6. Patience
In order to see the narrative of lostness change through a unified church, we need a long view. This is not a microwaveable vision; it has to be slow-cooked. As leaders, we must be willing to embrace meaningful misery and postponed reward in order to collaborate for what God wants.
The apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3:8–9: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
We must remember that God is not in a hurry even though many times we are.
7. Radical Prayer
I love the prayer that King Hezekiah throws up as his city is about to be decimated by the Assyrians in 2 Kings 19:14–19. Look at how the Lord answers in verse 34: “I will defend this city to save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.” Imagine how much more God would do if we were constantly and collectively humbling ourselves and interceding on behalf of our cities.
8. Deep Conviction
Between Jesus’ ascension and second coming, we have the opportunity to answer his John 17 prayer for unity. We need leaders who model this because they are convicted that it is what God wants. Before this is a call to action, it is a call to conviction. Conviction keeps us from pushing back from a common table.
9. Radical Conversion
When I say, “radical conversion” I’m not referring to our relationship to God through the Son by the Holy Spirit. I’m referring to breaking away from Level 3 (Addition) thinking or from a church-growth-only mindset, which is fueled by self-preservation and is always asking, What am I afraid to lose?
We have a fundamental choice between the acceptance of uncomfortable truths and seeing things as they truly are, and the illusion of comfort and blissful ignorance of reality. We need more leaders who choose the former and are willing to step out in radical obedience to choose the kingdom of God over our local fiefdoms.
10. All of Us
Whatever God wants to do in our world, he wants to do through all his people. Each believer in Jesus is a missionary with an opportunity to show and share Christ. This necessitates moving from “pastor as priest” thinking to a priesthood of all believers. This requires leaders who make the equipping and releasing of others their first priority (Eph. 4:11–13).
I believe that God has given us a divine window in redemptive history. Urgency, dependency, desperation, humility and the realization that our old scorecards have failed us are the perfect ingredients to see an accelerating gospel movement in our lifetime. It will take all of us partnering together as one church with one mission to make this tipping point happen. As a church leader, what is God asking you to take responsibility for?
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