HELPING LEADERS BECOME
B E T T E R S T E WA R D S .
Leadership Library: a curated collection of great books — and resources — for pastors
Presented by: Abingdon Press, Bethany House & Moody Publishers
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Table of Contents LEADING (AND THRIVING!) FROM THE SECOND CHAIR
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Second chair leaders play a critical role in churches across the world. They serve in paid and unpaid capacities, and include laity; ordained clergy; bivocational, licensed local pastors; and others who lead significant ministries, but who are not the lead or senior pastor. Mike Bonem, author of Leading from the Second Chair, takes that important work to the next level, with Thriving in the Second Chair.
WHY ACCOUNTABILITY DOESN’T WORK 6 More than once, I (Marcus) have been asked by a ministry leader to develop a discipleship program with some “teeth” in it. By this, they mean discipleship that is strong on accountability. Most pastors have figured out that simply telling people what is wise doesn’t mean they are going to do it. So, the assumption is that people need to be told what to do — then forced to report on how they are doing — or nothing will change. By Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder
HOW TO ENGAGE A YOUNGER GENERATION
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Q&A with David Stark, author of Reaching Millennials
IS JESUS’ FINANCIAL ADVICE REALLY TERRIBLE?
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Two thousand years ago, the Son of God sat down on the side of a mountain and began to teach one of the most beatdown people the world has ever known. Oppressed by the Romans, loaded down by their priests, and crushed by their home-grown despot king so bent on retaining power that 30 years earlier he’d killed every one of their sons under the age of two on the rumor that one of them might take his place. Imagine their surprise when Jesus opened with these words.
By John Thornton
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L E A D E R S H I P L I B R A R Y • CHURCH EXECUTIVE
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What financial gurus WON’T tell you.
PROVEN METHODS FOR ENGAGING MILLENNIALS
When it comes to finances, Christians need God’s
Based on Principles That Built the Early Church
wisdom. But it’s a wisdom that seems foolish to the world. Jesus’ Terrible Financial Advice is a book that puts money in its place with an eternal perspective. It will help Christians be good stewards
“A must-read for every pastor, lay minister, and church leader. . . . If you want to welcome, celebrate, and engage Millennials in your church, then devour this book!”
of money, rather than slaves to it.
Pre-order online at
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Mike Bonem highlights ten key factors that will help second chair leaders do more than just survive. These deep “springs” will enable them to thrive, so that their lives and ministries are fulfilling, vital, and sustainable. “…practical and relevant….” —Tami Heim, Christian Leadership Alliance AbingdonPress.com
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Do you have the skills of a RARE leader?
Take the quiz to find out: rareleadership.net churchexecutive.com
Leading (and thriving!) from the second chair Second chair leaders play a critical role in churches across the world. They serve in paid and unpaid capacities, and include laity; ordained clergy; bivocational, licensed local pastors; and others who lead significant ministries, but who are not the lead or senior pastor. Mike Bonem, author of Leading from the Second Chair, takes that important work to the next level, with Thriving in the Second Chair. Here, Bonem points readers beyond their external circumstances to the ways they can act and think differently. He highlights 10 key factors that will help second chair leaders do more than just survive. These deep “springs” will enable them to thrive, so that their lives and ministries are fulfilling, vital and sustainable. The first three springs relate to the single most important professional relationship Mike Bonem for any second chair leader — his or her relationship with the first chair. The next four look at some of the most common and essential aspects of the second chair’s job. The final three springs are arguably the deepest and most important. They enable second chairs to thrive even if they’re struggling with the first seven. These three springs offer help for staying spiritually anchored, overcoming loneliness and becoming re-energized. From the book: I don’t think I’ve ever met a second chair leader who didn’t desire to be in an effective partnership with his or her first chair. Second chair leaders know that a partnership makes it possible for their church or ministry to soar and for them to experience greater fulfillment in their roles. In the eyes of many second chairs, a partnership is the pot of gold at the end of the leadership rainbow. Most first chair leaders also endorse the value and power of a partnership. They know that the task of leading their church or ministry toward its mission is daunting and is more than any one person can accomplish. They would welcome a trusted co-laborer who can help shoulder this heavy burden. And yet, partnerships remain elusive for most first and second chairs. This gap between aspiration and reality occurs in all different kinds of organizations: churches and denominational bodies and parachurch ministries of all different sizes, ones with well-defined visions and ones that struggle with setting clear direction. The gap can occur whether the leadership team is composed of two people or more. It can even occur when first and second chairs both desire a partnership and have years of experience working together. Why? If a partnership is so valuable, and if everyone desires to have one, why do so many leadership teams fall short of this gold standard?
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It starts with a definition Many potential partnerships never get off the ground because the leaders don’t work from a shared definition. If the first and second chairs talk about working as partners but have fundamentally different ideas of what this means, tension is guaranteed and “partnership” will be nothing more than lip service. So what is a partnership? My definition is: A commitment to sharing directional leadership decisions that is based on a common vision, an appreciation for each other’s complementary gifts, and a high level of trust that develops over time.
“ …an urgently needed resource. The discussion questions alone could be game-changers for the healthy success of first- and secondchair relationships.” —Sue Nilson Kibbey, Director of Missional Church Initiatives, West Ohio Conference (UMC); author of Flood Gates: Holy Momentum for a Fearless Church “ … practical and relevant, a thoughtfully crafted map to ten springs that keep a second chair leader refreshed and thriving.” — Tami Heim, President and CEO, Christian Leadership Alliance “ … lays the groundwork for a personally fulfilling and professionally sustainable life in ministry. Mike’s advice is an encouragement to those of us leading a ministry beyond our control.” — Dan Entwistle, Managing Executive Director, The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, (Leawood, KS)
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Why accountability doesn’t work By Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder
More than once, I (Marcus) have been asked by a ministry leader to develop a discipleship program with some “teeth” in it. By this, they mean discipleship that is strong on accountability. Most pastors have figured out that simply telling people what is wise doesn’t mean they are going to do it. So, the assumption is that people need to be told what to do — then forced to report on how they are doing — or nothing will change. The accountability solution has ruled the business world, as well. Voluntarists believe that if we want to see change (either personally or corporately), we need to inform people of how we want them to behave, get them to commit to adopting that behavior, and then hold them accountable to their Marcus Warner commitment. (See: performance reviews.) It is virtually a given that any book on leadership will say accountability is the key to transformation. As widespread and apparently sensible as the accountability solution has become, it has proven to be a massive failure at producing the results it promises. Nearly all discipleship and leadership training we provide our pastors and corporate managers is based on accountability. Yet, when we look at the fruit, we see a long history of fallen leaders, relational train wrecks, and discouraged followers. Jim Wilder One of the reasons the accountability paradigm falls short is that the model is fueled by fear. When I meet with my accountability group, I am only happy to see them if I have been successful in keeping my promises. If I have failed, there is fear in the meeting. I am afraid to disappoint the group. I am afraid to fall short of expectations. I am afraid of the consequences of my failure. More than one accountability group has fallen apart because people simply stopped coming when they started failing. Identity, belonging & transformation Choice runs in the “slow track” of our brain. What, then, runs in the fast track that has executive control? The answer is identity. Who we are determines what we will do, and identity operates faster and more powerfully than choices. Identity’s power over choice does not fit our rational mindset. In addition, our brain thinks of who we are not only as an individual but as a group identity, as well. Group and individual identities are not the same, but they also cannot be separated. I always understand myself in reference to others like me. I am a woman, a carpenter, a Cubs fan, a Canadian, or a leader, according to my group identity. 6
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The four RARE habits of exceptional leaders are built around identity and belonging. The power of these two key ingredients, missing in the old paradigm, cannot be exaggerated. R — Remain relational (belonging) A — Act like yourself (identity) R — Return to joy (being glad to be together) E — Endure hardships well (using hard times to bring us closer) Belonging and identity also provide the real keys to transformation. When accountability groups work, most of the time it is a byproduct of good group leadership. Strong relationships are formed, a sense of belonging develops, and a positive identity emerges that produces real life change. The more pronounced these identity elements are, the more lasting the transformation. If we were to reduce this solution to a formula, it would be: Identity + Belonging = Transformation Lasting transformation takes place when a person’s identity changes and that person becomes comfortable in living out of their new identity. The best coaches, pastors, teachers, managers and leaders are the ones who instill a clear sense of identity into their group and help people understand, “This is who we are, and this is how it is like us to act.” To take the RARE Leadership Strengths Assessment, or for more information about Rare Leadership, visit www.rareleadership.net. Adapted from Rare Leadership by Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder. ©2016 Moody Publishers. All Rights Reserved.
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How to engage a younger generation
apostles considered in the Council of Jerusalem as they thought about adding Gentiles to the fold. James put it well: Are we making it hard for the outsiders to come to faith? Unfortunately, the answer today is a resounding yes. Christians need to have this question in mind when they approach those outside the faith.
Q&A with David Stark, author of Reaching Millennials
Q: What if my son, daughter, niece, nephew, sister, brother or friend is not interested in coming to church or following Christ? What will help me encourage them to move closer to considering the gospel rather than drive them away? Keep the main thing the main thing, which means stay focused on the gospel: the mercy of God available to all of us because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. When we try to debate issues that are not the main thing, it sends the message that these lesser issues are critical to knowing God. Some issues are essential to faith and should be indisputable. But on disputable matters, there are bound to be disagreements, and Millennials often consider the arguments not relevant to their everyday lives, and they never get to the point of understanding the center of Christianity.
David Stark
Q: What motivated you to write Reaching Millennials? Stark: After working with churches for over 20 years, I noticed churches in all denominations and of all sizes were struggling to engage people in their 20s and 30s. I came to realize that Millennials are more than just a new generation. As the first digital natives, they’re the closest to this new interconnected world we live in, which is truly an inflection point in history. This reality has enormous theological implications.
Q: I see the book has two main parts: Mindset and Methodology. What do those categories mean? The two parts of the book make up a whole, and both need each other. The Mindset section synthesizes how Jesus and the apostles engaged outsiders to the faith, and discusses why this mindset is critical for reaching the younger generations today. The Methodology section presents a simple visual system to understand the most effective methods churches use to engage Millennials. Q: Why did you include both sections in one book? How do they interact with each other? I included both sections because success for churches requires both. There are ways to attract young outsiders, but if leaders and other people in the church do not have the right mindset, it will push newcomers right out the door again. Conversely, you can have the right mindset to engage Millennials, but without strategic methods to attract them, the church will likely see little growth. Q: Who is the intended reader? I hope all Christians would learn and embrace the Millennial mindset information presented in the first half of the book. The second half is more applicable to leaders of organizations, especially churches. Q: Dive into the mindset behind Reaching Millennials. How is the mindset different with this generation than previous generations? Our churches — at least in America — have gone through a disastrous decade in terms of keeping and attracting younger people. Certainly, some churches are thriving; but the vast majority is not. In short, in today’s culture, most Millennials are spiritually hungry, but they do not initially consider the church when they think of a spiritual life. They believe we are judgmental, hypocritical, and the “against” people (against this and against that). That is not the approach Jesus and the apostles took to engage the culture around them. Compared with previous generations, Millennials think far less about traditional spiritual matters, the authority of the Bible, or even if there is a God at all. While this trend has been developing, the aggregate experience of Christianity by those outside the faith has nothing to do with the gospel. We need to return to the absolute centrality of people knowing the mercy of God, and let that mindset filter all decisions we make. Q: In your book, you emphasize something you call “the question before the questions.” What is that? Countless issues are being tackled and commented on by Christians today in the marketplace of ideas, but there is a critical question the churchexecutive.com
Q: What are disputable matters? Why are they a separate category? The early church fought about issues within their congregations — disputes such as whether it was OK to drink wine, to eat meat, and if they could worship any day of the week. The wisdom of Paul in Romans 14 about how to handle disputable matters is timeless and so needed for today. When we focus on nonessential divisive issues, we make it harder for younger people to come to faith. Q: You use a term from the New Testament that has many verses attached to it: the Law. What is the Law from your point of view, and how should we as Christians approach outsiders with this concept? The Law — or more precisely, the biblical Law — is the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that are present in the Bible. In Acts 15, we read how the apostles made a world-changing decision to not make it hard for outsiders (the Gentiles) to come to faith. They reduced the estimated 624 laws to four requirements: repent from adultery, don’t eat food sacrificed to idols, don’t eat meat with blood in it, and don’t drink blood directly. That’s it. The church in America, at this moment, is communicating the message that outsiders need to follow so much more of the Law in order to come to faith, which often drives Millennials away. Q: Talk about the Methodology section of the book. How did you go about discovering these ideas? I believe my central natural talent is synthesizing information. I simply talked to churches all over the United States that are successfully engaging Millennials and learned what methods they are using. I analyzed this information and put it into a system to help people evaluate which methods might be best to experiment with to engage outsiders in their neighborhoods and cities. Q: Any final thoughts to leave the audience with? As John Ortberg said so well when he endorsed the book, this issue is urgent for every Christian and church concerned about the future. Be sure to visit Stark’s website, Re.Present.
L E A D E R S H I P L I B R A R Y • CHURCH EXECUTIVE
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Is Jesus’ financial advice really terrible? By John Thornton
Two thousand years ago, the Son of God sat down on the side of a mountain and began to teach one of the most beat-down people the world has ever known. Oppressed by the Romans, loaded down by their priests, and crushed by their home-grown despot king so bent on retaining power that 30 years earlier he’d killed every one of their sons under the age of two on the rumor that one of them might take his place.
John Thornton
Imagine their surprise when Jesus opened with these words. “Blessed are the poor…” Really? How could they be blessed? And why, of all things, start with their financial position? This is not what they had walked miles to hear. They were looking for someone to cast off their oppressors, restore their kingdom, and save the day. Jesus was off to a terrible start. But here’s a news flash for you: Jesus meant to be terrible. Terrible. Webster defines terrible as “strongly repulsive,” but also, “very shocking and upsetting,” and “formidable in nature.” The root word is terror, from which we get terrific, terrifying and terrible. And that’s where Jesus had me nearly 20 years ago. In a terrible place. As a young accounting professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, God had taken my wife Alyssa and I on an amazing journey, where we’d left our fledgling professional careers to free up more time for youth work. As a CPA, I’d set our budget for $8,000 — just half the U.S. poverty line at that time — and we’d not only survived, we’d thrived! Along the way, our family doubled, our net worth doubled, and we’d gone to Disneyland, Disneyworld and Maui three times. We did it, and so could you! Just be responsible — save a little, give a little, keep out of debt. But when I sat down to write a book on God’s perspective on money, Jesus’ terrible financial advice ruined what I wanted to say. To be sure, Jesus tells us to be responsible. But he says so much more. How could I give to everyone who asked? I’d be broke in a day. And what did He mean that I couldn’t serve both God and money? Did I even have a choice? I’d told people for years that I loved God. But I certainly didn’t hate money. If I was being honest, I’d have liked a little more. With questions like that and many more, instead of a book, I was left with, “God, increase my faith.” For nearly two decades, God has done exactly that. Increased my faith as I looked for and found honest answers to the money questions that matter most. Discover the one truth that changed everything I thought I knew about money, and the answers I found along the way. Does Jesus want you rich or poor? Is there a connection between wisdom and wealth? How can I maximize my eternal net worth? And how can we avoid the classic business blunder that causes all who make it to fail? The questions go on and on. Since God is so rich, why does He ask us to give him — or anyone — anything? What will you do if God prospers you? Is it wrong to save? Is it wrong to not save? Is it wrong to retire? What is the difference between stewardship and ownership, and 8
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how do these lead to treasure in heaven? How can Jesus promise an amazing life when he asks for everything we have? If it is more blessed to give than receive, why don’t we try harder to give than get? Ultimately, what would it look like if I followed his financial advice? Jesus’ financial advice goes far beyond getting and giving, to every facet of living. And as God continues to increase your faith, see more and more how he really will do immeasurably more than you could have asked or imagined. See how Jesus’ financial advice turns from terrible to terrific as he flips the tables on everything we thought we knew about peace, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness. What will you do with Jesus’ terrible financial advice?
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