Effectively Leading Meetings
1.0 Introduction
Everyone created by God is an independent individual. The individual is, however, connected to a family unit, which connects with several other families to form a community. A community, ultimately, connects with several other social units to form the larger society.
However, the local Christian church where practically all of us here present serve as leaders, is a community. By implication, our individual perceptions, sentiments, and dispositions aggregate to form the values and principles by which our community operates. (Nevertheless, we leaders must guard against the tendency to disconnect ourselves from the larger picture – the bigger system called society - since our community cannot in itself represent the totality of the larger society.)
If we would take the pains to respect our every day observations and experiences, we would affirm that human behaviours, views, and perspectives, vary. Even in the smallest social unit - the family - the individual naturally craves a measure of independence, freedom, and recognition. Nevertheless, the sensible individual acknowledges his need of others, but this does not necessarily eliminate flawed perceptions and dispositions. Hence the challenge of mutuality of understanding and benefits gets tougher as the individual connects with others around him.
In this study, however, our focus shall be on how (periodic) meetings between individuals of different backgrounds could be used as important factors to foster understanding, synergy, and progress, especially in our various church communities.
May God’s Holy Spirit guide us in our study.
2.0 Personal Transformation – II Cor. 5:16; Rom. 12:1,2
If we must lead others, then I’d suggest we become mature beyond our natural, ordinary judgement. This, I emphasise, is where we should begin: surrendering ourselves to a process of transformation as arranged by God and enhanced by providence. In specific terms, we should be transformed in regards to…
• Perception and Perspective: What is your thought life like? Do you base your judgement of people and situations on tangible, worldly standards or on the values and principles of the Scripture? (cf. II Cor. 5:12-17; Rom. 12:1,2.)
• Character: Do you do what you want to do or what you ought to do? How do your choices look especially when no human individual is watching?
• Reputation: What opinion do people who have a considerable awareness of your lifestyle hold about your person? What is the size of your acceptance, by your leadership public? (cf. Matt. 16:15ff.)
• Image: Have you solved (some of) your own problems? What is the size of your acceptability in regards to STATUS? How much respect do you command in relation to social, economic, and other areas of personal responsibility? (cf. I Tim. 3:4-7, 12-13.)
• Conscience: What motives guide your choices in little and great matters? What is the scriptural substance of your activities as a leader? WHY would you want to do what…? How much spiritual communion with God do you invest in your walk in Christian leadership? (cf. Psa 78:70-72; Rom. 9:1; 12:11; I Tim. 1:3-7, 18-19.)
Fellow leaders of God’s people, if we each get thoroughly transformed as discussed above, oh, we’d have dealt with the challenges of holding effective meetings by no small degree!
3.0 Christ’s Paradigm for Effective Invitation & Meeting
Our greatest example in effectively leading meetings is Christ. A thorough study in Matt. 11:28-30 would serve us a great deal of insights and direction. Thereupon, we shall carry out every process of meetings in accordance with Christ’s example, thus…
• Define the audience for each meeting: “Come unto Me, all you that labour and carry heavy loads…..” (vs. 28). Since humans are of varying dispositions and experiences, our invitations to meetings, per time, must be targeted at an appropriate audience or group of individuals.
• Define in clear terms the size of your preparations as made possible by God, thus stating the benefits the participants stand to gain. “… I will give you rest.” (vs. 28).
• Define in clear terms what the responsibilities of the participants thereof shall be. “Take my yoke upon you and learn” (vs. 29).
• Define and emphasise a process of instruction that necessarily begins any purposeful leader-follower relationship. “…learn from Me” (vs. 29; cf. Mk. 3:13ff).
• Define by way of modeling the innate virtues that God has produced in you through training, discipline and experience. “…for I am gentle and humble in heart…” (vs. 29).
• Define the exciting fulfilment that awaits the participants thereof, howbeit through individual commitment and progressive obedience to God’s command. “…you will FIND rest for your souls” (vs.29).
• Define by scriptural demonstration your unique selling point (USP) as made possible by God. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (vs. 30).
4.0 Leading Meetings Effectively
Transformation of Christian leaders would impact on their leadership abilities. Going through the examples of the Scripture, meetings or gatherings of God’s people would be used of God and Christ to…
• address functional problems or correct a situation (Acts 1:15-26; 4:13-31)
• clarify issues, thus making gossip unpopular (Acts 11)
• resolve conflicting matters or developments (Acts 15)
However, meetings should be held in relation to the needs of individual church communities, the opportunities available to the people, and/or the challenges they are facing, per time. Therefore, meetings should be aimed at…
Equipping God’s people with quality instructions/information
Our first responsibility as leaders is to help God’s people know differently (cf. John 8:32). In the face of contemporary challenges and tensions, God’s people need to know! Fortunately, the Bible is all-encompassing, thus it is sufficient for thorough mental shift, intellectual enhancement and capacity building (cf. II Tim. 3:14-17; Acts 2:41, 42).
Further, we must work at raising a community of believers who are marked by Scriptural ethical practices and responsible daily living (Rom. 12:9ff; II Thess. 4:11,12; Titus 3:14).
Guiding God’s people to make objective decisions
In the first place, leaders of God’s people must learn, through the examples of Scripture, to never make important decisions alone. The main challenge here is for Christian leaders to establish a culture of openness, inclusiveness, and Christ-like objectivity.
(Leaders could put ideas forward to the church, allow the people to contribute theirs; then they (Christian leaders) can prayerfully and tenderly set an example of humility and objectivity, by ensuring that a collective decision is consistent with the provisions of God’s word [cf. Acts 1:15-26; 15].)
Proactively leading God’s people to solve problems scripturally
Christian leaders must continually seek God’s wisdom to lead His people in problem solving. Thoroughness, simplicity, objective evaluation, and purposeful adjustment, are key requirements here. As a matter of necessity, leaders should learn to ponder over recurring difficulties and challenges (attendance, membership, fervour, finance, etc.), with a view to guide God’s people towards necessary amendments in regulations and practices (cf. Acts 15; I Cor. 14:26-40).
5.0 Conclusion
Many a Christian leader desires a church community that is robust, strong, and healthy in all facets. Meetings of course are the tools through which the local Christian body can combine their resources and energy, thus achieving great goals for Christ.
While Christian leaders have so much responsibilities toward the health and progress of the church of God, continual recognition of the Headship of Christ over His blood-purchased Church, is not negotiable. However, I opine that the church today needs to engage its professionals like never before, most appropriately have church staff.
(Above all, continued learning and dependence on Christ’s indwelling Holy Spirit is indispensable for effective leading of meetings aimed at the growth and stability of God’s people [cf. II Cor 2].)
May God bless us all!
’Femi Ade-Abrahams
lovedivinenig@yahoo.com
Live presentation of this teaching was done at the 2009 Youth Leaders’ Retreat of the Lagos Districts’ Coordinating Council, held on Friday 9th – Sunday 11th October 2009, at the Assemblies of God Youth Camp, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
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