Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the month “May, 2024”

20 May 2024

Leading By Example

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder … shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:1-3 ESV

It has been said, “Don’t do what I do. Do what I tell you to do.” What terrible leadership! Jesus had a lot of bad things to say about such leadership hypocrisy (see Matthew 23). What should be said by leaders is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

In the passage above, Peter appeals to the leaders he is writing to as a fellow leader (elder). He reminds them that they are spiritual shepherds responsible for overseeing God’s flock under their leadership. They are not to delegate or worse, abdicate that responsibility, but instead ‘exercise their oversight.’ He then exhorts them on how to execute their oversight with three admonitions. The first two are attitudes of a Kingdom leader and the third is a ‘how to’ action.

  1. Not under compulsion, but willingly – It’s a privilege to lead in the Kingdom of God – to have influence in the lives of others. Should God call you to lead, accept that humbly and gratefully, not having to be dragged along, but willingly. Yes, there comes burden with leading, but Jesus who calls also helps you carry that weight (see Matthew 11:29-30).
  2. Not for shameful gain, but eagerly – Leaders will have access to resources and power that others won’t. If you use those benefits for your personal gain at the expense of those you lead, you will be held accountable. Rather, eagerly sacrificing yourself for the sake of those you lead will not go unnoticed by God (and others). People move towards leaders who are looking out for their good and can ‘smell’ ego and self-promotion and run from it.
  3. Not domineering, but being an example – This was Jesus admonition regarding the world’s way of leading which says, “Because I’m the boss, that’s why!” (see Mark 10:41-45). If you have to default to your positional power base to get people to follow, something is very wrong! Leadership by example will be inspirational and motivate good behavior willingly.

Remember the Golden Rule of Leadership which says, “Lead others the way you want to be led.”

Posted in #3 DO - What a Leader Does and tagged , , , , ,
06 May 2024

Kingdom Leaders and Financial Donors – 2

… He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. Luke 8:1-3 NLT

Jesus and the Twelve were materially supported by a group of committed, faithful, and generous women who gave out of their own resources to enable Jesus’ ministry team to advance the Kingdom through their ministry of discipleship. Here’s a continuation of the previous blog on relating to your ministry donors.

  1. Do assume a sense of accountability to regularly communicate to your donors how their investment is impacting the world for Christ and the Kingdom. Do not exaggerate your ministry results and don’t understate any ministry difficulties. Be real about the good times and the hard times.
  2. View your personal and ministry donors as a vital part of your entire ministry audience who you are seeking to influence for Christ. Use your donor communications to minister to your donor’s souls, not just report your ministry activities.
  3. Don’t be like the nine lepers who Jesus healed who failed to return to Him and say thank you. Express thankfulness to your donors regularly for their partnership with you in the Gospel. You cannot say ‘thank you’ too many times!
  4. In your heart, do not view major financial donors as more valuable than those who give smaller amounts. Remember the widow who gave two small copper coins out of her poverty (see Mark 12:41-44). Major financial donors may have more strategic impact on the ministry, but their individual worth to God is the same as your $5 a month donor. Do not differentiate in your heart any partiality between the rich and the poor (see James 1:1-9).
  5. How and what you communicate to major donors may be different than that of smaller ministry donors. But all donors want to know what their donations (investments) in your ministry are yielding in way of outcomes. Always be accurate and truthful regarding your ministry impact!
  6. Pray for ministry ‘patrons’ who God will raise up to partner in great ways with you from their wealth. William Tyndale had Humphrey Monmouth who financed his translating the Bible into English. John Newton had John Thornton who opened many doors of ministry through his social connections and wealth. Lady Huntingdon invested great resources into the ministries of John Wesley and George Whitefield.
  7. And always remember, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?” Luke 16:10-12 ESV

Seek to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. “… What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” 1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks and tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Post Navigation