josh whitehead

Recently I was reading in Romans 16 and a word jumped out at me: obstacles. There are numerous obstacles in ministry, including the money obstacle, the strategy obstacle, the timing obstacle, the staffing obstacle, the structure obstacle, etc. But there is one that kills so many churches: the people obstacle. In Romans 16:17, Paul wrote:

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

Many of you serve at churches where people no only become obstacles – they are placed in positions to be exactly that. Think about it: typical churches take people who have never dealt with a personnel issue, put them all together, and ask them to make decisions about the staff team of the church. Others put people together who do not even have a family budget and ask them to decide how to budget the churches resources. It just doesn’t make sense!

And, when things begin to fall apart and decisions need to be made quickly and effectively, the people at times become obstacles. Or, when they allow their agenda to trump the churches vision, they become an obstacle.

If you are starting a church, structure it so that people use their strengths and do no become obstacles. If you are in a church where people are becoming obstacles, take time to teach them and develop their gifts to ensure that they are placed in the right place of service. People are the greatest thing that the church has going for it, but they are also the churches biggest obstacle. Remember to nurture them and help them become the people God wants them to be. And when necessary (and you are sure that God is leading and it’s not just your agenda), jump over them to accomplish His work for the Kingdom.

How have people become obstacles in your ministry at times? How have you developed them to overcome that?