Archive for the 'Leadership' Category
Grace in the Fire: How Pastors Navigate Through the Tough Times
Ministry is tough, real tough. Leadership is tough, real tough. When a pastor leads his church with clarity and conviction toward a compelling vision, he will need grace in the fire.
Just because ministry and leadership are tough, it does not mean any pastor is given permission to whine and complain. Grace lifts us through even the most challenging days in leadership.
Therefore, how do you navigate through the tough times in ministry? The answer is not a geographical change, but God giving you the grace to see it through. Never shy away from who God has made you to be and how He wants you to represent him.
This month, I am nearing my thirtieth year in the same church in Northwest Arkansas. Trust me, I have gone through tough times, and will go through more in the future, I am sure. I want to suggest these things for you to consider in how to have grace in the fire.
1. God is speaking to you.
Pastors ask people who are walking through tough times, “What do you think God may be saying to you through this time?” The next time you walk in difficult times in ministry, ask yourself: “What is God saying to me?”
Trust me, He is speaking. It is grace that will give you the ability to hear what God is saying to you. Once you hear what He is saying, shape your life and leadership to it. It is always important to hear other perspectives through problems, but the most significant voice you need to listen to is the Lord Himself.
2. Never fire back.
Hurt people hurt people. There are many hurt people in the church. God has not called you to ignore them or run from them, but to minister to them. Hurting them back is senseless and costly. Never fire back at others. God will take care of you and the situation.
Never fire back at people on social networking. This media can be meaningful and even fun at times; but when it points its gunfire toward other people, it is the work of the evil one. It is not about what they are doing to the culture, toward others, or our country, what matters is how you respond to it.
Pastors and Christian leaders are continually losing their testimony with, at times, a self-serving, senseless, pious, and arrogant condescension of others via social media. It is amazing how courageous one can be behind a computer screen when writing, tweeting, or posting statements on Facebook. A personal, one-on-one conversation oftentimes leads to a modification in both parties’ demeanor. Furthermore, firing back never brings unity in the church and the greater body of Christ among fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
If disagreement occurs between you and someone else, call or write them a real letter or better yet, go sit down with them personally. When you sit in the presence of someone, you may discover their heart and reason they responded the way they did. Share your concern. Then, pray together. Maturing believers take mature actions, especially when issues of disagreement or concern occur.
3. Do what is right.
Leadership is not about having the last word, but about doing the right thing. Spiritual leaders are not bound to live by the expectations of the world, but by the Word of the living God.
When our flesh rises up and wants to declare its independence and rights, we need to remember we are crucified with Christ. It is not about us, but Christ who lives in us. (Galatians 2:20)
The depth of our walk with God oftentimes determines the influence of our life and ministry. Yet, this breadth of influence is enhanced, limited, or forfeited due to a lack of our personal relationships with the people or ministries we are charged to lead in the future. Therefore, do what is right.
Grace is Possible Through the Fire
Going through fiery ordeals is a part of life and ministry. Another church or ministry is not your vaccine to prevent problems.
Grace is there. Reach out. Receive it. It is always commensurate with your need.
Grace is the power to live the Christian life and to lead the people of God forward.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
It Takes More Faith to Rest Than to Work
August 1 through September 5, I was away from day-to-day ministry at Cross Church. During that time, I participated in a few conference calls and one speaking engagement in Nashville, and the rest of the time segment was given to a few weeks of sabbatical.
After serving as President of the Southern Baptist Convention for two years while serving as Senior Pastor of Cross Church, I needed a few weeks to rest. I am thankful the leadership of our church wanted me to be away for rest and refreshment.
A Story for the Right Time
Dave Butts, Chairman of the National Prayer Committee, called me on August 1. I told him I was beginning a sabbatical, but was really struggling due to the pace I had been accustomed to for at least two years.
Dave told me that one year earlier he was in the same place. He began his weeks away in Israel. He walked into a church for their worship service and their pastor was just returning from a sabbatical. His first words to the congregation were: It takes more faith to rest than to work.
Dave told me the Holy Spirit immediately confirmed in his heart that those words were for him. God used those words again in my life on August 1 as he had used them in Dave’s. During my time away, I prayed daily, “Lord, it takes more faith to rest than to work. I trust you.” Through the Word of God and diligence in prayer, the Lord rested my soul while I was away. I give God praise.
At The Right Time, God Always Has a Word
Even though for the past 32 years I have faithfully taken each Friday to spend with my family and my wife, I see my vocation not as a job, but a calling. I am consumed with the calling God has upon my life and upon the church of Jesus Christ.
Fulfilling this calling 24/7 is a joy, never a dread for me. While this may be commendable, there have also been times when I have struggled to push pause for a period of time. Therefore, at the right time, God always has a word.
It takes more faith to rest than to work is a timely word. The reason is because it is built upon the dynamic Word of God, which is always superior to any of our own words.
The Principle of Rest Comes from God and His Word
In Exodus 23:10-12, we learn that the word for “rest” means to “discontinue, cease, or to take away.” Whether the land is resting in the seventh year or we rest on the seventh day, we are to discontinue or cease our work. Even God rested on the seventh day when He created everything.
When we do this, we become refreshed. When we are refreshed, we are “taking a breath” from life itself and also being “breathed upon” by God simultaneously.
The Sabbath day, according to Exodus 20:8-11, draws attention like no other day of the week, as it is to be a day for resting, withdrawing, and reflecting. In Acts 3:19, we learn that “seasons of refreshing” indicates that this is an opportune time, the right time, when we recover our breath and when the Holy Spirit breathes upon us.
According to Revelation 1:10, we believe Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, this is our day that is set aside for worship according to Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.
We understand that the Lord’s Day is a day of worship and rest, a day for each of us to take a breath in life, and to have the Holy Spirit breathe upon us through worship with God’s people in our local church.
3 Ways to Live Out the Principle of Rest
1. Increase the value of rest from work and busyness.
This is God’s way, found in God’s Word.
Caution: Busyness in your life is your greatest distraction to resting physically and worshipping the Lord consistently.
Busyness does not indicate spirituality, but in reality, distracts you from being all God wants you to be.
2. Prioritize Sundays for rest and worship.
Sunday is the day we take time to breathe personally and to be breathed upon by the Holy Spirit through worship with God’s people, the Church. Sunday is not just about you taking a breath, but also about God breathing upon you.
Sunday is to be a day of reflection and anticipation. It is a turning point in your life weekly. This is why Sunday is to be a day of refreshment.
3. Strategize time away annually.
This is what we call a vacation or staycation. Generally, the American worker gets two weeks of vacation annually. Strategize this time to be a time of rest, but also a time to let the Holy Spirit breathe upon you.
A Final Word for You
On August 1, I prayed, “Oh Lord, settle my spirit. Help me to ‘be’ more than ‘do.’ Speak to me in this season of my life personally and about our church. Give me the faith to rest and not to work. I trust You.”
Whether you pray this is for your day of rest weekly or for your vacation, let me testify, God answered my prayer.
He will also answer your prayer.
I shared this with Cross Church yesterday. You can watch the message in its entirety here.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, immediate past President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.