Pastor Dr Philip Lyn, 11/06/2011
Overarching Truth: “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” ~J. Maxwell
In 1973, Nobel price winner for Medicine, Karl von Frisch deciphered how honeybees dance / communicate. All the honeybees are mobilized that the queen survived, the colony is in order and to ensure the reproduction of the next generation. The honeybees communicated where the honey is in what is called the honeybee dance.First, we need to hear. Secondly, we need to see. Thirdly, once we know the direction, we need to do it. Fourthly, we need to grow it (reproduce it.) That’s mobilization for a purpose.
The Pareto’s principle suggests that 20% of the people in the church do 80% of the work. In a healthy church, the percentage of people who work could be higher. There is no church that is 100% mobilized like a honeybee colony. The main reason to mobilize the whole church is not a feel good factor but because it is God’s will.
The church is central to the world, it is not peripheral to the world.
Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The challenge: not everyone is ready to be mobilized. Some are self-centred (not die to self yet), self-preserving (hurt before) or self-limited (felt inadequate, not enough faith).
How do we get from self to faith? Membership, events, programs may not work all the time.
In the corporate world, we apply the stick (demotion, salary cut, etc.) and carrot (promotion, increment, etc.) method. We don’t have a stick nor a carrot in the church. The church is the largest voluntary organization in the world. When people serve, it’s because they see God in your, integrity, love for the people, etc.
A. Hardware
Hardware is fundamental. We need to rewire our mind and spirit.
1. Hear “it”!
a. The Priesthood of all believers
1Pe 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I am a priest. I am part of the royal priesthood. I am part of God’s living priesthood. It doesn’t mean everybody is a leader in the church. Everyone has access to God but the pastor is called to provide pastoral care and to lead the church.
An Anglican said the most effective way to pray is to kneel and clasp the hands. The Baptist said he could just stand / sit where he was and it’s more important to have faith. The Pentecostal said one must speak in tongues. A cleaner overheard and said she was outside cleaning windows and slipped and was hanging upside down and she discovered that was the best position to pray. Every one cleric or otherwise can pray to God.
b. That Ministry of all believers
Luk 10:17-20 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (18) He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (19) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (20) However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
I am a minister. There are ministers, cabinet ministers and prime minister. I am a minister of the King of kings.
Our portfolio is to heal the sick and to cast our demons. We are given the authority.
Bi-vocational pastors and leaders are the best. They know the ministry of all believers. They do struggle with time though.
c. The Calling and Gifting of all believers
Refer to Rom 12, 1 Cor 12 and Eph 4.
We can take the DISC or Rick Warren’s SHAPE tests. We can start in the CG. We have fulfillment by serving. We can continue to activate our gifts in the workplace. We only meet once in a week in the CG – there is not enough time to use our gifts. When we look at the moon, we don’t say it’s a crescent, a half-moon or a 3/4 moon or a full moon. We just say it’s a moon. The same with the church. We don’t see how imperfect it is. We see Jesus. It’s the church. Our gifting goes out to the marketplace and the nation.
d. This Surrender of all believers
Eph 3:10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, (11) according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are consecrated and given to Jesus to serve him. How do we surrender to Jesus?
When God calls us to Himself, He is calling us into His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God while invisible, is manifested in the church. And in this visible part of the Kingdom, there is a structure of spiritual authority.
When we surrender ourselves to the service of God’s Kingdom, we max our priesthood, ministry and calling and giftings.
2. “See” it!
a. Clear Vision
Without vision, the people parish. We must have vision and mission to mobilize the people. Without that, the people will go everywhere and the church will go no where.
If you can see it, you can seize it. John. Maxwell.Without vision, the church would just be doing things – there are events and activities but there is no growth.
There were two guys working for the city. One would dig a hole -- he would dig, dig, dig. The other would come behind him and fill the hole -- fill, fill, fill. These two men worked furiously; one digging a hole, the other filling it up again.A man was watching from the sidewalk and couldn't believe how hard these men were working, but couldn't understand what they were doing. Finally he had to ask them.He said to the hole digger, "I appreciate how hard you work, but what are you doing? You dig a hole and your partner comes behind you and fills it up again!" The hole digger replied, "Oh yeah, must look funny, but the guy who plants the trees is sick today."b. Clear Goal
We must have clear goals so we know whether we are winning or on the way there.
Pastor Philip said nobody told Manchester United are not winners because they are winning. (Well, they are not winners of the Champions League.)
c. Clear Vehicles & clear Processes
We must choose the vehicles we want AFTER asking God. If we choose the wrong vehicles, we waste time and energy.
B. Software
1. Do “it”! – Grow leaders and team2 frogs on a lily pad. 1 decided to jump into the pond. How many frogs are left on the lily pad? 2.
Execution beats decision every time. The one who makes 2 decision and execute 1 beats the one who makes 10 decisions without executing any.
a. Encourage, Equip, Ensure Resonance of all leaders
Everybody agrees what to do.
Canadian geese fly long distances without losing their formation. The leader took the air resistance.
b. Enable, Empower leaders
We have to take a risk. Some of them may fail. But if we don’t’ execute, we will never know.
c. Enhance Leaders’ Spiritual Profiles
When a leader is recognized, it’s easier for him to serve.
d. Extend their influence to Recruit
It’s easier for the leader to recruit others when he is recognized.
2. Grow “it”! – Grow great culture
a. Influence and Recruit Culture
When we give leverage to the leaders, it increases their influences and makes it easier for them to recruit.
b. Macro versus Micro Culture
c. Share and Celebrate Culture
This creates high morale.
In no morale, the leader does everything.
In low morale, the leader does productive things.
In moderate morale, the leader does difficult things.
In high morale, the leader does the little things.
d. Re-Evaluate and Re-align Culture
Undergirding Truth: “Without Him we cannot, without us He will not.” Prayer is the Key: J Hayford
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