Five Must Needs in Congregational Leadership

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Apr 29, 2010 in Uncategorized | 6 comments

As the leadership speaker and guru John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” While John Maxwell usually says this to a business crowd, the concept also applies to a congregation. Consider for a moment the congregation who gets a new minister and the work, as well as the membership, takes off like a rocket. As long as the minister stays the congregation is moving ahead, but as soon as the minister leaves, the congregation heads back to much of the same situation from the previous years.

Ministers can bring an influx of motivation and desire for a better work, but the leadership is the sustaining catalyst and structure of a growing congregation. The leadership is powerful in its perception and more powerful in its influence. Below is a list of “Five Must Needs in Congregational Leadership.”

These five needs are important in every congregation as Christians seek to take the gospel to the world. As others obey the gospel they are joined with our local congregations and the leaders needs to be available to assist the membership in living the best life they can and growing everyday. Without leadership, the lives of the membership might fall into a windstorm of chaos.

The Five Must Needs in Congregation Leadership

5 – Every Congregation Needs Knowledgeable Leaders

• The leadership of any congregation not only needs to know the text of God’s word, but they need to know the members. God has provided us with the words of everlasting life and also a fellowship the world does not understand.  As our fellowship grows closer, the shepherds (elders) need to now their sheep. Physical shepherds know the sheep they care for each day. They no the food they eat and the water they drink. Shouldn’t spiritual shepherds (elders) know their sheep?

4 – Every Congregation Needs Leading Leaders

• Congregations do not need “bill-paying” leaders who pay the bills and maintain a congregation. Congregations need leaders to step up and be the shepherds (elders) and servants (deacons) they have been appointed to be. There is a powerful difference between leading a congregation and maintaining a congregation.
• Sheep (church members) needs to be lead by their shepherds (elders). The role of a shepherd is not an easy role in the Lord’s church. It takes hard work to oversee those mature in the faith to those new in the faith. As a physical shepherd leads the sheep through the valleys and to the mountain tops, the spiritual shepherds (elders) should lead their congregation through the spiritual valleys and mountain tops.

3 – Every Congregation Needs Seeking Leaders

• How many members miss on Sunday morning whom the elders never go see? If a sheep was missing from the flock, the shepherds should leave the present and find the absent. (Remember the parable of the lost sheep –Luke 15.3-7) Personally, I would love to see a congregation where the elders notice people absent from the assembled worship of the church and they immediately leave and go seek those lost sheep out? If we cannot save our own flock, are we sure we will be able to save others?

2 – Every Congregation Needs Prepared Leaders

• Troubles and turmoil will come to every congregation. The majority, if not all, of the problems a congregation experiences do not arise overnight. Clear signs of problems and conflicts are usually seen several weeks, months and years before the problems rear their ugly head. Shepherds need to see these problems before they rear their head and deal with the situation before the problems get any worse.
• Remember Paul’s words to the Ephesians elders? (Acts 20.18-35) Specifically verse 29 –“I know after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock…” Paul urges the elders to be prepared the the problems to come.

1 – Every Congregation Needs Loving Leaders

• Without love, leading is worthless. Yes, you can lead a congregation without loving them, but the results will not be one of spiritual greatness. In fact, leading without love will not sustain a congregation seeking to serve the Lord.  Paul himself says that if he had all things but did not have love, he is nothing. (1 Corinthians 13.2-3)
• Loving the members enables the leaders to bring the needs of the saints higher and serve them as Christ served others. A loving leadership will love the sheep enough to save their souls!

Another list of Five Continuing Things in Congregational Leadership is coming on Monday.

What do you think? What qualities do you see as “MUSTS” on congregational leadership?

Just some thoughts to today,

Chris

Prayer – James 5.16

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Apr 20, 2010 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

The PowerPoint below is a part of the series I am teaching on prayer. The information presented in the lesson was much more than what is shown on the PowerPoint slides. This is simply a guide to follow along. If you want more information as to the lesson and the details of it, feel free to contact me.

In this series, I am defining prayer is:

• P – Powerful
• R – Responses
• A – Attesting to
• Y – Your
• E – Everlasting
• R – Relationship

Just a glance at the lesson below and see what you think.

Just some thoughts for a Tuesday morning,

Chris

4/16/76 – My Life Would Change

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Apr 16, 2010 in Uncategorized | 3 comments

God has a very mysterious way of working things out to His glory and His liking. Many times the only way we notice the powerful mind of the Almighty is glancing backwards in time. Considering how everything fell into place may not be the coincidence it just “seemed to be.” There is always something or someone greater – God!

On April 16th, 1976, I was running around my grandparent’s home as an 18 month old little tricycle motor. It was on that day, my future was going to change, but it would take me years to find out God’s plan. On that day, April 16th, 1976, Carrie was born. It would be 20 years before I would understand the role she would play in my life (and I am still learning today).

From being young newlyweds having just graduated college, to having three children running around our house, God definitely knew what He was doing when He placed her in my life. God knew that I needed some assistance and a great amount of common sense as well as someone who would support me through thick and thin. Someone who would be there when everyone else wasn’t. He knew I needed Carrie.

As a West Virginian now living in South Carolina, many people ask how I left the mountains for the beach. The answer is simple – God! But with that answer I will admit, without Carrie’s encouragement and prayers, we would not be where we are today. When we first dated, we discussed what the Lord had in store for us and prayed for His guidance in our lives. We prayed for God to enrich our lives in His care and with His will so we could work with Christians wherever He would like us to go, but at he same time, we prayed God would send us to a mission field.

I am sure she prayed that prayer more than I did. Her efforts in prayer are clearly seen by her walk with God. She is the encouragement I need every day and I am excited to have her standing by me in this life.

Carrie, Happy Birthday! May God use you to strengthen the lives of others and draw them closer to Him. I love you and thanks for being a part of my life! Happy Birthday again!

Just some thoughts in the early morning hours,

Chris

Making Evangelism Personal – Compassion

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Apr 14, 2010 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Below is an outline I used as a discussion guide for an afternoon Bible Class. I am a firm believer that congregations can have all the evangelism programs they want, but if they lack compassion, they will never achieve their full potential.

Take a moment to see the outline and let me know what you think.

Making Evangelism Personal – Compassion

Define Compassion

• “To suffer with”
• “A human emotion prompted by the pain of others.” (Wikipedia)
• “More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another’s suffering.” (Wikipedia)

Develop a Compassion for the Lost

• Text: Matthew 9.35-38
• Discussion Question #1: Where was Jesus when He had compassion?
• What did Jesus ask His disciples to do?
• He spoke openly regarding the situation.
• He asked others to pray.
• He sent out others.

How Do We Develop Compassion for the Lost?

• We must be with the people. (Matthew 9.35)
• See others through Heaven’s eyes. (Luke 15 – remember the father’s love)
• See the purpose of life. (Luke 19.10)
• Realize the fear. (Matthew 10.28)

See the Possibilities!

• Remember Moses?
• Remember Noah?
• Remember Paul?
• Acts 9.13 – the fear of Ananias
• Acts 9.21 – the Damascus disciples
• Acts 9.26 – the fear found in Jerusalem
• God used each of these men with a powerful purpose!

Just some thoughts for the day,

Chris

Rising Disrespect for God?

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Apr 7, 2010 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

Sitting down across from an elderly gentleman with a cup of coffee, he began to explain to me the problems of our society begin with a lack of respect. One of his beliefs is that respect is the glue which holds the foundations of the country, our communities and even our churches together. Respect is not necessarily a physical attribute, but a spiritual lifestyle. Respect is not a box to check mark in our lives, but it should be the blood pumping through our veins giving life to our immortal bodies.

Those words are powerful words concerning the state of current global affairs. People are citing a lack of respect in young people, their parents and even grandparents! For some, it is easy to see where the lack of respect comes from. In talking with public school teachers, many of their problems comes from disrespectful parents; whose attitude is seen in the lives of the students. I have been told on more than one occasion in which the teacher has called a parent because of a disrespectful child, the parent was more disrespectful than the child.

Now bring those thoughts into the religious world. Does not Jesus speak of respect for God and others throughout his ministry? Consider the verses below,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it” You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and Prophets.” (Matthew 22.37-40; ESV)

My friends, are those words not words of respect? If there is not respect for God, then what respect will there be for others.

Got any thoughts?

Just some thoughts on a beautiful Wednesday,

Chris