BIBLICAL MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES.
Chapter 1: THE MINISTRY OF MANAGEMENT.
Management is another word for stewardship. Stewards or managers are responsible over something entrusted to them by someone else. Management is a process of accomplishing God’s purposes and plans through proper use of human, material and spiritual resources. All believers are stewards of certain resources by God. Leaders are stewards over special resources which include the Gospel, finances, material resources of ministry, spiritual gifts and other believers. The greatest example of leadership is the Lord Jesus Christ. God does not consider stewards successful because of their education, natural abilities or personality. They are successful because of their faithfulness. The main requirement of stewardship is that they are faithful. The ministry of management involves leading others to accomplish great things for God. Management includes the following areas:
-Recognizing the importance of the annointing to lead.
-Meeting Biblical qualifications for leadership.
-Learning to lead like a servant.
-Learning to lead like a shepherd.
-Understanding the basic tasks of leaders.
-Training leaders and followers.
-Applying principles of success taught in God’s word.
-Avoiding violations that cause failure in leadership.
-Understanding principles of Biblical organisation.
Organisation of ministry is not fixed, rigid or based on worldly patterns. It is flexible to accomodate the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It exists for the purpose of achieving God-given purposes and plans. You may be elected or appointed by man to an office, but no leader is ever made by appointment or election. You must be called and equipped by God for the work of the kingdom. Leadership involves:
-Position – apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher.
-Function – equipping others for the work of the ministry.
Leadership also concerns the relationship of leaders with their followers. Other areas of management are:
-Formulating a purpose for ministry in harmony with that of God.
-Making plans to achieve the purpose.
-Organizing people and procedures to implement the plan.
-Perfecting the plan through evaluation.
The importances of good management are:
-Provides purpose and direction.
-Eliminates confession.
-Permits proper decisions.
-Establishes priorities for ministry.
-Permits action rather than reaction.
-Establishes accountability.
-Permits evaluation.
-Permits wise use of spiritual resources.
-Prepares you to enter open doors.
-Harmonizes ministry with God’s will.
God seeks leaders. He still searches for men who He can use as leaders. Becoming a good manager takes time and effort.