This book is written for ministry workers and leaders. This book is a continuation of Dangerous Calling which seeks to confront the unique challenges of pastoral ministry. I think that the premise of the book is that pastors don’t just fall on their own. In every failed pastor, there is a ministry community that surrounds him that contributed to the fall.
This book enumerates gospel principles that would be of help to the ministry community and leadership that support pastors and church leaders. The principles are as follows: achievement, gospel, limits, balance, character, war, servants, candor, identity, restoration, longevity, and presence. The principles are in the order of the book discussed.
I would want to talk about the things I have remembered regarding the principles mentioned in the book. I really like this book. I have read some chapters twice. Allow me to write the valuable lessons that I have learned about the book. It is my hope that this article also would stir desire in your heart for the book because I believe that it is really beneficial in establishing a healthy ministry community and church leadership atmosphere.
The first principle is achievement. A ministry community that is centered on achievements and make it the ultimate basis of success is an unhealthy church. It’s good to achieve God-honoring pursuits but if we make it the standard upon to assess the success of the church then it’s superficial. Remember Judas. He achieved lots of stuff in the name of God but he did it for the wrong reasons. Emphasizing external achievements over inner maturity is misleading.
The second principle is gospel. Grace is essential to be cultivated in one another’s lives. A ministry community that has been touched by the gospel is nurturing, honest, humble, patient, forgiving, encouraging, protective, and restorative. It seeks to establish an atmosphere that has been tenderized by the gospel. Paul Tripp says, “Members are humbly aware of their own susceptibilities and the extent to which they are being forgiven and protected, is not quick to judge and separate but joyfully gives and does whatever necessary to rescue and restore.” It’s like living out the gospel in a community.
The third principle is limits. God-ordained limits of gift, time, energy, and maturity should be considered to lead a ministry community well. Our gifts, time, energy, and maturity vary from each other. Hence, it would be wise to consider specific giftedness in assigning a task because not all are gifted in the same areas. Our time should also be managed well. We just have 24 hours and 7 days a week. We need time for rest, devotion, family, church, and work. There are things that we ought to prioritize and forgo because our time is limited. Our energy is also limited. We cannot minister without rest. Our energy is also affected by our physical wellness. Hence, it is important to invest our energy in activities that truly matter from God’s perspective. Our maturity also varies from each other. We need to be patient, knowing that not all people have been refined and matured by God in the same way and at the same time. There are tasks that require maturity so as not to shame the name of God. So, it’s important to consider these God-given limits to create a healthy ministry community.
The fourth principle is balance. Balancing the various calling that we have in life is also vital to our ministry success. Church workers are not just church workers. They could also be a husband, father, mother, wife, son, and daughter. Also, the most important balance is heart balance. God should always be at the center of our hearts. If this is not the case, then other things would reign supreme in our lives. This idolatry would then manifest in how we live and how we respond to circumstances in life.
The fifth principle is character. Character is more important than structure, strategies, and activities. Prioritizing externalities over internalities would just be replicating Judases in the church community.
The sixth principle is war. We are at war. Every day. The enemy is waiting for opportunities to devour us. The world is constantly drowning us with its ungodly influence. And we are constantly struggling within because sin still lives in us. That is why we should not be lax. Expecting that all of us could fail if we are not on our guard and if we do not have a war-mentality should be commonplace in church ministry.
The seventh principle is servants. We are called not to be the star of the show because that is reserved for God. We are called to a life of willing sacrifice and service. If sacrifice and service dominate church culture then there would be less and less self-centered people.
The eight principle is candor. Candor is described as humility of approachability and the courage of loving honesty. We all have blind spots that is why we need the eyes of other believers to spot sin in our lives. We need courageous, loving, and honest people in our lives that values God more over us. We should also exude an aura of approachability so that people would be comfortable in pointing to us the things that we are doing wrong.
The ninth principle is identity. Identity is important because the place where leaders look for identity affect the way they lead. If our identity is not secured in Christ then we would get it from somewhere else. Imagine putting one’s identity in ministry opportunities. Others might think that they are a failure when no opportunities are given to them.
The tenth principle is restoration. A leadership community that has been influenced by the gospel should be committed in the restoration of its leaders. It does not mean that grievous sins would be overlooked and opportunities would continue. But what it means is that our committed should be to a lifestyle of fresh starts and new beginnings because that’s what all the gospel is all about. All sins are paid for by Christ even sins that failed church leaders have committed. Therefore, a Christian’s true standing is righteous in the sight of God. Our aim should be to treat them in a way that is consistent to their true standing; restoration and not condemnation.
The eleventh principle is longevity. Longevity in ministry is a result of a gospel community. Endurance in the long-run is not just achieved by one person. It is achieved in the context of the church community. It is when the church community are so changed by the gospel of grace that they give grace to all people especially those who are in the leadership.
The twelfth principle is presence. The weakness, failure, and sin of the church leaders should be handled in the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Knowing that through the gospel, the presence, power, promises, and grace of Jesus is bestowed to all believers. There is hope because of Jesus.
This is a really good book. It is so easy to read but it’s so full of insights and depth. If these biblical principles would just be applied by all churches everywhere then it would radically alter the life of the church positively. I heartily recommend it. I hope you have enjoyed reading the lessons that struck me as I read the book.
By grace alone 