Leader Health: Coastal Community Church
Why focus on leader health?
We believe healthy churches are led by healthy leaders who are themselves healthy disciples of Jesus Christ.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Jesus (Luke 6:43-45)
Healthy trees bear healthy fruit. As there are seven marks of an ecosystem that creates a healthy tree (water, light, temperature, nutrients, CO2, oxygen, and pollen), we have identified seven marks of a healthy leadership ecosystem.
Seven Marks of Leadership Health: Coastal Community Church
Grounded in the hope, trust, and restoration we have found in our risen Savior, we have a new identity and purpose. We believe we are called to be a community of healthy disciples and leaders who live from our new identity in Christ. Marks of this health and growth include the following:
1. Commitment to growing as a disciple of Jesus: I walk intentionally with God, choosing to be changed by Jesus, to seek him first, and to join him in his resurrection work.
2. Humility: I know my strengths are a gift from God and my weaknesses are an opportunity to ask for help from others; I am aware of my desperate need for Jesus; I am teachable, curious, and open to feedback; I seek to build up others in love.
3. Emotional and relational health: I live from an overflow of my beloved-ness in Christ. I have an accurate self-knowledge of my strengths/limitations, virtues/shadows; I approach conflict with courage and kindness, ready to give and receive forgiveness; I am emotionally open and available to others.
4. Congruence between my faith and life, my soul and my roles: I hold to an orthodox, biblical faith and lifestyle; I seek to live with integrity, as an example to others, inviting Jesus to be Lord in all parts of my life.
5. Vulnerability: I avoid pretense, religiosity, and performance. I seek to be real in my relationships with God and others; I seek to avoid defensiveness when others speak into my life.
6. Passion for others to be complete followers of Christ: I long to see the Great Commission fulfilled in my world; I allow the Holy Spirit to guide me into the mission of Jesus.
7. Reliable, trustworthy: I take ownership and responsibility; I am known to keep my word and follow through with commitments; I keep confidences and avoid gossip.
The Power of Intentionality
As we affirm every Sunday, we believe a disciple is “one who intentionally walks with God.” Real change and growth does not happen by accident. It involves deliberate choices over time (and over a lifetime) to be changed by Jesus.
“The general human failing is to want what is right and important, but at the same time not to commit to the kind of life that will produce the action we know to be right and the condition we want to enjoy. This is the feature of human character that explains why the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We intend what is right, but we avoid the life that would make it reality.”
― Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines
Therefore, we invite every team member to adopt a leader health growth plan…
How to develop a Leader Growth Plan
First, prayerfully look over the seven marks of leadership health listed above. For an accurate self-understanding, consider getting input from a friend or family member who knows you well. Identify at least one current strength and one weakness (‘opportunity for growth’), an area the Holy Spirit is tugging you to intentionally work on over the next 3-4 months.
Second, pray about how you might leverage your strength to address the weakness. God has already given you tools, gifts and wisdom that can be leveraged for your growth!
Thirdly, choose one of the appropriate growth exercises listed below for ideas on how to develop your growth plan. Don’t try to work on all of them at once. Pick one area to focus on over the coming 2-3 months. For each growth area you will find below a set of growth exercises designed to open you up to the Holy Spirit’s transformation. These exercises involve your whole self: your head, your heart, and your hands.
HEAD: How might you apply God’s wisdom in Scripture to this issue? (Note: all of the Scripture exercises below are based on passages in Luke’s Gospel, the focus of our sermon series this past year).
HEART: With whom might you become vulnerable and accountable around this issue? What gospel exchange might free your heart? (ex. bad out; good in)
HANDS: What regular practices or disciplines might put you in a position to receive God’s grace and power in this area? What stretching (‘out of your comfort zone’) experiences might you commit to, in order to test your progress?
Growth Exercises
Commitment to discipleship growth
I walk intentionally with God, choosing to be changed by Jesus, to seek him first, and to join him in his resurrection work. Click HERE for discipleship growth exercises.
Humility
I know my strengths are a gift from God and my weaknesses are an opportunity to ask for help from others; I am aware of my desperate need for Jesus; I am teachable, curious, and open to feedback; I seek to build up others in love. Click HERE for growth exercises.
Emotional & relational health
I live from an overflow of my beloved-ness in Christ. I have an accurate self-knowledge of my strengths/limitations, virtues/shadows; I approach conflict with courage and kindness, ready to give and receive forgiveness; I am emotionally open and available to others. Click HERE for growth exercises.
Congruence
There is integration between my faith and my life, my soul and my roles. I hold to an orthodox, biblical faith and lifestyle; I seek to live with integrity, as an example to others, inviting Jesus to be Lord in all parts of my life. Click HERE for growth exercises. For a summary of our understanding of an orthodox, biblical faith and lifestyle, see CCC’s Leadership Standards.
Vulnerability
I avoid pretense, religiosity, and performance. I seek to be real in my relationships with God and others; I seek to avoid defensiveness when others speak into my life. Click HERE for growth exercises.
Passion for others to know christ
I long for others to become complete followers of Christ, for the Great Commission to be fulfilled in my world; I allow the Holy Spirit to guide me into the mission of Jesus. Click HERE for growth exercises.
Reliable & Trustworthy
I take ownership and responsibility; I am known to keep my word and follow through with commitments; I keep confidences and avoid gossip. Click HERE for growth exercises.
To go deeper
To go deeper, we recommend the resources, training and tools at Emotionally Healthy Discipleship.