Show Notes – Episode 02
Our motives require constant inspection. Healthy spiritual leaders will intentionally reflect on both what is driving their walk with God and what they are using to motivate those they lead. If you missed Episode 1, we recommend you listen to that episode first to better understand these motivations.
Road Signs for Performance and Debt–Driven Motivations
When spiritual leaders are driven by these negative motivations, we find ourselves much more insecure and competitive—often struggling to rejoice in the successes of others. Outcomes will be the most important part of our day while heading toward the permanent outcome of our own self-destruction.
We become consumed with a constant sense of success and failure all based upon how well we are performing. Performance and debt-driven leaders are angry, overextended, and unhappy. We cannot be motivated in these ways and expect it to not affect the churches we lead.
Churches led in this way will have an unhealthy desire to appease their pastor, feelings of exhaustion and exploitation, and a culture of walking on eggshells rather than joyful worship.
Road Signs for Love-Driven Motivation
A love-driven leader will strive to attach the hearts of people to Jesus rather than to himself. When driven by love, leaders can find security and joy regardless of the outcomes currently being experienced. This is a leader who is able to serve in security, balance, and joy while cultivating their hearts in the gospel.
Two churches could have the exact same statement of faith, but a church filled with love-driven motivations could not feel more different. A love-driven church focuses on who Christ has made them to be and shares that with as many people as possible. This is a church filled with Christians authentically worshiping while being loved as they are, where they are, for who they are.
Leading in this way will often require you to state a better case. But understand—attaching people to Jesus and not the leader provides greater commitment and excellence!
Our number-one resource for motivating Christians should be the love of God. When we properly display the gospel, a Christian’s heart will be drawn to love and serve a God who would love them in that way.
How do I get people more engaged? How do I motivate service or generosity? Show them Jesus.
Personal Questions:
What road signs better describe me as a leader?
What road signs better describe the church that I lead?
When looking to motivate my church family, what tools do I use? Pressure, acceptance, or the love of God?
Team Questions:
In Episodes 1 and 2, Cary and Andrew discuss gospel-shaped motivations. We want to encourage leaders to take this conversation to their teams.
- What are the three types of motivations that Cary and Andrew discussed? How do these motivations drive our ministry culture?
- Which motivation is evident in our ministry right now?
- How do we as leaders bring people to the place where they serve out of the only sustainable motivation—love?
- What is the gospel, and how does it deepen love and shape motivations?
Other Resources:
Real Christianity by Cary Schmidt
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers (Link for free PDF here.)