• Staffing: I never had a class on identifying church staff, but MinisterSearch can do that for you and save you lots of time and heartache from bad decisions.
• Human Resources: when you are letting someone go, HR is important. Although you have probably never had a class in HR, someone like The Church Law Group can help you.
• Church Buildings: how many pastors constructed a building before they entered ministry? My guess – not many! Even though you haven’t built a building, people like the folks at MG&A can help you overcome the building obstacles.
• Church Calendar Management: although I never created a program to schedule church calendars and resources, I found a simple, great program that did. The folks at ServiceU can help you do that and so much more.
• Database Administration: I have a love/hate relationship with computers. When I was in Seminary, computers were just coming into existence on the “personal” level. So, I was never taught a way to keep up with the people and their giving that came to my church. However, the people at Fellowship Technologies can help you with that.
• Finances: most people stink at this area! But, Intacct can help you take your church finances to a whole new level.

There are tons of other resources that we used each day in areas that Seminary never prepared me for. If you have a question about an area not mentioned, let me know.

On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.

Our small group was studying Psalm 100 last week and I used The Message as one of my resources. I loved what verse 4 said: Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Thank you is a word that has lost its meaning. People just say it now. It doesn’t seem heart-felt. It. seems. cold. and. stale.

Wherever you are today, say, “Thank you” with the most sincerity you can muster. If you don’t have any sincerity, ask God to give you some. Then say it – and mean it!

Battle #2 – Fear

Fear will cause us to over-think decisions or keep us from making decisions. It is crippling, debilitating and ultimately brings “decision paralyzation.” A positional leader who is overcome with fear will sometimes make statements like these:

• We need to be careful that we do not win the battle and lose the war.
• Before we do that, we need to get more information.
• You cannot change things that quickly.
• Let’s bring someone in from the outside to help us navigate this.

There is often times some truth in fear. Each of the statements above could be a true statement, but a leader will overcome the fear of the decision to do what is right in the situation. (seeking the input of God, others, etc). Throughout Scripture, God told us that if we walked with Him, there was no need to fear. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul says:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity [fear], but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (NIV)

So, leaders have to overcome being afraid and replace that with healthy fear. Healthy fear…

• keeps God in the equation. Each decision that we make should be based upon God and His Word. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Fear of the Lord and pursuing Him will help us make God-honoring decisions.

• brings peace. In Proverbs 19:23, we see that God-fear doesn’t keep us up at night – it actually helps us sleep better. The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” When you are leading with Him, you should have His peace.

• gives us wisdom. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10 The “fear of the Lord” leads to the best decisions that can be made! When you lead with the fear of the Lord, you honor Him and He honors you with great wisdom.

Where do you have fear in your leadership that you need to overcome? Where do you lack the fear of the Lord in your leadership that needs to lead to repentance?

Battle #1: PRIDE

I’ve yet to meet a great leader that has not or does not struggle with pride. It creeps in almost unnoticed as we go about our daily lives. We’re leaders, and leaders have successes. Those successes lead to feelings that we can do it alone – that we’ve been doing it alone. We forget about the other leaders around us. We forget about the support that we’ve received along the way.

We begin to focus on other things. We focus on the number of people we’re getting there on the weekend, instead of the God who’s drawing them. We focus on the number of people that are reading our blog, instead of the way that God can use us to help those people. We focus on the “opportunities” that come our way instead of the God who sent them or the people who requested them. We just get messed up about ourselves!

But the Bible deals with pride and a few verses in Proverbs will show us how to fight it.

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

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. Proverbs 16:18-19

Some thoughts on pride:

• Get it under control or it will lead to your disgrace. Humility brings wisdom but pride will allow others to see you for who you really are. If you are humble, “you will be exalted.” If you are full of pride, you are on the way down.

• You have a problem with pride if you are arguing with others a lot. You can’t see it, so start by asking your spouse. You have a need to always be right. Develop the ability to listen. Seriously, just shut up every once and a while (advice for me). Other people are right….often!

• In the long-run, you are better off to be a nobody than full of pride. If you never lead a “great” ministry or write a blockbuster book, you may be better off. If God cannot entrust you with His successes, you will believe they are about you and take a great fall. Just be nobody – God doesn’t do well with those who steal His glory.

If you do not struggle with pride, what do you attribute it to? If you struggle with pride, how do you attempt to contain it?

Structure really matters.

I’ve written about it before, but if you are a church planter, you need to seriously consider the structure of your ministry. Everyone has a different view of church structure, but my personal preference is a structure that is lean and created to make decisions quickly.

At Faith Promise, the Pastor is the final authority for decision-making. He is a very strong leader. However, he leads with our Senior Leadership team because he sees the value of the team. We have two groups for accountability: the Elders (non-staff members) hold the pastor accountable and the Leadership Team (non-staff members) add financial and structural accountability. Neither group makes decision but both are a part of the decision-making process. We labor over who should be on those teams so that we get people who are committed to the vision and values of the church and ministry.

If things ever go “south,” we have a plan on how to make decisions. If the Pastor falls, he publicly says that the Executive Pastor will meet with the Elders to lead the church.

People who attend your church need to know the structure and how decisions will be made in the future. If you are starting a church, focus on the structure. In the event that something bad happens, it may change the future of your ministry – in a good way!

How does your structure help or hurt your church?

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?