Page 64 - BMIN191 Beginnning Internship

64 Beginning Ministerial Internship: Student Manual

impossible, it is—without the Lord. However, remembering the Lord’s attitude
and way with people diminishes the tendency to complain about people’s
demands. Furthermore, rising daily to face the Lord in fellowship helps each to
emerge from the prayer closet, thinking of people and ready for ministry.
People need their shepherd. A shepherd must realize that people’s needs will
be vast and varied; relating to them where they are is the way to help them grow.
Experience will also teach the minister to share the responsibility to get the job done.

Relationship with Success
When is a servant successful? In God’s kingdom, performing God’s will is
the evidence of success. Jesus used the shepherd analogy to teach this principle.
Interestingly, He did not base the shepherd’s success on the size of the flock
given into the shepherds charge. The Lord points out that other things determine
the quality of the shepherd.

7 What are the key The shepherd of superior quality finds good grass and safe pasture, caring
ingredients in determining a for the hurts and fears of the sheep, knowing and loving the sheep, facing any
minister’s success? sacrifice to protect them. When such a shepherd stands against the threats of
others or cradles a wayward sheep and nurses it back to health, the shepherd
demonstrates success. The Master will see this and reward.

Summary
The concept of servant leadership requires a completely different mindset
than what an individual may experience in the secular context. Servants are not
to dominate, but to take their lowly place for the benefit of others. This is what
Jesus did and what He requires of His disciples.
Unfortunately, many enter the ministry for personal gain. They crave the
authority of the pulpit and the engorgement of their egos as they are given a
special place of leadership. Paul spoke of such people in his day; he knew that
fighting against them would bring no benefit. So, he sought to hold firm to what
he knew and to demonstrate his commitment to Christ by serving those God
had given him to love. Such servant leadership is what ministers have been
called to develop.

LESSON Managing the Expectations of Others
3.2 “A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming” (John 10:12).

Few roles come with higher expectations than those placed on the minister.
3.2.1 He or she is expected to excel in a wide variety of disciplines, including
OBJECTIVE preaching, administration, compassion, leadership, financial management,
Interview three experienced and much more. Little will change by arguing against the range of demands.
ministers concerning At the start of ministry, the minister needs to learn how to manage demands
their experiences with the and effectively work in a context where time for preparation can be minimal.
expectations placed upon a Failure to do so will be devastating, not only for the work of God but also for the
minister. minister and the minister’s family.