I’m reading through the Bible again. Every time I read a passage that I have read and studied before I see something new. Usually this is because of what I am going through. Lately I have been thinking about the importance of leadership. Leadership has always been an enigma to me. I would never consider myself an expert at leadership. Sometimes the idea of leadership they way it is expressed in our culture is distasteful to me as a pastor.
I’m working though a bit of a mid-life self-evaluation and have been thinking about the difference between being a parson-storyteller and leading Evangel forward to the next level of ministry and mission in the Downriver. I have a strong sense that at this time in my life the Lord is leading me to LEAD.
This morning I built and fire, brewed some coffee, and sat down in the quiet house to read my Bible. I noticed how God gave simple instructions to Moses and Moses led and organized the people to carry out God’s instructions. Moses organized, motivated, and invited people to use their gifts to complete the Tabernacle. The people gave sacrificially. They each contributed their giftedness. They accomplished what God wanted them to do with great excellence, Moses commended them, and then the glory of God fell on the project.
Leading the Moses way looks pretty strait-forward. You get your direction from the Lord. You tell the people. You inspire them to give and work. You find people who are gifted and have them work in their area of giftedness. You affirm their work. You watch the glory of God fall.
I changed the header on my web site a few minutes ago from “Parson-Storyteller” to “Leading People to Follow Jesus.” I still intend to be a faithful pastor and, like my Master, I will always use storytelling, but it is clear that now is the time in my life to lead.
