Pitfalls to Avoid

Here are few of the dangers and pitfalls that leaders can fall into, and areas that we need to be mindful of, because if we are being honest, we all have blind spots when it comes to how we live, what we do, and how we believe. I pray that this may make us aware of some of these that we may otherwise not see.

1. Extreme Zeal

Is this always bad? Not always, but it can lead to a stressed lifestyle where the church becomes a means to an end, i.e. building a successful church in youthful zeal makes you feel like a success. God builds His church with or without us. The goal is not success, it is faithfulness to the end.

2. Unrealistic Pace

Ministry is a marathon, but some leaders don’t understand that yet. They (we) treat it like a sprint, end up fatigued too early in the race to finish, and quit or disqualify themselves before the finish line.

3. Lack of Perspective

Leaders have yet to make all the mistakes, meet all the people, listen to all the conversations, read all the books, reflect on all the mess_ups, and pay attention to all the warnings that they eventually will. Only time (year stacked upon year of hard ministry) can bring this.

4. Sense of Invincibility

To quote Travis Tritt, leaders sometimes feel "10 foot tall and bullet proof" without realizing that it takes 5 seconds to destroy with it took 20 years to build. Each of us is susceptible to any and all temptations without the grace of God and the protection of our brothers and sisters.

5. Theological Ignorance

I have heard this one so many times…"Don’t bore me with theology, let’s get busy reaching people for Jesus!" Sure. Sounds cute and epic. But that is the fastest way to build a really big church fast, and then watch it fall apart even faster. All that we do is based on theological beliefs. We must be as deep as we are wide.

6. Isolation

Based on a fear of confrontation or being rejected by others, leaders sometimes seal themselves off from the voices and opinions of others. We don’t need a committee for every decision, but we need clarity and wisdom. Proverbs says these come from wise counsel. We do not get that when we roll solo.

7. Constant Comparison

With so many new churches sprouting up and so many nationally known pastors and ministries on the map, it becomes a struggle to not always look to them and ask why you are not as big, edgy, innovative, creative, post_modern, hip, or cool. This type of comparison can possibly be a result of insecurity or a result of being too busy to get a clear word from God about the direction HE wants you to take your ministry. Model, don’t copy.

8. Strained Family

When a leader does something, they do it full_tilt_boogie (all the way). This can many times put pressure on the wife and kids, especially if the lion is used to living a college lifestyle; up early, going hard all day, up late, making stuff happen, taking all the little jobs. In the early days of a ministry, the leader usually does everything, and the family may suffer.

9. No Margin

Everything is about building the new ministry, so exercise, reading, relaxing, dates with your spouse, close community with friends, and time with nothing planned become obsolete. Leaders like to have every day packed with productive things to do so we can end the day and say "…that was a good day, look at all I accomplished."

10. Losing The First Love

From personal experience, I can say that all of the creativity and energy that leaders have penned up inside their hearts and heads can distract them from the main thing; staying connected to the Vine. In John 15, Jesus made it clear that if we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit, but apart from Him, we can do nothing. NOTHING. Leaders must not forget that we are called first to Christ, not "success". He must always remain our first love.