Mistakes Leaders Make

1. Keep Jesus Central, Don't Let Ministry Replace Him

Our hearts are idol factories, and ministry, for many leaders, is the king of idols.

Ministry can become an idol. Leaders often start with Jesus at the center, but gradually, the success, accolades, and results of ministry can subtly replace intimacy with Christ as the primary focus and source of identity. This "ministry idolatry" is insidious because it can be justified as "doing it for God," but it shifts affection and reliance from the Lord of the work to the work itself. Norm, the lead pastor at CCC, exemplifies this, becoming increasingly driven and dissatisfied, valuing results over relationships and neglecting his family and personal walk.

Idolatry leads to dysfunction. When ministry replaces Jesus, it opens a "Pandora's box" of other mistakes. Norm's shift tinted everything at CCC, from goal setting and hiring to staff treatment, creating a business-like atmosphere focused on the bottom line rather than a relational one centered on Jesus. This subtle drift, like a frog in slowly heating water, can lead to permanent derailment if not recognized and addressed.

Countering ministry idolatry. Recognizing this sin requires introspection, prayer, and often the loving confrontation of others. Leaders must intentionally prioritize their relationship with Jesus, relying on him for significance and joy, not ministry outcomes. Regularly reviewing Scripture, confessing sin, and being open to correction from trusted friends are vital practices to keep Christ enthroned in the heart.

2. Cultivate Contentment, Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others

Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the point of all this comparing and competing?

Comparing is destructive. Leaders often fall into the trap of comparing their results, size, salaries, and achievements with others, especially at gatherings. This "comparing circus" is rooted in pride and insecurity, leading to jealousy, envy, and discouragement rather than rejoicing in God's work elsewhere. Jim, the executive pastor at CCC, struggled with this, feeling frustrated by his role compared to Norm's and others' perceived success.

Focus on personal growth. While comparing yourself to others is unhealthy and unbiblical (2 Corinthians 10:12), comparing your current self to your potential self is healthy. True contentment comes from accepting and being thankful for who God made you to be, where you are, what you are doing, and what God is doing through you. This requires trusting God's sovereignty and design for your life.

Embrace your unique design. God created each person uniquely, with a specific combination of gifts, personality, and experiences (Psalm 139). Trying to be like someone else is unhealthy. Biblical humility involves having a sober and accurate estimate of yourself (Romans 12:3), being content to be the person God intended, and focusing on Christ rather than self.

3. Embrace Humility, Guard Against Pride

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride is a foundational sin. Pride is often the root cause of a leader's downfall, hiding under the guise of confidence. It leads to an inflated view of self, unwillingness to listen to others, and using ministry as a platform for personal reputation. Jason, the youth director at CCC, initially humble after a profound conversion, quickly became proud and unteachable due fueled by early success and praise.

Humility is truth. True biblical humility is not thinking less of yourself, but having an accurate, God-centered view of yourself. It's recognizing that everything you have and are is a gift from God (1 Corinthians 4:7) and being content with that. It's being centered in Christ's love and acceptance, which frees you from needing external validation or comparing yourself to others.

Countering pride requires vigilance. Leaders must constantly guard against pride, especially when experiencing success. This involves regular confession and repentance, meditating on Scripture (like Psalm 115:1), and being open to correction from trusted friends or mentors. Prioritizing character over competence and being willing to address pride in oneself and others are crucial for long-term effectiveness and avoiding a fall.

4. Please God Alone, Not People

If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Fear of man is a snare. Leaders face constant pressure to keep various people happy – staff, congregants, donors, elders, etc. This fear of human opinion (Proverbs 29:25) can lead to compromising convictions and making decisions based on popularity rather than obedience to God. Chris, the youth director, initially struggled with this, feeling pulled in multiple directions by different expectations.

You cannot serve two masters. Jesus taught that you cannot serve both God and man (Matthew 6:24). Trying to please everyone is a losing proposition and undermines your identity as a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). Living for an "audience of one" – God – requires courage and a willingness to be unpopular if necessary (Luke 6:26).

Cultivate courageous leadership. Overcoming the fear of man requires intentionally listening to God's voice above others and praying for boldness (Acts 4:19-20). Building a culture of candor, where honest disagreement is welcomed without fear of reprisal, helps leaders and followers focus on their common purpose in Christ rather than navigating a minefield of conflicting expectations.

5. Prioritize Visioning, Don't Let Busyness Take Over

Busyness is the new spirituality.

Busyness masks lack of vision. Many leaders are overwhelmed and constantly busy with immediate tasks, neglecting the crucial work of thinking, praying, planning, and listening for God's direction for the future. This replaces visionary leadership with mere management of the present. Suzie, the children's and women's ministry director at CCC, was a diligent doer but struggled to cast vision or plan strategically, hurting her teams' morale and limiting ministry growth.

Leaders are future-focused. True biblical leadership is concerned with taking people from where they are to where God wants them to be, guided by a compelling vision for the future. Leaders must operate with both a "microscope" for present details and a "telescope" for future possibilities. Marcus Buckingham notes that leaders are restless for change and deeply dissatisfied with the status quo, always seeing a "better future."

Make time for strategic thinking. Hearing from God about the future requires setting aside dedicated time for prayer, reflection, and planning, resisting the "tyranny of the urgent." Churches and ministries need visionary leaders who can articulate where they are going, inspiring people to follow and invest. Without vision, people lose heart and ministries stagnate, eventually becoming like museums of past activity.

6. Practice Fearless Faith, Not Just Financial Frugality

Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not why ships are built.

Balance faith and prudence. Churches and leaders often struggle to balance financial wisdom with courageous faith. Some become overly frugal, hoarding resources and fearing any risk, hindering ministry expansion. Bob, the finance elder at CCC, became so focused on building savings that he actively resisted funding new initiatives, prioritizing the pocketbook over people and mission.

Avoid extremes. Wisdom lies in avoiding the extremes of "faithless frugality" and "presumptuous faith" (Ecclesiastes 7:18). While reckless spending or borrowing without counting the cost is foolish, an unwillingness to take reasonable, prayerful risks based on God's leading can stifle growth and miss opportunities to advance the gospel.

Steward resources wisely for mission. Financial decisions should be a team effort, aligning with the organization's values and vision. Leaders must cast vision effectively to inspire generous giving, understanding that people give to vision more than just programs. Developing clear principles for income, saving, giving, and spending, and avoiding operating in constant crisis mode, allows churches to be both financially responsible and fearlessly faithful in pursuing God's purposes.

7. Engage in Difficult Conflict, Avoid Artificial Harmony

Truth telling is more important than peacekeeping . . . peace at any price is a form of deception from the pit of hell.

Conflict avoidance is detrimental. Many leaders prioritize artificial harmony over addressing necessary conflict, fearing confrontation, unpopularity, or negative consequences. This can lead to unresolved issues festering, undermining trust, and hindering effective leadership. Bryan, the worship director at CCC, struggled with this, finding it difficult to stand firm against challenges from his team and congregants, eventually leading to his stepping down from leadership.

Courageous leadership confronts. Leadership requires the courage to tackle tough issues and make hard decisions, speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Avoiding conflict is often the unloving thing to do, allowing problems to persist and harm individuals and the organization. Leaders must be willing to "collide and confront" when necessary, prioritizing the well-being of others and the health of the ministry over personal comfort.

Develop skills and commitment. Dealing with conflict biblically involves making a commitment to face issues honestly, lovingly, and decisively. It requires getting all the facts, listening well, being prepared to confess your own part in the conflict, and confronting privately. Building a culture of candor, not fear, where differing views can be expressed respectfully, is essential for healthy teams and effective ministry.

8. Develop Hungry Leaders, Don't Just Serve the Hurting

The hurting will find you. You will have to find the hungry.

Balance care and development. Leaders with strong mercy gifts often spend disproportionate time ministering to those with deep hurts and complex issues, neglecting the crucial task of identifying and developing future leaders. While caring for the hurting is vital, focusing solely on this can lead to leader burnout and limit the ministry's capacity to grow. Brent, the counseling pastor at CCC, and his wife Patty, exhausted themselves by doing most of the care themselves, overlooking potential leaders.

Leaders multiply themselves. A primary responsibility of a leader is to equip and empower others to share the load (Exodus 18). This involves identifying individuals who are able, fear God, are trustworthy, and have the capacity to lead (Exodus 18:21). Investing time in training and mentoring these "hungry" potential leaders is essential for sustainable growth and preventing the leader from being overwhelmed.

Strategic selection is key. Building an effective team requires prayerful and careful selection of key people. This involves looking for character (vital walk with Jesus, integrity, faithfulness), chemistry (ability to work well with others), competence (proven ability to do the job), and capacity (God-given talent and limits). As Jim Collins advises, get the right people on the bus (character/chemistry) and in the right seats (competence/capacity), recognizing that you hire for talent and train for skills.

9. Seek Transformation, Not Just Information

It is eighteen inches from your head to your heart, but it is the longest eighteen inches in the world.

Knowledge is not enough. Churches that emphasize theological correctness and doctrinal precision can fall into the mistake of equating knowing the Bible with spiritual maturity and transformation. While information is necessary, true life change comes from applying what is known, empowered by the Holy Spirit. CCC, under Norm's leadership, became focused on delivering information and measuring quantity (numbers in groups, attendance) over quality (real life change).

Transformation requires application. Jesus emphasized doing what we know (John 13:17) and teaching others to obey (Matthew 28:20). Spiritual transformation is a process involving information, meditation, repentance, and application. It's about God changing the heart, not just filling the head. Churches need vehicles for dialogue and practical application, not just lectures.

Focus on the heart. Leaders must look beyond outward appearances and knowledge to discern what is happening in people's hearts. Maturity is not just knowing the right answers but living a life changed by the gospel, imaging Jesus through cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Emphasizing genuine relationship with Christ and the fruit of transformation is crucial for developing true disciples.

10. Build Trust, Avoid Controlling Others

Trust is the cornerstone of relationships.

Control erodes trust. When leaders become overly controlling, micromanaging decisions, and dictating actions, it signals a lack of trust in their team. This top-down, dictatorial approach stifles initiative, robs people of joy, and creates an atmosphere of fear. Norm's increasing desire for control, stemming from his ministry idolatry and obsession with numbers, severely damaged trust among the CCC staff.

Trust is essential for health. Trust is the foundation of any healthy relationship, including those within a leadership team. Its absence leads to relationships unraveling and organizations becoming dysfunctional. When leaders don't trust their staff, or staff members don't trust their leaders, communication breaks down, morale plummets, and effectiveness is severely hindered.

Brokenness can lead to restoration. Norm's journey highlights that even deeply ingrained mistakes like control and idolatry can be addressed through God's intervention. His unexpected encounter at a retreat led to brokenness, repentance, and a willingness to finally see and deal with his sin. This demonstrates that while mistakes have severe consequences, God's grace can lead to confession, forgiveness, and a renewed focus on Christ, paving the way for rebuilding trust and healthier leadership.

Last updated: May 15, 2025