The First Missional Church - Missional Leaders have been with Jesus (Part 2)

Church Leaders are chosen for so many good reasons, aren't they?

Cliff is just a good guy. He would would make a good elder. He is kind of quiet, but he really is a good fella.

How about Tom, he has such a good business mind. I know he has only been here a couple years, but he could really add something to the leadership.

There is always a Dale. Dale has been a member of this church for 40 years. He knows this church well and a lot of the people. He has so much experience in the church.

Bob would be a good elder because he is a good teacher. People respect his knowledge of the Bible.

Chuck, he's been an elder for years. He really knows what being an elder is all about.

Tim he meets all the qualifications of 1 Timothy. He will make a dynamite elder. He is exactly the type of person Paul was telling Timothy to choose to be a leader in the church.

All these qualities could add to being a leader in the church. But there is one quality that is seldom taken into consideration. When the Apostles were choosing someone to replace Judas as one of the twelve Peter said, "It is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

Simply put, Leaders of Missional churches need to have been around Jesus for a long time. There is a difference between knowing Jesus and being around Jesus. Missional leaders who have been around Jesus for a long time think like Jesus. They have the same mission as Jesus. They do not bring their own incentives to the vision of the church. Jesus' vision is the churches vision.

Church leaders may be good guys, have a good business sense, have been in the church for a long time, be able to teach, have been an elder a long time and may meet all the qualities in 1 Timothy, but if they have not been around Jesus for a long time, they probably are not Missional leaders.

Missional Leaders have the same mission as Jesus- "to seek and connect the lost to the one who can save." Missional leaders live by the two greatest commands: "Love God and Love People."

If you are a leader of a church ask yourself this question: "Am I a Missional Leader?"

If you have the opportunity to have a say in selecting leaders in your church ask this question first of everyone: "Has he been around Jesus a long time?" (It will be evident by his fruit).