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Who is the Church for?

Aug 9

Posted by Jim Botts in Following Christ, Hearing God, Leading Others, The Jesus Mission | No Comments

One time a guy told me, “The church is Christians, so it must be for Christians.”  Is that a fact?  This past weekend at Neighborhood Church, I addressed this issue in a message about our church’s value of Mission.  In this message you’ll see the big picture of God’s redemption business, as well as examples of how He’s working in the Neighborhood Church Family.

Share this message with anyone who might be interested in doing God’s business!

To become better equipped for God’s redemption business…

1.  Get familiar with Lesslie Newbigin.  Download and read this free book of His missional leadership devotions – here

2.  Read Newbigin’s writings: A Walk Through the Bible, The Open Secret, then The Gospel in a Pluralist Society

3.  Let Newbigin’s macroscopic view of God and His mission free you from the theological reductions.

Sola Missio Dei,

Jim Botts


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The Jesus Mission…and you!

Mar 29

Posted by Jim Botts in Following Christ, Hearing God, Leading Others, The Jesus Mission | No Comments

The Jesus Mission: It’s Personal from Neighborhood Church of Redding on Vimeo.

For the last four weeks we’ve encouraged our church to post on the wall of our auditorium, the names of people they are praying will receive Christ at our church this Easter.  During our weekend services each of the last four weeks, we created a space for people to come up and pray for the people posted on the wall.  The message I gave was specifically designed to motivate our folks to take the next step and invite those they’ve been praying for, to come to church this Easter.

Here’s a picture of just one the walls with names posted (pay no attention to our facilities manager George, with the bag over his head).

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Y Follow U?

Oct 31

Posted by Jim Botts in Following Christ, Leading Others | 1 Comment

KR_Traits-of-a-Leader-FINAL

Lots of people these days have leadership titles, but how many of them have leadership traits?

Titles are granted, traits are earned.

Titles are impersonal, traits are relational.

Titles are easy to come by, traits are developed over time.

Titles can be an end in themselves, traits are the means to an end.

Titles create entitlement, traits necessitate empowerment.

Titles make much of self, traits make much of others.

For Jesus, leadership was not about titles, but traits like servanthood, self-sacrifice, and serving as an example for others…

So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-25, NLT)


Jesus didn’t look for leaders who would serve.  He looked for servants who could lead!

Jesus modeled for us how servanthood develops leadership!

If you have a leadership title of any sort (Dad, Mom, Boss, Pastor etc), ask yourself…

1.  If the people in your life served like you, what would their schedule look like?

~ (connect people to God, caring / coaching others)

2,  If the people in your life loved like you, what would their relationships look like?

~ (marriage, work / school, difficult people)

3.  If the people in your life handled resources like you do, what would their finances look like?

~ (debt, tithing, helping others)

4.  If the people in your life pursued Jesus like you, what would their life look like?

~ (prayer, Scripture, community, mission)

Jesus never awarded any leadership titles.  But He did model leadership traits for us to develop.

#1 – servanthood / #2 – self sacrifice / #3 – serving as an example for others to follow.

For further reading check out 1 Peter 5:1-7

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Evil is an opportunity…

Oct 23

Posted by Jim Botts in Leading Others, The Jesus Mission | 2 Comments

good_evil

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,

to bring it about that many people should be kept alive,

as they are today” (Genesis 50:20, ESV).

Every leader will stare into “the mouth of a lion” called evil at some point.   It may be the evil of people’s sinful choices, the evil of un-Christlike attitudes, or the evil of a person spreading division in your ministry.

When facing evil, arm yourself with the truth that evil doesn’t have to have the last word.   Genesis 50:20 reminds us that evil can often be turned into good…if it’s placed under the leadership of Jesus.  But, therein lies the challenge…

FACT ~ most leaders prefer to avoid confronting evil.  TRUTH ~ evil is allowed by God to accomplish some good.

FACT ~ leaders often just want the evil to go away.  TRUTH ~ God wants the evil to be turned into good.

FACT ~ too many leaders see only the bad of evil.  TRUTH ~ God wants you to see the opportunity of evil.

Here are some things meant for evil that can be turned into good…

1.  Conflict turned into intimacy ~ When conflict rears its ugly head, Satan (the Accuser) gets ready to pounce on people.  Perhaps the reason most leaders run from conflict is because they can sense the real opportunity for evil.  But what about the real opportunity for good?

Matthew 18:15-17 details Jesus’ method of turning conflict into intimacy.  At every stage Jesus pushes people toward each other, to communicate the issues, and to involve leaders.  This process itself forges a genuine bond of intimacy!

2.  Division turned into unity ~ If you’re a leader, then chances are you’ve lost sleep over the divisive behaviors of those you’ve led.  When people undermine your leadership, cast aspersions against your character, and turn people against you…they are being duped into doing the Devil’s work for him ~ read 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

Although division is a work of the flesh, and is called sin in Scripture…it can be turned into good.  1 Corinthians 11:18-19 teaches that division provides an opportunity for authentic leaders to step up and shine.

3.  Sinfulness turned into forgiveness ~ Nothing reveals a leader’s true heart more than how they handle sin.  Jesus was tender toward repentant sinners, and tough toward religious hypocrites.  Sadly, many churches (and church leaders) have gotten this backward.  The cross of Jesus reminds us that God is at His best, when people are at their worst.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11 is a tender passage where the Apostle Paul urges the church to forgive and restore the repentant guy whose sin caused so much anguish in their church.  Sin can be turned into good when leaders push toward the goal of repentance and restoration, not rejection, of the sinner.

God is the God of great reversals.  Under His leadership sin is turned into redemption, sickness into healing, and evil into good.

Can you put a name to a specific form of evil emerging under your leadership?

What opportunity for good might God be seeking to accomplish?

What does Scripture say about that specific evil?  About God’s desired good?

What is your next step?

When will you take it?

Who needs to come alongside you?

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The Body Language of Leadership

Sep 16

Posted by Jim Botts in Leading Others, The Jesus Mission | No Comments

12198090531909861341man silhouette.svg.hiWhat image comes to mind when you hear the word “leader”?

For so many people, the word “leader” conjures up negative images of people who were in a leadership position over them, but never really brought the best out of them.

Most of us need image replacement therapy!

We need new images of what healthy Biblical leadership looks like!

If we look at Jesus, we’ll see the body language of a healthy leader…

An Ear ~ To Listen

Jesus asked 183 questions in the four Gospels.  Not because He lacked information, but because He valued interaction.  Jesus interacted with, and listened to, the people that He led.  Great leaders are great listeners, and great listeners ask great questions.

Don’t get me wrong, Jesus did not lead by popular vote!  He led people by earning people’s trust, and listening builds trust for leadership.

A Shoulder ~ To Lean On

Jesus compared His leadership to an ancient device used to lighten the load on an animal.  Healthy leaders do NOT dump on their people or unload on their followers.  Instead, like Jesus, they bear the burdens of those they lead!!!

A Hand ~ To Lift You

Jesus had dirty hands.  He reached down and lifted up people who stumbled and fell.  After Peter had denied Jesus three times, he gave up on his own leadership and went back to his old life of fishing.  Jesus met Him at that place, reached out and lifted him back up, restoring Peter’s life and leadership.   John 21:15-25 shows Jesus lifting up, NOT putting down, one of His fallen followers!

Sadly, all too often leaders punish those who fail them.  Unhealthy leaders retaliate by withholding good, shaming, or by failing to lift up and restore fallen followers.

An Eye ~ To Cast Vision

Jesus was the Master Vision-Caster.  He constantly painted a picture for His followers of God’s vision and perspective.   Healthy leaders lead with the Bible!  People need to see what God sees, understand what God is up to, and enter into what God is doing.  Just as a gold fish grows to the size of its bowl, followers grow into the size of the vision cast for them.  Jesus modeled how BIG vision develops BIG followers.

A Foot ~ To Move You

Honestly, what most of us need more than anything, is a swift kick in the pants from a trusted leader (in Christian love, of course).  Jesus often put His foot in the small of His followers backs and gave them a gentle nudge.  Jesus demonstrated that healthy leadership means nudging people out of complacency and into mission (Matthew 10:1-42).

A Heart ~ To Love You

Jesus loved His followers, and they knew it!  They knew it because He prayed over them, He patiently instructed them, He lovingly corrected them, and He always gave His time to them.  Healthy leaders love those they lead by giving them ~ time, attention, affirmation, direction, perspective, and prayer support.  If you’re being led well, you are being loved well, because leaders love those they lead.

I’m trying my best to allow Jesus to lead through me in this same way.  As a result, two times in the last 24 hours I’ve had people tell me, “this is the first time anyone has ever taken the time to lead me like this.”  I’ll never be a perfect leader, but I can be a healthy leader growing into Christ.

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Take my advice, I’m not using it!

Jul 14

Posted by Jim Botts in Leading Others | 3 Comments

Leadership

It seems like everyone is an expert on leadership these days.  “Expert” leadership advice abounds through books, blogs, Twitter and other social media.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to learn about relevant leadership advice from people.  However, more and more, I find myself asking these kinds of questions of leadership advice “experts.”

Who are you actually leading?

Who depends on you as their leader?

Who are you responsible to develop?

What battles have you recently led others through?

What are you building with your leadership?

How have you reproduced your leadership?

The best way to measure your leadership is to look over your shoulder!  If no one is following you, then you’re just taking a walk!  Leadership requires followership!

I’m going to continue to read books and blogs on leadership.  And I’ll continue to follow people on Twitter and other social media.  But I’m using this list to tune in to leadership voices worth learning from…

  1. People who lead for a living vs. those who communicate for a living
  2. People who fight leadership battles vs. those who theorize about principles
  3. People who develop others vs. those who assign projects
  4. People who reproduce themselves vs. those who manage measurables

What am I missing?

Post a comment and let me know what you think?

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It Takes Two…

Jul 8

Posted by Jim Botts in Leading Others | 1 Comment

…to have a relationship.

two way

This week I was reminded that genuine friendships are marked by mutuality (two people freely sharing a give-and-take life together).

Here’s how it all went down…

MONDAY ~ My good friend Roger Poteet asked about coming by to check my leaky hot water heater in my house.  Since my house is on the market, and he is a professional technician, he wanted to make sure the leaky tank didn’t create issues for us.

While I was at work Roger stopped by to work on the tank.  With one turn of  a wrench he turned my hallway turned into a waterway–not a little drip drip, but a full force river…in my hallway!  In less than 3 minutes my good friend Roger released 30 gallons of water into my hallway, warping my hardwood floors.

Imagine the look on my face when he met me at my front door to tell me about my the new water park he installed in my house.  Roger assured me that, together, we’d replace the tank and install the new lines–even if it took all night.

Here’s the tricky part…Roger promised his wife he’d have dinner with her (for the first time in weeks due to his busy work schedule).  Instead, he spent several hours at my house removing and installing a hot water heater.  Roger gave up an evening with his wife to bail me out (literally).

TUESDAY ~ I received a call from a friend saying, “Roger has been in a terrible car accident, his truck is totaled and he’s being taken to the hospital via ambulance right now!”  Since Roger is more than a friend, I dropped everything and raced to the hospital.

When I got to the hospital I met his wife Liz who was totally distraught (to say the least), and assured her that God is still good and in control.  The whole staff team from LifeChurch.tv SouthSide rallied around her to pray and sit with her.

Rather than wait in a waiting room, Liz and I waited together in the ambulance bay to catch Roger when he arrived.  As they wheeled him out of the ambulance we were relieved to see him in decent shape.  As he rolled by I looked over him and said, “We’re right here, you’re gonna be alright!”

As I went in to see my friend Roger in the ER, I prayed over him, encouraged him, and hung out with him there!

Here’s the punchline…1 year ago Roger asked me to be his mentor.  For one whole year we have travelled the two way street of relating together.  God has grown us both tremendously over the last year for the following reasons…

  • We travel the two way street of helping each other.
  • We travel the two way street of serving each other.
  • We travel the two way street of challenging each other.
  • We travel the two way street of praying with each other

Leadership looks like relationship!  Relationship looks like traveling the two way street of mutuality!  It turns out that it takes two to have a relationship!

What about you?   What do you think makes friendships genuine?  What does mutuality like in your relationships?  What do you think of one way relationships?

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Hear > Follow > Lead

Jun 19

Posted by Jim Botts in Leading Others | No Comments

Here’s an old saying, “He who aims at nothing…is sure to hit his mark!” Question ~ what are you aiming your life at?

bulls eye

For well over a year I asked God to clarify the bulls eye at the center of His will for my life. I read Scripture, prayed and reflected, and invited wise followers of Jesus to give me their feedback. So here’s what I believe God showed me…THREE WORDS

Hear > Follow > Lead

Hear God ~
Jesus said  “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).  For me, hearing God means…

~ Learning how to find His voice in everyday situations.

~ Learning how to hear God’s heart in the Scriptures.

~ Learning how to identify what He’s doing in other people.

Follow Christ ~

THE question in life is, “Am I following the leadership of Jesus right now?”  In my life following Christ looks like…

~ Saying YES to what His leadership moment by moment.

~ Developing His character relationship by relationship.

~ Advancing His mission opportunity by opportunity.

Lead Others ~

God has called and gifted me with the responsibility of influencing others for Him.  That means that I invest my life…

~ Helping people discover and live out God’s biblical agenda.

~ Serving people by resourcing their God dream with whatever God’s given me.

~ Equipping people to reproduce the life of Christ in others.

My life mission plays out like this…

Hear God > Follow Christ > Lead Others…who will…

Hear > Follow > Lead others…who will…

Hear > Follow > Lead others…

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

How about you?  What is your life mission?  What are you aiming your life at?

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