3 missing church leadership practices
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Between serving on church staff and consulting churches around the U.S., I've noticed a few church leadership practices. There are three practices I've noticed that are missing, absent, or a low priority for local church staff. What are the consequences of these missing practices? Can you afford to not practice them?
Smell Like Sheep (Presence)
Church leadership and staff are given a mandate and job description from God. Biblically, the role of church leadership isn't up for interpretation or reinventing. Rather, it's defined, described, and prescribed.
What should church leadership practice? 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and 1 Peter 5:1-5 tell us what they should practice and in what manner they should conduct themselves:
- Shepherd
- Be an Example
- Teach
- Protect
- Pray
- Preach
- Make Disciples
- Evangelize
None of these can be accomplished without being among the sheep. Too often, church leadership ministers from a distance. They don't smell like the sheep because they aren't among the sheep. Time spent isn't with the sheep but on the programs that funnel the sheep to a scheduled event that's intended to spiritually form them.
Church leadership cannot fulfill their job description without presence amid the flock. Church staff should spend time with people. Go to coffee meetings, lunches, join a small group, and ask questions to get to know the flock better. At the same time, let the sheep know you. Place your presence amidst the flock and smell like sheep.
Spiritual Productivity (Prayer)
In Acts 6:4, the apostles devoted themselves to prayer and preaching God's Word as the foremost important matter of their ministry. Operations, needs, benevolence, and conflict resolution were entrusted to appointed Deacons.
It's clear in the Book of Acts that the early church was a praying and preaching church. If prayer was primary at the establishment of the Church, how imperative is prayer in the present day? Sadly, I have found most churches do not prioritize prayer. Some surveys show that most pastors pray less than 15 minutes a day. Is this ministering in the power of man, not the Spirit? Does church leadership's prayer life reveal a sin of self-reliance?
Ministry should be effective and productive. Prayer is the most effective and productive spiritual work church leadership can do. Pleading with the Sovereign God of the universe, who has the power to accomplish anything in a day, is spiritual productivity.
How can church leadership pray more? Schedule it. Block out your calendar with rhythms of regular prayer. Don't just schedule the time, make a prayer plan. Be intentional. Prepare ahead of time. Put it in writing. What will you pray, and for whom?
Here's a good outline to use:
- Adoration of God
- Confession of Sins to God
- Thankfulness to God
- Supplication or Requests: Yourself, Your Family, Church Leadership and Staff, Your Lay Leaders and Volunteers, Your Small Group Members, Ministry Goals and Impact (Pray Big!)
Make Disciples (Progress)
Many in church leadership don't make disciples. They manage programs but don't mature Christ followers. They organize events, but not meaningful mission. They attract an audience but don't activate an army for spiritual formation that grows their love for God and others.
You can make leaders without making disciples. Plenty of competent leaders cast compelling vision yet lack a deep desire to know God. Church staff can run people through programs and processes like a factory line of toys with low regard for their souls. Intentionally meeting with people every week to encourage maturing spiritually is an absolute necessity. Make room to make disciples and you will see progress in your church leadership.
Add these three missing church leadership practices and watch what God does. Faithful obedience is always blessed in one way or another. Scripture prescribes these three practices as essential and primary. How could the emphasis and intentionality of these practices change your ministry? What might God start doing that you haven't seen him do yet? When your presence is among the sheep, prayer sparks spiritual productivity, and progress in disciple-making happens. Prepare yourself to see God work in ways you've maybe never witnessed prior.
 | Adam Erlichman is a Pastor, Consultant, and Best-Selling Author with Build Groups, LLC. He has served on various church staffs in Executive, Life Groups, Discipleship, Young Adult and Youth ministries and has written assessments, training processes, and resources including Group Leader Training. Adam serves on the Southern Baptist Texas Convention (SBTC) Discipleship Team/Board and occasionally blogs for the Small Group Network. He also guest speaks on podcasts such as Everyday Theologian and disciple FIRST. Learn More » |
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