The Good Ones That Don’t Think They Are Good

Many times some of the best (developing) leaders are strong leaders but don’t realize they are.

A lot of the great leaders have very high standards for themselves. Because they have such aggressive goals, they often don’t achieve all they’d like to achieve.

Because they didn’t meet their own expectations, they often don’t feel like they are doing a great job.

It is fun to invest in this type of growing leader. Since they don’t feel like they are great, they are often very teachable.

Those who think they are already good often aren’t as hungry to grow—ultimately limiting their potential.

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One By One

John Maxwell did a talk years ago about finding eagles. (He described an eagle as a leader who soared above the others.) Maxwell said, “Turkeys and chickens flock together, but eagles soar alone.”

Some put ads in a bulletin asking for potential leaders to contact the church office. It’s not uncommon to ask for leaders to sign up in the lobby during the church announcements.

In my experience, it’s rare to find a great leader by asking the masses and hoping one will sign up or show up.

In every case I can think of, I’ve discovered great potential in others during one-on-one conversations.

Rather than hoping to find an eagle in a crowd, we will likely have better success spotting them after a personal conversation.

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Developing a Leadership Culture

One of the most important things we can do in our ministries is develop a strong culture of leadership. Too many pastors hope to find great leaders. In most cases, great leaders are built, not found.

Rather than searching for a developed leader, I like to search for a developing one. Those with more future potential than past success are often the hungriest and most willing to learn.

Average leaders look for great leaders. Truly great leaders find and develop other great leaders. This week, we’ll talk about developing a leadership culture.

What are you learning?

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Thoughts on Pastoral Preparation

More than classroom education, I’m a big believer in mentoring and discipleship. I’d love to see more seminaries or bible schools design programs that allow student pastors to minister and study simultaneously.

Although I see the value in what students learn in the classroom, I honestly believe that churches should take the lead role in preparing pastors. (This could also help eliminate some financial pressures that keep too many pastors from furthering their education.)

I can’t think of a better way to learn than serving under great men and women of God. Rather than three years in classrooms, I’d rather see students serving in a church while taking specialized classes.

Each pastor has such different developmental needs. Some need more time learning the basics of God’s word. Others are strong in the word, but have significant relational or leadership challenges. These are different needs that deserve different educational approaches.

Although no system is perfect, I prefer throwing gifted people into the ministry waters and helping them learn to swim rather than sending them to three years of classes to learn how to clean the pool, treat the water, and apply sunscreen.

I’m grateful for what God did in my life through seminary, but so much of the time (and money) invested doesn’t apply to what I do today. Just as I love seeing innovation in the church, I’d love to see innovation in the way we prepare pastors.

Thoughts?

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Are You Ready to Be a Dad?

When I started Life Church, I was 28 years old. For years, I felt like I was a kid. Even in my late 30s, I still felt like a pastoral rookie.

A few years back, my wife Amy and I were mentoring some college students. We saw ourselves like big brothers and sisters. One day they wrote us a note and told us we were the parents they never had.

That’s when we shifted our mindsets. We were no longer the young ministers hanging out with those slightly younger. We were seasoned ministers discipling the next generation. We could now be spiritual parents.

Are you ready to be a spiritual father (or mother)? There are tons of young believers who need you as an example. Don’t let your insecurities keep you from investing in the next generation. Don’t let your (perceived) lack of ministry success hold you back. Don’t let your spiritual enemy lull you into a complacent stage in your life.

How about it, Dad?

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Distant or Even Dead Dads

Unquestionably, one-on-one relationships are the ultimate means of discipleship. But you don’t have to be close to learn from another great woman or man of God.

For years, Bill Hybels was a distant mentor to me. Although we hadn’t met, he was a role model and inspiration to me.  Getting to know him well has only increased my love and respect for him as a spiritual father.

In seminary, I fell in love with reading about some of the great revivalists. John Wesley, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Charles Finney and others captured my attention and stretched my faith.

Charles Spurgeon and Martin Luther have spoken directly into my life through their writings and stories. Though they’ve all been gone for years, I’m grateful for the model these fathers have been to me.

If you don’t have the spiritual father down the street that you’ve always desired, you can still learn from others.

Who has fathered you from a distance?

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Honor to My “Spiritual Father”

My natural father is now a committed Christian. When I was growing up, our whole family would have claimed to be Christians, but Christ was not the center of our lives. While my dad taught me so many invaluable lessons about life, I want to give honor today to another man who poured into me spiritually.

Pastor Nick Harris was the pastor of Oklahoma City’s First United Methodist Church. The first time I heard Pastor Harris teach the Bible, my mouth dropped open in awe.

When I was engaged to be married to Amy, we made an appointment to meet with our new pastor. We told him that we felt called to ministry. The very next weekend, he asked me to sit with him on the platform and lead the church in reciting the Apostle’s Creed.

My “spiritual father” took a risk on me. He allowed me to preach when I was only 23 years of age. At the time, I didn’t recognize the significance of his role in my life. I always admired him and was grateful to him, but I was too young to understand the full extent of his impact.

• My spiritual father taught me God’s word.
• He believed in me as a pastor when most didn’t.
• He encouraged me to do more than I thought I could do.

Today I’m honoring  my spiritual father for his investment in me.

Who has made a similar impact on your life?

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The Spiritual Father

I was honored to spend some time with an African-American group of pastors. Pastor after pastor referred to other men as their “spiritual fathers.” It was not uncommon for one pastor to introduce me to his spiritual father and call him, “Dad.”

Intrigued by this term of respect and admiration, I asked more about it. One friend explained that so many young men lacked godly fathers that embracing a man of God as a spiritual father can be life-changing.

It is more uncommon in my church circles to hear the term “spiritual father.” This is sad to me. Elijah was a spiritual father to Elisha. Paul was a spiritual father to Timothy (and others). Titus 2 teaches older women to disciple younger women.

This week I’d like to discuss the rich image of a spiritual father.

Is this a term used in your culture? What are your thoughts?

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