Advancing the Call

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John Maxwell says, “The greatest leaders aren’t necessarily the ones who do the greatest things. They are the ones who empower others to do great things.” [1] 

This leadership secret can be quickly seen in the ministry of Jesus. Nearly every Christian discipleship, evangelism, or mission’s ministry will reference the “Great Commission.” Most often, this is quoted from Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

This is certainly the commission assigned to all believers, but it is helpful and encouraging to understand why verse 19 contains the word, “therefore.” This commission is reasonable for all believers based on the authority and power that had been given to Jesus by the Father. 

Jesus makes this declaration: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Jesus was asking for a response to the authority and permission that had been given exclusively to Him.

Earlier in His earthly ministry, Jesus had sent the twelve apostles on a training mission. He gave specific instructions related to what they could and could not take with them, where they could and could not go, and where they would find shelter. Before sending them on the mission, He gave them authority over unclean spirits and every disease. It was the habit of Jesus to make sure His disciples would have the authority (permission) needed for any endeavor that was assigned to them. 

Later, in the Upper Room Discourse, shortly before His crucifixion, John records this message to the disciples from Jesus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:12-14).

When God gives an assignment, contained in the assignment is the power and authority to complete the assignment. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with the message that she would bear the Messiah, she asked plainly how that could be possible, as she knew that she was a virgin. The reply of Gabriel is most often translated into English as, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). 

This is certainly a true statement, but a quick look at the Greek text reveals this passage is better translated, as in the Revised Version, “For no word from God shall be void of power” (Luke 1:37). Gabriel was sharing that anything God desires to do will carry the needed authority and power in the instruction. It has been the pattern of God to furnish the needed authority, resources, and power for every endeavor He intends.

This principle is valuable in leadership within the Christian community and all associated ministries. Unfortunately, there are pastors who have been given the charge to make a difference in a particular church, ministry, or community, but the permissions needed and the authority to implement the needed changes have been withheld. Not only is this true for pastors, but very often, pastors and other ministry leaders have refused to give those in charge of ministries the opportunity to act. 

To use a common analogy, the hands of ministry leaders have been tied. In many ministry situations, the go-to answer is nearly always “no.” There may be a variety of reasons for this. In some cases, there is too much risk of being wounded again in a church, ministry, or personal battle where a painful ministry wound happened in the past. In some cases, it is unacceptable to allow a person to fail, even if great lessons could be learned from the experience. Often, in churches, there are traditions and accepted patterns that have become the fabric of all future decisions. 

The common phrase, “We have never done it like that before,” has become, “We will never do it a way we haven’t done it before.” It is important for church leadership to hear “yes” and to say “yes” as often as possible. Many leaders that desire greater control and permission and authority for themselves struggle with granting that same authority to others. This should be addressed in a ministry network.

On the other hand, it is not good to say “yes” to everything. There are some limitations and boundaries that should always be considered. Among these is a need for legal, moral, biblical, and ethical guardrails. If any of these boundaries will be crossed, the answer must be “no,” but the answer must be explained in light of the transgression. In order for leaders to be people of integrity, boundaries must exist. Integrity demands leaders who prefer seeking permission rather than expecting forgiveness for something they know will cross a boundary. 

Paul describes this type of leadership as someone who is actually an enemy of the cross. He writes, “ For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things” (Phil 3:18-19). 

Ultimately, the end of every unbeliever is destruction, but it may be important to notice that certain individuals, when added to a team, always lead to destruction of the team or the team goals. For example, they may brag about things they have gotten away with (would rather ask for forgiveness than permission), and they have an appetite for their own agenda. It is important to identify, isolate, and remove such individuals from leadership.

If it is possible to say “yes” without crossing biblical, legal, moral, or ethical boundaries, say “yes.” An expectation of a future evaluation should be contained in the “yes.” There may be lessons to learn, messes to clean up, or knowledge to gain. Remember, after Jesus sent out the twelve in Matthew 10, he later sent out seventy with similar instructions. However, He also included a debriefing of their experience later. Evaluation and accountability are an essential part of providing permission and authority.

[1] John C. Maxwell, The Leaders’s Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders (Nashville, TN: HarperCollins Leadership, 2020), 110.

(All Scriptures quoted from the New American Standard Bible unless indicated otherwise.)

 The internet site “Kids Be Well” posted an anonymous quote that says, “Your greatest contribution to the world may not be something you do, but someone you raise.” [1] This idea is debated in some Christian circles, but it does draw attention to the need for those in ministry to recognize that what happens in the home has a big impact on ministry. 

In the instructions given to Timothy, Paul indicated that a man considered for the role of pastor “must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity” (1 Tim 3:4). Failure at this point was considered a disqualification for ministry. Paul questions the ability to be responsible for the church if there is a lack of leadership in the home. 

Nearly every minister can tell the stories of others who, because of a compromise in their family, had a collapse of their ministry, usually with deep pain, embarrassment, and often public disgrace. God instituted marriage and family long before He set up the priesthood, the sacrificial system, and the church. 

Paul said, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim 5:8). This is a strong condemnation to neglect of one’s family.

In traveling to Israel, it is common to see a small cylinder known as a mezuzah outside entrance doors. Orthodox Jews (and many secular Jews) will touch this before entering, and it is not uncommon to see someone kiss his fingers before touching it. The mezuzah is hollow, and Scripture is rolled up as a small scroll inside. 

The most common Scripture is known as the “Schema,” and it is a quote taken from the sixth chapter of Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deu 6:4-5). Immediately following these familiar words, the text continues, “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deu 6:6-9). 

Orthodox Jews still wear phylacteries on their foreheads and hands when they say daily prayers. This practice encourages the fathers to be actively demonstrating their faith in front of the family, especially the male children, and it commands that teaching be more than telling; it is to be training by shared experience.

So where can this begin? In discussions on family and ministry, one of the most quoted verses comes from Proverbs, “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov 22:6). In church environments, this verse is usually quoted with the idea that there is a single path for every child, and if the parents put the child on that path, then a return to God is guaranteed eventually, no matter how determined the child may be to stray. Perhaps a different view should be considered. It may be better to emphasize the need of parents to observe and reflect on the gifts, personality, and abilities of the child, and train the child in the use of what God has intended. 

My father was an all-star athlete. I was small for my age, not athletically gifted, and attempts at making me into an athlete were frustrating for him and for me. It is not pleasant to be an embarrassment to your family, team, and yourself. God had a plan for my life, but it was different than my father’s intention. Just a little note, I eventually matured, was able to enjoy sports, had a great relationship with my dad, and developed a number of other skills along the way. Allow God to write the script for each member of the family, and feed wholesome talents and interests that can be used for the Kingdom.

God created man with a need for Sabbath. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). This is a profound biblical principle that many ministers ignore. Relationships are built in the margins of life, the unscripted “free” time for casual interactions (the sitting, talking, walking, lying down, and rising up of Deuteronomy 6). 

Every minister needs to build intentional margin into the daily and weekly schedule. During this time, it is important to hear and understand the needs, fears, victories, and anxious thoughts of others in the family. Peter reminds husbands to live with their wives in “an understanding way” (1 Pet 3:7), adding that refusal to do so will hinder the husband’s prayer life. It is tragic to think of a minister whose prayers are not being answered because of insensitivity to his family. Many pastors would recoil at the suggestion that not taking the family obligations seriously is defiance and rebellion against God. If that is convicting, it should be.

This does not mean that church obligations, diligent administration, and personal study and development can be pushed to the side. It does mean that balance and intention in the schedule are expected. A calendar can be an important tool here. During the Christmas/New Year break, it may be valuable to plan times of refreshment and reflection for the coming year. A time of retreat, an upcoming graduation, and/or a family vacation can be planned ahead of time. Consulting with the spouse and kids to make reasonable plans is important; then protect the dates! This does not mean that some of them may not need to be massaged as the year progresses, but it does mean that if moved, they still happen. Time with family can be planned. 

God will help you write your daily script if you allow Him to do so. I was a youth minister for nearly two decades of my life. I would sometimes hear businessmen say, “I don’t have a lot of time with my family, but when I do, I make sure it is quality time.”  I have interacted with thousands of teenagers in my life. Not one time have I ever heard a teenager say, “My dad didn’t have a lot of time with me, but when he did have time, it was quality time.” What I did hear them say was, “My dad was never there for me.”

Scott Quiroz is a friend and a minister to youth in both school and church settings. He one time shared with me, “My ministry to my family is my first ministry.” 

There will always be some tension in balancing ministry and family. As often as possible, combine the two. You can take your family with you to conferences, mission trips, and ministry endeavors. That is the whole point of the Shema.

 [1] Kids Be Well, “Your Greatest Contribution: Raising the Next Generation,” last modified December 15, 2024, https://kidsbewell.com/parenting-wisdom/greatest-contribution-raising-children/.