The Character Of A Leader - A Willing Listener

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters.

I recently returned from a two-week trip to Uganda and Kenya where my host was friend and VCP Supervisor Peter Baraka. We shared a wonderful time visiting VCP training centers and newly planted churches.

One day we were discussing these podcast messages, and I asked Peter to share with me his leadership values. He gave me a great list, and in this message and the next one or two I will share from Peter’s wisdom.

A good leader listens well and understands others’ perspectives. Peter, like Solomon, is a wise man. Here are some proverbs about listening.

 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Prov 12:15 To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. Prov 18:13

 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Prov 18:2 And this from James in the New Testament.

 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

Why is important for a good leader to listen well in order to understand others’ perspectives? I would suggest that the following are some of the results:

-We demonstrate that we love and value others when we listen and understand them

-Active listening – with the goal to understand – yields increased mutual trust and respect

-Understanding others’ perspectives enables us to make better, more informed decisions

-Receiving others’ counsel may help us avoid mistakes

Understanding others’ perspectives usually reduces tension and conflict between two parties

Recently, I shared on Humility as a component of the character of a godly leader. Humility is required if we are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Humility means that we don’t believe we have all the answers, that we recognize the necessity of being willing to listen and learn from others. Humility helps us overcome our blind spots (that is, things we fail to see) by welcoming and valuing others’ insights.

Good leaders listen well to understand others’ perspectives. Having done so, they move forward to make decisions and provide direction. This leads to another of Peter’s leadership values; godly leaders are not afraid of criticism. We will discuss this next time.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Church Planters Build Up Faith To Produce Holiness

 

Hello my brother, hello my sister, my name is Dean Davis and this is Multiply, a

podcast that provides a word of encouragement for village church planters.

The world we live in is broken. All around us people are giving themselves to

more and more sin. Our countries are filled with terrorism, rebellion and war.

Husband don’t love their wives and wives despise their husbands. Selfishness

and pride are on display almost everywhere we look.

As we observe the world around us, it would be easy to believe that no one can

live a holy life. A holy life is a life devoted to God. A holy life is a life that is

good and kind, a life that reflects the love of God. A holy life is a life lived in

humility trusting in the goodness of God and believing in the power of God.

The apostle Paul lived in a world much like our world today. When he looked

around he saw warfare, abusive governments, and men and women given to all

sorts of sensual perversions. Power was wielded at the tip of a spear or the

blade of a sword. Even so, Paul had the audacity to believe that God could

make people holy. And because he believed that God could change sinful

people and make them good and kind and devoted to God, Paul gave his life to

work with God to see the people of his day transformed.

That’s amazing. I want to have a faith like that. I want to believe that the

goodness of God is greater than the power of sin. I want to believe that we are

not all condemned to live a horrible, destructive, selfish lives. I want to have a

faith like Paul’s. I think you do too. Listen as Paul describes God sanctifying

work, and his, as I read from Colossians 1:21-23:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because

of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical

body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free

from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do

not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you

heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of

which I, Paul, have become a servant.

What gave church planter Paul the confidence to work so that his people could

truly live holy lives? He believed the death of Christ on the cross paid the

penalty for all sin. He believed the Good News that in his resurrection Jesus

released grace that frees us from the power of sin. Paul believed that there is

sanctifying power in the blood of the Lamb of God. And he believe that we can

all experience that power to live a good and holy life if we will continue to

walk by faith putting our hope in Christ. Because he had experienced this

power from God, he devoted his life to proclaim it and to help people live in

this hope.

You are a church planter. You have devoted yourself to proclaiming the Gospel.

As you plant churches, be sure that you, like Paul, tell the whole story. Jesus

did not die just so our sins could be forgiven. He died and rose again so that

even in an evil world, we can live a life of goodness and kindness, devoted to

God. Paul was a servant of the Gospel message that transforms lives. We can

be as well. In the world in which we live, having a hope like that is amazing!

This is Multiply.

If you have found this podcast to be helpful, please forward it to fellow church

planters and disciple-makers who may need encouragement.

Be encouraged, God is with us!

#EncouragementforVillageChurchPlanters #Colossians #HolyLives

www.vcpencouragement.org

Church Planters Want Their People To Please The Lord

 

Hello my brother, hello my sister, my name is Dean Davis and this is Multiply, a

podcast that provides a word of encouragement for village church planters.

In our world today, there are plenty of people who want to be the big man or

the big momma. You know what I mean. There are plenty of leaders, men and

women alike, who want everyone to know that they are in charge. They love

to give orders and expect everyone else to obey without delay. They love to

tell everyone what they think and they expect those around them to echo those

opinions.

Sadly men who suffer from the big man delusion and women who suffer from

the big momma delusion often end up as leaders in government, in schools and

yes, even in churches. You know them when you see them. They are loud and

brash. They constantly have two or three helpers around them so everyone

knows they are in charge.

Sometimes people with the big man delusion or the big momma delusion decide

to become church planters. When they do, the Gospel message they proclaim is

often corrupted. I’ll tell you more about that in a minute. But for now, let me

say that there is a way to lead a church without acting like you are the big man

or the big momma that everyone needs to fear and obey. You can follow the

example of Paul the church planter. In chapter one of his letter to the new

believers at Colossae, He called people to please the Lord. Note that Paul

didn’t tell them to do what he said, he encouraged them to please the Lord.

Listen to his kind and humble advice found in Colossians chapter 1:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped

praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his

will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you

may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in

every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all

power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance

and patience…

Paul wanted the Colossians to please the Lord. He wanted them to have a

strong relationship with God and honor him. He wanted them to be guided in

everything they did by the wisdom that the Spirit gives. Paul did not want

fearful followers who always asked him for permission before they took action.

He wanted confident, powerful followers of Jesus who knew the will of God

and did it with confidence.

You have probably seen the damage that leaders who believe they are the big

man or the big momma cause. Their followers are fearful. Their followers do

not take initiative. Their followers do not believe they are powerful. How sad.

In contrast Paul prayed that his followers would be strengthened with all power

according to God’s glorious might! The Gospel is powerful. When we humbly

receive the Gospel message, we too should experience power. Watch out for

big men and big mommas who want to take all the power for themselves.

Don’t follow their bad example. Instead follow Paul’s example. Always

empower your followers. As you do, they will live their lives for the glory of

God, just as the Colossians did.

This is Multiply offering a word of encouragement for village church planters. If

this podcast has encouraged you, share it with other church planters and

disciple makers so that they will be encouraged as well. And remember, God is

with us!

#EncouragementforVillageChurchPlanters #Colossians #EmpowerBelievers

www.vcpoencouragement.org

Multiply Podbean Podcast 

7 Characteristics of A Christian

 

Hello, this is Multiply a podcast, that provides a word of encouragement for village church planters. This is Daneille Snowden and I am excited to share with you about the 7 characteristics of a Christian as well as a church planter.

Join me in reading …

Colossians 3: 12-14

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

To say someone has a good character we are meaning; features that make up and distinguish an individual, who most of time are exhibiting moral excellence. 

Let us dig-in to this portion of scripture and pull out what the Apostle Paul is teaching all of us even for today. Paul is addressing this letter to

God’s Chosen Ones Who are Holy; which means to be set apart for His purpose.

Paul says to them that they are VERY LOVED by God.

And then he speaks of the HEART WHICH IS THE CENTER FLOW OF God’s characteristic to pump throughout our lives.

When God created man and animals He made the heart to pump blood through the entire body. In comparison, God’s characteristics here can constantly flow as we stay close to Him.

The first characteristic is-

Compassion- which is having sympathy and concern for others.

Next is: Kindness and that is characterized by having sympathy towards other people.

Also he listed the characteristic of Humility which means to put others needs before our own. Being humble as we use gifts and skills God has instilled into each one of us.

Next is Gentleness- and that is being tender in what we say and do.

And then everyone’s favorite character (as I say with a smile on my face) is Patience; and it means to not complain, but forbear in trials and difficulties.

Why is Paul stressing God’s people to put these characteristics on? My answer is Because THEY GIVE THE POWER TO ENDURE WHATEVER INJUSTICE OR UNPLEASANTNESS that may come our way.

The more we serve, means the more we will move into places and even into lives the enemy (satan) has had control of for a long time. Satan will fight us; yet our response or shall I say; how we react in certain situations; will be the key to winning or possibly losing the battles we face.

Paul’s instructions continue instructing that We are also to be….

Gracious with one another- meaning to be courteous, kind, and pleasant.

In addition; we are to be Forgiving of one another; this is the same kind of forgiveness the Lord gives. We must also let go of whatever hurt, or misdeed that has happened to us. We are to forgive as Jesus forgave and pardoned us.

Thus, the importance of these 7 characteristics; is to allow them to pump through our character as the heart pumps blood throughout our veins; these will bring about a godly life that will give great power to overcome.

Lastly, Paul instructs us in verse 14;

To wrap all of this up with UNSELFISH-LOVE.

This type of love is what a perfected bond of unity is!

How so? Verse 14 in the Amplified version of the Bible is written this way; “…for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others.”

That is what Perfect love is like as it binds or wraps us all together as one to be used to serve our Lord Who in turn, shows His love to the entire world through us.

There will be no disputing this type of godly love and character. People from near and far will easily distinguish this from any other. They will indeed see Jesus in these characteristics we are to put on and live by.

In Jn. 13:35 it says:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I challenge myself and all of us who are chosen and loved by God to put on these characteristics and continue to let them flow through all our lives.

 This is the podcast: Multiply, that offers a word of encouragement to village church planters.

Visit our website at: www.vcpencouragement.org

Also visit our new podcast on Podbean at: multiplyvcp.podbean.com

Thank you and be blessed!

#EncouragementforVillageChurchPlanters #Colossians #CharacteristicsofaChristian

 

The Character of a Leader – Humility

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters.”

So far this year we have been exploring the character of a godly leader, looking at behaviors and attributes of men and women serving in Christ’s Kingdom.  We began with Integrity, Diligence and Faithfulness; today I want to add Humility to this list.   

Romans 12:3 instructs us in this matter.  I like the JB Phillips translation of the first half of this verse where he says “As your spiritual teacher I give this piece of advice to each one of you. Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all.”  [emphasis added]

I would suggest that our humility is to be demonstrated in two directions … vertically in our relationship with the Lord and horizontally in our relationships with others. 

Humility before God

James, chapter 4, has some important counsel for us.  In verse 6 he quotes from Proverbs and warns us that “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  He continues in verse 10 with the advice that we are to “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Unfortunately, we have all seen so-called leaders who seek to self-promote, to lift themselves up.  This kind of pride demonstrates dependence upon self rather than dependence upon God and can lead to ruin.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:3, he famously told the multitude “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is said that when asked to explain what Jesus meant by this, the famous evangelist Billy Graham said, "What did He mean? Simply this: We must be humble in our spirits. If you put the word “humble” in place of the word “poor,” you will understand what He meant.

Humility with others –

We must also be humble in our relationships with those around us … family members, friends, co-laborers in the Kingdom.  On this point, the book of Proverbs has much to say.

Proverbs 11:2 - “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 27:2 - Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.

Proverbs 29:23 – “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”

And this from Luke – “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (14:11)

The reward of humility –

Proverbs 22:4 says it well.  “Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.”

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Please follow us on PodBean look for Multiply VCP- https://multiplyvcp.podbean.com/ 

Raised With Christ

 

Hello my brother, hello my sister, my name is Dean Davis and this is Multiply, a podcast that provides a word of encouragement for village church planters.

People in this world have all sorts of rules they think will deliver us from corruption and lead us to a better life.  Some of the rules they live by are mere superstitions.  For example, some people in my country never walk under a ladder.  They think if they do so, it will bring them bad luck.  I have walked under ladders many time.  It never brought me bad luck.  Even so, many people live by that rule.

Some people have very strict rules about what they eat.  For example, my wife had some friends who never ate potatoes and beef in the same meal.  They believed if they avoided this combination of foods, they would not grow fat.

Some people have rules about what kinds of food they should eat.  They follow the law of the Old Testament and refrain from eating pork and catfish. They forget that God said we should not call anything unclean that He has made clean.  What are the man-made rules that people in your village are convinced are so important to keep?

When Paul wrote the the Colossian believers he was concerned that their attention was misplaced.  He asked, “Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:  “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?  These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Paul knew that the Colossians had repented of their sins and put their trust in Christ.  But he observed that they were still living like unbelievers, following human rules that really had no long-term value at all.  When people follow rules that have no value, they are distracted from what is truly important, their new life in Christ and walking in the goodness of God.

As a church planter, Paul wanted to set people free from human superstitions, religious practices, and harsh rules that seemed smart but did nothing to set people free to enjoy their new life in Christ.

Now there are many rules that we should keep. We must obey Jesus’ commands. We must love God with our whole heart.  We must love our neighbor as ourselves.  But followers of Jesus are free to ignore human traditions and rules which lack real value.

As a disciple maker, trust God for wisdom to help your people find true freedom in Christ.  You can be sure they will not find it in man-made rules. What a joy it will be to see them set free.

This is Multiply.  Be encouraged, God is with us! EC-15

#EncouragementforVillageChurchPlanters #Colossians #FreedomInChrist

Please follow us on PodBean look for Multiply VCP- https://multiplyvcp.podbean.com/  

www.vcpoencouragement.org

Complete In Christ

 

Hello this is Brad Snowden and this is Multiply; a podcast that provides a word of encouragement to village church planters.

Colossians 2:9-10     “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

We have now just celebrated Jesus’s resurrection and through the word, we see Jesus walk through pain and suffering on the cross, death, the tomb and then the resurrection; so that in him and through him our spiritual life would be complete. Jesus completed what we could not which is to give us eternal life, spiritual hope and the power to overcome this world.

 Growing up, I learned a lot about harvesting fruits and vegetables from our garden. I grew up knowing that it took certain elements in order for the Harvest to be complete. We must have good soil which is  tilled, cultivated and fertilized with nutrients. There needs to be good seed that is  able to germinate and  lastly: good weather.  For the soil, its temperature has to be warm enough to germinate the seeds,  which requires  the right amount of rain and sun. These are three key ingredients, if we desire to have a good harvest

 The  Apostle Paul gives us what is needed for Spiritual fruits to be harvested: the fruits of love, joy, peace, hope, strength and the ability to be a witness to who Jesus is in our life. Church Planters are witnesses to the world that is in great need and that need is to see Jesus at the center of our lives. Verse 10 says, we are complete in Jesus and we can get in trouble when we try to add to our lives anything that is apart from him.  Have you ever gone through something and wondered; “Does God even see any of this?”  I know I have, and in moments like this, we can be assured of one fact as a church planter and as a follower of Jesus that Jesus reigns above all principalities and all situations . There is nothing that escapes his attention, nor does he overlook things that we are going through. Yet, he searches for the best  opportunity to show others of his powerful love for them, and this is a great victory for us as we desire to help others to grow and mature spiritually.   

Jesus had many different steps to take in order to complete the Father’s plan and yet there was only one way to complete the course.  Jesus taught us to walk through all of life’s  challenges, knowing that the harvest will be worth it all. We have a great victory knowing that Jesus has completed the course for our victory.

This world is in need of seeing lives lived out as Christ being the center of our everyday life showing them the hope we have in God’s word . We are complete only in the Lord and this is the hope we have to share and God has given us every element needed to be complete. Church planters, followers of Jesus;  this is our hope and strength that we have to offer to all as we live out our lives in Christ. 

This is Multiply; a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters. If you have found this message to be helpful, please forward it to fellow church planters and disciple-makers who may need encouragement.  Feel free to share it on What’s App, Facebook, and other platforms you use to connect with others.

Please follow us on PodBean look for Multiply VCP- https://multiplyvcp.podbean.com/ 

Church Planters Magnify Jesus

 

Hello my brother, hello my sister, my name is Dean Davis and this is Multiply, a podcast that provides a word of encouragement for village church planters.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians, he was writing to a church that was planted by his disciples. Paul did not know the members of the Colossian church personally.  I’m sure there were many things he could have written as he started writing his letter to them.  Paul could have started talking about himself.  He could have told stories about his travels and his ministry and his apostleship.  But that’s not what Paul did.  Paul exalted and magnified Jesus.  Listen to what this model church planter said about Jesus in Colossians chapter 1. Worship the Lord with me as you hear these words about our Lord:

“… He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Paul the church planter understood that his job was to lift up Jesus.  Paul knew that his role was to make Jesus famous.  There are many wonderful truths that the Apostle shared about Jesus in this passage: His role in creation, the primacy of Christ, the headship of Christ, the deity of Christ.  But when you take it all in, Paul was talking about the supremacy of Christ.  Paul wanted his spiritual grandchildren in Colossae to know that Christ is supreme, that Jesus is more important, more majestic, more worthy of honor than any human being.

As I record these words to share with you, it is Good Friday, the day that Jesus, the firstborn over all creation suffered and died for people like you and me who rejected him and scorned him.  The one who shed his blood on the cross so that we could be reconciled to God is worthy of great glory and honor.  What a privilege it is to be a church planter and to make Jesus’ glorious name known! What a blessing to help others honor him as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Many temptations come to church planters. One temptation is to make our own name great. Another is to make the church we have planted famous. I’m sure Paul was tempted in those same ways too. But he overcame them by constantly giving honor to Jesus.  What a great example for church planters to follow today.

This is Multiply with a word of encouragement for village church planters.  Be encouraged. God is with us.

#EncouragementforVillageChurchPlanters #Colossians #MagnifyJesus

Please follow us on PodBean look for Multiply VCP- https://multiplyvcp.podbean.com/ 

www.vcpoencouragement.org