FROM AN AUTHOR OF
THE STARFISH AND THE SPIRIT
Shift Your Leadership Onto the Shoulders of Jesus
Renew your organizational culture, allowing everyone to thrive with their gifts, talents, and wisdom.
"This book invites us to a necessary correction in the way
that we conceive of, as well as implement, leadership..."
ALAN HIRSCH
Author of The Forgotten Ways
Don't Be Hindered by a Prevailing System
That Was Never Intended for Christian Leadership
And its effects…
- A culture with a high potential for abuse
- A team held back from fully using their gifts and talents
- An atmosphere of timidity
- A majority of players on the sidelines
- Accountability that doesn’t work
- Misused authority and power
These issues are at the root of leadership chaos.
You need a coach to help you transform your systems, processes, and practices
to realign your church or organization to the ethos and ethics of Jesus.
Table of Contents
Find your way around the book.
IT’S HARD BEING ATLAS
A Burden Never Meant for Us
We delve into the challenging reality faced by many pastors, likened to the myth of Atlas bearing the weight of the world. We confront the heavy burdens placed upon church leaders within the current leadership models, emphasizing the unsustainable demands of the solo-heroic leadership paradigm. Through personal narratives and revealing statistics, we explore the profound struggles and pressures of pastoral leadership. This discussion serves as a critical call to reevaluate and transform our leadership approaches, moving towards a communal, Jesus-centered model that alleviates the overwhelming burden from the shoulders of individual leaders.
THE SHAPING OF LEADERSHIP
Why We Believe What We Believe
A look into the historical evolution of the term leadership and its profound influence on contemporary church leadership. We survey secular leadership theories, primarily developed in the last century, and how they have heavily shaped modern Christian leadership practices. By tracing the development of leadership from its nascent appearances in literature to its current dominant role in church administration, Lance highlights the need for a critical reassessment of these influences to realign church leadership with the foundational principles of Christianity.
A DIFFERENT ATLAS
Everything Rises or Falls on Headship
Stressing the need for church leadership to realign with Jesus as the central figure, Lance points out that straying from Christ’s teachings leads to power struggles and a lack of servant leadership. Advocating for a servant-first leadership model, Lance calls for focusing on the well-being and growth of the church community rather than individual power. Challenging traditional church leadership norms, Lance promotes a Jesus-centric approach, where leaders identify as servants to foster a healthy and spiritually aligned church.
AUTHORITY, WARFARE, AND WEAKNESS
Realigning Headship
This chapter presents a focused examination of contemporary Christian leadership. It contrasts the prevalent organizational and success-oriented model with a biblical approach centered on humility, servanthood, and dependence on Christ. Using personal anecdotes and scriptural references, particularly from Paul’s epistles, the chapter advocates for a leadership paradigm in the church that prioritizes spiritual authority derived from Christ-like meekness and sacrifice, challenging the traditional reliance on worldly power and status. This chapter calls for a fundamental shift in church leadership towards embodying the headship of Christ, emphasizing the paradox of strength in weakness and the importance of aligning with the divine rather than human authority.
HEAD OF A FAMILY
Realigning as a Household of Faith
Here, we emphasize the church’s familial nature, drawing parallels between biological families and church communities. Drawing from the enormous amount of familial language in the New Testament, Lance argues for a church environment that embodies familial love and support, contrasting it with corporate-like structures often found in churches. He stresses that church leaders should view and treat each other as siblings in Christ, fostering a culture of humility, service, and mutual support. The chapter concludes by questioning the common hierarchical approach in churches, advocating for a more inclusive, family-like environment that truly reflects the teachings and spirit of Christ.
FELLOWSHIP OF EQUALS
Realigning Through Equality
True leadership is about releasing the power already in others. This chapter challenges traditional views of status and hierarchy, advocating for an environment where every team member has equal opportunities to contribute, regardless of their abilities. The
chapter underscores the significance of communication in leadership, suggesting a shift away from hierarchical titles to promote inclusivity and equality. It particularly highlights the need to include women and individuals from diverse backgrounds in leadership roles, emphasizing their unique perspectives. By advocating for transparency, fairness, and equitable power distribution, this chapter provides a blueprint for teams to adopt a leadership style that aligns with Christian values, fostering a culture of mutual respect and shared responsibility. This concise guide is an excellent resource for teams looking to enhance their leadership approach in a Christ-like manner.
UNTAPPED WISDOM
Realigning With the Wisdom of the Older Ones
Here is an emphasis on the importance of valuing the wisdom and experience of older generations in Christian communities. We discuss how modern Western culture often overlooks the insights and guidance that senior members can provide, particularly in the context of church leadership. The chapter advocates for a more inclusive approach in churches, encouraging the integration of elder wisdom with the energy of younger leaders. This blend of experience and youth is seen as essential for a well-rounded, effective church community. The narrative, enriched by personal reflections and experiences, calls for a renewed appreciation and engagement with the older members of our churches and organizations, recognizing them as invaluable assets in both spiritual and community life.
RESTRUCTURING AND REHABILITATING THE BODY
Practical Matters and Next Steps
In this extremely “how-to” chapter, Lance outlines practical steps for restructuring and realigning Christian leadership, focusing on repentance, patience, examination, recognizing resources, and learning new approaches. It stresses the need for a collaborative, decentralized leadership model rooted in mutual submission and respect for diverse gifts within the church community. We also highlight the significance of handling conflicts and making decisions collaboratively, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and avoiding autocratic leadership. The chapter concludes by underscoring the urgency of redefining church leadership to reflect true Christian values and the primacy of Jesus as the head of the church.
Meet The Author
Lance Ford
With over three decades experience as a pastor and church planter, Lance is a writer, coach, and consultant who has designed unique training systems currently being used by networks, seminaries, and leaders throughout the world. He has written many articles for Christianity Today, Outreach Magazine, Relevant, and others as well as co-founded the Sentralized Conference. His books include UnLeader, The Starfish and The Spirit, Missional Essentials, The Missional Quest, Next Door as It Is In Heaven, and others.
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