Leadership Lessons Podcast

Leadership Lessons Podcast

Download on the App Store

Leadership Lessons Podcast episodes

  • S1.E12 - The Hard Work of Ministry
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Season 1: Episode 12 - The Hard Work of the Ministry
    Pastor Pilgrim Benham, Bradenton, Florida, shares about persevering in the hard work of ministry, challenging us to reset our minds and have a different perspective about work, remembering what it is we are called to do. The great story of Ernest Shackleton’s exploration of the Antarctic and how those who went on that expedition knew what they signed up for is worth hearing. The Apostle Paul writes about what he suffered in the hard work of ministry in 2 Corinthians 11, that he was imprisoned, beaten repeatedly, near death, shipwrecked, tortured, stoned, constantly in danger and suffering from a chronic physical ailment. What kept him going? Jesus did. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (Hebrews 12:9) What is overwhelming you in ministry? Call out to Jesus. Paul also wrote about running this race with endurance—which is very hard work. Endurance is “patience where you sit down and accept the thing that is in front of you. And not just sit down, but master it.” Are you not bearing fruit like you thought you would? Don’t look back. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 Ministry is hard work. But stay focused on Jesus and finish well. He is worth it. In this week’s One Piece of Advice, Pastor Joe Harris, Tampa, Florida shares his advice about working hard. 
    ___
    One Piece of Advice | The Hard Work of the Ministry
    Pastor Joe Harris, Tampa, Florida, talks about the hard work it takes to be in ministry. “It was cleaning sludge out of gas tanks that prepared me for ministry in a way that even working on staff at mega-church did not. Accepting a call to pastor a church is signing up for hard work and self-denial of the norms that many other people get to experience. We are servants who get dirty and wash the feet of people like Judas.” Like Nehemiah and the Jews in Jerusalem, pastors are blazing a trail with a sword in one hand and a block in the other. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:28-29) It’s hard work and it’s labor, but the blessing of it is getting to see the power of God transform the lives of people.
    ___
    Quotes:
    “The idea is that when I come to serve Jesus in ministry, I’m not here to get anything back. I’m here to give.” -Pilgrim Benham
    “Sometimes giving means struggle, it means suffering.” -Pilgrim Benham
    “I want to encourage you to run the race that’s marked out for you—with perseverance, with endurance.” -Pilgrim Benham
    “That’s what I long for—to know that the ministry that He’s doing in my life is going to result in fruit, which is souls.” -Pilgrim Benham
    ___
    Links: 
    Contact Daniel: [email protected]
    Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com
    0 min
  • S1.E11 - The Importance of Prayer
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Season 1: Episode 11 - The Importance of Prayer
    Pastor Daniel talks about the overarching importance of prayer in leadership. Prayer comes first. Everything we do must be surrendered to God in prayer. A simple definition of prayer is talking and listening to God. “We need to be men and women of prayer who prioritize talking and walking with God, and relying on His strength, His will, His power.” Jesus taught us that when we pray we ought to be asking for God’s will to be done, not our own. Daniel shares his own story of how he grew in this area of prayer through the experience of church planting In Delray Beach, Florida, and being totally dependent upon God. “We really saw God direct us over and over and over again through prayer.” Asking God for opportunities, not knowing anyone in the city, then going out and sharing the gospel with people wherever they went—and people responded to the power of God’s grace. “We got to see God do His greatest miracle—saving a soul.” All of these things happened as a result of God’s response to prayer. When we ask, He moves. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2). Jesus modeled this for us in His ministry and taught His disciples to pray. Not if you pray, but when you pray. We need to see prayer as a great privilege and to grasp that it is God’s desire to know us and for us to know Him. Prayer should be an integral part of every area of ministry. Seeing God work through prayer builds confidence and trust in Him so that we know whether He says yes or no or not yet, He knows what we need and when we need it. Ultimately prayer changes us. We were made to worship and just as Moses was changed by being in the presence of God, so, too, as we worship Him we reflect Him to the people. Daniel discusses practical ways to build the habit of prayer in your life, For more information and great resources on prayer go to redemptiondb.com/30for30prayer. In this week’s One Piece of Advice, Pastor Eric Souza talks about having godly character (that part of us that is changed to reflect God through prayer) and why it is essential in ministry.
    ___
    One Piece of Advice | Having Godly Character
    Pastor Eric Souza, Jacksonville, Florida, talks about the importance of having godly character. Having godly character is crucial, really, for leadership but also for Christian living in general. In      Timothy 3, Paul lists the expectations for bishops and elders and other church leaders. And in 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says to “imitate me as I imitate Christ.” “This should be our verse as leaders. The people we shepherd need to be able to see Jesus in us. They need to be able to look to us as that positive example.” This is the only way to have an effective and fruitful ministry. “If we expect to lead anybody, we need to show them.” The fact is, godliness needs to be real to you. Christianity needs to be real to you. Godly character is incredibly important because it validates our ministry to people. It makes us authentic because we are living what we are preaching. 
    ___
    Quotes:
    “As His servants, serving His church, it is important to be in communion with Him, to listen to our Master. And when we pray, we actually align our hearts up with His will.” -Daniel Williams
    “I think it is so important that we testify of the importance of prayer and how as leaders we see God work.” -Daniel Williams
    “God expects His people to pray.” -Daniel Williams
    “Jesus wants you to see the blessing in prayer. God wants to have a relationship with you.” -Daniel Williams
    ___
    Links: 
    Contact Daniel: [email protected]
    Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com
    0 min
  • S1.E10 - The Holy Spirit
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Season 1: Episode 10 - The Holy Spirit
    Pastor Daniel introduces this episode about being filled with the Holy Spirit as we serve Jesus. We can rely on Him, on His Spirit for our strength. This Leadership Lesson is given by Pastor Jim Gallagher, the lead pastor at Calvary Chapel Vero Beach and also one of the regional directors of Calvary Chapel in South Florida. The phrase “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is used six times in the New Testament, including all four of the gospels. In Matthew 3:11, referring to Jesus, John the Baptist said, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. “Everything that happens through the believers in the book of Acts is a byproduct of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” This baptism is something that is promised to all those who believe in Christ. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit being with us, in us, and coming upon us. “Jesus referred to the Spirit in us as being born again. Paul referred to it as the washing of regeneration. The New Testament writers saw the need for the church and the Christian to be continually filled with the Spirit. A few passages with that concept: Romans 15, 2 Corinthians 13; Galatians 3; Ephesians 5; 1 Thessalonians 5. “The work of the Spirit is to lead a person to faith in Christ, to convert that person when they believe on Jesus, to transform a person into the image of Jesus, and to supply continual gifting and empowering as we step out to serve the Lord.” In Luke 11:13 Jesus says that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks Him. He is available to all believers. We are not left on our own. What should a person expect when they are filled with the Spirit? 6 things:1)Sanctification; 2)The presence of God more in daily life, teaching and guiding us; 3)Desire to reach the lost; 4)Fruit of the Spirit; 5)Increased effectiveness in prayer 6)Power of the Spirit (Acts 1:8) We in ministry are completely dependent upon the power of the Spirit to do the work of the heart. “Continually seek God for a fresh work of the Spirit.”  In this week’s One Piece of Advice, Pastor John Panico tells us the importance surrendering to Jesus, the source of all things.
    ___
    Quotes: 
    “The work of the Holy Spirit is to baptize believers. The idea is of a person being submerged or filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.” -Jim Gallagher
    “The real mark that a person belongs to Jesus is not something external, it is something internal, and it’s when the Spirit of God enters us.” -Jim Gallagher
    “The work of the Spirit is to regenerate us to salvation and then to continually fill and equip us as we seek to follow Christ.” -Jim Gallagher
    “A fresh work of the Spirit will show itself in the desire to become more like Jesus.” -Jim Gallagher
    “The chief work of the Spirit coming upon someone is a power.” -Jim Gallagher
    0 min
  • S1.E9 - Being Flexible
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Season 1: Episode 9 - Being Flexible
    It’s no surprise to any of us. Things don’t always go as we planned. And so we have to be flexible. In this week’s episode, Pastor Daniel talks with his good friend Jason Sanchez, Director of House of Blessing Orphanage in Bachiniva, Mexico—a man well acquainted with the need to be flexible. Jason and his wife Jackie moved with their daughter Ayantu to Bachiniva in 2012 to start an orphanage, House of Blessing, where they are co-directors, along with a staff of four and interns and volunteers who serve short-term. They currently have 15 children in the orphanage, 5 boys and 10 girls, ranging in age from 3 to 16 years. How has he seen his plans not go according to plan in his ministry there? “My plans never go according to plan, especially in Mexico…Even now, five years later, it is still hard to get used to.” So how did being flexible work with that, how did you deal with it? Jason describes the process of first trying to fix it, to change the way it was and seeing his efforts prove to be futile, then crying out to God for help in getting done what God had clearly called them to do. Most of us know Proverbs 16:9: The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. We can quote it, but then when it actually happens that our plans don’t work out, we don’t like dealing with it. But you have to be flexible. God is the one in control. Where does planning fit in being flexible? Looking to Jesus as our example, we see that He knew where He was going, He was headed in a certain direction, but He stopped for people and gave them His time and attention, even when it was difficult or inconvenient. Jesus dealt with interruptions and distractions as opportunities to fulfill the Father’s plan. We need to know that God has the final say. And work on not stressing out when things don’t go the way you planned. …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6) Some final words of encouragement from Jason: If you really want to grow in this area of flexibility, look for an opportunity for a cross-cultural experience. Go on a missions trip. You can reach Jason at thehouseofblessing.org on FB as Bachiniva Orphanage. This week’s One Piece of Advice fits right in with this idea of learning to handle stress—don’t freak out. God is in control.
    ___
    Quotes: 
    “God, if we’re really going to live down here and do this, then you’ve got to change me, personally, in how to adapt to this. Because it was very hard and very, very frustrating.” -Jason Sanchez
    “In America, we go, go, go. We do, do, do. Maybe it’s planning your schedule to allow for some flex time.” -Jason Sanchez
    “Pray: ‘God, give me the spirit of flexibility.’ Pray for openness. ‘Lord, I literally want my plan to go according to your way.’” -Jason Sanchez
    “We think of God working through us in ministry. God wants to work in us through ministry." -Adam Parsons
    “Anything that has come into my life or your life, God has a unique purpose for.” -Adam Parsons
    0 min
  • S1.E8 - Event Planning
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Season 1: Episode 8 - Event Planning
    In this week’s Leadership Lessons, Pastor Daniel shares from his own experiences in event planning. An event is any time we gather together as a group. We want these events to be beneficial. “I’ve had my share of epic failures, but I want to learn from my mistakes, to get better, to improve.” Here are 10 principles for event planning. 1)Pray. Ask God for wisdom and vision. (James 1:5). 2)Have a goal/define success. What is the point of this event? (Proverbs 29:18) 3)Get others involved. Let people help. There are great benefits in working as a team. (1 Corinthians 12:21) 4)Listen. Ask for input. Brainstorm. (Ecclesiastes 4:9) 5)Traditions are great, but be creative. Try new things. (1 Corinthians 12:5-6) 6)Make the event worth the time and money. Communicate the why and how it can bring value to their life. 7)Pray for the people coming to the event, that they will be blessed. It’s easy to get so busy planning that you forget this step. 8)Communicate well. Make sure to communicate the details. Tell people what to expect. (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10) 9)Be flexible/adjust. “We want to act calmly when our plan doesn’t go the way we think it should.” Chuck Smith always said, “Blessed are the flexible, for they will not break.” 10)Follow up/evaluate after the event. Ask questions. What could we change to make it better? Do it while your team’s memory is fresh.God gives the grace to have a great event. “It’s a sweet privilege to be used by God in this way, to plan events and to bless people.” So those are the 10 principles of event planning. Now you take them and apply them in your own way in your own ministry, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s been a blessing to share them with you. In today’s One Piece of Advice, my friend, Robby Christmas, is going to talk about how it’s important to have a reproducible tool that you can share and pass on to other people.
    ___
    Quotes:
    “As leaders we want our gatherings to serve a purpose, to align with our mission and vision, but really to bless people. We want those events to be beneficial.” -Daniel Williams
    “Don’t be afraid to use someone else’s ideas.” -Daniel Williams
    "From time to time you should change up the format. I love being able to bring in guest speakers. It creates a bit of freshness to be creative.” -Daniel Williams
    “We need to make sure we’re bringing value to our gatherings by doing the little things. Little things can bring a lot of value.” -Daniel Williams
    “God’s sovereignty is much better than our plans.” -Daniel Williams
    “We want to be good planners and plan great events, but God wants us to grow and exercise faith.” -Daniel Williams
    “If you want people under your leadership to be sharing the gospel, you have to model that.” -Robby Christmas
    0 min
  • S1.E7 - Meetings
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Season 1: Episode 7 - Meetings
    This week’s Leadership Lesson on meetings comes from Executive Pastor Steve Wright from Family Church, a multi-campus church and movement in South Florida. “We actually have a philosophy of meetings here at our church that is very robust and strong because we believe that that’s how you move vision forward. Meetings for us are the traction of how vision is set.” All of our meetings have five basic elements to them. 1)Start with prayer. It’s not about us or our skill set, it’s all about the Lord and what He is able to do through us. 2)Tell stories. We want to allow people on our teams to share with grateful hearts the things that God is doing so we can all celebrate those successes. 3)Review action items from the previous week, so there is accountability for our teams. Who is trustworthy to do what they’ve said they would do? 5)Look at our calendar for things coming up this Sunday, next week, next month. We talk things out. “I want to make sure as a leader that I’m setting an environment of collaboration. I want to value the contribution of those that are on my team. I invite all of the people in the meetings to contribute.” 5)Specific people being assigned specific times to get projects done. It’s not nebulous anymore; there’s a very specific action item. That’s the way we run meetings. We are not legalistically bound to these things, but they at least give us a framework, a guide. It’s been helpful for us at Family Church. This week’s One Piece of Advice comes from another pastor sharing his advice on how we can grow in this area of learning from each other.
    ___
    Quotes:
    “I want to hold lightly the things of God. Obviously I am a steward, not an owner and because these things are not mine to own, they are God’s, I want to hold them lightly.” -Steve Wright
    “We want to make Jesus’ name great. The message I want to send to all of my teams is that we are solely, 100% dependent upon the Lord. I want to establish that in all of my meetings. I want to model that as a leader that this is where we want to start.” -Steve Wright
    “One of the things that we want to model for our staff as we are in our meeting times is these stories, that we can with grateful hearts assign thanks to the Lord.” -Steve Wright
    “We like to say we have 52 big events every year. They happen every Sunday.” -Steve Wright
    “To lead, you have to be able to follow. To teach, you have to be able to learn." -Pastor Razz Vazquez
    0 min
  • S1.E6 - Your Schedule
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Episode 6: Your Schedule
    In this jam-packed episode, Daniel talks about the importance of planning your schedule. Good planning is part of good stewardship, of managing your time wisely. But you can’t do that unless you know what you’re supposed to be doing. That starts with understanding the will of God for your life. Ask God to show you that. Seek it out. Hebrews 12:1 talks about the sins that “easily entangle” us. We need to be vigilant; we don’t want to be held back or tripped up by Satan’s schemes. “If God has told you to go left and you’re going right, that is not a very wise thing.” Then, based on what God has called you to do, what He says is valuable for you to do, plan your schedule. Implementing the plan is essential. Daniel shares a helpful tool for prioritizing your schedule by using four categories: 1)Important; 2)Unimportant; 3)Urgent; 4)Non-urgent. You will hear how he does it and how it can help you with your planning. God repeatedly reminds us in His word to make His priorities ours. Have an eternal perspective. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.(Colossians 3:2) Learn to say NO. This keeps you focused and productive. Go to God daily and set your schedule before Him. Then trust Him when things don’t go according to your plan. Be flexible, but schedule it. “What gets scheduled gets done.” (Michael Hyatt) Daniel walks you through his schedule to get an idea of what this looks like for him, including how to block your time and the invaluable practice of taking a sabbath day. And always remember Who your focus is; Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 12:21) In this week’s One Piece of Advice, Pastor Lewis Williams reminds us of this very thing.
    ___
    Quotes:
    “As a leader, as a Christian man, I want to be able to be a good steward and faithful to God and worship God with my time…and so I want to be aware of how I’m spending my time and I want to invest my time wisely." -Daniel Williams
    “Just because we’re busy does not mean we’re effective. We need to make sure we understand that. You can be busy but not be fruitful. Are you busy doing the right things and are you busy doing it in God’s strength, through His Spirit? -Daniel Williams
    “So we want to schedule our time, we want to plan according to the word of God and what He tells us that we should be valuing, what He tells us is important and unimportant.” -Daniel Williams
    “God is a planner. Before the foundations of the earth He planned to come and save us. He is an amazing planner!” -Daniel Williams
    “Planning has changed my life dramatically because it’s allowed me to say the simple word: NO.  Because when I know the things God has called me to do, I can say yes to those things and no to other things.” -Daniel Williams
    “In everything that we do, God should be somehow recognized—before, during and after, as Christians.” -Lewis Williams
    0 min
  • S1.E5 - Alignment
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Episode 5: Alignment
    In this episode, Daniel talks about alignment—implementing mission and vision in your church, with Pastor Bruce Zachary, Senior Pastor of Calvary Nexus in Camarillo, California (calvarynexus.org). Bruce is also founder of VELO Church Leaders (velochurchleaders.org) and serves as Co-Director of Calvary Church Planting Network, a global church planting initiative. Why does your church need a mission or vision statement? It is important to understand the difference between a mission statement and vision. A mission statement is the core values of a church that don’t change over the course of time; they are longstanding, maybe 20 years. Vision may change. But a mission statement is “a compass, a true north.” Bruce discusses five characteristics of what a mission statement should be and why each is important. What it shouldn’t be is someone else’s mission statement, no matter how much you like it. “The problem is that you can’t take on somebody’s DNA. In other words, if you’re looking at another church and thinking we’ll just do what they’re doing…if it’s not your DNA, it’s not going to be effective.” What are some practical ways to communication your mission? Repeat it. Get it out there in as many different forms as possible—and be consistent. “The best way to stay on target is not to get distracted by things that are not your vision or your mission.” Evaluate everything in terms of its impact on your mission. Then implement it. Most leaders don’t have all the skills necessary to accomplish every step in implementing the vision. This is why it is important to have a leadership team and work together strategically. Strategic implementation is the subject of this week’s One Piece of Advice with Pastor Mitch Thompson.
    ___
    Quotes:
    “Alignment is the arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple process of where God is going and how are we going to get there” -Simple Church, Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger
    On knowing your mission—“As you contemplate the things that really stir you, that you’re passionate about, those things should be the core or the essence of your mission.” -Bruce Zachary
    “The further out you’re thinking, the more that you have to remain steadfast in terms of that vision in order to see it through.” -Bruce Zachary
    “Get together, think through what is best practices and take advice from other churches who may not look like you but have been doing this longer and found some great ways that doing ministry has impacted their church and congregation.” -Mitch Thompson
    0 min
  • S1.E4 - Vision From Jesus
    EE Leaders | Leadership Podcast Season 1: Episode 4 - Vision From Jesus
    In this episode, Pastor Andrew Lundy, Boca Raton, Florida, talks about vision. How does vision even come about? What does it look like? What do ministry leaders mean when they talk about vision? It is this: “Seeing what God sees—a work of God’s grace. To see what I wouldn’t see otherwise.” In this episode, Andrew explains the pathway—the how—of knowing God’s vision. It starts with Jesus, because God sees all things. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch over the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3) Vision starts with seeing things from God’s vantage point. God shares the pain of our suffering; He feels it. Then He does something about it. He searches for people to do His work here on earth. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless[a] toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9) Then God selects people; He chooses individuals for certain tasks and certain purposes. Jesus chose the 12 disciples. He chooses those who are available for His service. And those He selects, He shows. “He opens our eyes to see what He sees. He gives us a vision of what He sees.” This vision from God planted by God stirs a person’s heart to feel what He feels. He entrusts us with His burdens and develops that stirring into a calling. Then He sends. He takes that burden with a vision and He gives it a mission, a task. This is the thrilling experience of being on that pathway of vision from God through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit and resulting in praise and glory to God. In this week’s One Piece of Advice, Pastor Jim Gallagher reminds us that it always begins with Jesus.
    ___
    Quotes:
    “God is looking for people—not perfect people, not capable people—but available people and willing people that He can use as vessels to accomplish His purposes.” -Andrew Lundy
    “We see the grace of God in selecting empty vessels of normal-ness and weakness to display His awesomeness and HIs power.” -Andrew Lundy
    “I’ve heard it said that having a vision without a task is a visionary. Having a task without a vision is drudgery. But a vision with a task makes a missionary.” -Andrew Lundy
    “Long before you were called to be a pastor, you were called to be a Christian.” -Jim Gallagher
    “Keep following Jesus, keep loving Him until He comes.” -Jim Gallagher
    0 min
  • S1.E3 - Pass It On To Others
    EE Leaders | Leadership Lessons Season 1: Episode 3 - Pass It On To Others
    In this episode, Pastor Daniel talks about training leaders with Trip Kimball, Jacksonville, Florida, who is currently on staff with Poimen Ministries, a community of pastors serving pastors. You can find them at poimenministries.com. Trip draws from a lifetime of ministry experience which he shares in mentoring and developing leaders. Why is leadership important? “Just looking at what Jesus did…Jesus invested about three years of His life in the lives of men who became the foundation for the church.” The need for leadership in the church was apparent from the very beginning; you can read it in the epistles. Acts 6 describes a situation where more leaders were needed and how they resolved it: Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (Acts 6:3) A pastor can’t do it all himself. He needs the help of those gifted and called by God. How do you do it? It starts very simply, working with a group of guys on how to study the Bible, how to put a message together, leadership basics. Then give them opportunities to do the work. Observe those already doing ministry. Who does what well? Pour into them what you know. You have to create opportunities for people to serve, to learn what works and what doesn’t. People learn by doing. What if someone lacks the talent/skills to do the job? It takes an honest conversation about that. Then ask the question: What are they skilled at? What could they do? You always want to learn and serve with those who are skilled at ministry. Training others teaches you to do ministry better yourself. “I had people in my life who spoke into my life that were mentors. I looked back later at what did they do and then adapted to the situation at hand.” It’s the 2 Timothy 2:2 model, a pattern: …what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Trip is currently involved in coaching other leaders. What are the elements involved in that? There are times of formal training, but the most valuable times are informal settings where people are free to ask questions. You need to be available. This is the intentional part of discipleship. You have to step up and do it. You need to learn to listen to the person and really hear what they’re saying, so you can respond to them. But you alone can’t possibly know everything. A person needs more than one mentor. This week’s One Piece of Advice is about that. Pastor Pilgrim Benham shares his advice on friendship in ministry and why it’s so important.
    ___
    One Piece of Advice | Friendship
    Pastor Pilgrim Benham, Bradenton, Florida, shares his advice about the importance of having a true friend in ministry. The friendship of Paul and Barnabas serves as a great example of two men whose relationship endured times of closeness as well as disagreement. It was Barnabas—son of encouragement—who first introduced Paul to the apostles after his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:27). We need friends in ministry who will pull us, push us and challenge us in discipleship. We need accountability and encouragement. “We need to ‘vent up.’ We need to share our frustration in ministry, but we don’t want to do that with someone who is ministering under our care.” Find someone who is a peer or mentor in ministry, a person with whom you can talk openly and even weather conflict, iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). This needs to be a priority. “Do you have someone in your life that’s a friend, someone that you can rely one and they can rely on you?” Find more info on Pilgrim’s ministry at thisisshoreline.com and pilgrimbenham.com.
    ___
    Quotes
    “You’re not going to learn all this stuff from a book on leadership. You have to be observant.” -Trip Kimball
    “In the process of learning, you also have to be discerning enough to know that’s not something I want to keep doing. But what would work? What would be a better thing to do?” -Trip Kimball
    On having more than one mentor: “If they’re only looking at me, they’re only going to get my viewpoint. They’re only going to see things from my life experience. I don’t know everything there is to know." -Trip Kimball
    ___
    Links
    Contact Daniel: [email protected]
    Leadership Lessons/One Piece of Advice/Blog/Recommended Books: eeleaders.com
    0 min

About Leadership Lessons Podcast

From the publisher's feed

EELeaders is a ministry to ENCOURAGE & EQUIP Church leaders. The EEleaders website serves primarily as an online resource providing audio and video interviews and ministry advice from various…