The Gift of Organization/Leadership/Administration
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Lesson 8
Lesson 8
Are you comfortable in a leaderless group? Do you feel restless or frustrated if things seem to be disorderly? Are you good at seeing “the big picture” concerning long-term projects? Do you tend to be a self-starter? Are you quick to analyze what is required to accomplish a goal? If yes, then you may have the gift of administration, leadership, organization.
We must never lose sight that God, our heavenly Father, created the universe, including us human beings, with a strong sense of order. God created in a very precise, sequential, and organized manner. The laws of nature are extremely practical in their application, and yet they are unseen laws. Issues of authority and headship are deeply rooted in the spiritual realm.
The person with the gift of organization is no less spiritual than those who bear any of the other ministry gifts. In fact, to the Christian all things are spiritual. There is no distinction before God between secular life and spiritual life- all of life is spiritual.
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
What is the result when something needs to be done, but yet is not acted upon? How is such omission a sin?
How might a person with the gift of leadership help others to avoid such sins of omission?
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
When have you been unaware of something embarrassing on your face or clothing? How did you feel when you discovered it?
Now suppose that you had seen the embarrassing situation in a mirror, but failed to fix it. In what ways is that a good picture of knowing God’s Word but failing to put it into practice?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
In what sense can faith be “dead”? Why is practical application of God’s Word essential in keeping faith alive?
How might a person with the gift of leadership be helpful to other Christians in the above situation?
Many of the believers had pooled their earthly resources and were meeting together daily for fellowship, for study of the Word, and for eating meals. Some were being neglected while others were indulging themselves. As we read , note how organization was linked to spiritual concerns, and how organization created a climate in which spiritual fruit was produced.
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
What motivated the twelve apostles to find people with the gift of organization? How did Stephen and others help the twelve to carry out their own ministries more effectively?
Characteristics of the Gift of Organization
Those with the gift of organization have an ability to see the “big picture.”
Those with the gift of organization have an ability to break down large projects into bite-sized pieces.
Those with the gift of organization are self-starters.
Those with the gift of organization are keenly aware of all the resources necessary for accomplishing a goal.
Those with the gift of organization are confident that God-given goals can be accomplished.
Those with the gift of organization know how to delegate.
Those with the gift of organization often have little tolerance for details.
Those with the gift of organization are able to receive criticism without crumbling.
The person with the gift of organization needs to know that his co-workers are loyal to him and committed to the task at hand.
Those with the gift of organization have a tendency to move into a leadership role if no leader emerges or if a situation becomes disorderly.
When have you seen someone arrive on the scene and confidently take the lead on a project? What gifts did that person have which made the project flow more smoothly?
Those with the gift of organization want to see a goal reached as quickly as possible, as well as possible, and with as few resources as possible.
11. Those with the gift of organization want to see a goal reached as quickly as possible, as well as possible, and with as few resources as possible.
12. Those with the gift of organization delight in seeing projects accomplished.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Why is diligence necessary in utilizing the gift of leadership?
Why are all these gifts listed together? Why isn’t the gift of leadership listed first? How might a gifted leader tend to forget this fact?
Warnings to Those with the Gift of Organization
Never taking time to rest or reflect
Driving others beyond the limits of their abilities
Relying on their own abilities rather than trusting God to guide priorities:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
What is James’ point in these verses? What attitude is he encouraging in all believers? How might this attitude be extra difficult for someone with the gift of leadership?
Behavior of the Godly Administrator
Orderliness: every aspect of life is subject to order.
Initiative: no delay in taking action.
Responsibility: willing to take responsibility for all aspects of a project or group endeavor.
Humility: a recognition that others must be part of the team if the job is to be done quickly in the face of criticism.
Determination: knowing that the goal is worthy of the price which must be paid for the job to get done.
Loyalty: to God and to others in authority, as well as to those who are following his leadership
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
What is meekness? How is it manifested in a person’s life?
Why is such meekness necessary in a godly leader? How does this contradict the wisdom of the world concerning effective leadership
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Give some examples of godly leadership from the life and ministry of Jesus. What principles of leadership can you glean from His example?
He organized His disciples by choosing twelve and then sending them out two by two. Jesus was certainly delegating authority when He gave His disciples this commandment: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”
When was Jesus also a follower? What can all Christians learn from His example about being a godly follower?