LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY CLASS 1

MIN 201 - INSTRUCTOR:  LEN BALLENGER

 

Introductory Questions and Scriptures

 

What is the church?

 

What are the purposes of the church?

 

What do the leaders of the church look like?

 

What makes a church grow?

 

Key Scriptures:

 

 

UNDERSTANDING  LEADERSHIP:  *Everything rises and Falls on Leadership

 

Misunderstanding of Leadership in Ministry

What is a “World-Class Leader (Minister)?”

 

Definition of a World-Class Minister:  A person who would be willing or ready to contend.

 

-         Not to compete, such as athletes

-         Not describing the class or style of the world

 

** Growing until he graduates to some place where he is able to contend with

     effectiveness and success against the “world” spirit.

-         A person in whom something is transpiring of the substance and the depth that he is no longer able to be shaped by values in the world system, and who is sufficiently discerning enough to tell when the world system is beginning to effect the spiritual environment where he is.

 

 

I.                    What is Leadership?     [Psalm 31:3-5]

 

A.     Four Ideas of Leadership

1.      Leadership can be learned

2.      Leaders are born and made

3.      Leadership is based on applied principles

4.      Leadership and effort are correspond to produce effectiveness

B.     Three Myths about Leadership

1.      The Knowledge Myth:  IQ doesn’t necessarily equate to leadership

2.      The Pioneer Myth:  The person in front isn’t always the leader

3.      The Position Myth:  The position doesn’t make the leader, the leader makes the position

 

C.     Leadership is Influence – Nothing More, Nothing Less

1.      You are leader if people follow you

2.      Positional vs. Real leaders

3.      Trust:  People naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves

4.      You are who you attract

 

D.     Leadership is Reproduction

1.      It takes a leader to make a leader

2.      Priorities:  the 80/20 rule

3.      Multiplication = Explosive Growth

 

 

II.                 Ministry with Influence  [Proverbs 22:1]

 

A.     A person of influence. . .

-          Integrity with People

-          Nurtures People

-          Faith in People

-          Listens to People

-          Understands People

-          Encourages People

-          Navigates People

-          Connects with People

-          Empowers/equips People

-         Reproduces Other Leaders

 

B.     What is Integrity?

1.      Wholeness

2.      Learning to walk in integrity requires two things

·        A visitation of God’s grace

·        A consistency and constancy that goes beyond the cleverness and manipulation required to merely impress another person.

3.      First viewpoint of integrity in the Bible: Abraham and Abimelech [Genesis 20:1-6]

-         The focus of this story is not only on sexual integrity, but integrity in every aspect of our lives:  INTEGRITY OF HEART

-         When sexual issues come into play, their applications are always broad

-         In the violation of sexuality, there is an expending of “life- force,” not just emotional energy, in a direction that is unworthy

-         The idea of integrity is introduced here in scripture for the first time:

-         The word is an Old Testament word, but in the New Testament is represented by the word “Peace.” 

-         Not in the sense of tranquility or absence of war, but in the sense of absolute unity or bond where everything has come together and stays together.   UNVIOLATED

 

-         Abraham, the father of faith, is not the one who is used to demonstrate the concept of integrity here, but rather a pagan king.

-         Countering the Spirit of the World

** The spirit that represents any part of the world, even when it isn’t revealing its worst, is still an “other” spirit than the spirit we have been called to move in.

-         Its purpose is to disintegrate what makes you that class of disciple that is ultimately able to contend with the world spirit and break it.

-         A Gradual Erosion

-         Standing in the “tide of the world” may not knock you down, but something is being taken away.

-         Essence of World-Class Ministry:  THE NURTURING OF AND MAINTANENCE OF AN ABSOLUTE HEART OF INTEGRITY BEFORE GOD.

-         This is the only thing that will last!

-         Not quantitative:  How long you pray, study, witness, do things.

-         Qualitative:  Heart & Obedience

-         Your quality of heart will give God license to keep doing and multiplying things that will be immediately fruitful and long-term productive.

 

**  THAT QUALITY OF HEART IS INTEGRITY

 

C.     Integrity is the KEY to Influence

1.      Integrity is who you are when no one is looking

2.      Integrity vs. Credentials

3.      Integrity vs. Reputation

 

 

III.               Getting to Know Jesus the Leader   [Luke 2:40, 52]

 

A.     Jesus the Disciple-Maker

1.      Jesus spent 80% of His time with 12 men  [Matt 12:48-50]

2.      Jesus set the standard:  (Rich Young Ruler )      [Matt.19:16-22]

3.      Jesus demanded action:  (James and John vs. Zebedee ) [Matt. 4:19-22]

 

B.     Jesus the High Priest

1.      Jesus became the intercessor:  stood on our behalf   [Ezek. 22:30]

2.      Jesus became the sacrifice:  humbled Himself  [Phil. 2:5-11]

3.      Jesus became the bridge:  connected us to God

 

C.     Jesus the Head of the Church

1.      Jesus is the foundation               [Matt. 7:24-25]

2.      Jesus is the chief cornerstone                 [Eph. 2:20-22]

3.      Jesus is in charge of his church  [Eph. 1:22]

 

 

D.     Jesus the Bridegroom and Husband

1.      Jesus is responsible for his Bride

2.      Jesus is the covenant maker

3.      Jesus desires a prepared church            [Matt. 25:1-13]



IV.              Ministry and Servanthood

 

A.     What is Ministry?

1.      Ministry is Service

2.      Ministry is People

 

B.     Ideas which Produce Strong Ministry

1.      Relationship

2.      Lordship

3.      Character

4.      Sacrifice

5.      Compassion

6.      Desire

7.      Hard Work

 

C.     Laying Down Your Life for the Church

 

Recommended Books for  Further Study:

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership  -  John C. Maxwell

Becoming a Person of Influence  -  John C. Maxwell

Leadership and Management  -  Rick Joyner

 

INTEGRITY WORKSHEET

 


10 QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEASURE YOUR INTEGRITY

 

1.      How well do I treat people from whom I can gain nothing?

            r Exceptionally well  r As good as anyone else  r Not so good  r Who cares

 

2.      Am I transparent with others about who I really am?

r Extremely open  r Somewhat open  r Depends on who I’m with  r Usually closed

 

3.      Do I role-play based on the other person(s) I am with?

r Rarely, I’m pretty consistent  r Sometimes  r Often  r Call me “The Chameleon”

 

4.      Am I the same person when I’m in the spotlight as I am when I’m alone?

            r Yes  r Sometimes I may change a bit  r I was born for the stage

 

5.      Do I quickly admit wrongdoing without being pressed to do so?

            r Yes  r Sometimes  r Rarely  r Who me?  As if I make mistakes…

 

6.      Do I put other people ahead of my personal agenda?

            r Often  r Sometimes  r Rarely  r Didn’t you see my profile, I’m task oriented!

 

7.      Do I have an unchanging standard for moral decisions, or do circumstances determine my choices?

r I will not be moved  r Depends on the situation  r I’m feeling a little wobbly…

 

8.      Do I make difficult decisions, even when they have a personal cost attached to them?

            r Readily  r It depends on the price  r I hate making decisions

 

9.      When I have something to say about people, do I talk to them or about them?

r I talk to them first r I talk to them, but to others also  r I don’t gossip, I “share”

 

10.  Am I accountable to at least one other person for what I think, say, and do?

            r Yes  r Sometimes, depends on the mood  r I only answer to God

 

 

INTEGRITY CHECKLIST

 

                          Commit yourself to developing daily character.

 

                          Do the little things.

 

                          Do what you should do before you do what you want to do.