Twenty Leadership Questions for Building a City within the City
1 Comments
Twenty Leadership Questions for Building a City within the City
Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church, President of Acts 29 Network
If Christianity is going to make a difference in the world, its leaders cannot just sit around waiting for the phone to ring and answering every e-mail complaint that hits the inbox. Leadership is not keeping everyone happy (that will never happen-especially for me). Leadership is not just gathering a bunch of mostly stubborn people together on Sunday. Rather, leadership is moving people in a passionate drive toward the mission of God.
Nobody exemplified this better than Nehemiah. The Book of Nehemiah is not just about building a wall. It is about missional leadership-building a city within the city. It is a story about how God's people worked to live as a countercultural kingdom amidst an opposing culture. It is an inspiring story of how church leaders today can lead with humble confidence to build a safe place to gather as a city within the city for the good of all.
Nehemiah raises many missional leadership questions every Christian leader must seriously answer if they hope to build a city within the city. The following twenty questions are general principles. They will be most beneficial if used along with the reading of Nehemiah so that they can be specifically applied to actual ministry issues.
1. What has God revealed to you (1:1-11a)?
Nehemiah was deeply disturbed about the condition of the wall. He knew God wanted him to do something about it even though others around him were no longer concerned about its plight. Nehemiah's humble confidence comes from his life of prayer-his close relationship with God. The only way a leader can have humble confidence is through prayer. I am directed by God; therefore, I will lead with confidence. Active disciplines are borne out of contemplative disciplines. Most pastors are doers and activists-leading, teaching, fellowshipping and for the most part ignoring silence, solitude, prayer, and fasting. We usually choose one over the other. We need both. Meditation prepares a person for teaching; it doesn't take it away. Doing the work is preceded by the quiet disciplines.
2. What must you walk away from to pursue God's calling (1:11b)?
Nehemiah walked away from the comfortable job of being a cupbearer to the king. What are you willing to give up following God's calling? What will stand in the way?
3. How will you communicate your vision to others (2:1-3)?
Can you communicate this vision from God clearly, confidently, concisely and consistently to others? If not, you will not compel others to follow passionately.
4. Who must you ask for what resources (2:4-10)?
Nehemiah boldly asked help from those who could significantly help him fulfill this calling. He was specific about his need and he didn't cower in fear.
5. What research must you do to realistically assess the total cost (time, money, energy, emotion, etc.) of the mission (2:11-16)?
Nehemiah privately examined the ruins of the walls to assess the needs. When we calculate the cost we must include the emotional cost to our self, our family and our participants. I failed to do this in my life and it has cost me some physical health problems that I am now actively addressing.
6. Which leaders must be strategically recruited first (2:17-20)?
Nehemiah's vision inspired others to commit to cooperatively lead this God-sized mission. Leaders are best selected individually one at a time. It is still the best way. Hand-select the leaders first and then go after the participants.
7. Where is the best place to begin the work (3:1-32)?
Decide the most strategic need in your church (leader development, funds, small groups, staff, facility, Sunday worship, child care, etc.) and go after it first. Build it right and then go after the next greatest need. We can't do everything all at once or it will all be bad.
8. Where are your gates (3:1-32)?
The city was built not as an attempt to be sectarian but to be a safe city with guarded gates to monitor what is allowed to enter. We need to guard our theological, missiological, relational and philosophical gates and we must guard our physical gates. Workers in the church need to be formally examined. Child care workers need to have extensive background checks and leaders must pass through an extensive assessment.
9. How will you respond to your critics (4:1-23)?
Criticisms will come to the leadership, especially if something of value is being done. Some people are just prone to offense. In the body of Christ, incessantly critical people are the butt! I have had my over-abundance of criticism. This is how I have learned to deal with it:
• I get selective hearing and am forced to ignore the comments of some people. I exercise the right to delete e-mails.
• I consider the portion of truth in the criticism.
• I try to win over my critics with a humble serving spirit.
• I refuse to meet with mobs assembled for my lynching. I meet one at a time with a witness present.
• I don't respond to angry e-mails. Anything written will be forwarded to an indiscriminate number of busybodies.
• I deal with offenses biblically and include my elders to confront (and discipline if necessary) malicious gossip and false accusations.
• I don't respond with a voice mail tirade, even if I am tempted.
• I expect frequent criticism if I am building a countercultural city within the city.
• I answer questions and I clarify positions but I get back on mission quickly.
• I don't shoot critics with a verbal slap. It only alienates the majority.
10. How can you show the gospel with mercy (5:1-19)?
Nehemiah changed the abusive culture of his people by demonstrating and demanding a merciful treatment of others-just as Jesus treated us by withholding His justice on us at salvation.
11. How will you handle escalating opposition and threats (6:1-14)?
Nehemiah's dissenters moved from criticism to attacks. We can usually endure criticisms but are affected by personal attacks. Nehemiah's response was to instruct the men to hold a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other. We must be simultaneously building and defending. We can't come off the ladder to defend and we can't be naïve and work defenseless.
12. What is the generational legacy you are laboring (7:4-73)?
Nehemiah spent an entire chapter to this purpose of passing on our faith, heritage and ministries to future generations. Our current "NOW" generation has lost sight of the legacy left behind for future generations. We are serving for the faith of our children, grandchildren and multiple generations yet to be born.
13. How will you connect your ground war and your air war (8:1-18)?
Ezra read Scripture publicly as they gathered together. Air war is the public gatherings and ground war is the shepherding, counseling and personal ministry. Decide if a healthy balance is reached between the two. We attract with the air war and we attach with the ground war. Leadership is directing those toward the area better suited for their strength.
14. Will you courageously and continuously call your people to repentance (9:1-38)?
Effective Bible teaching leads to repentance. Cowardice is motivated by fear which has the underlying sin of pride (I want to be liked and respected). Good preaching is not just information, but also transformation. We must call people out of the city of sin and into the new countercultural city. Hard words produce soft people and soft words produce hard people. Preach (hard words) for repentance (soft hearts).
15. What are your terms for covenant membership (10:38-11:36)?
Nehemiah boldly lays out the expectations for the people of this renewed city. We are so afraid of offending people that we fail to demand them to serve, give and participate as a condition for their participation in the body.
16. How will you track and assimilate those whom God is bringing to your city (11:1-36)?
We need to get people through the gate, and into the city within the city. To integrate them in this new city we need to have a strategic way to introduce them to the city. To be a part of the city they must be converted both to Jesus and to Jesus' mission. Otherwise they will either be dead weight or unconverted zealots.
17. Who are your trustworthy priests who can work in the mission while you work on the mission (12:1-26)?
Nehemiah had an army of priests to care for the needs of the people. A church needs both visionary leaders who work ON the church and those who work IN the church by ministering with care for others through compassion, mercy, comfort, training and counseling.
18. How will you celebrate your wins (12:27-47)?
Nehemiah threw a huge, elaborate party to celebrate the accomplishment of a God-directed task. A good leader recognizes a reason to celebrate with others who labor alongside him.
19. How much will you demand of your men (13:1-22)?
Courageous, consistent leadership will incite courage in the men. They must be held accountable for their failure to make God preeminent in their homes and in their city within the city. Nehemiah reestablished the reverent worship of God with forceful leadership.
20. Which closed-hand, practical life issues will you go to war (13:23-31)?
Nehemiah went after the men like an ultimate fighter (chasing down, cursing, beating and pulling out their hair). Their grown children were marrying pagan men and women and the men were not exercising their priestly role in their homes. If we allow our children and young or immature church members to live godless lives our countercultural city will begin to look and act just like the city outside of our walls.
1 Comments | Login to Post Comments
Jeff Barrett on Jan 17, 2007 5:10am
Thanks for these excellent insights for young, inexperienced pastors like me! The teaching and fellowship were well worth driving through the snow storm.
I was especially challenged and encouraged by the first question. We can't lead the church if we are mere reactionaries. God must give us vision to live as missionaries.
Furthermore, the foundation of prayer that you laid beneath that first question is exciting and absolutely necessary. I can see that God has designed everything in the believer's life, without exception, to drive him to deeper and deeper prayer. I can't make my kid's love Jesus, so I must pray desperately. Even more, I can't make myself love Jesus as I ought, so I must pray desperately.
Jeff Barrett
Portland, Oregon