Joshua 1:8 says, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

The most important thing that you can do for your ministry staff and volunteers is to go through a Bible Study together. And in particular I highly recommend this if you are a preparing to launch a new ministry. Allow God to knit your hearts together before you strike out on the road to serve.

The study I most highly recommend is “Jesus on Leadership.” First of all, it challenged me as a leader to do some real self-evaluation and to make some needed adjustments to my leadership style. Second, it provided an opportunity for our team to be transparent with each other, to get to know each other on a deep spiritual level, and to truly develop a unified vision for moving ministry forward. Third, it provided a safe environment for people personally to deal with issues in their lives that they had not confronted and which were holding them back in their personal lives and in ministry.

So you may be asking, if we want to approach leadership like Jesus did, what does that look like? Pick up a copy of the book by C. Gene Wilkes. But I will give you a brief summary.

First the book is only seven chapters with an intro, but it slams you in the face from the get go with the admonition “Down from the Head Table.” If you ever thought you ministry was about you, let me clarify for you. It’s NOT! Never has been, never will be. And if we are sitting around waiting to be congratulated and recognized for what we do, forget about it. Jesus clearly came to serve and not be served. So if you are into titles and office space and all of that, take a look at the Master, who said himself, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:8-11) That’s some heavy stuff, but it will give your team time to address this if it is a perceived or real issue for your ministry or your church.

The author talks about being humble, spiritually multiplying yourself, equipping those you serve, and taking risks. This is not some pie in the sky fluffiness. It will break you spiritually and give God the broken vessel which He can use to an even greater degree.

The most life transforming aspect of “Jesus on Leadership” is the spiritual markers and the spiritual gifts assessment. The markers had my whole team in tears at one time or another, men and women. It made us take off the masks, let down the defenses, and just be real with one another. It was hard, and I’m sure for some it was scary. But I cannot truly explain to you the depth of our relationships after this.

I went through this study as a student with the church staff, and I went through it as a facilitator for our children’s ministry leadership team. Trust me on this one. You WILL not , CAN not walk away from “Jesus on Leadership” unchanged. And thereby, your ministry will be changed. Study God’s Word together and it will be the greatest investment you can ever make in your ministry.

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