Where Do Church Leaders Go?

Or

There’s no water in dry wells

Leaders are Expected to…

• Lead w/inspiration, encouragement, and a positive attitude

• Organize, manage, and supervise a volunteer staff

• Know and work with media, advertising, and with no budget

• Be an educator w/ability to teach, and having good study skills

Leaders are Expected to…

• Create and develop their own teaching materials, with no budget

• Perform “official” functions w/grace

• Be talented in private AND public communications

• Be able to appropriately manage and resolve conflicts

Leaders are Expected to…

• Be available for hospital, jail, or handholding sessions

• Authentically, genuinely represent God in living a holy life

• Meet the expectations of 73% of congregants that expect him to live at a higher level than they themselves

What are the results?

• 80% of preachers

discouraged or dealing with

depression

• 84% of spouses depressed

• 49% say family life suffering

• 37% admit inappropriate

sexual behavior

What of self-examination?

• 90% say their inadequately trained to do the job

• 50% feel unable to do the job• 70% don’t have a close friend,

Fuller Institute• 80% don’t have a close friend,

Ministries Today• 30-40% express a desire to quit

Extra Danger for Leaders

• The nature of leadership is to lead and guide

• People generally think their leaders are mostly right

• Leaders perceive themselves this way also

• Makes it difficult to see self as wrong or NEEDING HELP

Do we need to draw a map?

• Leaders need prayer, like Jesus did

Matthew 14:23

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the

mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He

was there alone.

Mark 6:46

After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray

Luke Outlines Prayer

• 3:21- annointed w/HS while praying• 5:16- would often slip away• 6:12- spent all night in prayer• 9:18- was praying alone• 11:1- impressed apostles into asking• 22:44- prayed in agony, fervently

Do we need to draw a map?

• Leaders need prayer, like Jesus did

• Leaders need good association and good news, like Paul did

1 Corinthians 1:3-5

Blessed be the … God of all comfort,4. who comforts us in all our

affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any

affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted

by God.5. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so

also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13

Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a

door was opened for me in the Lord,13. I had no rest for my

spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7

For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were

afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.6. But God, who

comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;7. and not only

by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted

in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for

me; so that I rejoiced even more.

Do we need to draw a map?

• Leaders need prayer, like Jesus did

• Leaders need good association and good news, like Paul did

• Leaders need balance in their life

Ecclesiastes 12:12

But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many

books is endless, and excessive devotion to books

is wearying to the body.

Ecclesiastes 7:16

Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise.

Why should you ruin yourself?

Leaders that Last

• Focus on God’s direction, expectation• Play to their strengths, find help for

weakness• Balance their lives, establish

boundries, learn to say no!• Are health conscious• Don’t allow past sins to weigh down

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his transgressions will not

prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find

compassion.

Do we need to draw a map?

• Leaders need prayer, like Jesus did

• Leaders need good association and good news, like Paul did

• Leaders need balance in their life

• Leaders need leaders

“In our studies of leaders, we can clearly conclude with few exceptions that those who experienced anointed ministry and

finished well had a significant network of meaningful relationships that inspired,

challenged, listened, pursued, developed, and held one another accountable. Those that failed to reach full maturity and finish

well did not have it. A network…of relationships is not an option…it is

imperative.”

Paul Stanley & Robert Clinton

Fuller Seminary

Proverbs 27:9

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his

friend.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for

adversity.

Proverbs 18:24

A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a

friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Where do Leaders Go?

• They go to God for support, guidance

• They go to good association for refreshment

• They go to a balanced life for strength

• They got to their own teachers for teaching