Last year, the BGCO (Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma) invited Ed Stetzer to speak to leaders as part of our ongoing evangelism push.

Missional Leadership from Ed Stetzer on Vimeo.

Here’s the outline to the video:

Missional Leadership

1) Reconsideration of Leadership

a) From superman to everyone
b) From church to kingdom
c) From me to we
d) From personal power to people empowerment

2) Rejection of Clergification

a) From three tiers to one mission
b) From “called to the ministry” to “called to ministry”
c) From “called to missions” to “sent on mission”
d) From exceptional to ordinary
e) From “priests” to a “priesthood of believers”

3) Renewed focus on mission

a) From “full service” to “simple mission”
b) From “pay, pray, and get out of the way” to “join God on His mission”
c) From decisionism to disciple making
d) From “mission statement” to “Jesus mission”
Luke 4
Luke 19:10

4) Realignment of priorities

a) God is a missionary God
b) I personally join Him on mission – modeling
c) I lead others to join Him on mission – leadership
d) I equip others – multiplication

Found originally at: The Lifeway Research Blog

Before I get to the steps, let me hasten to say that they are not original to me, but I heard them in a recorded sermon almost 20 years ago.  You might note, then, they were quite memorable.  Sadly, I can’t remember the pastor who preached the sermon, so as much credit as I can give, I have given…

1.  Surrender to obedience.  You might note that the title of this post is NOT 3 easy steps to knowing and doing God’s will.  There are not many things more difficult that to surrender to obedience for the human will, but to know and do God’s will, it is essential that you agree to do whatever it is God tells you to do.

We can not expect that God is going to gently guide us through life if we are consistently rebellious to His direction.

2.  Seek diligently.  Frequently.  Constantly.  Ask God to reveal what He wants you to do.  God is not capricious and does not hide from those who seek Him.  If you tune your heart to Him, He will reveal Himself to you.

3.  Relax.  If you surrender to do what God asks you to do no matter what it is and you consistently pursue the leadership – He will get you where He wants you to go.

It’s not complex.  It’s just not easy.

I drove home from Church Sunday after worshiping together with the Skelly Drive family for the first time in two weeks.  A blizzard had hit and knocked us out of our Christmas Eve service and later the Sunday morning service on the 27th.  The latter service being canceled kept everyone from being together, though our family had crept out of town on snow and ice covered roads to go with family to ski in New Mexico.

The crowd was down and I imagine that it had to do with people traveling and the fact that our roads were still a bit sketchy and we had another small bout of snow the night before.  It was good to be with my church family.

Still, as I drove home the powdered snow moved like vapor down the road before me and the city had a desolate look about it.  The dregs of the blizzard had been shoved to the side of the streets, building 2 foot high curbs of crusty slush now gray with dirt and exhaust and very few were out and about.

As I drove, I was mesmerized by the ebb and flow of the snow dust that swirled on the road before me, being chased by the wind that came from behind, it created a surreal vision.

There are so many things that are swirling through our church and my life right now, that the scene before me took on a deeper representation for me.

Curious to few, then, that I had felt led to preach on Matthew 11:25-30 just a few moments previous.  God’s like that.  Knows what you need before you have the slightest idea.

The Scripture?  You might recognize the closing words:

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

I still feel a bit overwhelmed by it all, but I am so grateful that the success of all that swirls around me is not dependent on me, but upon the One Who Is Author of all things, simple and complex.

More to come soon…