Interview with Mark Driscoll: Spirit filled leading from Terry Virgo on Vimeo.
In this video, Pastor Mark Driscoll interviews Terry Virgo about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in leading leaders. For Virgo, Christian leadership’s preeminent task is that of reliance on the Holy Spirit through prayer. Rather than focusing on what Driscoll calls “borrowing from secular practices,” the leader is to focus on the guidance of Holy Spirit. Virgo then describes what he calls “engaging with the Spirit.” Virgo is in the word daily, praying, singing (in both English and tongues) simply basking in God’s love and kindness. It is in these moments, that for Virgo and Driscoll, direction and vision for a body of believers comes.
These concepts may seem “fundamental” to Christian leadership, but for many seem to be the first things to go when leading a church. At one point in the interview Virgo says that many leaders put trust in their “management skills or planning wisely” rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and open opportunities that only He can open. During this interview, I could not help but be surprised at how often I turn from God’s supernatural providence and to my own ability. Without the work of prayer, I will certainly fail.
Virgo at one point in the interview says that the “big break-throughs” have not come by implementing new leadership principles, or the latest ministry strategy, but by faith. Many issues arise in ministry for which a leader cannot plan or strategize through. We as leaders must pray and rely fully on the Holy Spirit.
(the first sentence is embeded in the video, and thus is not included in my 250+ words)
I call this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us of the Holy Spirit’s role. It is easy to get caught up in all of the models and ideas and forget to seek God in prayer for His Spirit’s power and direction. Everything we do should be reflecting of the Spirit’s indwelling, inspiration, and leading of our lives. You are right to call us to the fundamental task of prayerful, and Spirit-filled leading
ReplyDeleteI wish Driscoll would have talked more about the “common grace” of leadership theories from the secular world. I understand he was focusing on the Holy Spirit in this video clip, but it almost left me with the impression that we should discount those theories/books etc. This does not seem like wisdom either.
We know that there is certainly wisdom regarding leadership that God has given to all of humanity. We see it worked out in the lives of many who lead successfully without ever offering a prayer. It would be far better to pray and follow the Spirit’s leading in a small way, then to be successful at implementing leadership theories and models in a grand way and be outside of God’s purpose. We need to embrace both common grace and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.