Recently a church leader said to me: ‘It has just dawned on me that the Bible says that my job is to work with people for their joy in God. That revolutionises what I think I should be doing’.
He had made a critical discovery: biblical leadership is about growing and equipping disciples who are full of the joy of the Lord. And who, in turn, make more disciples.
He had been reading Philippians 1.25 where Paul tells the Philippi church that he wants to ‘continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Jesus Christ will overflow on account of me’. It doesn’t take much imagination to see why a church that is overflowing with joy in Jesus will be a powerful witness to the gospel.
