BIBLICAL GUIDANCE FOR EFFECTIVE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

BIBLICAL GUIDANCE FOR EFFECTIVE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

LARRY V. BROWN

(Partly Reflective)

August 21, 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE 4

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF CHURCH GROWTH 7

DISCIPLESHIP AND EVANGELISM 9

THE HEALTHY CHURCH 10

“SPLASH” 15

CHURCH CONFLICT AND REVIVAL 16

CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES 18

ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER 19

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 20

BIBLIOGRAPHY 23

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INTRODUCTION

Pastoral leadership is integral to both the health and

growth of a church. Effective biblical leadership can move a

church into evangelistic growth and effective discipleship, while

weak or unfocused leadership can allow a church to tread water or

even flounder.

Although the course addresses many useful topics, a primary

lesson for me was in better understanding biblical leadership.

This paper discusses several areas where my personal leadership

style and methods have been challenged and strengthened. While

the course material is extensive, it demonstrates several common

themes: (1) the pastor sets the tone for evangelism throughout

the ministry, (2) the pastor’s personal prayer and devotional

life are integral to his and the ministry’s success, and (3)

contemporary pastors must face the realities of a postmodern

society to critically assess the ministry structure as a means to

evangelism.

The first two common themes are interrelated – the

leadership of the pastor sets the course for the entire ministry,

and the pastor must maintain a healthy Christian walk to

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effectively lead a Christian ministry. Given the first point, a

pastor must strike a balance involving as many congregants as

possible in active ministry. If the pastor is too dominant a

personality, others may feel little need to get involved, as the

pastor “runs” everything regardless of others’ input. Conversely,

a too-passive pastor cannot effectively proclaim and steer the

mission of the church. In many ecclesiastical denominations,

pastors are assigned, rather than selected by the local church.

In more democratic denominations, and perhaps especially among

Southern Baptists, “the leadership role … is highly ambiguous”1

and is defined by the dynamics between the congregation,

deacons/elders, and the pastor. Given these challenges, and the

weightiness of his vocation, a pastor must vigilantly maintain a

personal ministry reliant on Scripture, prayer, and the Holy

Spirit, rather than self.

The third common thread may be the most significant new

aspect of the readings. As specified in the Great Commission, the

purpose of a Christian ministry is to evangelize and disciple -

1 Larry C. Ingram, "Leadership, Democracy, and Religion: Role Ambiguity Among Pastors in Southern Baptist Churches." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 20, no. 2 (1981): 122. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2010).

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regardless of the place, the era, or the cultural climate. The

course readings and lectures consistently emphasize the need to

abandon “church as usual,” and to restructure the ministry to

holistically integrate all activities around the core mission of

discipleship/evangelization.

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE

While every minister possesses overlapping traits of

multiple leadership styles, my predominant style has been that of

a consensus-builder. However, as detailed in the discussion

below, this course has challenged me to be more assertive in

leadership, despite the fact that this seems contrary to my

nature. My pre-seminary training and experiences have been

primarily with other degreed professionals – in such a setting,

consensus-building was an effective leadership style. In

ministry, however, leadership – as all areas of our lives – is

subject to the guidelines and examples of Scripture.

As a former Naval officer, my leadership training was

heavily focused on task/mission completion. In this secular

setting, leadership is more short-term focused. Conversely,

pastoral leadership has short term focuses, but an emphasis on

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long-term – even eternal – goals and objectives, such as

discipleship and evangelism. As a long-time student of secular

leadership methods, my reflexive tendency is to employ these

methods, but such secular methods can be very different from the

methods needed or appropriate in a ministerial setting.2

Following Jesus’ example, Christian leaders must learn and

practice the paradoxical concept of servant leadership. Biblical

servant leadership is serving “God through investing in others

who together accomplish a task for God’s glory."3 The most

important principle of servant-leadership is serving the

“servants of the Servant.”4 This reflects Jesus’ model – while he

had the position of full authority and power, he used that

position to serve others rather than himself. This is contrary to

the world’s concept and model of leadership – but if the humanist

world advances self through leadership, it is less surprising

that the follower of Christ advances others over self.

2 John MacArthur, Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2005), 233.

3 Trinity Western University. “Servant Leadership.” http://www.twu.ca/academics/graduate/leadership/servant-leadership/

4 Darrell Robinson, Total Church-Life: How to Be a First Century Church in a 21st Century World. (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 1997), 59.

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In my own ministry, I consider I have been more focused on

discipleship than evangelism. This discipleship has been both

beneficial for my students and edifying for me – but it has not

had enough evangelistic focus or fruit. I have previously felt

that my ministry was primarily to other believers, but that is an

incomplete and inadequate view of ministry. Further, my

discipling efforts have been incomplete, as they have focused on

a believer’s personal growth and refinement, but have not

stressed evangelism. MacArthur states “pastoral leadership is to

guard and shepherd the flock of God, which includes all that it

takes to bring the church to maturity.”5 To bring an individual

or a church to maturity, evangelism cannot be overlooked or dealt

with less than fully.

Biblical leadership must be rooted in the faith “that God is

at the very center of our world and work, our identity.”6 Keeping

our leadership centered on Christ and his Word, seeking the

guidance of the Holy Spirit, and bathing every day and every

decision in prayer will both yield more effective Kingdom results

5 MacArthur, 233.6 James P. Bartz. “Leadership From the Inside Out.” Anglican Theological

Review, 91 no 1 (2009): 91. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, (accessed August 11, 2010).

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than we can accomplish in our own strength, and provide an

example for those we minister to or influence.

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF CHURCH GROWTH

This course, by name and nature, has focused on church

growth. Church growth, however, is neither a merely numerical

measurement, nor accomplished by a shift of believers from one

local church to another. Rather, church growth involves winning

souls to Christ through evangelistic outreach, and discipling

both new converts and long-time believers to growth in Christ.

Two fundamental discussions or concepts in the course have

been “plowing, planting, harvesting,”7 and “Back to Basics.”8 As

Falwell notes, if plowing (preparing with prayer) and planting

(sharing the Gospel message) are effectively practiced, the

harvest is a natural result. In 1 Cor 3:6, Paul demonstrates the

role of the Holy Spirit in salvation when he states how he and

Apollos had a role in verbalizing and reinforcing the Gospel

(plowing/sowing), but that it was God who actually worked in

people’s hearts (producing the harvest). Falwell further notes

7 Jonathan Falwell, Innovate Church. (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008), 125-126, et al.

8 Ibid., 117-147.8

that it is unrealistic to expect a harvest without plowing and

planting – barring divine intervention, people are not going to

spontaneously come to faith and begin flooding our churches.9

As noted in course discussion boards, the Back to Basics

model seems to me much more effective at evangelism and church

growth than other programs/methods I’ve experienced. Most church

structure reflects well-meaning but disjointed activities. My

experience has been that in many churches fellowship is the key

emphasis – despite what published mission statements may say.

Fellowship is generally internally focused, and as a result

evangelism – by nature externally focused - suffers. The Back to

Basics model is true to its name in that it bases everything from

outreach to organization on New Testament example and

instruction.

Taken together, “plowing, planting, harvesting” and “Back to

Basics” make me feel more prepared for future ministries in that

they are (1) simpler and more direct than other methods, and (2)

strongly biblically based. This combination, with these

9 Ibid., 126.9

advantages, seem both adaptable to differing ministry situations

and more reliant on God’s methods than man’s experiences.

DISCIPLESHIP AND EVANGELISM

Even more than previous courses on discipleship and

evangelism, or perhaps building on previous courses, this course

has provided discipleship and evangelism concepts and methods

that seem for me more usable and personally comfortable. Perhaps

by divine design, the material provided in this course has

“meshed” with my recent Christian experiences. Prior to coming to

Lynchburg and beginning seminary, I attended an Athens, Georgia,

satellite of Andy Stanley’s church that (not surprisingly) used

the principles and methods outlined in 7 Practices of Effective Ministry.10

In Lynchburg, I attend Thomas Road Baptist Church, where Jonathan

Falwell pastors, and I have participated in Rod Dempsey’s

Community Group training prior to co-leading a Thomas Road

Community Group. All these factors have coalesced to make the

course material especially relevant for me, and having personally

10 Andy Stanley, et al., 7 Practices of Effective Ministry. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2004.

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seen the results, more credible than unfamiliar (but perhaps

equally valid) programs/methods.

Despite my previous personal exposure to the course methods,

I had not recognized the underlying concepts prior to this

course. As noted earlier, my previous discipleship has not

stressed evangelism, but I can now better see the integral

interrelationship of evangelism and discipleship. The course

material has helped integrate the concepts of assimilation, as

well as multiplication and mentoring, as parts of a holistic and

interdependent discipleship/evangelization plan.

Given Robinson’s bell curve11 concept, the need for biblical

discipleship becomes even more imperative. In the course

materials, Dempsey stresses several aspects of biblical

discipleship.12 While each are important, the best personal

blending of these into a useful description of biblical self

discipleship is Seeking to increasingly live by Christ’s example and Word to serve

the Kingdom and others while remaining fully dependent on the Vine and the Holy

Spirit, denying self and worldly gain in favor of becoming more like Jesus. Employing

11 Robinson, 193.12 Rod Dempsey, “On Being a Disciple Based Upon Scripture.” Liberty

University Online, EVAN 510 course materials, Week Five.11

these concepts for personal discipleship will better prepare me

to further disciple others, with an end goal of Biblical

multiplication. Such multiplication – reproducing Christ in

others – provides tangible evidence of effective discipleship.

THE HEALTHY CHURCH

A healthy church is one that engages in genuine worship, is

led by a competent devoted Christian minister, meaningfully

involves all the members, stresses discipleship, and serves the

community with outreach and evangelism. The best model for a

church of any era is the Early Church described in Acts 2-3.

Further, and consistent with the example of the Early Church, a

healthy church should actively seek to fulfill the Great

Commission. For me the Great Commission has become a personal

blending of two of Jesus' last recorded instructions:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations - witnessingin Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end ofthe earth - baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe allthat I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always,to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8 (ESV, adapted)

12

While recognizing it is highly irregular to blend/adapt verses,

let me stress that this is a personal blending, not for use in

teaching or instruction (in such a context, I would likely start

with Matthew 28, then note how "all nations" is amplified in Acts

1). However, I feel this blending is warranted in the context of

this discussion, and with the above explanations.

These passages are noteworthy because they detail Jesus'

parting instructions, his last reminders, to his disciples. Of

note, the first verb is "go," which demands much more than a

passive attitude toward evangelization. Other verbs are similarly

active and compelling: witness, baptize, teach - again stressing that

evangelism is not an armchair undertaking. If we take the order

of actions in the Great Commission, go, witness, and baptize all

come before teach; I consider the earlier actions lead up to

teaching/discipleship. The earlier steps are not necessarily

subordinate to teaching, but new Christians are less likely to be

effective in their witness or their personal walk without

discipleship: “the method in carrying out the Great Commission

involves preaching…and teaching the Word.”13

13 Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Edition. (Grand Rapids MI: Baker Academic, 2001), 524.

13

As Dr. Earley notes, a Great Commission Church is a healthy

church, and vice versa.14 A Great Commission Church is definitely

one involved in and focused on spiritual growth and evangelism.

However, while Dr. Earley maintains the youngest churches are the

healthiest,15 I do not agree that this is always the case. On a

recent Sunday I attended the Brooklyn Tabernacle, where genuine

worship, a lack of cultural barriers, and direct expository

preaching continue to result in positive impact for the Kingdom –

and exhibit great church health. Accordingly, I consider the most

effective strategies we have studied to be (1) making the Great

Commission the central theme of the church and its actions, (2)

using the church – individually and corporately, involving as

many members as possible – to meet others’ needs and demonstrate

Christ’s love, (3) a strong reliance on biblical teaching and

preaching throughout the ministry, and (4) constantly seeking

guidance from the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

Dr. Earley quoted Dr. Falwell that it’s “easier to give

birth than to raise the dead.”16 In our strength, that is true,

14 Dave Earley, “The Healthy Church.” Liberty University Online, EVAN 510 course materials, Week Six.

15 Ibid.16 Ibid.

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but in God’s strength, both birth and resurrection have definite

precedent. I do not disagree with Dr. Earley’s church-planting

strategies, but I also do not think we should be too quick to

abandon the existing churches needing revival. Every one of us

should seek the Lord’s guidance in what specific Kingdom role he

has for us – whether in missions, church planting, or serving to

revitalize existing churches.

Engaging laity is definitely a priority of the church. Most

churches today are not doing well in this regard – a phenomenon

not limited to Protestants: a recent Catholic article notes “with

the ecclesiastical hierarchy doing all the work, laypeople [can]

comfortably watch from the sidelines.”17 We are too often content

with increasing the Sunday morning attendance and allowing people

to quietly return to their lives without actively engaging them

or using their talents for the Kingdom. Robinson details five

factors for engaging the laity;18 the most effective means of

engaging laity seem to be inspiring enthusiasm toward a clearly

17 Diane Scharper, “Catholicism Takes Laity Off the Sidelines.” National Catholic Reporter, June 11, 2010, 6a. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, (accessed August 11, 2010).

18 Robinson, 96-106.15

defined goal, then harnessing that enthusiasm to engage members

in ministry, according to their gifts and talents.

Aside from the increased spiritual maturity and feeling of

ownership/responsibility the laity gains from being meaningfully

engaged, there are benefits for the minister as well. A

theological observer recently noted, “There are few vocations

which splinter a man like the pastoral ministry … in the midst of

[the details of running a church] the ministry can easily get

lost in the shuffle.”19 By delegating tasks to church members,

the minister frees time for the more important parts of his

vocation: spending time in personal spiritual growth and in

sermon preparation. I have certainly tended to participate in all

logistics, maintenance, and operations activities in previous

ministries – not to control, but to avoid the perception that I

considered myself above menial tasks. Validly, Criswell notes

that a minister’s busyness does not always equate to church

growth or effective Kingdom service. If the minister delegates

making copies of the bulletin or running errands to a church

19 A. Duane Litfin, "The Nature of the Pastoral Role: The Leader as Completer." Bibliotheca Sacra 139, no. 553 (1982): 57. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2010).

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member, the minister frees that time for spiritual

development.”20

“SPLASH”

My strongest (or maybe most comfortable) ways to “Show

People Love and Share Him” are likely the first and last – ‘show’

and ‘Him.’ In his PowerPoint presentation, Hemphill used the

phrase “demonstrate before you articulate.”21 While that can be

taken to extremes to excuse evangelical silence in favor of

showing love, it is a logical, practical, and necessary first

step in establishing a rapport with others so that you can

effectively present personal testimony and share Jesus. As

Hemphill notes, effective sharing doesn’t have to involve a

canned or memorized presentation, which he considers may seem

artificial or impersonal.22 The other area in which I do best is

“Him,” knowing that the Gospel – and indeed all of life – is for

and about Jesus Christ. The area I could most improve is often

20 W.A. Criswell, Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors. Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1980,63.

21 Ken Hemphill, “Introduction to SPLASH.” Liberty University Online, EVAN510 course materials, Week Six.

22 Ibid.17

the ‘share’ component – going from showing/demonstrating love to

verbalizing the Gospel message in a non-Christian or witnessing

setting.

I believe that “meeting people where they are” and praying

for the Holy Spirit to bring people where they need to be are

both valid biblical positions. Aside from the Zaccheus and Woman

at the Well examples of Jesus meeting people where they were, I

think the most relevant biblical example for us in a contemporary

context is Paul in Athens (Acts 17), where he tailored his Jewish

background to relate to the Greeks “where they were.”

CHURCH CONFLICT AND REVIVAL

The church is comprised of people. Despite Christian

redemption, human nature is still very much a factor in churches.

Consequently, conflicts occur and spiritual zeal may be crowded

out by daily routines or pressures. Given these realities, a

minister must be prepared to deal with conflict as well as

spiritual apathy or decline.

Regarding conflict, and as discussed in Matthew 5:9 and 1

Peter 4:8-9 (listed in Frizzell’s Appendix F),23 every minister 23 Gregory R. Frizzell, Releasing the Revival Flood. (Union City, TN: The Master

Design, 2005), 258-264.18

should actively seek to be a peacemaker – though peacemaking

often involves biblical confrontation to resolve conflict. For me

personally, I too often wait to address problems – this may

appear to maintain a superficial peace, but it is not healthy or

effective over time. 1 Peter 4 discusses love covering a

multitude of sins. As ministers, we are divinely called, but

hardly divine. We make mistakes, but a loving attitude towards

others, coupled with genuine compassion, helps us to react better

in trying situations, and fosters a spirit of forgiveness among

those to whom we minister. I need to recognize and address

conflict more boldly, and better minister daily from a basis of

love and concern.

Frizzell’s contention that we should focus on biblical

discipling rather than addressing/resolving specific problems or

patterns is preventive advice well taken.24 Similar to a

physician treating a disease, we may greatly harm the patient by

merely addressing symptoms and failing to recognize and address

the underlying malady causing the symptoms.

24 Frizzell, Gregory R. “An Overview of ‘Releasing the Revival Flood.’” Liberty University Online, EVAN 510 course materials, Week Seven.

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In his audio presentation, Frizzell noted that spiritual

battles require spiritual weapons.25 The enemy of our souls is

also the enemy of our church. Active, effective discipling helps

members become prepared for spiritual attack with the full armor

of God. After exposure to the course materials, I consider a

focus on discipling has two benefits with regards to conflict:

(1) it lessens the likelihood of serious conflict by making

members Christ-minded and others-minded, and (2) it helps members

mature spiritually so that they can avoid reacting in fleshly

ways when conflicts do arise.

When such conflicts arise, forgiveness and reconciliation

are desired biblical outcomes; the minister can be instrumental

in effecting such resolution. Even some secular psychologists

have recognized the merit of forgiveness and reconciliation in

long-term conflict resolution, though Christian counselors are

still more likely than secular psychologists to seek/stress

reconciliation in addition to forgiveness as part of the

counseling/conflict resolution process.26 25 Ibid.26 Nathan R. Frise and Mark R. McMinn, “Forgiveness and Reconciliation:

The Differing Perspectives of Psychologists and Christian Theologians.” Journal ofPsychology and Theology 38 no 2 (2010): 87. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials,

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Just as Satan causes strife and discord, he promotes apathy

and “busyness” among believers to distract them from spiritual

activity. Additionally, many believers have implicitly developed

the attitude that “church exists to meet my needs,”27 rather than

seeking to serve the Kingdom by serving others. Consequently,

church leaders must reinvigorate members through revival efforts.

Traditionally, churches hold special revival services, often with

visiting pastors or evangelists. While these revivals may

temporarily heighten spiritual fervor, most tend to have a short-

lived effect. Rather than (or perhaps in addition to) traditional

revival services, I consider ongoing discipleship and

meaningfully involved laity seem a better and more consistent

approach to combat spiritual apathy.

CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

While ministers of every era have faced challenges,

contemporary ministers must face the reality of postmodern, post-

Christian society. Postmodern society has embraced relativism and

secular humanism, with a rejection of absolutes. Consequently, if

(accessed August 11, 2010).27 Matt Willmington, “Mythbusters: The Church Exists to Meet My Needs.”

(Sermon, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA, June 13, 2010). 21

a non-believer considers wrongdoing a relative concept, it is

much more difficult to even convince him of the reality of sin,

much less his need for redemption from that sin. However,

regardless of our perception of contemporary society, we must

remember that we serve an omniscient, all-powerful God: we walk

by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). We can move confidently

forward by continuing to obey biblical instruction with full

faith in God and his ability to transform even the most

challenging evangelistic candidate.28

In our postmodern society, the first question for ministers

may not now be “’How do we grow our churches?,’ but rather ‘How

do we transform our community?’”29 If we as Christians biblically

and effectively serve and impact the community, church growth

will occur as a by-product – not as the primary focus of – our

leadership and efforts.30

ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

Failure to maintain personal spiritual intimacy is likely

the single most dangerous area for a minister – as men acting in

28 Bartz, 91.29 Ibid., 90.30 Ibid.

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our own strength, failing to maintain personal spiritual intimacy

jeopardizes all other areas of responsibility and trust. The

primary means of maintaining spiritual intimacy is through

prayer, complemented by study of the Word. As ministers, we seek

to make both an immediate and an eternal impact on those to whom

we minister. Without prayer, we cannot impact others on a

sustained basis – as Dr. Falwell often said, “Nothing of eternal

importance is ever accomplished apart from prayer.”31

It seems a strange paradox that we in ministry would have to

struggle to maintain personal spiritual intimacy, but I see

myself as a prime example of spending so much time and busyness

helping others or overseeing activities that our own personal

devotional and prayer time becomes stale and unfruitful. While we

spend much time teaching or learning about God and the Bible, we

may not spend enough time with God and the Bible. The remedy is

in James 1:5, and more pointedly in John 15:4-6:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit byitself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me

31 Christianity Today International, “Finding Their Own Voice” http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/preachingworship/preaching/findingyourownvoice.html?start=2

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and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (ESV, emphasis added).

Abiding in Jesus – resting in, relying on, and trusting Jesus –

is the solution, despite our tiredness, our busyness, or our

distractions.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Neither ministry nor leadership is easily or quickly

learned; ministerial leadership is never fully mastered.

Regardless of our years of experience, to effectively lead God’s

people we must constantly and consciously cultivate our spiritual

intimacy and knowledge of the Word. This, coupled with the

leading of the Holy Spirit, will better enable us to serve as a

shepherd and servant leader to God’s people.

MacArthur notes “pastors cannot tread water”32 – if we do

not actively lead members forward in discipleship and evangelism,

we will lose ground. Adapting the adage “the good king is one

32 MacArthur, 242.24

whose subjects prosper,” one writer notes “the good pastor is the

one whose congregation prospers.”33

This course has challenged me most by refining my

understanding of biblical discipleship, and by forcing my

realization that shepherding/leading God’s people requires

constant communion with the Lord and his Word. Despite the

sophistication and technology of our times, we need to “take a

giant leap backward toward the process of leadership outlined in

the narrative of Scripture.”34 We cannot tackle postmodernity in

our own strength, but God can – to be a part of that, we must

learn, practice, and model God’s ways as outlined in Scripture.

I cannot summarize this paper or my learning from this

course better than a passage I found in MacArthur’s writings, a

passage that resonates with me on every reading:

“God has not called us to be professional clergymen; Hehas called us to be disciple-makers. Paul’s mandate in 2 Timothy 2:2 extends to every leader of the ekklesia of God: ‘The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.’ This may be the best one-verse

33 Litfin, 64.34 Bartz, 89.

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summary of the pastoral role with regard to discipling in all of Scripture.”35

35 MacArthur, 271.26

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bartz, James P. “Leadership From the Inside Out.” Anglican Theological Review, 91 no 1 (2009): 81-92. ATLA Religion Databasewith ATLASerials, (accessed August 11, 2010).

Criswell, W.A. Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors. Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1980.

Dempsey, Rod. “On Being a Disciple Based Upon Scripture.” Liberty University Online, EVAN 510 course materials, Week Five.

Earley, Dave. “The Healthy Church.” Liberty University Online, EVAN 510 course materials, Week Six.

Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Edition. Grand Rapids MI: Baker Academic, 2001.

Falwell, Jonathan. Innovate Church. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008.

Frise, Nathan R. and McMinn, Mark R. “Forgiveness and Reconciliation: The Differing Perspectives of Psychologists and Christian Theologians.” Journal of Psychology and Theology 38 no 2 (2010): 83-90. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, (accessed August 11, 2010).

Frizzell, Gregory R. “An Overview of ‘Releasing the Revival Flood.’” Liberty University Online, EVAN 510 course materials, Week Seven.

_______. Releasing the Revival Flood. Union City, TN: The Master Design, 2005.

Hemphill, Ken. “Introduction to SPLASH.” Liberty University Online, EVAN 510 course materials, Week Six.

Ingram, Larry C. "Leadership, Democracy, and Religion: Role Ambiguity Among Pastors in Southern Baptist Churches." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 20, no. 2 (1981): 119-

27

129. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessedAugust 11, 2010).

Litfin, A. Duane. "The Nature of the Pastoral Role: The Leader as Completer." Bibliotheca Sacra 139, no. 553 (1982): 57-66. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost(accessed August 11, 2010).

MacArthur, John. Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2005.

Robinson, Darrell. Total Church-Life: How to Be a First Century Church in a21st Century World. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 1997.

Scharper, Diane. “Catholicism Takes Laity Off the Sidelines.”National Catholic Reporter, June 11, 2010. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, (accessed August 11, 2010).

Stanley, Andy, et al. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry. Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Books, 2004.

  Trinity Western University. “Servant Leadership.” http://www.twu.ca/academics/graduate/leadership/servant-

leadership/

Willmington, Matt. “Mythbusters: The Church Exists to Meet My Needs.” Sermon, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA, June 13, 2010.

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