Ministry Leadership Test

Front 1

In Chapter 1, p. 4, the author quotes Charles Spurgeon in his Lectures to My Students regarding personal management that enable us to “finish well”. Paraphrase the gist of his statement

Back 1

We are our own tools—my self is my machinery for sacred service; I am my battle axe and weapon of war.

Front 2

In Chapter 2, p. 15, the author quotes Frederick Buechner as follows: “The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work, a. that you need most to do, and b. that the world most needs to have done. If you really get a kick out of your work, you’ve presumably met requirement a., but if your work is writing TV deodorant commercials, the chances are you’ve missed requirement b.” How do you interact with this statement from the Reformed perspective on vocation?

Back 2

Deodorant commercials are a need met through service that causes blessing to come to others = Kingdom of God. Deodorant is needed—the commercial is a service that helps us be good stewards of our money in meeting this need.

Front 3

In Chapter 5, p. 51, the author presents a strategy followed by some pastors to provide quantity time with the family. He recommends that family time be scheduled according to the following “rule of thumb”:

Back 3

a. One night a week - completely free of anything but family activities—a time for the family to be together”
b. One night a month - alone with the spouse—either an overnight getaway or at least a leisurely dinner date”
c. One night (event) a month - alone with each child—perhaps an outing to the zoo or a museum, or even a simple breakfast at McDonald’s”

Front 4

On p. 59, the author states that “a wise alternative would be to ask these questions regarding the criticism.” What are three of those four questions?

Back 4

a. Is it coming from someone I trust?
b. From someone who knows me and my family well?
c. More than one voice saying the same thing?
d. Heard this before?

Front 5

On p. 73, the author presents a three step process for effective time management for pastors. List and explain this process.

Back 5

The three steps are:
a. Recording time – find out where your time actually goes
b. Managing time – set priorities and cut-back on unproductive time demands
c. Consolidating time – arrange large blocks of discretionary time

Front 6

In Chapter 9, on p. 102, the author presents the distinction between ordained ministry and the general ministry of the laity. Explain that distinction.

Back 6

Ordained ministry s different from the general ministry of the laity in that the ordained are:
a. Duly called
b. Prepared
c. Examined
d. Ordained, and
c. Authorized to a spiritual service representative of the whole people of God.
This special calling and preparation is recognized by peers and the church in ordination.

Front 7

In Chapter 23, p. 275, the author says that working with volunteers in the church involved three basic responsibilities. The first responsibility is motivating people. Communicate what you consider the most important principles presented in that section, p. 275-277 in 50 words or less.

Back 7

There are three guidelines for motivating people to volunteer service:
a. Use gratitude rather than guilt – guilt is demotivating; emphasize service out of gratitude to God
b. Tap into people’s dissatisfactions – dissatisfied people are more motivated; knowing their dissatisfaction helps us channel them into service.
c. Give volunteers more than they put in – psychic benefits from volunteer work are important to motivation.

Front 8

In Chapter 23, p. 275, the author says that working with volunteers in the church involved three basic responsibilities. The second responsibility is recruiting people. Communicate what you consider the most important principles presented in that section, p. 277-281 in 50 words or less.

Back 8

The most important principles for recruiting are:
a. Begin with a person’s gifts, not with the need.
b. Careful consideration of volunteer by the staff or leaders is helpful to protect them.
c. Offering spiritual gifts testing and volunteer placement services is helpful in recruitment.
d. Asking others to identify the gifts of their peers can often surface untapped resources.
e. Job descriptions are essential.
f. Recruit well in advance of the need.
g. Make the volunteer’s first job assignment small and advance their responsibilities as they prove themselves.

Front 9

In Chapter 1, p. 10-11, the author states that “Three classical models (of support teams to help us manage ourselves) especially commend themselves to us.” Describe 2 of the 3.

Back 9

1. Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises designed what is best in retreat settings, but also which also can serve us well in ordinary situations. It is based on 4 themes:
a. Sin under the power of grace
b. The life of Christ
c. The suffering and death of Christ
d. The resurrection of Christ

in each of these, he provides reflections and exercises that build the truths into our lives
Foster summarizes it, “We all need a deeper musing upon our perennial knack for disobedience. We all need a richer contemplation upon that life, which shows us the way so we may follow in his steps. We all need a fuller meditation upon that death, which sets us free. We all need more profound experience of that resurrection, which empowers us to obey Christ in all things.”

2. St. Benedict built on the image of Jacob’s ladder, a 12 step ascent to humility. Here he offers activities that involve mind, body, and spirit and helps us face our deeply rooted desire to be our own lords. This model helps with the control of the tongue and cultivation of simple silence.

Front 10

In chapter 2, p. 21, Greg Ogden writes in “Professional Development and Career Tracks” that when you reflect on several conversations at a recent conference of people in vocational ministry, you might realize that you answered the same set of questions from several people who wanted to know what position you held and the number of people in your ministry. Ogden says that sometimes such questions camouflage two aspects of another agenda which is what? Name and describe both aspects.

Back 10

a. Can you advance my career? - do you have status that can help me make a name for myself
b. Where do you stand in relation to me? - are you higher or lower than me on the totem pole