Leading the Young Church
Pastoral leadership is a key factor in every church (those of us who have been around for a few years have seen more than one ministry “built” down to nothing by poor leadership). But in a young church, it is more that just a key factor, for the church’s very life depends on the ability of the church planter to lead the developing work in a way that is biblical and balanced.
To become good shepherd-leaders, we must be instructed by the counsel of the Scriptures and influenced by the coaching of the Spirit. We need to learn from Paul as he mentors his ministry team (1 Timothy 3:15), heed Peter’s experience in the “School of Hard Knocks” (1 Peter 5:2-6), and catch the heart of the Chief Shepherd himself (see John 10:4-16).
The shepherd-leader considers his way. He knows where the flock needs to go and the best path to get there. The church planter needs more than just his “vision” for the church – he must be committed to God’s goals for the flock. He knows which way to go having a heart filled with God’s Word and ears that listen to faithful shepherds who have gone down that same path. The shepherd leads by example, going ahead of the flock (John 10:4). Paul referred to the things Timothy and others had observed in his life and ministry (2 Tim 1:13; 2:2; 3:10). The Scriptural exhortation for believers to follow (Heb 13:7) presupposes that the shepherd is both leading and living by faith. Both in personal spiritual progress and in the building up of the body, people will be looking to the pastor to set the pace.
The shepherd-leader consecrates his heart. The thief is looking for whatever he can get for himself. The hired man is just looking for a job, and doesn’t care if the sheep are scattered as long as he is comfortable. But the godly shepherd takes his responsibility seriously, and is willing to give himself for the flock entrusted to him. Humility must characterize the relationship of the shepherd-leader both with God and with men (1 Pet 5:3-6). He must lead as one who recognizes his accountability to the Chief Shepherd. Upon stepping into a leadership position, someone once asked, “Does this mean I get to tell the others what to do?” The answer was, “I suppose so, but mostly it means you’re responsible for everything that happens.” A good answ er! The church planter must be willing to accept the responsibility for the flock without letting whatever authority he may have go to his head.
The shepherd-leader calls to his sheep. Notice that the sheep follow when they hear the shepherd’s voice (John 10:4-5, 27). If we would lead effectively we must communicate efficiently to those God has entrusted to our care. The good leader will work hard to make communication:
• Clear – so that those with little spiritual background and experience will know where the shepherd is and be able to follow him.
• Caring – so that the sheep have a sense of the love in the shepherd’s heart. The sheep dog may drive the sheep by barking, but the shepherd leads them by going ahead and gently calling to them.
• Consistent – so that stability is fostered and consensus generated among the young flock.
Good leadership requires patience, since the sheep will not always follow as quickly the leader might like. Scared sheep may run – so at the moment you might see progress from whipping the sheep or yelling at the flock, but that kind of leadership seldom produce a strong church over the long haul. Good leadership involves waiting for the sheep to follow as the shepherd goes ahead and calls them.
Those to whom God has entrusted the task of establishing a church must be consecrated to the Shepherd and committed to learning to lead His flock. In the world leaders may be born, but in God’s work they are fashioned by His hand.