Archives

We recently hosted a conference at our church focused on the family. A third of the teaching was about God’s design for marriage. Two-thirds of the conference dealt God’s design for parenting. The tendency for us in thinking about about our parenting is to think about skills, tips, and techniques. What I found was that the conference was really about character: how to form godly character in the hearts and minds of our children. What is true about our parenting is true about our pastoring and church leadership. The tendency for us in the church is to think in terms of what are the best tips and techniques in ‘doing’ church. Instead, the biblical focus is on the leader’s character which is formed in the mind first. For example, Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” This is also why Paul stressed to Timothy the character of an elder/pastor/overseer in 1 Timothy 1:1-7 and deacons in verses 8-13. We are to put away bad character and put on the new character we have in Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24). For example, a leader may have difficulty with facing conflict. What needs to be put off is the fear of man and what should be put on is courage. Courage comes from knowing God with the confidence He supplies. We are called to make disciples of all nations. This of course begins at home with our families then in our churches. Godly character will reach out to others who need to know Jesus. When a person comes to know Jesus, then our job is to help them put off the old and put on the new. The result of a growing godly character will be a group of servant leaders who are committed to one another and the gospel.