everything becomes a lot simpler. Leaders are often overwhelmed by life. So much to do, so little time. Meetings and sermons and decisions seem to arrive at such speed, it’s like one of those video driving games, where you have to dodge obstacles and stay on the road. All the focus is on keeping the car on the circuit, you’re barely able to think of anything else. Do the next thing. And the next. Don’t crash! Another sermon? Yup, I’m writing that tonight. After the prayer meeting and when I’ve looked over the minutes of last night’s elders' meeting. It’s all happening so fast, it’s hard to step back and ask the big questions: What’s my job? What am I here for? Disciple-making. That’s your job. You already know the text at the end of Matthew’s gospel. So at some point, when you’ve caught your breath, take some time to ask yourself a hard question: When I look at my week, how much is devoted to making disciples? I’m completing tasks, but are these tasks primarily focused on making disciples? The question can be expanded. Is my church a place where I’m making disciples and disciples are being made? If you think about it, that’s the only criterion that really matters. If the Lord visited your church, would he say this? I like it! This is a place where disciples are made, where followers are formed. They understand the Great Commission. They do things here which help people become my disciples. Great! So here’s a question that might sting a bit: Is a regular Sunday service and homegroup attendance enough to make disciples of Jesus? I think you probably know the answer to that one. So what’s the answer? Well, I certainly can’t fix the problem in a blog post, but here are a few thoughts. Modelling As the leader, not only do you model what it means to be a disciple, you model the very idea of disciple-making. Discipleship isn’t “a part of the Christian life,” it IS the Christian life. Following Jesus and helping others to follow Jesus is the purpose of life. So what do your people see when they watch how you live? Are you showing them both how to live as a disciple and how to make disciples? Who’s discipling the leader? Much has been written about what it means to be a disciple – I recommend Dallas Willard’s work on this subject. No space here for more. But obviously, it starts with you personally. So, who’s discipling you? Who’s helping you to become a better disciple? Many leaders don’t attend home groups. The excuse is either lack of time or fear of intimacy. So where do you go to grow? Who is walking by your side? Who loves you enough to ask you hard questions and guide you on the path? An accountability group might help (see our previous blog post), but it may not be the right place. You may need a different group. One thing is for certain – you need something. You can’t expect your church members to meet in small groups without being in one yourself. That won’t wash. You need a plan Discipleship doesn’t just happen. It doesn’t materialise out of the ether. It happens when a leader both models what it means to be a disciple, and communicates clearly how discipleship works. If you don’t have a vision for discipleship, it won’t happen. Simple as that. In fact, you need both a vision and a plan to implement that vision. Completing tasks like Sunday services are all well and good, but they aren’t fit for the purpose of making disciples. So here are some thoughts about how Jesus went about the task of making disciples. Relationship Disciple-making is rooted in relationship. These relationships come in various forms. One-on-one – Simon Peter. One-on-three – Simon, James and John. Small group – the Twelve. The large group – the 72. Each size has its benefits and its disadvantages. Small groups of twelve(ish) are fine, but I have found they often don’t lead to intimacy. In order to grow in the faith, we need people who know us well, who ask hard questions, who challenge us. A group of twelve often doesn’t do this. It’s easy to hide in a group of twelve. A group of four and below works better. I think everyone in church should be in a group of four and below as well as a homegroup. It doesn’t have to meet every week, but unless it’s promoted by the leadership, then it won’t happen. And something vital is lost. I acknowledge that time will be required. It won’t happen without commitment, but that’s the minimum cost of discipleship: time. And you as the leader will need to model what it looks like. Knowledge and Experience, Word and Spirit A Sunday sermon, even an expository sermon, is not teaching. It’s preaching. Preaching is not teaching. Yet Jesus spends an awful lot of time teaching his disciples. St. Paul’s letters use the phrase, “grow in the knowledge and grace of God” frequently. It is not possible to grow as a disciple unless, in some way, we are growing in our knowledge of God. And that comes primarily through the Word of God. In your church, how do people grow in their knowledge of the Scriptures? Homegroup and sermons provide input, but they are not enough. Not by a long shot. It is shocking sometimes to speak to long-time church members, whose knowledge of the Bible is wafer-thin. How can they grow unless we expect more of them? How will they grow unless we give them a vision of what it means to grow in the knowledge of God? How can they grow if we only offer a sermon and a home group each week? The answer is, many won’t. They need more. They need opportunities to gather around the Word of God and learn. Actually learn. Study. That takes effort. I have found, however, that when pushed a little, many will rise to the challenge. In fact, they love it. There’s nothing so energised as a Bible class where people are learning and growing. So give them homework. Train them in a book of the Bible (or a topic) and then ask them to teach a section. You will be heartened by how God can lift a person when given a vision of their potential. That’s the leader’s job. That’s your job. And if you’re the leader of a big church, train others to do the same. Spirit Discipleship is learning to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. We get to know him better through the Word and we learn to walk by the Spirit . . . by walking in faith, trusting in God’s Spirit to guide us. So discipleship involves both Word and Spirit. Christ sent out the 72 and they returned full of faith and joy. Teaching led to mission. There is no conflict between discipleship and mission, because discipleship produces followers with a heart to carry the message of God’s kingdom into the world. Empowered by the Spirit. That comes from growing in maturity. Word and Spirit go hand in hand. A final word about your church culture. You are not stuck with a set of tasks, which bind you. You are called by God to make disciples. If that involves making some changes, then so be it. Yes, some people may leave, because change is hard, but following Jesus comes at a cost. All leaders know that. So this week, may I encourage you to pray over these two questions? How well are disciples being made in my church? What changes do I need to make in order to create a disciple-making culture in my church? Only you can answer these questions. Your answers may produce some discomfort, or you may be encouraged when you think about how disciples are being made in your church. I don’t know. Whatever the case, keep your eye on the goal. Making disciples. That’s the job. For the glory of the Disciple-Maker above all others. If you are unsure where to start with finding someone to help you in your discipleship journey, our staff and associates, who are experienced mentors and pastoral caregivers, would love to chat with you. Contact our team for more information.

You have a meeting today with Michelle. She runs your music team, and she shouted at you a few days ago, after she found the door locked. Then she broke a piece of equipment and didn’t let the office know. It looks like she was hoping no one would find out. Over to you. Enough to make you break out in a cold sweat? Me too. It’s in every story, every marriage, every relationship, every business, every school. Every church. Conflict. Fights. Disagreements. Why do we find it so difficult? Perhaps if we had some training. Perhaps if we didn’t procrastinate. Maybe if we’d seen it modelled well during childhood. If someone had told me how much damage could result from running away . . . and on it goes. This is a subject that will run and run. When a leader lacks the ability to deal with conflict, the results can be truly awful. Division, discord, unhappiness, lack of vision, to name just a few. If you’re a leader who struggles with conflict, then this is not a subject you can just push under the carpet. Running from conflict is like pretending you don’t have an infection. It’s all well and good until the infection turns into sepsis, and then later on, you’re admitted to the ER. A leader who can’t do conflict is inevitably a poor leader. Why do we run from conflict? All sorts of reasons, but the primary one is fear. No question. Won’t everything just improve if I ignore the problem? Cue absurd fantasies, driven by terror over . . . actually doing something! So . . . I’m afraid that in one blog post, I’m certainly not going to solve the problem. But here are a few thoughts. Conflict is normal In fact, more than that, it’s healthy. Conflict may well arise from selfishness (or other sins), but it can also emerge from misunderstanding and a failure to communicate clearly enough. How often during a difficult conversation do we discover that we simply didn’t understand a person’s motivations, their background, the exact circumstances that led to the behaviour causing the problem? Conflict creates a space for learning, for empathy, for connection. For prayer. Conflict is a teacher Conflict is a light shining in the darkness. It illuminates truths not seen under normal circumstances. It forces each person to take a long hard look at both their behaviour and their response. Conflict shows us our lack of grace, our impatience, our unrealistic expectations, our failure to support and encourage. It can do the same for the person with whom we have clashed. When done well, conflict will often provide the opportunity for a leap forward in a relationship. Greater trust, more patience, a better understanding of what motivates and drives us. I didn’t realise . . . I didn’t know that . . . I see now why . . . I’m so sorry . . . Consider Michelle. How might the conversation go once you discover that she’s struggling in her marriage and faces losing her job? The whole tone of the conversation would shift. And rightly so. It would – and should – move towards grace, more grace, and prayer. This might even be the moment she looks back on, when she decided to seek marriage counselling and started down a path towards healing. Conflict can lead to grace. Believe it. Grace offered and grace extended – these are the crown jewels in the Christian community. Because God has graciously chosen us and saved us, we, of all people, are equipped to offer grace to all. And what a life-changer that can be! Conflict isn’t about winning If I could just show him where he’s gone wrong. This is going to be great. Once I’ve proved that I was in the right, then he’ll see that he was wrong to speak to me like that. Ye-es! Let’s go. Actually, let’s not. Let’s just calm down and take in the truth that conflict isn’t about winning. In an argument, if you win, you lose, and if you lose, you lose. There are no winners. Conflict isn’t about ensuring that the other person hears and understands your point of view. And it isn’t about ensuring that they agree with you. Conflict is there to bring us together. Often, I’m afraid, the results are unsatisfactory. Even when the issue has been addressed, differences often persist. It may produce growth, but it can equally leave us frustrated. Learning to deal with the disappointment arising from conflict is a life-long journey. It drives us to our knees. It’s supposed to. Some final tips. Do it now Discord festers. It niggles. Like a pebble in a shoe, it first causes slight discomfort, then a blister, then outright agony. It would have been better to remove it the moment you felt it. So do it now. You know it, I know it – when conflict arises, it’s best to address it immediately. (See our post on procrastination) Use ‘I’ language You’ve probably seen this in marriage courses. It applies to any kind of conflict. ‘You’ language comes across as accusatory. "You were the one who . . ." "You said you were going to . . ." "You promised to . . ." By contrast, ‘I’ language describes your own response to the problem. "I find it difficult when . . ." "I’m trying to understand . . ." "Perhaps I haven’t been as clear as I should have been . . ." "From my perspective, I struggle when . . ." It’s worth adding here the importance of starting with the facts. Since conflict often arises from misunderstanding, it’s essential to discover what actually happened. Who did what. When. Who was responsible. Remember your position You’re the leader. You have power; you exercise power. Be very careful how you use that power when resolving conflict. Don’t manipulate. Don’t accuse. Set good boundaries. Be clear. Be specific. Have realistic expectations. Apologise, if appropriate. Take responsibility. Don’t fudge with the truth. Don’t be defensive. Be open to the other person’s point of view. Listen well. And remember the psychology of both body and soul. Standing or sitting. Behind a desk or sitting in a coffee shop. In the lounge after the service? (Probably not). With another person present, or alone? Eye contact, tone of voice, use of language – avoiding inflammatory words – they’re all critical to how you come across. The person who finds conflict easiest is the one who is comfortable living in the truth. If you’re too fond of the mask, conflict will be hard. So live in the truth. Rip off the mask. Take responsibility for your failures. Extend grace to the sinner. Confess your own sins. Enjoy grace and enjoy sharing grace. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul writes, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. (Rom. 12.18) Leaders cannot please all the people all the time. But leaders can and should seek to live at peace with all people. That cannot be done unless a leader learns the art of conflict resolution. If you struggle with it, you are not alone. Be encouraged. The Lord knows that conflict is hard. It hurts. It’s a struggle. It forces you to dig deep, to draw on your resources of love. Believe it or not, to engage in conflict is to love well. Who would have thought it? Conflict forces you to go the extra mile. It forces you not just to talk about peace, but seek it, fight for it. Conflict forces you to your knees in humility; it drives you to draw on God’s help in times of stress and difficulty. It builds the soul, nurtures a faithful spirit. So however hard it may be, don’t avoid it. Face it. The Lord knows that you’re nervous and frightened sometimes, but that’s okay. Trust him and move forward. Step out in faith. When you do, you may well discover that love flourishes. And isn’t that your goal? Isn’t that the kind of community you are seeking to build? A community of “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 14.17b)

Two more Grand Prix. Two more brilliant drives from Lewis Hamilton. 100 pole positions. The records keep on coming. Today, some final thoughts driven by Formula 1. Formula 1 is a team sport. Although most people talk about the drivers, it’s really a team sport. And as with all team sports, success comes from each part of the team working to its maximum potential. Unleashing the strengths of the team is what great leaders do. Toto Wolff (Mercedes) and Christian Horner (Red Bull) both manage to get the best out of their teams. They’re very good leaders. So it won’t surprise you that I will mention, yet again, the importance of equipping and releasing as a principle for ministry (see our previous posts 'Stop Pleasing, Start Equipping' and 'Equip and Release'). What do we see in F1 that sheds light on a leader’s life in ministry? Encourage and Inspire If you listen carefully to Lewis Hamilton after he’s won a race, it is a rare day when he doesn’t use these words, “I’d like to thank everyone who’s been working so hard back at the factory.” He instantly and instinctively recognises that he’s only winning because of the work that others are doing. If you ever see him speak to one of the people who work in the lower echelons of the team – admin assistant, pit crew – you see them swell with pride. Lewis Hamilton is not a perfect human being, of course. Some of his choices and beliefs are far from ideal. But he gets this thing called “appreciation.” He understands encouragement. It goes without saying that good church leaders know how to encourage. (See our previous blog post, 'The Power of Words'.) But it’s more than just encouragement. It’s about the ability to inspire people too. In business, if a person doesn’t perform, then they will be fired. But fear of dismissal doesn’t draw out the best in people. Inspiration does. Church is often filled with people who aren’t performing. Many times, that’s because a leader simply hasn’t figured out how to mine the many talents in his community. But it’s also because, in the end, a church member is a volunteer. Serving coffee, turning up for prayer meetings, running Alpha, helping with the kids, it’s all done by volunteers. What keeps a volunteer going? Encouragement, certainly. But also inspiration. If a leader doesn’t inspire his people with a vision of who God is, and what he’s done for them, they will lose heart. If a church isn’t full of people growing in their faith, it stagnates. If your people aren’t inspired to give their all, then that’s an issue for you as a leader. It takes a strong leader to inspire a church. People need vision and they need equipping. And of course they need encouragement. They also need to enjoy the successes of the team. At the end of each race win, an F1 team will gather the whole team in front of the garage for a team photo. If they’re a middle-order team, they do this if they’ve over-achieved. P5! Yes! Right now, a Haas in the top 10 is a miracle. Let’s celebrate P9 with a team photo! What is a church’s success? Success is such a fraught, disputed word in Christian circles. It isn’t the latest book by the pastor. And it isn’t about numbers, though a church should be encouraged by thriving ministries. It might be new Christians. It might be testimonies which inspire. But mostly, we find inspiration when we catch a vision of how truly awesome our God is. So, inspire your people with a vision of God that fills their hearts to overflowing. He is our first and last source of life-saving inspiration. A good leader leaves a church body saturated in the wonder of God. A leader who draws me to my Saviour is a leader who inspires me. A church in which a whole load of nonsense is going on . . . division, mistrust, lack of vision and leadership . . . this is a church which fails to inspire. So ask yourself, Are you inspiring your church with a vision of Jesus? Risky business Formula 1 is a dangerous sport. It’s risky. So trust the tyres. Drivers die in Formula 1. Most famously, Ayrton Senna lost his life at Imola in 1994. As recently as 2019, in Formula 2, Anthoine Hubert was killed in Belgium. Last year, Romain Grosjean ran into a barrier at 160mph. His car burst into flames. It was over two minutes before he managed to emerge; a miracle that he only sustained minor injuries. One of the F1 commentators this season is Billy Monger, who injured both his legs in an F4 crash in 2017. He is a double amputee (left leg above the knee). He is also an inspiration. Church leadership seems tame by comparison. It isn’t risky, when perhaps it should be. In fact, I see a trend among church leaders to be fear-driven and extremely risk-averse. A while back, I wrote about people-pleasing. (Pleasing People Part One and Part Two). There is a corrosive aspect to people-pleasing which I didn’t address. Let me do so now by offering this question: What will they think? Indeed, what will they think if you take some risks? After all, those people sitting in the pews/chairs pay your salary. You wouldn’t want to upset them. So let’s just play it safe. Let’s just do the same thing over and over again, because some people might be upset by trying something new. I’m not asking you to preach a sermon in your underpants this Sunday. And I’m not suggesting that you do reckless things for the sake of “being edgy.” What I am saying is this. We talk in Christian circles about living for one Person, and one alone. In Os Guinness’ immortal words, we say we live before an “Audience of One.” But I’m not sure that we live freely before our “Audience of One.” We may not admit it, but many of our choices are driven by fear. We’re nervous about what people think, so we play it safe. We know what people expect, so that’s what we give them. A certain respectability is more important than authenticity, let alone vulnerability. It’s more important than listening to God’s Spirit and following where He leads. I happen to be someone who enjoys risks. So I will concede that my personality informs my view. You may be risk-averse, so you’re breaking out in a cold sweat just reading this. But when you think of serving your God, it’s worth asking yourself this question: Am I leading out of my relationship with God, led by his Spirit, or am I playing it safe because of my fear of offending certain people in my fellowship? Only you can answer that question. Trust your tyres Finally, tyres. Hards, mediums, softs, super-softs. In Formula 1, tyre management and tyre degradation are intrinsic to the sport. At the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix, with five laps to go, Max Verstappen caught Lewis Hamilton. He should have won the race, but he couldn’t quite keep the car inside track limits. His tyres didn’t have the grip, and in his eagerness to pass his opponent, the car slid just a little too much. By contrast, Hamilton had preserved enough grip so that he still had some left to fend off Verstappen in the final four laps. Verstappen is a master at overtaking; one day he will almost certainly win world championships. He deserves to because he is a phenomenal driver. But to do so, he will need to manage his tyres. Four pieces of rubber that connect the car to the driving surface. As an F1 car goes round a corner at 160mph, it’s only by the tiniest margin that the car still remains on the road. One small mistake, and it flies off into a wall or barrier. Drivers trust their tyres. They feel them. They can feel them degrade and they know how much grip is there, because as they turn, the car drifts. It drifts . . . but not too much. Great drivers have an innate ability to feel their way round a circuit. When they’re at the top of their game, they describe it as being “in the zone.” That’s when the great drives are done. Sebastian Vettel is no longer the driver he was. It is sad to see. But back in 2008, he drove one of the great wet weather races at Monza, winning in his Toro Rosso. He was “in the zone.” No driver can win without trusting his tyres. No leader can succeed without trusting God. Great faith is the hallmark of a great leader. In Luke 9, Jesus sends out the Twelve. Here’s verse 3: He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” Why did Jesus do this? What parent tells his child, “don’t bother taking anything with you for the journey. No lunch, no clothes, no bag, there’s the door. Off you go.” How irresponsible! What’s going on?! Faith. Trust. Risk. Yes, risk! Who will clothe you? Who will feed you? Do you want to lead a life in which you arrange things so you don’t really need God? Ask Corrie Ten Boom and Jackie Pullinger, two women who launched themselves into the world with nothing but their Bibles and their faith in God. You want to talk about inspiration? That’s inspiration. So trust your tyres. Trust your God to lead you, to be with you on the journey. A life like that is inspirational. It points to Jesus who took the biggest risk of all – giving up his life. No wonder St. Paul describes the actions of his God as “foolish.” (1 Cor. 1) Risks often look foolish. Unless they’re underwritten, inspired . . . driven by a Saviour who recklessly gave himself up for our sakes.

Have you ever been used as a means to an end? Whether you’ve thought of it in those terms before, the answer must inevitably be “Yes!” We use ourselves as a means to an end every day. When we drive our bodies or souls into unhealthy and unsustainable working patterns in our determination to achieve the ends of praise, money or promotion. When we indulge our uncontrolled desires, using our bodies as a means to the end of pleasure or release. Too often, we use other people as a means to an end too. Our spouse becomes a means to sexual gratification, ego-boosting or ministry advancement without proper attention to his or her needs. We persuade unwilling or unwitting people to keep serving in ways that, if we’re honest, we know will harm them. We don’t think of their welfare, but instead do it to achieve the end of keeping a programme going or growing our church. I’m sure some of you have been deeply hurt and discouraged when others in ministry have used you as a means to an end. When a congregation expects you to work unreasonable hours without encouragement or proper sabbaths, you feel like a means to an end. Sometimes, it’s just thoughtless treatment - for example, when a church stops inviting you as a visiting speaker without even the courtesy of letting you know. It can even happen in a mentoring relationship. A young leader who once was so eager to learn from you moves on to a bigger ministry platform, and you never hear from them again. It leaves you feeling used. Let me say it plainly. Immanuel Kant was right (at least in this!) You are not just a means to an end and neither are others. So don’t use yourself or others that way. The wonderful truth of the gospel is that human beings are God’s end as well as God’s means. People were created in God’s image to know and enjoy him. They find joy by living the way he intends them to live. In relationship with him. In the Bible, though humankind sins grievously against God, he does not respond by using them as a means to an end. It is certainly true that nations and their rulers are his instruments to work out his purposes of judgement and blessing. However, he always dignifies them with the consequences of their choices and shows surprising mercy even to the most wicked. When it comes to salvation history, God became incarnate as a human and substituted himself in our place in order to save us. He became the means of our salvation, but not with the purpose of stopping there. No, the purpose has always been to transform those he loves into the very likeness of his Son. That is the end, and it is beautiful and good. In his earthly ministry, Jesus never used people as a means to an end. His interactions restored full humanity to people and called them into God’s kingdom, in which disciple-making disciples are both the ends and the means of mission. People come to share in the blessings of Christ through people who share Christ with them. Thinking of our ultimate destiny, God’s purpose is for us to be a people redeemed by Christ, who enjoy his goodness eternally as we continue to glorify God. The end is glorified humanity and the means to that end is the glorious human, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit, who gives birth to new life in us, is the guarantee of glory to come. He never uses people simply as a means to an end. And despite our rather clumsy language at times, he does not “control” us, but releases, leads and empowers us. He transforms us into the likeness of the One who is our end and our means to reach it. Creation, redemption and eternity – three reasons that people are never merely means to an end. I suspect none of this is news to you. So, why, unless I’m sorely mistaken, do churches so readily turn people into the means to some other end than their own “progress and joy in the faith” (Phil. 1.25)? We could blame thoughtlessness or insensitivity. We might say it’s unintentional. We may even tell ourselves that the problem is just lack of sacrificial commitment from others. But these thin veneers hide the shameful truth that “ministry” has become an idol. And idols need sacrifices. The idol of our vainglory demands the lifeblood of God’s people. And that’s not right. Instead, the sacrifice God seeks is our living selves – alive in Christ, joyous in God’s grace, refreshed by the Spirit. So, when our sacrifice is killing us or damaging others, there’s something seriously wrong. So, people are always more than a means to an end. But, we should also be careful of a different error: turning ourselves and others into an end and not a means. That’s what happens if we become complacent or give in to self-preservation. Remember, we are both the end of God’s purposes and the means through whom He works. Disciples making disciples and growing in the process. That’s why we must always call people to discover the works he has prepared in advance for them to do, which is the fruit of the work he has done in us (Eph. 2.10). He works in us; we do his work in the world. To equip people for that task, we need to remember that they are ends and means. As they grow up in every way into Christ, speaking the truth in love, they are the end of that work (Eph. 4.15). So, in pastoral ministry we need to see people as both means and ends. We need spiritual wisdom to recognise when an end – think vision, mission, goal, strategy or programme – has turned a person into a means. Equally, we need insight to know when we have made a person into an end without a means by affirming laziness or selfishness. Above all, we need to know people well enough to spot which is the case. Whichever problem you diagnose, the first step is to affirm that you do not see the person as a means to an end alone. Only when they are sure they are not being used, can they begin to understand that God has a wonderful part for them to play in a story whose end is glorious. So, how can you show people that you value them as an end in themselves? Here are some practical suggestions: Never confuse God’s goal of creating mature disciples of Christ with your goal of running the church and sustaining its programmes. Tell people who serve that it’s okay to take a break or leave a ministry team, because you love them more than their contribution. (They do not need to know about your anxiety over replacing them. That is between you and the Lord!) Don’t use guilt trips to encourage people to serve. (If we don’t have more people, then..) That’s not right. Instead, captivate them with the wonder of God’s grace. Get to know your people well enough that you know their gifts. Don’t rely on general appeals. Having said that, give space for people to follow God’s call to serve in areas you might not have anticipated. Continue to bless people who stop serving in your church. Do this even when you don’t understand why they stopped. Bless those who leave your church, regardless of why they left. Shunning leavers is cult-like. It is wrong. Make sure your preaching and pastoral counsel encourages the full range of works of service God has prepared for his people. Be aware that much of it (perhaps most) is in workplaces and families rather than church programmes. (See our recent post "Buffet Church") Make a special effort to care for people who simply aren’t able to contribute towards ends you might have. Again, don’t confuse your ends with God’s ends. He may well use people in ways which you will never know. When people from outside serve your church, send a hand-written card of thanks. Speakers truly appreciate the time you take to do that. If it doesn’t go well, give honest feedback. If you stop inviting a regular, tell them why. Don’t shun them with silence. Having given the first words to Immanuel Kant, I feel I must leave the last words to the true Immanuel – God’s ultimate end and means through whom we reach God’s end, and in whom we become God’s means. He called us to His life-affirming, grace-saturated ethic of love for God and others, with words that call us to treat others and ourselves both as ends and as means: So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them. Matthew 7:12

Imagine your church as a buffet. A wonderful array of tasty foods. Sweet, savoury, spicy, a feast to tempt all available palates. Each food on the buffet represents a church activity – Sunday service, prayer meetings, home group, evangelistic events, social action projects, and more. As your people go down the line, some of the foods are selected by everyone. Let’s call them the steak and the salmon, popular with everyone. The Sunday service is steak and salmon. Everyone eats those. Further down the line, the pastas, rice and potato dishes are also popular. Home groups and prayer meetings, the staple diet of many evangelicals. Desserts? Look no further than the music team! Before considering the deficiencies of the analogy, allow me to make an observation about the way leaders sometimes view the buffet. Many leaders watch their people shuffle past the buffet and wish that more people were selecting the less popular foods. Beetroot, anyone? That’s cleaning up after the meeting. Swede? Taking old ladies home after church. Tapioca pudding? Locking up the building. I call it the Great Volunteer Push. All leaders, at some point, find themselves dragged into this activity. Consider all the activities in your church. They require volunteers. When faithful, consistent, reliable Ronald runs out of helpers on the coffee rota, he will eventually turn to you, dear vicar/pastor/minister. Because you know lots of people and well, you’re the boss. This is how you end up with the 80/20 rule: eighty percent of the work done by twenty percent of the people. As a leader, it’s enough to have you tearing out your hair. You don’t want to ask Colin and Sandy, the couple who serve in almost every ministry . . . again. But off you go, because they are such a lovely couple. And there’s no one else available. Apparently. There is so much wrong here, but so much that is recognisable in many churches. What’s the problem, then, with the analogy? And why do leaders succumb to the Great Volunteer Push? Leaders who run around looking for volunteers have often accepted the buffet analogy in its entirety. They view their churches as a whole variety of activities for which volunteers are needed. They are frustrated because everyone chooses the steak and salmon – the Sunday service – while never placing the beetroot on their plate. Too many people take, take, take and rarely give. The less popular foods (activities) require the same volunteers over and over again. That leads to stress, burnout and an overworked leader. What’s the solution? First, if you spend lots of time drumming up volunteers, then that’s a problem. I don’t think you’ll find anywhere in Scripture the admonition to ‘raise volunteers.’ What you will find is a description of the leader’s role as ‘one who equips.’ Equipping is not the same as filling rotas with volunteers. (See blog posts on equipping and releasing here and here.) Second, it’s a disaster to view a church in terms of its activities. See the buffet? That does NOT describe the work of God in the community you lead. It’s JUST the activities. One of the Living Leadership Associates once said to me, ‘you know, we leaders are control freaks.’ Control freaks view their church as the sum total of its activities. More prayer meetings, more healings, more converts, more coffee served. Add it all up and that’s your church. But that isn’t your church. A leader can’t possibly know all the ways that God is working, the myriad wonderful ways that his Spirit leads, guides, forms and grows the people of God. If you tend towards control-freakery, get rid of the buffet analogy. Immediately. For the rest of us, let’s go back and take a look at what’s on the table. Let’s, for a moment, empathise with the leader who is frustrated, because the frustration isn’t just due to lack of volunteers. It arises because churches often contain people who aren’t growing. They come to church on Sunday and that’s about it. Of course a spiritual life is not measured by outward activity alone, but it’s hard to watch Mrs. Jones or Mr. Robinson wander through life without really developing an intimate relationship with Jesus. A diet of just steak and salmon will make you ill. In fact, a diet of just one food will make anyone ill. Some of this has to do with church culture. What expectations do you have of your church membership? What do you offer to your members to help them grow in their gifts? Let’s go back to the table. When you take a new member along the line, how well do you explain all the different foods? Do new members know what’s on offer, or are they left to work that out for themselves? Do you offer a new member’s course? Do you offer a course on how to recognise and develop your gifts, like the Network course? Don’t like courses? Then how do you integrate new people? If the church is a network of relationships in which we are all equipped for works of service, then how does your church accomplish that? Who is equipping whom? How do new people find their place? Perhaps the challenge is this. It doesn’t really matter what they’re eating, as long as they’re eating something. They won’t grow unless they become involved. That doesn’t mean drumming up volunteers. It requires careful thinking about how the gifts of your members are developed, appreciated, celebrated and grown. That’s the work of the leader. To equip people for works of service. It turns out, then, that it’s wonderful to eat from the buffet. The buffet is not the measure of ALL God’s work in your church. Not at all. But the food on offer provides sustenance. It often creates community, binds us together in love and as we gather in the tasks before us, we experience the joy of growing together. That’s wonderful and life-giving. So the buffet does matter. Celebrate the buffet. Just don’t get carried away with the analogy, so that it restricts your thinking. God is at work in your church, in all the varied activities that take place. That’s good. But he’s much bigger than your list of activities. Of course he is! He’s God. He’s vast, he’s glorious and beyond our control. As one writer puts it, he’s uncontainable. He’s certainly more than a nice spread replete with savoury dishes and hors d’oeuvres. So equip your people and surrender your church into God’s hands. He is more than capable of advancing his kingdom, with or without the buffet. That he chooses to include the buffet is due to his love. After all, those dishes were prepared, cooked, baked, braised, boiled and roasted by him. The sauces are his, the dips, the meats, vegetables and desserts . . . he made them all. It’s his buffet. And when we eat from it together in love, everything tastes delicious. New resource! We are always working on expanding our resources. New this week we have an article on leading single people in your congregation.

Hamilton lands the first blow, but Verstappen hits him with a decisive left-hander into the first corner in the second round! This F1 season is shaping up to be a season for the ages. You won’t want to miss a single minute. I’m loving it. Today, more thoughts driven by Formula 1. What makes Lewis Hamilton a seven-time world champion? Being fortunate enough to drive the best car? Certainly, the car has helped. (See my last post on the importance of the car). But it isn’t just the car, is it? Raw talent? Well, he’s an exceptional driver. Sometimes he’s so good, the rest of the field just has to stand back and admire his achievements. Take, for example, his qualifying lap at the Styrian Grand Prix in 2020. He qualified 1.2 seconds faster than the next driver. That’s an absurd amount of time. Toto Wolff described it as a drive “not of this world.” The lap at Imola just recently was also breathtaking. But I’m not here to list Lewis Hamilton’s achievements. This is not a book. I want to examine what it takes to become a world champion. Good car. Check. Talent. Check. But that’s not enough. What it takes is this . . . Focus, focus, focus World champions dedicate their lives to the pursuit of just one thing. The G forces going through their bodies – especially their neck muscles – are tremendous. After two hours in the car, they often emerge dripping with sweat. You have to be very fit to drive to your greatest potential all the way to the end. Footballers can’t do it! Most goals are scored in the last ten minutes when one side is flagging. In F1, you can lose the race from one split second of lost concentration. So what of those who lead churches? What does it mean to focus, focus, focus? Two quotes. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3.13-14 Purity of heart is to will one thing. Søren Kierkegaard It is perhaps the greatest heart-breaking irony in a leader’s life, when the very thing which should be first, ceases to be so. God should be first in our waking thoughts, first in our priorities, our time with him protected from every incursion. He is our sole pursuit. And yet in the busyness of ministry, we are liable to lose our focus. And we do it with the best of intentions, and with a heart which often seeks the good. People quickly become our gods. Aren’t we supposed to love people? Yes indeed, but those two commandments are written with the order in mind. First, love God. And do so by loving your neighbour. If God is not your primary focus, then it won’t matter how much you give to people, because your priorities are out of kilter. So make the pursuit of your Lord your first priority. Every day. In every action. A time spent with God that drifts from one to two hours is NEVER a careless use of time. Ever. To love God means just that. To place him first before all other things. Listen to John Calvin. We are God’s own; therefore let every part of our existence be directed towards him as our only legitimate goal. Lewis Hamilton prioritises the winning of F1 world championships. He organises his life around that one objective. And so do others. They are straining every sinew to achieve that goal. Our goal? To love God with all that we are, all that we own, all that we do. And no, this doesn’t mean over-working. We at Living Leadership are very clear about that. Servicing Let’s take a look at that car. An F1 car is a thing of beauty. The designers manage to eke out a huge amount of downforce, but they also balance it perfectly between the front and rear tyres. At least, that’s the aim. Do you drive? If you do, do you have your car serviced? Of course you do. So how much work do they do on these F1 cars? There isn’t a nut, a bolt, a duct, a compressor, DRS which isn’t cleaned, examined, tinkered with, serviced and worked on until it’s working as close to perfection as the team can manage. All done within the rules, of course. Servicing the cars isn’t an added extra. It is integral to the success of the team. Think of the race as your public performance. A Sunday service. A teaching engagement. Public prayer. What kind of servicing are you doing on your soul? What’s going on behind the scenes? Recently, I’ve been reading some selections from the classics. Richard Rolle, Frank Laubach, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, C.S.Lewis, Henri Nouwen. Their wisdom is both challenging and humbling. These were people who dedicated their entire lives to the pursuit and service of God. They engaged in the spiritual disciplines, the servicing of their souls. They spent time alone, they meditated on the Word of God, they fasted and they prayed. They often wrestled with God. If your soul were a car, what kind of servicing does it need? Is your oil leaking? Are your tyres worn out? Do you need to go on a retreat? Do you need a friend to come alongside and encourage you? At Living Leadership, we provide opportunities for leaders to receive prayer and encouragement. The spiritual disciplines are practices which service the soul. They help us draw near to God. They shouldn’t be options. They should be essential. The Tyres Finally, those tyres. The truly great drivers manage their tyres. They are able to drive in such a way that they minimize the wear on the tyres as they drive. Sergio Perez is particularly good at this. So was Jenson Button. I guess you could call this “pacing yourself.” The Lord is not honoured by a servant who burns himself out – working ridiculous hours with little support until the tank is empty, the tyres are shot. That’s not a healthy way to serve in ministry. If you want to pace yourself, you must learn to rest, to recuperate, to relax. The sole pursuit of God doesn’t mean working until we destroy our mental health. It means enjoying him with all of who we are. Listening to his Spirit. A servant strengthened in God is a servant satisfied in God, equipped for service. So pace yourself. Manage those tyres. Focus, focus, focus. Service your soul. And pace yourself. Manage those tyres. So that you’re able to love and serve your God, energized, for the whole race.

Do you dream of a kinder, more compassionate, more just world? I do. Let me introduce you to the TV show, Unforgotten. It presents a world in which police officers are kind, upright, caring and compassionate. That’s not what we get in most crime dramas, but in Unforgotten, that’s exactly what we see. The show is hugely popular. Unforgotten follows an historic crime department in the Metropolitan Police, solving crimes dating back decades. Each season starts with the discovery of a body – normally just the skeletal remains. The lead detective is Cassie Stuart, played by Nicola Walker. She radiates intelligence, care and compassion. She speaks softly and carefully, and is adept at asking one final question as she leaves. Just like Columbo. She’s a smart woman. Her partner is Sunny Khan, played by Sanjeev Bhaskar, quiet and intense. Together, they lead their team with diligence and integrity. No blundering plods here. In this show, you will never see police officers accusing people, shouting at them or harassing them. And there are no car chases. It’s a breath of fresh air, which is worth gulping down. What makes Unforgotten so . . . unforgettable? The illumination of human drives and desires. It is a show with an intense focus on secrets and lies, and it proceeds along two tracks. Track one is the detective work itself – the forensic evidence, the search for documents, the unearthing of connections. Track two is the behaviour of the suspects. As in all crime dramas, these two tracks collide. As the truth emerges, the suspects, who have been lying, find they can’t hide. They make silly mistakes, revealing their guilt. Or they can’t keep their stories straight. All the characters have something to hide. Truth is lurking underneath and for various reasons, they seek to hide it. On many occasions, the stories reveal the devastation of sexual abuse. Often there is shame. On occasion, it is the desire to protect a child. In other cases, it is guilt. Anger, revenge, family brokenness, misunderstandings, fear, they’re all on display in Unforgotten. Which is why it’s so powerful. It is a show with heart. Because it seeks to reveal the human heart. *Secrets and lies – great drama so often revolves around those two. Shame and fear – two of the most significant drivers of human behaviour. Secrets, lies, shame, and fear pretty much describe Genesis 3. Everything that follows in the history of the world emerges from that brief interaction between Satan and the first humans. We could, of course, insert pride here, but for now, let’s just stick with these four. We are lied to, then we lie to each other. Afterwards, we apportion blame. We seek to keep our behaviour secret because we feel shame. Then we fear the one who made us. Finally, we are cursed and must live under a curse, which cements these behaviours into us for generations. We’re still there. All from a few short verses. So here’s the first application for us as leaders. Do you have secrets? Do you feel shame for something, which has not been properly addressed? Do you fear God’s wrath, instead of embracing his love? What are you afraid of? All of us, to some extent, carry fear in our hearts. Even if it’s simply that our loved ones will perish or leave us. Do you have someone in whom you can confide? A friend or counsellor to whom you can unburden yourself? We at Living Leadership are here to help with mentoring and pastoral care, should you wish it. Most of us know the antidotes. Perfect love casts out fear. The truth will set you free. Resist the devil and he will flee. But it’s not enough to trot out the right verses. We need to live in them. Fully and intentionally. We need to live in the light. The recent shameful accounts of prominent Christian leaders, whose hidden lives have now been brought into the light, should give us fair warning. There is no hiding place from the truth. Not really. So what are you hiding? What are you running from? God sees all, knows all, and his love is everlasting. The second application has to do with the people we serve. How good is the pastoral care in your church? When a person presents with significant emotional anguish, do you have a way of helping that person find counsel and healing? The truth may set us free, but it is also akin to ripping off a scab. Health may follow as the wound heals, but it hurts like hell during the healing process. Will we walk with those who have held in secrets for decades? Will we be slow to judge and quick to listen, ready with a compassionate heart? Perhaps the reason why Unforgotten is so popular has to do with its stories of redemption. A woman with a shameful past hides it from her partner. The past is revealed. Rejection follows. Her anguish and misery cause anyone with a heart to cry out, “But what she needs is grace! Give her grace!” And grace she finally receives. Stories of grace will always touch our hearts, and they should. Grace is right at the heart of our experience of God. Unless you’re missing a pulse, it’s hard not to be moved by a character who receives grace. We Christians understand this, but so, it appears, do many in our world, who long to find a way out of their secrets and lies. What a powerful message we’ve been given. A message of God’s unmerited favour towards all those who would draw near. One final observation. At one point, someone asks, “Does the passing of time change the seriousness of the crime? Just because it took place thirty years ago, it’s still a crime.” (Paraphrase) Unforgotten’s foundational value is something we recognise instinctively. The astonishing value of each human being. That’s why even decades later, each victim is a person who should never be forgotten. Hence the title. That is a value we cherish dearly. For God created us for himself and we bear his image. We are precious to him. Infinitely precious. Today, let us give him thanks for the gift of life, for the chance to live in the light. Every day is an opportunity to banish secrets and lies. Every encounter with our heavenly Father bears within it the invitation to put our fear and our shame to death. For perfect love drives out fear. He has nailed our shame to a Roman cross and it binds us no more. How wonderful to serve a God of compassion, who bore our shame, who offers us new life. *I recommend Secrets and Lies, the 1996 Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning movie by Mike Leigh. The title tells you what to expect

Formula 1 is back. With a bang! On Sunday, Lewis Hamilton won the opening race of 2021 in Bahrain by the skin of his teeth. Wheel-to-wheel action all the way to the end. He actually lost the race lead to Max Verstappen in the Red Bull with five laps to go. However, the Dutchman exceeded track limits on Turn Four so was ordered to give up the lead. He then didn’t have the speed to re-take the lead. What an irony that it was Red Bull who had complained about Mercedes exceeding track limits during the race. Hoist. Own. Petard. Oh, the cruelty of F1! (I can already hear ardent F1 fans tapping away at the keys to give me ‘feedback.’ Winking smiley face.) I’m not an F1 geek, but I’ve come to love this sport. Especially since the release of the Netflix show, which has followed the last few seasons of the sport. So what, in heaven’s name, has F1 got to do with Christian leadership? As it happens, quite a lot. It throws up all kinds of analogies and lessons. Lights out! Here we go. First, the brain has two sides. A left-hand side and a right-hand side. These two sides of the brain perform different functions. The right brain is more associated with the emotions, intuition, imagination; the left brain is more about logic, maths, sequencing. In F1, we have a sport which brings together in perfect harmony these two sides of the brain. Here’s how: It’s all about the car. Make no mistake, in F1, the car is king. The championship is won by engineers in a factory with their computers and their scientific application of aerodynamics. More downforce? Less wear on the tyres? A more powerful engine? It’s the designers and engineers who make it happen. Something as seemingly innocuous as a brake duct caused one of the controversies of last season. Some of them were so upset about a little brake duct on a competitor’s car! But when we watch F1, we don’t cheer the designer at the computer, who’s just figured out how to make the car go faster. We don’t gasp when he clicks and drags his design onto the schematics, and in so doing wins the championship for his driver. Of course not! During the Netflix show, they give absolutely NO attention to the science. None at all. They just talk about “working harder.” Why is this?* Because F1 is all about the raw emotion. It’s a feeling sport, as all sport is to varying degrees. It’s all heart. The roar of the engine is a metaphor for the human heart. It’s a lion’s roar of passion and drive. F1 is a sport in which the emotions run very high. Just listen to a driver who has won a race, the shrieking, the ecstasy, the sheer unadulterated joy that comes from winning. Human beings come in all shapes and sizes, of course. Some are critical thinkers, others are emotional artists. I understand that. However, the fan of F1 is mostly caught up in the emotion. Why? Because human beings are feeling beings above all things. We are certainly more than just a swell of emotions – how could we build bridges and rockets otherwise? – but we are often carried along by our emotions. Have you noticed that during an argument your explanations mean almost nothing? Arguments reveal just how emotional we are, whether we suppress our emotions (very common in the U.K.) or not. It’s worth adding that I find those who are uncomfortable about discussing emotions are often those who need to express them more. Make of that what you will. So . . . The people you serve are feeling beings. They have felt this pandemic deeply. They feel the loss of relatives, the loss of connection. Their emotions have been wrung out over the past year. They need love, not explanations. They want to be loved. As we all do. How wonderful that we have a God whose love is mighty and everlasting, and beautiful and pure. Second . . . Did you just say it was all about the car? Are you kidding?! Have you ever seen Max Verstappen drive a car? How is it that he manages to out-perform every single one of his teammates? Sometimes by almost a second (in F1, a second is a vast ocean). But George Russell climbed into the Mercedes last season – a man who was at the back of the grid in his Williams – and almost won the race. It doesn’t matter who drives that Mercedes, the car is what matters. Or does it? And so goes the debate in F1 – is it the driver or the car? It’s both. Which is why F1, unlike any other sport, is all about expectations. In the Premier League, only five teams have a realistic chance of winning the league. But hold on, because Fulham beat the champions, Liverpool, not that long ago. Not so in F1. In F1, the Williams will be at or near the back of the grid every race. Guaranteed. Their car just isn’t good enough. That’s how it is. AlphaTauri aren’t fighting with Red Bull and Mercedes, they’re challenging the other mid-field teams. This means that when a team over-performs, they are ecstatic. Absolutely delirious. We came fifth! A Williams scored a point. Let’s celebrate! You won’t see that in many other sports. And when out of nowhere, a mid-field team wins a Grand Prix, like last season, the whole team goes bananas! When Pierre Gasly, demoted the previous season from Red Bull, won the 2020 Italian Grand Prix in his AlphaTauri, I thought he was going to explode. He was leaping about like a wild man. His whole team went berserk in the pit lane. The lesson? The Parable of the Talents (Matt 25.14-30). Each servant is given a different number of talents. Each F1 driver is given a different car. Each servant is asked to be faithful with what he’s given. Each F1 driver is asked to do his best with what he’s given. In the church, we’re not competing, of course, (see blog post on competition here) but we are given different gifts and different opportunities. We’re not all the same. God knows this, which is why we’re each called to be faithful with what we’re given. The world keeps telling us that we’re being measured against metrics like success, wealth, fame. But these are lies. First, we’re not being measured against anyone at all! We are simply given a life to lead, and we’re called to offer it back to our Master. And each of us is dealt a different hand. From rich to poor, From justice-seekers to beauty-creators, From musical to tone deaf, From artistic to science whiz, From ‘buttoned up’ to ‘let it all hang out,’ From thinkers to feelers to all mixed up. In your church, you will have people with tremendous gifts and others with gifts that are less sparkling, less fancy. As leaders, we must endeavour to communicate to ALL our members that we are valuable because of who God is, and who he has made us to be. We are each unique and beautiful. Each one of us. 1 Cor 12 until we die. Eliminate anything in the church which creates competition – resist the fame culture with all that you have. And keep pounding away with the message that God is worthy of our praise, because of who he is. Give thanks that he has made us for himself – each one of us – to worship him, and find our identities in him. ALL of us. Let me finish with a piece of wisdom from John Calvin: “We are God’s own; to him, therefore, let us live and die.” *It’s worth saying that F1 teams don’t share their designs, because they’re highly secretive. The journalists never venture into the science, because they’d be given short shrift. “Oh no you don’t. That’s private.”