Podcaster and leadership expert Carey Nieuwhof said in a recent interview with John Ortberg that he holds to an unpublished view of leadership that most of us are “making it up as we go.” Nieuwhof seems to be saying most leaders do not arrive at their leadership position knowing all they will need to know to lead effectively.
His view fits the Bible doctrine of progressive sanctification — that God continues to shape us for the assignments He calls us to. In fact, Dr. Jeff Iorg reminds us that leadership is for sanctification.
At the very least, every pastor, elder and ministry leader can agree that God stretches us, and even shapes us, through our leadership experiences. Leading in a church or Christian ministry puts us in a place of owning our shortcomings and looking to God in full dependence for what we will need to successfully fulfill His assignment for us.
If we as pastors, elders and ministry leaders are indeed making it up as we go, then how can we best position ourselves to continually grow into our leadership positions and lead most effectively? Here are five suggestions:
1. Stay in God’s word: Southern Baptists have long advocated for the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Our view comes from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” By spending time in God’s word, we are positioning ourselves where the Spirit of God can remind us of the resources we will need to lead in a way that pleases the Lord.
2. Read good books: My ministry life has been significantly impacted by Don Whitney’s, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Wayne Cordeiro’s Leading on Empty, Jeff Iorg’s The Painful Side of Leadership and many others. Good books allow us to hear from leaders who we may never meet personally but whose writings can be used by God to shape our thinking about significant issues.
3. Spend time with faithful leaders: I just returned from an out of state meeting with a group of men who do the same sort of work I do in their state conventions. Today, as I am writing this article, I am scheduled to meet with a young leader who is doing good work in his church. This week I am scheduled to have lunch with a leader who has served as CEO of two well-known Kentucky organizations. Each of these meetings has one thing in common – they are iron-sharpening-iron opportunities where I hope to learn from others who are leading well. Make a point to spend time with leaders and learn from their experiences.
4. Listen to podcasts: I spend a good deal of time driving, so podcasts provide a great source of instruction and encouragement for me. I have a list of several podcasts that I listen to weekly. The topics range from ministry leadership, Christian formation, current issues impacting Christians and ministry leaders and more. Podcasts offer one more format where we can benefit from the experiences of others and hopefully grow.
5. Talk to God: Bring your leadership challenges to the Lord with the confidence that He will help you. Psalm 32:8 provides a great reminder for us all: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” No matter what leadership challenge you face, you are only a humble prayer away from the guidance and strength you will need to progress steadily through it. God helps His children.
If we as leaders, as Nieuwhof suggests, are making it up as we go, then let’s make sure we are walking in close fellowship with the Lord, spending time in His word and being led by His Spirit.
Dr. Todd Gray 