Know God Pastor Leaves Leading a church from Anxiety to Anticipation Interim Decision Kn ow Yo ur Ch urc h Kn ow You r Co mm unit y Kn ow the Pl an Know God Kn ow the Pat h New Pastor Assessment R en e w al Pla nni ng Anxiety Anticipation Transitional Interim Pastor Implementation

“Spiritual Learning – By Listening For What God Wants To Teach Us” Transitional Interim Pastor Training

You learn an awful lot in 40+ years of ministry from the journey, experiences, situations, issues, and demands….to say nothing about the conferences, seminars, and work shops ad nausea.

We have a marvelous staff at New Church Specialties….. BUT I can tell you, while God has so blessed NCS in our brief 8 year history, we have never depended on what we know, on our expertise. It has been our cry since our humble beginning, TO HEAR WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY!

I am more aware than ever of how much I need to LISTEN for His voice. “And I….I’m desperate for you.” That’s exactly how I feel. Desperate to learn more and more about how to hear the Voice of God.

We know each of you bring a great deal to this possible new role, you have lots of experience, and expertise…..which is why you are here. As a TIP, you will have coaching, the support of our staff, and the resources of NCS at your disposal. BUT, in spite of all that, when you get out there in your assignments… it won’t be enough.

Every church will be different! We will discover a ton through assessment, church history, and other diagnostic tools….but it is God alone who knows every detail, everything that is ahead, every issue you will face along the way. He alone knows how to navigate the twists and turns the journey will reveal.

We just need to acknowledge now, right upfront…..we can’t do this without Him, and without learning to LISTEN carefully to His voice.

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS!! God is so anxious to talk to us, show us the way, help us, and empower us to make a great difference in the churches we will serve. But we must take the time to LISTEN, and totally depend on Him.

“Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” Proverbs 9:9

when I open my mind to the Spirit when I ask spiritual questions when I listen for God’s answer when I commit to obey what He is telling me to do Spiritual Learning Happens…

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” James 1:19

“What God teaches you is infinitely more important than what any man teaches you.” Principle To Remember:

“It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.” -- Jesus John 6:45

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” -- Jesus John 14:26

Psalm 32: 18 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go…..”

Isaiah 50:4 The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

1. We must believe God wants to talk. How God Teaches Us… Some Basic Principles

Deuteronomy 30:20 “….love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life….”

“The Lord said to me, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you….” Ezekiel 44:5

“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…His sheep follow him because they know His voice.” -- Jesus John 10:3-4

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” -- Jesus John 10:27

1. We must believe God wants to talk. 2. We must be committed to listening. How God Teaches Us… Some Basic Principles

“Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made…” Luke 10:39-40

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Samuel 3:10

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” -- Jesus Mark 4:9

1. We must believe God wants to talk. 2. We must be committed to listening. 3. We learn best by asking questions How God Teaches Us… Some Basic Principles

“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Luke 2:46-47

S a sin to avoid? P a promise to claim? A an attitude to change? C a command to obey? E an example to/not to follow Ask Questions Reading Scripture (to close “space” between you and God)

Ask Questions Of Other Leaders (we learn most when we listen…) Share with me a time when God came to your rescue, and performed a miracle in your ministry? How do you find God’s heart on a matter? How do you keep your heart tender & passionate toward lost people? How would you handle……?

Ask Questions Of Other Leaders (we learn most when we listen…) What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made? What’s the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned? How do you get out of ruts?

1. We must believe God wants to talk. 2. We must be committed to listening. 3. We learn best by asking questions. 4. We must capture the learning when it comes by writing it down, discussing it, etc. How God Teaches Us… Some Basic Principles

“’All this,’ David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the Lord upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.” 1 Chronicles 28:19

There will be times when you are weary, frustrated, feeling like it is not happening, not coming together. While you have years of experience as a pastor, you will find this is different in many ways….. You have never walked this way before.

“…..You are to move out from your position and follow…..then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before….” - Joshua 3: 3-4

REMEMBER, God is anxious to talk to you. He is all sufficient, He will put His arms around you, He will lift you up, He will love on you, strengthen you, guide you, renew and refresh you. He is your shepherd. He will lead you beside quite waters, He will restore your soul, He will provide everything you need for the journey.

Let’s PRAY that God will help us to listen carefully to His voice, to His instruction and Guidance all the way through every TIP opportunity that comes our way.