Jeremy Hoover

This is a third post in my series reflecting on leadership in service. In the first post, I wrote about how ministers and preachers should be the lead servants in their congregations, out and among the people, serving them. In a follow-up audio, I explore how we need to be the lead servants because Jesus called us not to be served but to serve.

In this provocative 7 minute audio, I examine more about Jesus' teaching to serve and to be first by being last. I ask preachers especially to examine the tradition of spending hours and hours on sermons and lessons and ask themselves whether they do so on behalf of the congregation or to serve themselves.

Next week, I'll follow this up by exploring what sermons and lessons might look like if we spent less time on them and more time among people, serving them.

This audio picks up on my blog post from last week questioning whether preachers spend too much time in lesson prep and not enough time in actually serving people--individually and in groups. In this 3 minute audio, I explore Jesus' statement about his mission--he came not to be served but to serve.

Shouldn't ministers (especially paid ministers) be the lead servants in the churches they "serve"?

I've been thinking about how it is that ministers serve. I spend most of my time in an office preparing three lessons each week, planning projects, and doing administrative work. I spend a minority of my time with people, maybe 30% of my time. This includes phone calls, meetings over lunch or coffee, or home visitations (mostly with church members, by the way). This is what it takes to "run" a church.

But what if "running" a church is the wrong way of looking at things? What if spending the majority of my time in lesson prep, planning, and administrivia actually prevents me from serving others?

I know the first objection here--preaching and teaching groups is a form of service to them. I guess I agree--in part. But I wonder if this is an excuse we concoct in order to sound righteous while serving and pleasing ourselves? I don't mean to sound too harsh or critical here, but while serving the word to others has its place, it shouldn't be the only way we have real, personal service-oriented contact with members of the congregation.

A second objection I can think of is this: If the ministers led in this way, by serving members of the congregation through personal contact, who would run the church? My answer is this: maybe the question is wrong. Are we ever called in scripture to "run" anything? We're taught to love others, to serve them, to encourage them, and to build them up. We do this through personal contact and service. And in my opinion, evangelism is more likely to lead to conversion through personal contact and service than through public teaching or preaching.

We lead and influence others by serving them. It's that simple.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my points?

We lead and influence others by serving them. It's that simple.

Don't let anyone steal your motivation to work for the Lord. Nothing you do for the Lord is in vain.

This is a continuation of my series about biblical church leadership. Read the most recent article, What is Oversight?, and follow the links to read the rest of the series.

In his book, The Myth of a Christian Nation, Gregory Boyd points out that the kingdoms of this world are built on power and control and that wherever a group of person exercises power over another, there the kingdom of the world is in operation.

[Caveat: He does not consider the exercise of power over others to be wrong at all times. Neither do I. But the danger exists for abuse.]

The kingdom of this world operates "from above," from a position of power and control over others. Jesus, in contrast, represents the kingdom of God, and operates "from below," in service.

Biblical leaders must be continually aware of the ways in which power can take hold in our ministries and lives. Do we look down on people? Do we press for "our way" in church services? Do we assume we know better than others? Do we teach and expect respect and obedience to us as leaders?

Or do we model a better way? a kingdom way?

Jesus repeatedly taught against power from above. In Mark 8-10, he corrected his disciples three times because they overreached for power and control. In one case, pride was in the way of true, genuine service (Mark 8:31-38). In another, they were arguing among themselves about which one had the highest degree of power with Jesus, who influenced him the most (Mark 9:30-37). On the third occasion, two of them bartered with Jesus for what they believed were the highest positions of honor with him; this later led to an argument among the disciples (Mark 10:35-45).

Jesus countered these power-grabs by reminding them that the path to greatness is a path that will never be understood that way by the world. It requires us to serve, to become last if we want to be first.

Biblical leaders will do well to continually remind ourselves to serve others, to operate "from below" them, rather than from above. True leadership follows first, and leads as others follow us in our imitation of Jesus.

What are your thoughts about this?

Too often, church relationships contain conflict. In Philippians 2:1-11, the apostle Paul teaches us how to overcome conflict and live like Jesus by working for oneness with one another, looking to others' interests first, and becoming obedient through service.

Sermon: How to Have the Mind of Jesus

Update: Sermon MP3 added on 3/15/2010

Too often, church relationships contain conflict. Paul teaches us in Philippians 2:1-11 how to overcome our differences and live like Jesus by working for oneness with one another, looking to others' interests first, and becoming obedient through service.

Review the sermon outline and slides ahead of Sunday's worship service to begin thinking about how you can develop the mind of Jesus in your own life.

The Christmas spirit is not about the coziness of the manger scene on many Christmas cards. The Christmas spirit is about humbling yourself like Jesus did and serving others in his name.