Principles of Leadership - Explain the Ground Rules (Part 1)

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

As I begin today, I want to pause and celebrate that this is my 50^th podcast over the past two years.  All have been on the topic of leadership.  In 2021, the entire year addressed the theme of “The Character of a Leader.”  Now, in 2022, I am sharing my personal Ten Principles of Leadership. 

Principle #1 was Share the Vision.  #2 was Facilitate Equipping, and Principle #3 was “Define the Expectations”. Today we turn our attention to “Explain the Ground Rules”.  Or, stated another way, leaders define, and set the example for, the values and standards for how a team will work together. 

Today, and in my next episode, I want to describe seven characteristics of healthy working relationships.    

1.       Mutual Trust and Respect – The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church (4:32) that they were to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”.  As co-laborers for Christ, it is imperative that we appreciate and respect one another and their role in Kingdom work.  AND, we need to treat them accordingly. 

2.       Mutual Commitment to Help Others – The book of Hebrews speaks to this value.  We have this promise in 6:10. “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people ...”  Notice this:  “The love you have shown him as you have helped his people…” As we help others, we are aiding Christ Jesus. 

There is also this reminder in 10:24, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”   The Greek word translated as “spur” (other translations render this as stir up, provoke, encourage, or motivate) means “a provocation which literally jabs (cuts) someone so they "must" respond”.  Sometimes, godly leaders need to [what I would describe as] “assertively encourage” others to do what is right. 

3.       Mutual Use of Gifts, Skills, and Creativity – 1 Corinthians 12 describes the Church as being similar to the human body; it is one unit with many parts, and each part needs the others in order to function together.  Effective teams realize the complementary skills, personalities and giftings of each other AND they utilize all of these for optimum effectiveness. 

To reiterate, it is the responsibility of leaders to explain these characteristics of healthy working relationships, and we must model these values.  Next time, we will explore the remaining four standards. 

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

Principles of Leadership - Explain the Ground Rules Part 2

 

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

Last time we addressed the first half of the principle “Explain the Ground Rules”.  In it, I stated that leaders define, and set the example for, the values and standards for how a team will work together.  

Last time we introduced the first three of seven characteristics of healthy working relationships. They are:    

1. Mutual Trust and Respect 

2. Mutual Commitment to Help Others  

3. Mutual Use of Gifts, Skills, and Creativity 

Today we turn our attention to the remaining four characteristics of healthy working relationships.  

4. Joint development of solutions to problems – high functioning teams work collaboratively.  Spiritual leaders recognize the spiritual giftings and skills of each team member, and they utilize these in a cooperative and complementary way.  Godly leaders are also quick to acknowledge dependence upon the Lord and give Him the credit for successes. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 3:6. “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”    

5. A maintained focus on achieving productivity in the relationship – in our context of Village Church Planting, another way of saying this is “are we making progress toward our goal of ‘a church in every African village by 2050’”?  Leaders keep their teams focused upon making progress toward goals. 

6. Personal commitment to the relationship – The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 that “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”  Paul shared his life with those he led; it was not “all business”, but rather he shared warm relationships with them.  This leads us to the final characteristic …  

7. Continued strengthening of the relationship - I recall that about one year ago I shared the leadership principles of VCP Supervisor Peter Baraka.  His final, and most powerful, point was “you must love those you lead.”  Good and godly leaders are committed for the long-term in their relationships with those on their teams.  

Love for those we lead is a mindset.  It’s a choice and a commitment that we must intentionally make. 1 Corinthians 13 is often called the “love chapter” of the Bible. Verses 4 and 5 read in part, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered.” 

Let us love well those whom we lead.  

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

Principles of Leadership - Be Available Part 1

 

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

During 2022, my theme is “10 Principles of Spiritual Leadership”.  We have nearly reached the halfway point; principle #5 is “Be Available”. 

Today, I begin with this quote from Myron Rush in his book Management: A Biblical Approach.   “My job as a leader is to identify the needs of those I’m supposed to be leading and then tap their ideas on how those needs can best be met.”  This approach demonstrates a coaching style of leadership.  My personal experience over the years is that most people have a good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses … their skills and their deficiencies.  Most of the time I don’t have to identify these for them.  Rather, they already know this, AND they have some awareness of where help is needed.  

As a leader / coach, through active listening and Spirit-directed questioning, I often gain insight into what they need from me as a leader.  Then, I seek to meet those developmental and situational needs. 

The Apostle Paul gave these instructions in Philippians 2:4-5 where we read in the Message version, “Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.  Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.  He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. [emphasis added]

Being available as a leader is a key characteristic of servant leadership.  Fallen, human nature tells us to “look out for ourselves”.  This is especially true – and a fault of – western culture.  Contrasted with this is the biblical model …  “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”  This approach requires both intentionality and discipline; it becomes a mindset.  It’s a choice we make with our will, and the enablement to do so is provided by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. 

A leadership pitfall to be avoided is becoming too impressed with oneself, one’s importance, title or status.  In a podcast last year, I described this attitude as “being a legend in one’s own mind.”  Jesus set the servant leader example for us; Paul tells us that Jesus “didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status [as God]”.  

And neither should we.  Godly leaders serve others by being available to help them. 

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

Ministry To, For and By Woman

 

Welcome to Multiply, a podcast for church planters and Christian leaders and I am Daneille Snowden.

I was called into the ministry at the early age of twelve. As I grew, I anticipated the day when I would be spending my life serving God as His minister. In 1987, I graduated from my university and in 1994 was ordained with my husband. I married a godly man that respected me as a woman and a minister of the Gospel, we spent our years working side-by-side teaching, preaching, counselling and simply serving beautiful people in our mission journey (including our own children). 

According to the population clock, the world’s population is made up of 50.5% men and 49.5% woman, with the current population at almost eight billion people. There are a lot of women who need the loving Gospel of Jesus Christ. I see God using women across the globe, serving others as they serve God. It may be in education, teaching entrepreneurial work, and instructing their own children and family members the word of God. Or it also is in music, preaching and serving in capacities where their nurturing heart can touch lives. As women answer the call of God upon their lives, their prayer should be, to be clothed in holiness and display godly wisdom. I love the scripture in Proverbs 31:26 where it says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue”. The title of this podcast is divided into three parts that are: Ministry- 1) To Woman 2) For Woman & 3) By Woman. 

Almost ½ the world is female, thus there is a great need for woman to receive teachings from God’s Word, plus His love from all who serve Him. Many women are mothers and grandmothers, they are endlessly working to care for their families. So many are weary and wonder if anyone cares about their needs. There are also women who are the pillars of their homes and communities, when they are instilled with God’s Word and His Spirit, there is no stopping the evangelical work of the Gospel through them. Many ladies need fellow women to come alongside them and live out the life of Jesus before them. Again, as they walk alongside, they can be there to be an encourager, a prayer partner, and some help in whatever manner the life situation may be. 

I want to encourage all who are serving God in His work, to reach out and affirm our women who feel called by God to do His Work of preaching the Gospel, in whatever capacity that may be. I also want to encourage more women, to step out in faith, obey the call of God to… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19.

Thank you for listening today, will you share this message with others? E3-36 Remember to visit our website at www.vcpencouragement.org. We are also on Facebook and YouTube called Encouragement for Village Church Planters.

The Dignity of Woman

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the most amazing descriptions about human beings is found in the very first book of the Bible in the very first chapter. The book of Genesis tells us that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”  This is an amazing statement!

First of all, God created people.  We are not an accident.  We are not the result of an impersonal process. God created human beings.  That’s amazing. But of course, God has created everything that exists in the natural world, all trees and plants, all fish and birds, all four-footed animals, everything.

Now, not only did God create mankind, he created human beings in his own image. No fish, no bird; no four-footed animal, no plant or tree was ever created in the image of God, only people.  This means that human beings are very, very special.  If we respect God, we must respect human beings. When we look at human beings we can learn something about God.  Human beings are creative and God is too.  We create because God is the creator and we are made in his image. We know the difference between right and wrong.  God does too.  We know right and wrong because we are created in the image of God. 

People can love because God is love and we are created in his image.  Yes we are broken.  Yes we are sinners.  God is not. God is altogether righteous and holy and pure. But human beings are made in the image of God. Even though we do not reflect his image perfectly, we carry the image of God with us wherever we go. Male humans are made in God’s image and female humans are made in God’s image.  When we are together we better reflect the image of God than when we are alone. This is amazing. “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

So whenever you see a man or a woman, a boy or a girl, you know that person was created in the image of God. For this reason, each human person is worthy of respect. No matter what color their skin, what language they speak or do not speak, no matter educational level or religious beliefs, every human being is worthy of respect.

Many people in many countries around the world don’t understand this. Many people disrespect women.  When any person disrespects a women, he or she is disrespecting God our creator. Because women are created in the image of God they have dignity. They are creative, they know right from wrong.  They think and reason and express sisterly love to others. Women have been created with dignity.  For this reason, everyone in the church of Jesus Christ must show respect to women, regardless of education, or wealth, or tribe, or skin color.  All women are created in the image of God and are worthy of respect.

And so, we must follow the Holy Spirit’s example and move women into places of significant ministry. Acts chapters 1 and 2 tells us that on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God used many women to declare the wonders of God to people from every nation under heaven. God, the Holy Spirit trusts women to declare his message and so should we. Since women are created in the image of God, and since the Spirit of God has delighted to use women to declare messages from God, who are we to disrespect women or to disparage their dignity?

Women have been given dignity by God. Women should not insult the dignity of their sisters or selfishly push them down. Men must recognize the contributions of women and the dignity of women because “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”  

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today? E3-35

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #MadeInHisImage #ImageOfGod

Songs For Worship With the Lord's Supper

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Christ-followers from the time of Jesus throughout history to the present day report that singing greatly enhances worship. Men and women, boys and girls who love Jesus love to sing songs of praise and worship. In every culture, in every place, among every tribe and in every nation, singing enhances worship.

After Jesus had served his disciples the bread and the wine in the upper room and had told them about the new covenant in his blood, he and his disciples sang a hymn before going out to the Mount of Olives where Jesus interceded in prayer for them and for all of us who would believe because of their testimony.

What are the songs you sing before the Lord’s Supper is served in your church?  What are the names of those songs that tell about the deep, deep love of Jesus?  What songs do you sing that tell about the new covenant that he made by shedding his blood for us? What songs do you sing that musically express the theme of sacrifice?

Worship leaders can greatly enhance the fellowship that church members experience with Christ during the Lord’s Supper. One way they can strengthen our remembrance of Christ’s death and life-giving sacrifice is by singing songs that are full of meaning and full of feeling.  The words to the song carry the meaning, the melody and harmony of the song carry feeling.  When true words and well-composed music are combined, songs powerfully touch our mind and our emotions.

What are the songs you sing in association with the serving of the Lord’s Supper?  When do you sing those songs?  You can sing before the bread and the red juice are served.  You can sing while the elements are being received.  You can sing after Christ-followers obey Jesus’ command to “do this in remembrance of me.”

So it’s important for those who lead worship when the Lord’s Supper is served to have a strong list of songs that they can choose from when they are planning worship.  After you listen to this podcast episode, let me encourage you to write down a list of 10 to 15 songs that you know that relate to the sacrifice of Christ, the body and blood of Christ, the cross of Christ, the resurrection of Christ and the Lord’s Supper itself. As you learn new songs about this theme, you can add them to your list. Use this list as you plan worship when the Lord’s Supper is served.

 Like other worship services, planning should take place at least one day before worship takes place.  Planning a worship service should not be rushed.  Those who plan worship need to think clearly and hear from the Lord.  They need to calmly imagine the time, the place, the occasion and the people who will worship.  And perhaps most importantly they need to think about the theme of their worship.  

God will meet you as you plan worship. He will be honored that you devoted time to think and pray about how to best honor him in song. Planning worship for a service in which the Lord’s Supper is served can be almost as meaningful for the worship leader as leading the congregation itself.

So take time, be calm, think well, pray well, and plan great services to worship the Lord as you remember in the Lord’s Supper Christ’s loving, victorious sacrifice. You can do it! God will empower you.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today? E3-34

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #TheLord’sSupper #HolyCommunion