Staff Alignment
It is easy to become fragmented as we grow. Rivers that become broad lose their power. Birds align themselves to fly further, faster. Computers must defrag, re-align where the data is stored. We have the opportunity to “defrag” our ministry. How can we align all of our staff and resources so that all of our efforts/vectors are pointed in the same direction. We must start with the big picture and drill down to the individual assignments on the team as we seek to increase our effectiveness in helping everyone find and follow Jesus.
John 15:8 (ESV)[8]By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Assumptions - we are:
Missional - Matthew 28:18–20
Incarnational - John 15:5
Relational - Acts 2 & 4
Intentional - Colossians 1:28–29, Philippians 3:13–14“No one Accidentally creates Disciples. Discipleship is an intentional Pursuit.” (Building a Disciplemaking Culture by Michael Breen)
Holistic Ministry:
Evangelism and discipleship are not two separate categories, great discipleship produces great evangelism. You cannot be a true disciple if you don’t have a heart for the lost, because Jesus loves the lost!
We Make Disciples Who Make Disciples
Matthew 28:18–20. This is not optional… Jesus commanded this…Dallas Willard said that we only have two questions:
What is our disciple making plan? Are we working the plan?
Discipleship is defined as relationship with direction…
Jesus’ invitation to men, “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” They didn’t ask to become fishers of men, but Jesus told them from the beginning, that if they followed him, they would become “fishers of men.” Jesus was intentional, he was taking them in a direction.
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)[2]and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Ephesians 4:11–14 (ESV)And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13]until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14]so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Biblical DNA for Vocational Staff
We don’t do the work, we equip the saints to do the work!The goal is spiritual maturity so that everyone grows up, not just grow old!The test of whether we are growing to maturity in Christ is measured by our love for God and for one another. Experincing a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love.
Rick Warren, “If you are leading people and not loving them, you aren’t leading, you are only manipulating.”
Three Essentials:
Know
You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.
Be
Character development - Behaviors. Who we are is more important than what we do.
2 Peter 1:5–8 (ESV)For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6]and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7]and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. [8]For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do
Obeying by serving Jesus.
Matthew 7:24 (ESV)"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
John 13:17 (ESV)If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Our Three Core Values:
Worship - Temple Courts
“Let my people go, that they might worship”
this is where it all begins!
Community - Redemptive Relationships
One-anothers - love one another, encourage one another, spur one another on….
Service - Greatness
“The greatest among you shall be the servant of all." Matthew 23:11.
Every pastor must be building a disciplemaking team, leading ten people to lead ten people (Exodus 18, 2 Timothy 2:2). We lead everyone to have one hand up, to receive leadership and direction, and one hand down to lead, serve and assist someone else. Everyone needs a Paul and everyone needs a Timothy. The core responsibility of a disciple is to “make disciples.” If we make more and better disciples who make disciples, this will force us to plant churches.
Making disciples is God’s universal call to all believers, especially pastors.
Who are your top three volunteers in your ministry?
Fire fighter Illustration
The primary job of a firefighter is to be ready and available to put out fires on a moments notice. When the alarm goes off, the firefighter drops everything and responds immediately. He does not say, "I’m unavailable right now because I have to feed the dog, cook the firehouse meals, or shine the pole… Each firefighter has a primary function on the firefighting team that is committed to putting out fires. One drives the hook and ladder firetruck from the front and another from the back, one hooks up the firehoses and monitors the gauges showing the water pressure. One handles the fire hose nozzle while another sits on the hose, one assesses the type of fire - structural, chemical, biological issues… another coordinates the firefighters to effectively put the fire out by the best means possible. When there is a fire beyond what the local firefighters can handle, other fire departments come to help, with “all hands on deck,” because they understand that the primary job is to put out fires, no matter where or when…
Firefighters are always available, putting out fires is the first responsibility. Not one of them will be heard saying, “that is not my job, I’ve got a pole to shine.”
What are the Primary Responsibilities of Paid Staff?
Creating an Aligned Leadership Development Environment:
Basic Leader Training?
Ministry Leadership Meetings?
Coaching Meetings?
Pastoral Meetings?
All church vision casting?
Leadership retreats?
District rallies?