associates

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WELCOME! associates assistants aides
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The Theology of We and the Tendency of
Me Jim Palmer
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Pauls panorama in viewing partnership Co-worker G
reet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in
Christ Jesus Greet Urbanus our fellow worker As
for Titus, he is my partner and fellow
worker Co-prisoner My fellow prisoner Aristarchus
sends his greetings Epaphras my fellow prisoner
in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings
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Pauls panorama in viewing partnership Co-servant
Epaphras, our dear fellow servant is a faithful
minister of Christ on our behalf Tychicus is a
faithful minister and fellow servant Co-soldier Ep
haphroditus, my brother, my fellow worker and
fellow soldier Archippus, our fellow soldier
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• Would Pauls leadership be desired in your
  church?
• He was a poor public speaker by the accepted
  standards of his day
• He had physical deformities that skewed his
  appeal
• He was content with being bi-vocational when it
  was necessary for doing ministry
• He was confrontational when necessary
• He had a wrap sheet

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Character comes first be what you are
live a life worthy of the calling you have
received. (Ephesians 41)
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Be completely Humble Prov. 1122, with humility
comes wisdom Prov. 1533, humility comes before
honor Phil. 23, in humility consider others
better than yourselves Gentle Prov. 151, a
gentle answer turns away wrath 1 Pet. 34,
unfading beauty of a gentle spirit
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Be completely Humble Gentle Patient Prov.
1518, a patient man calms a quarrel 1 Thess.
514, be patient with everyone
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Collaboration is Gods idea bring what you have
to each one of us grace has been given as
Christ apportioned it. (Ephesians 47)
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Rely upon Divine Sufficiency Eph. 48, he led
captives in his train and gave gifts to men. 2
Cor. 35-6, not that we are competent in
ourselves but our competence comes from God.
He has made us competent as ministers It is
part of the discipline of humility that we must
not spare our hand where it can perform a service
and that we do not assume that our schedule is
our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by
God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, LIFE TOGETHER
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Rely upon Divine Synergy Team members working
together to produce an effect greater than the
sum of their individual efforts. (Eccl. 412)
Paul uses synergos, the Greek word synergism
comes from, to describe coworkers in
labor Secular writers, Katzenbach and Smith, in
The Wisdom of Teams, say individualism is the
reason teams do not happen there is a natural
resistance to moving beyond individual roles and
accountability.
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Rely upon Divine Specialty Rom. 126f,
serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing to
the needs of others, leadership, showing mercy
Our unique talents and passions should not
create separation but cause integration. Individu
alistic leaders model brokenness not redemption.
Alienation is a default position due to
tendencies of a sinful nature.
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All leadership is dependent on the Spirits
provision and power Now there are varieties of
gifts, but the same Spirit and there are
varieties of services, but the same Lord and
there are varieties of activities, but it is the
same God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit
for the common good. (1 Corinthians 124-7, NRSV)
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What gift or talent do you bring to your
leadership team that is most unlike others in the
group? Do you find it easy or difficult to
express this uniqueness? Why?
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Completion is the shared goal be a body builder
to prepare Gods people for works of service so
that the body of Christ may be built up.
(Ephesians 412)
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Three dynamics come into play Mending to
prepare Gods people Much Christian leadership
is exercised by people who do not know how to
develop healthy, intimate relationships and have
opted for power and control instead. (Henri
Nouwen)
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Ministering for works of service Maturing
so that the body of Christ may be built up until
we all become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ
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A Mature Leader An Immature Leader Encourages
others attempts Discourages others
efforts Points out strong points Brings
attention to others faults Overlooks
flaws Uses others flaws as ammunition Readily
admits own mistakes Is defensive justifies
mistakes Rejoices when others succeed Is jealous
of others successes Is willing to risk to
improve Plays is safe to retain position Is
content to be anonymous Desires others to
notice Works to build teams Wants to do things
himself
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These Spirit-enabled dynamics are essential for
maximized impact Reggie McNeal in A Work of
Heart Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual
Leaders The truth is, many churches are more
secular than the culture. Everything that
transpires in them can be explained away in
terms of human talent and ingenuity. Only
when something goes on in church that can be
explained as a God-thing will a spiritually
fascinated culture pause to take notice.
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Communication stimulates connectivity be caring
and candid.
speaking the truth in love we will in all
things grow up into him who is the Head, that is
Christ. (Ephesians 415)
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Only say what is Helpful for building up Eph.
429b, only what is helpful for building others
up according to their needs Create conversations
with co-leaders outside of meetings. Informal
conversations often result in deepening levels of
communication. Ask for feedback and take the risk
of offering constructive feedback to others to
build trust and enhance cooperation.
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• Only say what is
• Beneficial for lifting up
• Eph. 429c that it may benefit those who listen
• Affirmation, practice strength bombardment
• Authentication, express value to the whole
• Appreciation, share vitamins for staff health
• Note Pauls model in Romans 16!

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Only say what is Helpful for building
up Beneficial for lifting up Amiable for freeing
up Eph. 431-32, Get rid of all bitterness, rage
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every
form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.
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• Some checkpoints
• Have you talked about someone else in a way you
  wouldnt talk to them (gossip)?
• Have you lied or deceived to avoid conflict?
• Do you have a servant spirit about your ministry,
  or are there tasks you complain about?
• Does your speech convey impatience, rudeness or
  harshness with those close to you?
• Do you belittle someones opinion to others?
• Is there someone you avoid because you havent
  forgiven them?

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We theology practiced by coleaders can paralyze
Me tendencies.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved
children and live a life of love, just as Christ
loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant
offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 51,
2)