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Author Kenny Luck describes his church’s use of bleachers in the back of their sanctuary—a wonderful metaphor for “fans” of Jesus. The fans are in the “cheap seats,” not making the investment to get a better view. They might be watching, but they’re beyond the outfield walls, sitting far away from the action. For many fans, the social aspects are more important than the baseball.
They may be more interested in the post-game fireworks or Dollar Beer Night; the game itself is not that riveting. They might attend somewhat regularly, but it’s not all that vital to them. They might get emotionally invested, at least for a time. But it doesn’t impact their daily life much—and they may fall away completely if the team starts to struggle.
We want our people to be more than fans. At the least, we want avid fans—or really, followers. People who follow every move made by the team. People who keep track of player statistics and personal stories. People who are there, even when it’s drizzling and 40 degrees. But really, we want more than followers. We want people who play the game—who are fit and active; who can hit, field, and throw the ball; who excel as individuals, but play for the team. They should be on the field and ready for action!
A pastor is a player, but he’s also called to be a coach. Author Bill Hull helps to clarify the analogy: The coach “has played the game, but his purpose is to teach others to play…He demonstrates skills, develops team philosophy, and designs plays. He motivates, disciplines, aggravates and whatever else is needed to prepare the team to play.” Sounds like a good description of the ministry of Jesus with His disciples!
By comparison, a “preacher”—someone who preaches to and talks at his sheep—is not a pastor or much of a coach, at least in his role as preacher. Putman and Harrington invoke Ephesians 4:11-16 to make the same point: “The goal of a church leader is to equip people for works of service or ministry…so that we all reach unity and spiritual maturity. Some church leaders see their role as similar to that of a star athlete…But leading in the church is more like being a really good coach.” The star performs, entertains, runs the show, and perhaps inspires. The coach empowers each individual to perform and to work together as a team.
Pastors are best seen as coaches and equippers—with lay people as the primary ministers. Church leaders should focus on teaching people how to teach; train them to do pastoral work; and set up processes to equip, empower, and engage. Making disciple-makers will not happen (well) by osmosis. It requires purposeful effort and persistence. It requires activity on the part of disciples. It requires relationship between mentees and those being mentored. It requires focused time and energy. The goal is empowering others who can replace us in our tasks, developing disciples who can disciple others, building up believers who can do kingdom work.
The result? A thriving ministry filled with disciple-makers. An army of thoroughly equipped volunteers who can put out fires, install smoke detectors and build water towers. A troop of medics who can go beyond applying band-aids in a war zone to prescribing medicine and doing surgery. Disciples of Jesus who can mentor a high schooler with an abusive past; teach apologetics to college students; engage a neighbor who is a Jehovah’s Witness; and disciple an alcoholic or a prisoner. Instead of a bunch of sheep, you’ll have a barn full of capable horses.
What are you waiting for? Make your plans to get your people out of the bleachers and into the game.
Excerpted from Enough Horses in the Barnby Kurt Sauder and D. Eric Schansberg © 2017
Photo source: istock
Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.
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