This past year I came across the book Extreme Ownership. In this book, two of the baddest dudes on the planet explain how there’s nothing quite like a team who flat out OWNS IT! This book, written by former Navy Seals Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, speak to a core competency in Church Planting. I’ll sum it up with this tweet:
1. Involve Your People
I want you to think back on how your heart was captured by the mission of God. Think about it. I guarantee you there was a moment or season when someone invited you into “the game” of church volunteerism and leadership. This is what changed me forever. I’ll never forget the first time I felt like it mattered that I showed up to church. I’ll never forget that feeling and I’ll never stop giving people that same opportunity.
We see this principle played out in the greatest church planter that ever lived; Jesus of Nazareth. As you read through the gospels, look at how Jesus INVOLVED his disciples and followers.
There is a Chinese Proverb that says Tweet this! “tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand.”
2. Release Control
A few years ago, I was feeling afraid and whenever I begin to feel afraid my instincts are to control. When this happens I become over responsible for God’s work and over demanding of God’s people. It was in that season I pinned a simple prayer by my office door:
What was once a season of control and fear became a season of freedom and joy. Stop controlling and start trusting. Stop diminishing and start releasing. The more I am around church leaders the more convinced I am THE lid to growth and movement is not the people of God, it’s the pastors of God. When we control, we create a lid for movement and greater ownership of the mission. If you want your church to get off the ground, stay off the ground or continue to take ground…INVOLVE your people by RELEASING control.
3. Give Away Tasks AND Authority
We create owners when we learn the skill (emphasis on skill) of delegation and empowerment. This is a skill we must develop and strengthen. We need to give aways tasks as an entry point into the game but we cannot stop there, we need to give away real authority. One thing I learned from the leaders of Community Christian Church during my Leadership Residency was this:
This is a priesthood of ALL believers kind of movement, men and women who become owners of the Jesus Mission. Show me a church full of owners and I’ll show you a church who gifts their people with the room to fail and the freedom to soar. Don’t prioritize followership, prioritize ownership.
Remember these 3 steps:
1. Involve Your People
2. Release Control
3. Give Away Tasks and Authority
If you’d like to discuss this in greater detail, I’m here to help.
Jon
