Practicing Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG11

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P R A C T I C I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

it behooves you to take up the task of Christian leadership with the greatest seriousness and sobriety you can give. Review carefully these principles, and seek to understand their implication in every way for the specific calling the Lord has given you in your life and ministry. The Christian leader provides counsel to the people of God by providing effective spiritual direction through a careful, relevant application of the Word of God. A Christian counselor is God’s physician, that is, in the same way a compassionate physician cares for the body of a patient, so a spiritual counselor seeks to care for the soul and life of the person he cares for. As God’s physician of the spirit, the Christian leader applies the Word of God with skill and loving-kindness to the issues and concerns of God’s people for their upbuilding and growth. The Holy Spirit is needed in every phase of effective Christian and biblical counseling, especially in seeking his discernment and wisdom as we lead others into God’s will. Godly counsel from other experienced and wise leaders is an invaluable asset in leading and caring for those encountering difficulties in their lives. Ongoing care and contact in the body of believers is integral to the continued healing and care of those who have undergone difficult and trial. Ultimately, the Christian leader must surrender the people under his or her care to the Lord, who alone is able to sustain the kind of transforming grace needed to ensure their ongoing health and blessing. The Christian leader is also one charged with the responsibility to provide care for and to seek the healing of God’s flock during their times of trial and distress to reestablish them on their faith journey with the Lord and his people. All believers will inevitably encounter situations, concerns, and problems which represent the dark side of life–trials, tribulations, and distress. The Christian leader functions, whether formally or informally, as a shepherd, i.e., one who provides care for and seeks the ongoing protection, feeding, and guidance of the members of the flock.

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