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Living Leadership Podcast - Series 2, Episode 2 The second of three talks by Dave Burke delivered at the 2007 Pastoral Refreshment Conference Midlands, exploring the theme 'Experiencing God's Love in Leadership'. Listen now

We need to talk about overwork. Not Kevin.* Overwork. Living Leadership was founded in 2009 partly in response to the very real issues around minister burnout. Our Annual Pastoral Refreshment Conference is a two day retreat aimed at providing leaders and their spouses with a restful space to . . . well, rest. Why should this even be necessary? Overwork, among other things. Stress. Pressure. Not enough rest. That’s why we need to talk about overwork. Because Christian leaders are burning out. And if they don’t actually burn out and leave the ministry, they’re often working right on the edge of their capacities. If this isn’t happening to you personally, I imagine you know another leader to whom it is happening. So we need to talk about overwork. The next few blog posts will specifically address the problem. First, a definition problem. What is overwork? In fact, we could step even further back. What is work when you’re a leader in the church? Doesn’t the bible talk about taking up your cross, giving everything? Doesn’t Jesus tell his followers that if they go back to plant a field, or attend a wedding they’re not up to the job? Doesn’t that mean my entire life is available for service? And isn’t that a good thing? What is work? It’s life. I’ve spent the day counselling people, preparing a sermon, serving food to the homeless, attending meetings, praying, leading a funeral, and then I get home and a church member calls me at 8.30pm because he wants to talk. So I talk. For an hour. That’s why I’m tired, but that’s the job. There’s nothing I can do to change things. What is work? It’s life. From the moment I get up to the moment when my head hits the pillow. And I’m struggling for balance, because ministry is life. I’m committed. Christ has called me and this is the cost. My life. Before I respond, I get it. I really do. The Lord calls us to serve. He desires 100% commitment; a life lived fully for him. Nothing that I write later is an attempt to deny this. But there’s a problem here. Overwork is driving good people out of leadership. It is burning them out and the church loses when good leaders quit. So, for those who struggle to see any light at the far end of a dark tunnel, let’s start by agreeing that God rests. On the seventh day, God rested. The writer of Genesis could have stopped at the end of the sixth day. Creation. There it is. It’s good. But he didn’t. He records that God rested, and then that day is linked to a day of rest for his image-bearing representatives. You and I. The Sabbath was instituted to recognise that human beings need to rest. Rest is not failing to give 100%. It is a vital part of a human being’s need. It is not even a result of the Fall. It is the way we are made and it is essential. It recognises our need for a rhythmic life, which ebbs and flows in response to our creator. No one is designed to work all the time. No one. Not even Jesus, who often retreated from his friends to spend time alone. The Sabbath was made for man, he taught. Rest was designed for us, to enable us to flourish. It is not an added extra, to be fitted in if there’s time. It is central to our make-up, because of the way we’re designed. Furthermore, a time of rest permits a time for reflection. You can’t stop and hear from God when you’re running at full capacity all of the time. You need time to pause. Time to breathe in. And breathe out. Stop right now. Breathe in. Hold for 10 seconds. Then breathe out. Rest is good. It restores. It heals. It equips you for the works of service to which you’re called. Rest is good. That’s all I have room for today. Next time, some answers to my original question: Overwork – what’s that all about!? This week, we’re releasing the second part of Marcus Honeysett’s article, ‘The Leader’s Heart.’ Part Two. Click here. *We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver - a book (2003), followed by a movie.

What’s the longest name in the Bible? No, this isn’t a joke from a cracker – like the old chestnut that goes: “Who’s the shortest man in the Bible? Knee-high-miah” – it’s a serious question. If you’re on top of your Scripture trivia you may answer, “Maher-shalal-hash-baz” (Isaiah 8:1). And you might be right. Certainly, many people say that’s the longest name (and word) in the Bible. The name of one of Isaiah’s sons, it means something like, “The spoil speeds, the prey hastens”. Like another son of Isaiah named Shear-jashub (Isaiah 7:3), meaning “a remnant shall return”, this boy's name was laden with prophetic significance. In just a few years’ time, Assyria, hastening to take the spoil, would sweep down from the north, taking the people of Israel into exile. But before God affirmed that in the naming of this baby, He had assured Isaiah through his older son’s name that a remnant would survive. We may not be facing an Assyrian invasion, but rapid cultural changes and deep political divisions across our nations may leave us fearful for the future. But before you (re)name your child “Leaving looms, the union crumbles” or “Remainers moan, democracy dies”, take heed of the meaning of Shear-jashub. God is sovereign and the gospel will prevail. Whatever happens on the world stage, the Lord’s promises will stand. Shouldn’t that put all of our political hopes and fears into perspective? But, ‘Baz’ may not have the longest name in the Bible after all. Take a closer look at a verse that’s familiar at this time of year – Isaiah 9:6. In our English translations the name reads as four titles separated by commas, but it could be written like this: Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom. And you thought Baz’s name was a mouthful! This last of four prophetic names in Isaiah 7-9 clearly refers to someone greater than either of Isaiah’s sons. As does the other name we haven’t mentioned yet - another Christmas favourite - Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). There’s some uncertainty as to whether a child born in Isaiah’s time fulfilled the ‘Immanuel’ and ‘Pele…’ prophecies in part, but the achievements prophesied for this child go way beyond anything in the history of Israel. With the benefit of Christian hindsight, we know they can only refer in their fullness to the Lord Jesus. He is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). He is also ‘Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom’. This longest name signifies much more than a tiny remnant clinging on while the world turns upside down. It inspires us to hope for wonderful things to come and breeds peace as we wait. Advent and Christmas are often intensely busy for Christian leaders. Stretched between creating attractive programmes and caring for lonely people, we can forget what the longest name in the Bible tells us. So, I urge you just now to take a few moments and reflect. Jesus is your Wonderful Counsellor. If you’re ever foolish or confused, take heart that all wisdom is found in Him and He guides us tenderly through that other Counsellor He promised, the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Mighty God or, as some translators suggest, Hero God? If you feel weak and weary, perhaps even about to go under, remember He came to your rescue and He holds you firm. Jesus is the Everlasting Father. If you struggle with rejection and self-loathing, rest in the arms of the God who was revealed to be a faithful Father through the incarnation of His Son. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. If your heart overflows with turmoil and tensions, hear Him speak the shalom of God, commanding the waters to ‘Be Still!’ and restoring your soul. The team in Living Leadership will be praying that you, the shepherds of God’s people will find space over this season to be refreshed in the grace gift of God in Christ. So, let me close with a prayer for you: God, our Everlasting Father, affirm us in your unfailing love. Lord Jesus, our Prince of Peace, calm our troubled minds. Holy Spirit, our Wonderful Counsellor, lead us into faithfulness. Three in One, our Mighty God, enable us to endure unto the end. Amen.

Living Leadership Podcast - Series 2, Episode 1 The first of three talks by Dave Burke delivered at the 2007 Pastoral Refreshment Conference Midlands, which had the theme 'Experiencing God's Love in Leadership'. Listen now

As go the leaders, so goes the church. Peter Scazzero.* Gulp. That’s a lot of pressure. But it shouldn’t be. After all, Christ is the head of the church. So what’s Peter Scazzero talking about? Why is one person’s emotional and spiritual health so important? After all, something amazing happened in 1517. Luther read Romans and realised he could go straight to God, no priest required. A person’s direct relationship with God was what counted. And that’s as it should be. So how can it be that the leader makes such a huge difference while at the same time it’s also true that the Christian faith is about a personal connection with God? How can both of these truths stand together? Here’s how. Nowadays, we grow in our relationship with God through many habits, practices and influences. We don’t just listen to our pastor, priest or vicar. Aside from the daily reading of Scripture, we listen to podcasts, we read articles and, of course, we meet with many other Christians who help us grow. That’s our Christian community and it’s beautiful. But among our human influences, it’s the church leader who matters the most. Bold statement. Here’s why. Human beings in organisations look to leaders. We create top-down models with a person at the top, because we’re wired to do this. It may well be that this reflects a kind of brokenness, but it’s now part of who we are. God works with us as sinful people, not as saints he might wish us to be. (Wow. That last sentence certainly packs a theological punch. Discuss.) To continue . . . Even when churches produce a ‘team model’ approach, supposedly following the early church, a leader will often emerge. As in Orwell’s Animal Farm, all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. One of the team will usually give a lead in a given situation, even if that person doesn’t want the title ‘leader.’ Teams don’t lead. Leaders do. We shouldn’t be surprised. The bible seems to spend an inordinate amount of time following the lives of Israel’s leaders. Then in the NT, after Jesus, we follow Peter and then Paul. The example set by leaders is right at the heart of the bible. Paul’s letters set out a number of requirements for elders and leaders. This is why the leader matters so much. It’s why leadership qualities and gifts make such a huge impact on a church. As go the leaders, so goes the church. This is why your emotional and spiritual health matters so much. When you’re not healthy, the church will feel the effects. Overworked, stressed, power-hungry, petty, insecure, reckless, unwise leaders lead to churches with problems. But you’re not any of those, are you? We need leaders who will make a real effort to understand who they are. Why they make the decisions they do. Socrates summed up the entirety of our human need in this area with just two words: Know thyself. It takes time and effort. It’s no good simply avoiding the issue with a hearty ‘Oh, just get on with it.’ If you’re British, the stiff upper lip won’t do. It’s not navel-gazing or any of those pejorative terms indicating that we’re spending too much time on ourselves. It’s vital to the health of your church. Because . . . As go the leaders, so goes the church. This week, we’re releasing the first part of a talk by Marcus Honeysett, delivered to evangelists at All Souls Langham Place in 2011. Click here. *Peter Scazzero is the author of The Emotionally Healthy Church by Zondervan.

Living Leadership Podcast - Series 1, Episode 5 Marcus Honeysett shares honestly about the habits of life that either sustain us or wear us out in Christian leadership. Listen now

What does the word ‘culture’ mean? It’s used a lot nowadays. Not theatres, art galleries and sculpture, a different kind of culture. That thing in the petri dish? No, not that kind either. French cheese, German engineering, Italian fashion? No, try again. What about Spanish punctuality, quiet Australians, ugly Italians . . . and you guessed it, British irony?! Nope. The other kind. The kind of culture when you say, ‘today’s culture is challenging for the church,’ or ‘the culture of our society encourages behaviours which are so damaging.’ That kind of culture. Here’s a definition: Shared values and beliefs expressed by the behaviours of a group. Understanding that meaning of the word can be very fruitful. Sadly, we often start at the wrong end of the sentence. We observe the behaviours first and critique them. Why do teenagers walk around staring at their phones? Why are elderly people often abandoned? In the 1950s, why did cinema-goers in Britain stand for the National Anthem before watching the film? Out comes the judge in each of us and then, if we’re honest, so does the guilt. Surely it’s more helpful to start by looking at the first part of the sentence. The values and beliefs. Why? Because behaviours are driven by values and beliefs. They’re driven by the things we hold dear. They’re often driven by the lies we believe. And to top it off, our behaviours are driven by our beliefs and values, regardless of whether we can identify them or not. Why is your teenage daughter uploading selfies to Instagram? Because she holds certain beliefs about herself and the value of physical beauty. Along with other beliefs about belonging, attraction and group identity. And she shares these beliefs with her peer group. That’s key. Culture expresses shared values and beliefs. We hold them along with others. That’s what binds us together. The sharing of beliefs and values. Which then lead to our behaviours. What do British people do on November 11 each year? They remember. They march. They sing. They honour. Why? Because together they hold shared beliefs about the sacrifice of their countrymen and women. So what about a church? What is the culture of your church? It would be easy to state that it's based on our denominational statements of faith. That’s not what I’m asking. A church culture is only partly based on its religious beliefs. The church is full of all kinds of people with a variety of other values and beliefs, while also being affected by the wider culture of our country. Consider these questions: Why do Africans and South Americans often hold four hour church services? Why do American Christians favour pot-lucks? And why do they often attend Adult Sunday school? Why do South Korean Christians readily submit to their church leader? Why, in some denominations, do people all pray at the same time? Why do some Christians say ‘I’ll pray for you,’ then walk away, while others say ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and then place their hand on your shoulder and immediately start praying? Shared values and beliefs. That’s why. And one person in your church affects the culture more than any other. The leader. Yes, you, the leader, with your values and beliefs which you communicate to your congregation each Sunday. Your people watch you, listen to you, and pick up on the choices you make in your life. Of all the people in your church, you are the one who has the greatest ability to change a culture. What priorities do you have? Do you value family? Sport? Long hours? Children? The elderly? The disadvantaged? Music? Do you inspire your people to live in a certain way? Do you model a godly life? Are you guided by the Spirit? And here’s one to get you thinking. Do you understand how your own beliefs and values influence the choices you make? In other words, how is your emotional and spiritual health? That’s for next time. For today, do read Marcus Honeysett’s article on being 'An Agent of Change - Part Two.' And be encouraged. You are never alone as you seek God’s will for your life in ministry and for your people.

Living Leadership Podcast - Series 1, Episode 4 Marcus Honeysett explores how leaders can be sustained for the long haul by learning to draw continually from the wells of God's salvation. Listen now

*Michael is the manager of a small, country hotel tucked away in the beautiful New Forest. He arrives early each morning and works hard. He can often be seen behind the front desk checking in customers. Or waiting on guests in the dining room. Sometimes, he joins the sous-chef and cuts vegetables and even makes beds with the chambermaids. His staff love him. He rarely takes an afternoon off, preferring to do paperwork when the hotel’s quiet. *Jimmy runs a similar-sized hotel in the New Forest. He chats with arriving guests, charms them while they’re having lunch or dinner, but he spends most of his time either on the phone conducting sales calls or training his staff. He never cuts vegetables or makes beds. Nor does he wait on tables. Jimmy plays tennis in the afternoon and leaves on time. Michael is feeling rundown. Jimmy’s profits have been going up. Michael’s hotel is struggling. A business might not be a church but there is a message in here, surely. So let’s deal with that oft-used business slogan – Don’t work hard, work smart! Is this about ‘working smart?’ Perhaps. But in a church setting, this is about a lot more than ‘smart working.’ This has to do with the very definition of ‘spiritual leadership.’ Why do church leaders burn out? What drives a church leader? Why do long hours worked by church leaders so often lead to a sense of dissatisfaction? Something’s going wrong here. And this short blog post isn’t going to fix it, of course. But if you’re one of those trying to figure out why your long hours aren’t ‘working for you,’ then here’s the beginning of an answer. Two words. Equipping and releasing. Ephesians 4.11-12 is a key text for spiritual leadership: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. To equip his people. One of the chief temptations of all leaders is to ‘do it for others.’ After all, shouldn’t I be serving alongside my people? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do? First, there is nothing in here which prohibits a leader from serving ‘alongside his people.’ The genius of the Bible, though, is that its wisdom goes to the root. On leadership, rather than being prescriptive and narrow, it simply highlights a broad principle. Ephesians 4.12 addresses the primary goal of a leader. Leaders are there to equip God’s people for works of service. That’s it. If your congregation is not ‘being equipped,’ then something’s not right. The Lord knows each and every circumstance that a church leader faces. So if you’re a church leader, he knows what you’re facing. And he doesn’t ask the impossible. Equip your people. Then release them. There’s no point in equipping them if they have no opportunities for using the gifts and knowledge they’ve gained. So that means you’ll have to trust them. It will also mean you won’t be the centre of attention. But of course there is so much more to this discussion. So this week, I’m handing over to Paul Coulter, whose wise words will take you much further than I can here. Here’s the second part of his article on servant leadership . . . or leading servants. Click here. *Names have been changed, but their experiences are ‘based on a true story.’

So you want to galvanise your church into action. No, you don’t. You want . . . hmm, you’re not quite sure what you want, but you want more than this. The congregation has become sedentary and seems to have lost its passion. You remember the heady days a few years ago, when so much was happening. New believers. New initiatives reaching people in need. God moving through the church so much, you didn’t have room in the service for all the testimonies. But now it seems to have gone flat. The initiatives are still there, but some are now struggling to find volunteers. You’re wondering whether some of them should close. The worst thing is, you feel responsible. You feel like you carry the load of the entire community and when the church struggles, everyone is looking at you. So . . . what’s wrong, vicar? What’s up, pastor? It’s not fair, is it? It’s not your fault. But you want to make some changes. You want to change the culture of the church, to keep it moving forward, but you’re facing resistance. Some people like it as it is. They like the security of saying ‘we’ve always done it this way.’ It’s not true, but it feels true to them. So you’re seeking help in how to move a church from comfort to mission. For you, it’s all about maintaining the church’s focus on the goal of . . . well, there are lots of phrases for this. Spreading the gospel. Spreading the work of the Kingdom. Reaching the city, the world and everyone in between. Being mission-focused, while also feeding the flock. But it’s going to be uncomfortable. Some won’t like the changes you’re considering. And rumbles among the faithful are the last thing you want. In addition, changing a culture is hard. Really hard. Try and fail and you can quickly be shown the door. So much easier to opt for safety. And comfort. But God’s not really interested in comfort. You know that; you know that change is the only way forward. But it’s hard, so you’re seeking help in how to move forward. The next few articles are written by Marcus Honeysett, the founder of Living Leadership. Here's the first one. Click here. If you’re seeking insight into how to keep your church from stagnating, then do subscribe to this blog.

Living Leadership Podcast - Series 1, Episode 3 Marcus Honeysett helps us understand how we can keep disciple-making the primary focus of our leadership. Listen now

Living Leadership Podcast - Series 1, Episode 2 Marcus Honeysett helps us reflect on what it means to be spiritually well-formed leaders and how to be devoted to continually growing in our spiritual formation. Listen now