Philosophy of Leadership
Everything rises and falls on leadership. Living Grace Ministries pursue a philosophy of functional ministry based in the practice and pattern of Jesus in Mark 3:13-16. Proactive leadership involves a form of ministry teamwork strategically focused upon a preferred future for the ministry or organization. Every organization needs unity and harmonious cooperation among its leaders and constituents in order that the work of the organization be successfully accomplished. Leaders provide authoritative coordination and servanthood facilitation to accomplish the defined goals of the ministry or organization.
Living Grace Ministries builds around five basic principles modeled by Jesus. He taught the twelve apostles that the center of his power and ministry was a relationship with God His Father. Mark 3:13-16 and Luke 6:12-16 give insights into how Jesus called those who would be leaders in his movement.
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark 3:13-16). “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). “He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast” (Lk. 6:17).
1. Intentional, Apostolic Leadership
Jesus practiced intentional, apostolic leadership. “He chose those he wanted and named them apostles.” True leadership should be intentional and apostolic. “Apostle” by definition means, “sent from” (Greek: apo = “away from” + stello = sent). Leadership that is intentionally “apostolic” is leadership that clearly calls forth a sense of mission and clearly calls others into that mission. Jesus was organizing a team to fulfill a mission. The writer of Hebrews refers to Christ Jesus as the “apostle and High Priest of our confession” (3:1).
2. Prayerful, Spiritual Leadership
Jesus practiced prayerful and spiritual leadership. “Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him” (Lk 6:1). For a leader and for meaningful ministry, the absolute first priority is to give one’s attention to prayer. The first apostles responded to the problem of dissension between the Jewish and Hellenistic factions by asking the congregation to prayerfully seek out seven qualified men to care for the matter, so that the leaders could “give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Paul the apostle said, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayer, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing” (I Tim. 2:1, 8). He urged the Ephesians to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, … to be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Eph 6:19-20). He also said, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
3. Relational, Covenantal Leadership
Jesus practiced relational and covenantal leadership. He called twelve “that they might be with him.” The nature of Jesus ministry was an emphasis on community, covenant, and mutuality. He demonstrated willingness to fellowship with all type of people, from the disenfranchised to the disinherited, from the disadvantaged to the total outcast. He taught directly and extensively about the practice of covenant (Matthew 18:15-18) and required his disciples and apostles to handle any offenses between them quickly and to take heed to themselves (Luke 17:3-4), to apply covenantal ways to teamwork and community. To do God's work without love is to produce mere wood, hay, and stubble. Flesh-energized service will not stand up to the measure of the love of God. Therefore, what are the measures of love? Are we seeking only the blessing of God or do we want his approval on all we do? If God delegates me authority, how am I exercising that authority? Is it the exercise and stewardship of agape love, or the harsh, legalistic spirit of over-lordship? Does the end justify the means? Do I merely solve problems, or seek to resolve issues of the heart behind the problems? We believe leadership should be relational and covenantal, reflecting the integrity of Christ’s ways.
4. Revelational, Governmental Leadership
Jesus practiced revelational, governmental “Kingdom of God” leadership. Authorizing the twelve, “he sent them out to preach” (Mk 3:14). “He called His twelve disciples together…and sent them to preach the Kingdom of God (Lk 9:2). Jesus’ message was simple: “Behold, the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mt 10:7). He called upon the church to extend the Kingdom of God, allowing God to rule life’s relationships and function within the bounds of ecclesial community. Even as Jesus trained disciples in matters of the kingdom, we understand the necessity for a kind of discipleship that trains people in kingdom principles and sending them forth to preach the kingdom. Isaiah prophesied the Messiah to be “the wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace” and that “of the increase of His government and peace there would be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). True leadership extends God’s government, calls for character development, and encourages mutual accountability.
5. Functional, Redemptive Leadership
Jesus practiced functional and redemptive leadership. “He gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, and to heal people everywhere” (Lk 9:1, 6), and to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse leprosy, and drive out demons” (Mt 10:7). Ministry leadership must result in the redemption and transformation of lives. Leadership in the Kingdom has a mercy motivation: to heal and to deliver. We have a functional stewardship, a mission of actions. As Ralph Neighbour emphasized years ago, let us “Touch Others Under Christ’s Hand“ (TOUCH) and minister redemptively to one another.
Living Grace Ministries builds around five basic principles modeled by Jesus. He taught the twelve apostles that the center of his power and ministry was a relationship with God His Father. Mark 3:13-16 and Luke 6:12-16 give insights into how Jesus called those who would be leaders in his movement.
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark 3:13-16). “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles” (Luke 6:12-13). “He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast” (Lk. 6:17).
1. Intentional, Apostolic Leadership
Jesus practiced intentional, apostolic leadership. “He chose those he wanted and named them apostles.” True leadership should be intentional and apostolic. “Apostle” by definition means, “sent from” (Greek: apo = “away from” + stello = sent). Leadership that is intentionally “apostolic” is leadership that clearly calls forth a sense of mission and clearly calls others into that mission. Jesus was organizing a team to fulfill a mission. The writer of Hebrews refers to Christ Jesus as the “apostle and High Priest of our confession” (3:1).
2. Prayerful, Spiritual Leadership
Jesus practiced prayerful and spiritual leadership. “Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him” (Lk 6:1). For a leader and for meaningful ministry, the absolute first priority is to give one’s attention to prayer. The first apostles responded to the problem of dissension between the Jewish and Hellenistic factions by asking the congregation to prayerfully seek out seven qualified men to care for the matter, so that the leaders could “give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Paul the apostle said, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayer, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing” (I Tim. 2:1, 8). He urged the Ephesians to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, … to be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Eph 6:19-20). He also said, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
3. Relational, Covenantal Leadership
Jesus practiced relational and covenantal leadership. He called twelve “that they might be with him.” The nature of Jesus ministry was an emphasis on community, covenant, and mutuality. He demonstrated willingness to fellowship with all type of people, from the disenfranchised to the disinherited, from the disadvantaged to the total outcast. He taught directly and extensively about the practice of covenant (Matthew 18:15-18) and required his disciples and apostles to handle any offenses between them quickly and to take heed to themselves (Luke 17:3-4), to apply covenantal ways to teamwork and community. To do God's work without love is to produce mere wood, hay, and stubble. Flesh-energized service will not stand up to the measure of the love of God. Therefore, what are the measures of love? Are we seeking only the blessing of God or do we want his approval on all we do? If God delegates me authority, how am I exercising that authority? Is it the exercise and stewardship of agape love, or the harsh, legalistic spirit of over-lordship? Does the end justify the means? Do I merely solve problems, or seek to resolve issues of the heart behind the problems? We believe leadership should be relational and covenantal, reflecting the integrity of Christ’s ways.
4. Revelational, Governmental Leadership
Jesus practiced revelational, governmental “Kingdom of God” leadership. Authorizing the twelve, “he sent them out to preach” (Mk 3:14). “He called His twelve disciples together…and sent them to preach the Kingdom of God (Lk 9:2). Jesus’ message was simple: “Behold, the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mt 10:7). He called upon the church to extend the Kingdom of God, allowing God to rule life’s relationships and function within the bounds of ecclesial community. Even as Jesus trained disciples in matters of the kingdom, we understand the necessity for a kind of discipleship that trains people in kingdom principles and sending them forth to preach the kingdom. Isaiah prophesied the Messiah to be “the wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace” and that “of the increase of His government and peace there would be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). True leadership extends God’s government, calls for character development, and encourages mutual accountability.
5. Functional, Redemptive Leadership
Jesus practiced functional and redemptive leadership. “He gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, and to heal people everywhere” (Lk 9:1, 6), and to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse leprosy, and drive out demons” (Mt 10:7). Ministry leadership must result in the redemption and transformation of lives. Leadership in the Kingdom has a mercy motivation: to heal and to deliver. We have a functional stewardship, a mission of actions. As Ralph Neighbour emphasized years ago, let us “Touch Others Under Christ’s Hand“ (TOUCH) and minister redemptively to one another.