St. Louis Christian College April 9, 2016

e2: effective elders

From e2 effective elders . . .

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New in 2015! Six most common causes of elderstaff team conflict! Six best practices to build an effective elderstaff team!



Leading through . . .

CONFUSION CONFORMITY CONFLICT

Leading through Confusion Dr. Gary Johnson Senior Minister Indian Creek Christian Church Indianapolis, Indiana

Ruth 1:1-5  The

days were dark.

 The

days were difficult.

 The

days were marked with disease.

Compassion  The

days were marked with death.

 The

days were full of disappointment.

 The

days were full of despair.

Luke 17 – Ten Lepers Luke 13 – Tower of Siloam

What one person could not do alone, a team of people did together.

President John F. Kennedy  “We

choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade, not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” 

September 12, 1962 at Rice University

Leading through Conformity Dr. James Estep Professor of Christian Education Lincoln Christian University Lincoln, Illinois

con for mi ty (k n-for-ma-tē) 1.

2. 3.





e



correspondence in form, manner, or character : agreement behaved in conformity with her beliefs an act or instance of conforming action in accordance with some specified standard or authority conformity to social custom

Leading Images

 People as “Resource”

$ Profit $

Popularity & Power!

Defeat of an Enemy!

“Viral” Leadership in the Church

trans form (tran(t)s-form) 

1. 2. 3.

to change in composition or structure to change the outward form or appearance of to change in character or condition, i.e. convert

The Biblical Model:  The 

Counselors to Rehoboam –

“If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever” (1 Kings 12:7)

 Jesus 

to the Twelve –

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:33)

continued  Jesus 

v. James & John

"You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:42-45)

continued 

Paul v. Corinthians 

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. . . . I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 613).

Christ-like Servant Leadership The Biblical Model for Leadership in the Church

“Viral” vs. Biblical Leadership  Inverted

Triangle?

Basic Demo Leader

Followers

Followers

Leader

“Viral” vs. Biblical Leadership  Inverted

Triangle?

 Balance

& Reversal of Power-Position

 People

as “means” vs. ministry

 Christ-centeredness

Jesus as Servant Leader 

Prophecy of Servant Leader 



Modeled Servant Leader 



Matthew 5:39, 41, 44

Humility 



Matthew 5:3, 5, 7, 9

Called others to be a servant 



John 13:5

Blessing/Meekness 



Isaiah 53:3, 7; Matthew 12:18

Matthew 19:14; Hebrews 13:20

Suffering Servant 

John 1:29, 36

A Portrait of N.T. Leadership 

Actively Serving 









Act 6:3, 5

Building the community of the congregation 



Act 6:3

Participatory 

Act 6:3, 4

Sensitive/Responsive to Needs

Personally Qualified 

Act 6:2, 4

Spiritual 



Act 6:1

Missional 



Act 6:5-6

Effective 

Act 6:1 & Act 6:7

Servant Leadership in Church  Ministry,

not manipulation

 Encouragement,

not dictation

 Developing

to lead, not domination

others

 Leading

people, managing things

 Loving

others, not using others

 Focus

on mission, not position

Greenleaf on Servant-Leadership “The servant-leader is a servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. He or she is sharply different from the person who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions. For such it will be a later choice to serve – after leadership is established.”

Our Choice Conformity or Transform?

Leading through Conflict Dr. David Roadcup Professor of Christian Ministries Cincinnati Christian University Cincinnati, Ohio

1 Peter 5:1-7

1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Conflict is Inevitable  The

fallen nature of humanity

 The

reality of spiritual warfare

Biblical Examples of Conflict Persons

Nations

Families

Church

Biblical Directives Hebrews 12:14  Pursue

peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Galatians 2:11-14 11 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Matthew 18:15-17 15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

Types of Conflict  Relational  Issues    

– person to person

– person to person or group to group

Doctrinal issues Directional issues Opinion issues Moral issues

Handling Conflict Successfully  Identify,

clearly.

define and state the problem

Chinese saying: “If you can state the problem in clear terms, you are 90% of the way to having the problem solved.”

Handling Conflict Successfully  Identify,

clearly.

define and state the problem

 Immerse

the issue in prayer

 Identify

all participants and issues

1.

Who is immediately involved in the conflict?

2.

What happened in the unfolding of events/circumstances?

3.

What was the outcome of the events/ circumstances?

4.

What are all the implications of what happened?

5.

What is the potential collateral damage?

6.

What are the potential outcomes of this set of circumstances?

7.

Do we need a mediator?

(Handling Conflict continued)  Communicate

resolution

 Decide

with all involved and seek

on a plan for resolution

 Consider

the need for damage control

Equipping Elders to Lead www.e2elders.org