Church Leadership
by Joel Comiskey
Winter 2012
by Joel Comiskey
I love to see pastors inspired with the cell vision at my conferences or hear their commentaries after visiting a dynamic cell church. And of course, I’m always encouraged by their renewed vision after reading one of my books or someone else’s.
Yet, I know that the pastor will need something more foundational to sustain the vision long-term. David said it best, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s sustaining Word is the only long-term solution for a strong, growing leadership vision.
Pastors can become discouraged when the cell results aren’t visible. Yet, God’s Word says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”(Gal 6:9). Perhaps the situation just seems impossible because of the hardened soil, yet God’s Word says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Maybe the pastor has forgotten that cell ministry is a strategy to raise up disciples and is encouraged once again after reading Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
God’s Word also fine-tunes and even corrects the vision. The temptation might be to drive the sheep too hard toward the goal, yet God’s Word reminds us to serve the sheep, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13: 14-15).
Ralph Neighbour is famous for the phrase, “Theology must breed methodology.” This is true. Be refreshed by God’s Word. You have all you need in God’s Word to both sustain and nurture your leadership vision.
Joel