The Making of a Leader

Formation of a Spiritual Leader
Rev Dr Lim Siew Pik
A Certificate in Church Ministry Course, BCCM KK

Here are some of my personal notes and journaling on the topics of "Formation of a Spiritual Leader" based on the book "The Making of a Leader" by Dr J. Robert Clinton.

I need to complete two projects to complete this course:-

Project 1 - Do a Book Review on "Tha Making of a Leader" with reflections on
What concepts or principles that Clinton wrote about were helpful in your understanding of spiritual leadership formation?

Reflect on at least 5 concepts or principles from the book. Each concept or principle discussed to be about 5-8 lines in length. Read Introduction, Chapter 1-6 and 9.

Project 2 - Personal Case Study

Write a personal case study of my own leadership formation based on major leadership emergence patterns concepts seen in the book.

Part A - Five Process Items (5-6 Pages)
Label and discuss these process items, at least 2 types from each of Clinton's inner life growth and ministry maturing phase.
For each process item:

• Identify the name and time it occurred
• Write one paragraph description of the event
• Write one paragraph describing what God was teaching you through this experience
• Write a one-sentence summary of specific lessons learned about faith, God's character, ministry, leadership and your spiritual growth based on this process item.

Part B - Evaluation and Anticipation (2-3 Pages)

• Summarise what I  have learned about my formation as a leader and what stage I see myself currently
• Illustrate my growth as a leader in a personal timeline
• Discuss areas that you will need to work on in your development as a leader, after this course - character, skills, competence, relationships, and understanding of God etc include specific practical steps you can take towards growth

Some Key Concepts and Principles of this course:

Leader Idea Reboot #1
God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary change.

Definition of Leader 
A Christian leader is a person with God-given capacity and God-given responsibility who is influencing a specific group of God's people towards God's purposes.  ~ Robert Clinton

Leadership Failure likely in
Finances
Power
Pride
Sexual Misconduct
Family Relationships
Plateau

Dark side of leaders - toxic and bad leadership
Compulsive Leader
Narcissistic Leader
Paranoid Leader
Co-dependent Leader
Passive-Aggressive Leader

Three Symbols of Good Leadership
Diamond - from un-refined to polished, cut and sparkling
Map - Roadmap to where we are coming from and where we are heading
Carbon Footprint - the legacy we leave behind

Ephesians 2:10


Important Truth:-
In life, we have works to do, Gods calling upon our lives. God has prepared us to be and to demonstrate his handiwork of good works.

Psalm 90:12


Important Truth:-

Being purposeful in our life. 

Each one is responsible to continue to develop.

Understand how God froms a Leader
Theory ? Pattern ?

A Process
A lifetime Process

Key Elements of God's formation of leaders
Lifetime - critical incidents in our lifetime that shape us
Being - 7 components of being

• Personality
• Gender / Culture
• Character
• Values
• Giftedness
• Destiney / Calling
• Intimate Relationship Journey with God

Leader Reboot #2
Becoming a Spiritual Leader is a process and not instantaneous.

Key Tools for Development 
Know the Big Picture
Patterns in different stages / seasons
Our part is to run the race

Formative Timeline:-

1. Soveriegn Foundation - Family, Race, Culture, Environment, Basic Skills, Historical Contexts, Prophetic type pronouncement. Family Influence and Basic Skills. 
2. Inner Life Growth 
3. Ministry Maturity
4. Life Maturing
5. Convergence
6. Afterglow

5 Key Focus in God's Formation of Leaders

1. Redemption of the past
2. Shaping of character and Inner Being
3. Developing Capacity for Influence
4. Living a Focused Life
5. Leaving a Legacy

Timeline Stage #2 Inner Life Growth
The greatest crisis in the world today is a crisis of leadership, the greatest crisis of leadership is a crisis of character.

Godly character should be the top selection criteria covering:-

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Faithfulness
• Obedience

Godly character is the foundation for spiritual leadership.
How God forms character and leadership:-
Inner Life Growth Process Items - can also described as SHAPING items

1. Integrity Checks
2. Obedience Checks
3. Word Checks
4. Ministry Task
5. Faithfulness Checks

Integrity Checks & Types 

• Temptations - a conviction test
• Restitution - an honesty test
• Value Check - a clarification test
• Loyalty - an allegience test
• Guidance - an alternative better offer
• Persecution - a steadfastness test

God will use test to :-

• Build faith
• Establish important inner values
• See that one follows through on promise / vow
• Develop a burden for ministry or vision
• Allow confirmation of inner character
• Teach submission
• Emphasise the seriousness / importance of obedience

Timeline Stage #3 Ministry-maturing Phase
Building Competence and Credibility

Four Stages of maturing & growing in Competency:-

• Entry
• Training
• Relationship Learning
• Discernment

Competence of Spiritual Leader which drives us towards credibility

• Giftedness
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Clarity of direction
• Communication

Ministry maturing Process Items :-

• Ministry Challenge
• Ministry Skills
• Ministry Training
• Giftedness Discovery
• Motivation Checks
• Relational Checks
• Handling Conflict
• Leadership Backlash
• Authority Insights

Relational Learning #1 - Work with People
Relational Learning #2 - Leadership Authority

Ministry Maturing Phase

1. Discovery of spiritual giftts
2. Understanding one's place and purpoe in the body of Christ
3. Acquiring of ministry and other skills
4. Growing in one's influence and authority

Figuring out why we are here - find our sense of destiny! 

Four types of Destiny Experiences / Process Items:-

1. Awe Inspiring presence & revelation of God
2. Indirect comes from another person
3. Providential - God's sovereign preparation
4. The Blessing of God

Process of Leader's development:

1. Destiny Patterns : PREPARATION
2. Destiny Patterns : REVELATION
3. Destiney Patterns : FULFILLMENT

Tombstone inscription:-

Here lies a daughter of God,  

a seeker, a servant and a follower of Jesus Christ,

she lived a life of abundance

served out of overflowing

traveled to the glorious places

Her cup runneth over

We should serve out of abundance and fullness rather than on empty cups.
Although we are often called as broken cups or broken vessels, in a way, we do serve out of our brokenness and weaknesses but I believe one should be redeemed and repaired first before and during serving in ministry.

Psalm 22 - End of Old Testament Study

Our lecturer, Ms Beh ended the OT class with this Psalm 22 as an encouragement to us all. There are days, life feel like this low, down cast and rejected, this is probably a good pick-me-up Psalm to cry out to the Lord. At the end, we who are in the Lord could say:

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.

31 They will proclaim his righteousness,

declaring to a people yet unborn:

He has done it!

Psalm 22New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 22[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.[b]

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
    you are the one Israel praises.[c]
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
    they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
    they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
    “let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
    since he delights in him.”

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
    you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
    strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
    open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
    it has melted within me.
15 My mouth[d] is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
    you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs surround me,
    a pack of villains encircles me;
    they pierce[e] my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
    people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment.

19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
    You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
    my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my people;
    in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
    Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
    the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
    but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
    before those who fear you[f] I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek the Lord will praise him—
    may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
    and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
    declaring to a people yet unborn:
    He has done it!