“Leaders and the lost”: Jimmy’s catchphrase is such a good vision for five-fold teams!
As the point leader of a global network of churches, Jimmy Seibert regularly exercises one of his primary giftings; making complex concepts easy to understand. Such was the case recently when he was expounding on a Christian parent’s highest priorities. As Jimmy spoke from experience, he detailed three essential focal-points for faithfully raising kids: Jesus, your spouse and children. Each of these and their order were no surprise to me or anyone else in the room.
But the way Jimmy described his fourth priority was novel and surprised me: “Leaders and the lost”. What does he mean by that? After processing this phrase for several minutes, it became obvious: The Father’s priorities are Jimmy’s too.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10
This verse clearly unpacks our Father’s ongoing, dual-tracked vision. The first vision track is about you and I: “For we are God’s handiwork”. In other words, our restoration and development are among His top priorities. The Father wants every member of His family to fully step into their destiny as Kingdom servants. Amen and amen! How grateful I am for forty-eight years of His patient and persistent workmanship in my life!
The second — “Good works” — track is a completely different group of people. These are the individuals we – the “God’s handiwork” team — have been prepared to serve. Within this audience are those that do not know our gracious Father and often described as the “lost”. Jesus and His parables are emphatic about the priority of ministering to those who are not part of the family of God.
Do you see the connection?
Jimmy’s “leaders and the lost” is right in step with the Father’s dual-track vision! From my vantage point, this is precisely what Jesus envisioned for five-fold teams as detailed by Eph 4:11-16:
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Vs. 11-13
Bottom-line: Jesus-aligned five-fold teams balance and integrate two Kingdom priorities: Growing godly disciples (“God’s handiwork”) and partnering with the Father in ministry (“good works”).
So…. how is your Jesus-community doing at walking out the Father’s “leaders and the lost” vision?
In the midst of catalyzing this model of the Father’s, I have learned the value and importance of one key process-strategy which the next blog will explain!
Choosing Jesus’ ways again today,
