DATES for 2010

Three major ministry school dates are:

Eyre Peninsula at Thuruna - March 19th & 20th
South East at Tarooki - May 21st & 22nd
Mid North at Melrose - September 3rd & 4th

more information from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes and Information from 2009

Registration form for Tarooki (Robe) School   Tarooki (Robe) registration (326.25 kB)

Subject Notes:

• Practising Healthy Ministry
• Awakening to the change of a lifetime
• Maintaining spiritual passion
• Preaching for a verdict
• The love you had at first

Leadership - Notes from Lameroo School 2009

Leadership notes for lay groups. (These are the notes from the ministry school held at Lameroo and may be helpful to refresh your memories of that time)

2 Corinth 5:14-21

"So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."   (2 Corinthians 5:20)

 As God is making his appeal through us it reminds us that Christians are called. So I address you as leaders, you are friends but also leaders. Now there is some good news and some bad news attached to that title. The good news is that responding to the call of Jesus is the most fulfilling and sustaining thing that a person can do.  No one ever said on their death bed, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office".

But on the other hand Christian leaders don't always have an easy ride. "Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. "They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented--"  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground."   (Hebrews 11:36-38)

So recognising that being a leader is not always easy we want to explore some of the issues that arise around being leaders in the local church.

1}. Leaders are called.  In the church you don't earn the right to be a leader. That doesn't mean you can't develop in your leadership gfits, but leadership is more than a set of skills. D T Niles once described a leader as one who is caught up in a momentum not of himself.

True church leaders share the heart and mind of God.

Obedient to God they are God's people following God's agenda.

2}. Why does the Church exist? 

""Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?""He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'"  "This is the greatest and first commandment." "And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"   (Matthew 22:36-39)

 The church truly exists for God and his purpose.

This is to recognise His worth and then to recognise the worth of others.

3}. What is your church aiming for?

Why are we here?

If the answer is just to exist and keep the doors open, then honestly that is not an adequate answer from leaders.  There is no refreshment in such a project; and it will leave any church congregation feeling totally depressed.

Think of the opening verse that was quoted at the start, We are Ambassadors for Christ.

   A). We are not volunteers! God calls us to a task, to a ministry. It is not as volunteers but as those who have been readied for this opportunity.

"And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues."   (1 Corinthians 12:28)

The Greek word used for 'leadership' is kubernesis, (koo-ber'-nay-sis); to steer, direct, govern.

So there is a giftedness imparted to those who are called. Of course once you are called it is that calling which holds you in its grip. It is not an option, for success or failure are no longer the criteria it is whether you are fulfilling your call that really counts.

"You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you."   (Galatians 5:7-8)

   B). Calling always has an aim.   "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--"   (Galatians 1:6)

We are called by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called into his movement of salvation: Winning the world to Jesus through what he has done. Calling always is to fulfil God's purpose. If you are exercising some leadership in the local congregation because no one else will do it; if it is not a passion with you; my best advice is to stop doing it! Sit in the back pew and pray for God to show you what ministry he has for you. Let the task that you find no joy in be left undone. This may seem a bit uncaring, it is not! Trying to lead when God has not called is a very difficult task. And frankly...  God's calling always has an aim, a purpose.

   C). There isn't a particular formula by which a person's call can come, it just does. But if you wanted to make a general observation it was to people who were getting on with their lives.

Amos was a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees,

Gideon was winnowing at night in fear of the enemy,

Paul was on the trail of Christians when he was interrupted, permanently.

Moses was running away from the law when God called him he was also at an age that most of us would have to be retired!

""Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush." "When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord:""'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look."   (Acts 7:30-32)

   D). When God calls someone, in one way or another he is revealing himself to them. It is personal. It is a revelation. And comes before a response!

"Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct;" "for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."(1 Peter 1:16)

Holy = set apart.  In knowing God we are set apart to be his servants and faithfully serve his purposes.

   E). Who can be called? Is there a particular quality/ skill set, a particular living standard? The answer is that God chooses whom he will. Every person can be and indeed is called. Not all are called to leadership, but all are called to ministry.

"Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth."   (1 Corinthians 1:26)

Leadership is not simply for a special group, it is at God's call, not linked necessarily to ability but to giftedness. .

4}. Some things to observe which might help us with our leadership.

• Ø Where is our security? Matt 6;19ff Are we relying on God through prayer and bible study or are we using our skills and wit in order to keep the ship afloat. Is it just plain hard work? Is success our motivation and the praise of others or are we willing serving in order to please God?
• Ø Are we ready to examine our lives before God? (Matt7:1-5) Are we open to recognise our needs and are we prepared to change so that our ministry and our Christian life in general is growing
• Ø Are we ready to learn/ listen to God? (Luke 9;35) How much of what we do or try to achieve is our agenda and how much fits the true purpose of the church
• Ø Are we ready to serve God for his sake and the sake of the church? If we get no recognition are we still happy to keep forging on? That means sometimes we have to let go of cherished ideas and old habits.
• Ø Are we ready to forgive? (Colossians 3:13.) When someone treads on our toes how do we deal with the hurts and pains of being a leader? Do we use our leadership opportunities as an excuse to wound others when they displease us?

5}. The Model of Jesus.

   Jesus was called to do the will of the Father. ("Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work." John 4:34)

   Jesus lead by disciplining, giving others a practical demonstration of how to minister in God's power and strength.

   (."He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits." Mark 6:7)

   Jesus demanded that leadership not be a power structure, nor a power struggle.

   ("But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant," Matthew 20:25-26 )

   If we see life as a hierarchy then we will always want to be boss. The Christian understanding is not of a hierarchy. God-Jesus-Holy Spirit-Apostles-Ministers-Leaders-plebs. But a God who as Father is:- ("above all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:6)

 We are all members of that body and so then the task of leadership no less than anything else becomes a gift from God that keeps us on mission and in the service of God.

6}. Some examples of Biblical Leaders-

Gideon: "He responded, "But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.""   (Judges 6:15)

Deborah: Called out of obscurity to lead the people.

"The peasantry prospered in Israel, they grew fat on plunder, because you arose, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel."   (Judges 5:7)

Sampson: Belong to the tribe of Dan, always small, never quite able to conquer the country

Saul:   "Saul answered, "I am only a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why then have you spoken to me in this way?""   (1 Samuel 9:21)

Leaders are chosen not on strength but at God's calling. Not because of power but in fact often because of weakness. Why? Because true godly leadership demands we are to use the gifts God has given. It is only what God accomplishes that in the end is effective.

7}. Do the work to which you are called. Eph.4:1-16.

Leadership is always towards a purpose; this purpose is to equip the flock.

"to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"   (Ephesians 4:12)

a). A leader is a Shepherd who will to feed the flock, they are to care for and about  people.

1Pet 5:2 I exhort the elders among you  2  to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it --not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3  Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.

Jer. 23:4; Jn.21:17; Act. 20:28.

b). As Spiritual Overseers. Those who arebProtecting the flock from that which leads away from a close relationship with God and with each other. The appointment from God is as those who see and discern. They are sentinels 'keeping watch' and in constant relationship with God.  (Isa. 62:6,   Ezeke. 3: 17, Heb 13: 17. )

Leaders look past the immediacy of now to the things of God.

Christ makes the difference to our attitude to life.

c). As Teachers of all the things of Jesus.

"and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.""   (Matthew 28:20)

In order to teach we must have knowledge. There is a need to stay with the things of God. Leaders are those who have people follow them. Is our life the image of what a Christian's should be? We walk like our parents and use phrases like them. Leadership is presenting a model for others to recognise. This highlights our need to keep close relationship with God. Our attitudes and actions are very important because they are under scrutiny from all around us. Like it or not we all are witnesses every moment of our days.

d). Responsibility. (Ezk.3:1-11.) Bloom were you are planted. Go to your own people and those whose situation you know. Among them you speak in context. We all recognise that there is something fundamentally wrong when we are only brave away from home. At home we are known and here the power of God is most clearly at work. 

"For you are not sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel--"   (Ezekiel 3:5)

Leaders have a responsibility to remind people of the call of God and the purpose and mission of God, but the results are up to God. (Ezk. 33:1-9.)  God does not demand that we accomplish anything but that we be faithful to the calling that he has placed on us.

e). Finally:  If we are to lead in order to equip the flock (Eph 4:1-11) then ministry is the task and growth is the fruit.Good Leadership changes the Church towards the shape that Christ wants.

To think about:

 (Source: eclectic, which means pinched from all over)

Leaders:

1). Communicate goals.Do you talk about the kind of performance-based organisation you are trying to create and share this with your group? Or do you talk about the way things shouldn't be in the future and emphasise the negative to your group?

2). Act as a role model. In your daily activities, does your behaviour reflect the way you want others in your group to behave? Or are you constantly avoiding certain types of behaviour that you do not want to see emulated?

3). Teach. Do you create an environment that is safe for learning, where people share their own positive experiences and knowledge? Or do you try to get people to learn from their mistakes and experiences, without sharing them?

4). Get people to think. Do you challenge people to identify new approaches to problems, and question the rules? Or do you ensure that people stay within boundaries, doing things the way they have always been done, or the way you feel comfortable with?

5). Are storytellers. When you talk about the past, do you always emphasise stories about people who have succeeded and were extremely competent? Or do you always cite examples of people who made mistakes and failed?

6). Monitor what goes on. Do you actively look for what is going right in the group and focus on what people are doing particularly, well? Or are you always looking for mistakes and identifying things that are not done well?

7). Provide feedback. Do you evaluate people's performance primarily when they are performing well? Or do you always wait until things go wrong, pointing out mistakes?

8). Reinforce appropriate behaviour. Do you use rewards to recognise and encourage accomplishments. Or do you punish people to prevent them from making future mistakes?

9). Create a good working environment.

Do you create an environment in which performance and thinking are encouraged? Or is your work environment one of rules and regulations that limit thinking and performance?

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it