Next Generation LeadershipSample

Signs You're Going in the Wrong Direction

What I absolutely loved about the church I trained in is that they were all about equipping the next generation the best they could. Along with the discipleship and education they provided, what perhaps was the greatest lesson imparted was servant leadership. We didn’t start out preaching to groups or leading worship in the main service. We started out cleaning toilets, stuffing envelopes, and even massaging ladies' feet at a women’s event! Even then, it took years of doing what nobody else wanted to do, without ever being noticed, to get to the place we wanted to be.

No matter where you are in ministry--perhaps new to working in a church, a pastor overseeing a team, or someone who feels like you’ve been in ministry so long you have it figured out--know that we are all vulnerable to falling.

There are many contributions to moral failure, but there are three that are probably the biggest contributors to it and perhaps most common.

1. The weight of ministry. Perry Noble remarked that the weight of growing his church was a factor in his dependence on alcohol. But Noble isn't the only one; there are many pastors out there who feel this burden to grow their church, constantly be available for people, and take on every task. If one isn't depending on Jesus, they'll turn to another source for comfort. The weight is heavy and only Jesus can carry it for you.

2. Value placed on platform. Pastors are becoming celebrities, worship bands are becoming rock stars, and ministries are being placed on a pedestal. The value of platform is becoming the focus of many and a microphone is being pursued over really serving people. When the value is placed here and not on serving others, pride and fame will cloud one's purpose.

3. Too much too soon. There was a time when to be a pastor, one had to go to Bible college for four years, start at the bottom, and often work their way up from janitor. It took patience, education, devotion, wisdom, and humility to get to a place of leading a church. When we give too much too soon, we aren't helping the next generation...we are hurting them.

Let’s stop glorifying a platform and elevating those who use it to celebrity status; focusing on numbers and approval instead of health and obedience. Maybe, just maybe if we start doing this, we will see fewer leaders falling and more influence given to them for the sake of the Gospel.