Transcript
For a leadership community to produce fruit -- lasting fruit -- the key is longevity. Here is the summary thesis of the book Lead[: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church]. Fruit doesn't come overnight because we're not called to produce mushrooms of righteousness that grow up overnight but you could flick away with your finger. We're called to be part of God's producing of oaks of righteousness to the display of a splendor. Oak takes a long time to grow, but it's majestic and strong and can weather the storm.
The Key to Longevity Is Spiritual Health
The key to ministry longevity is spiritual health. If you're not spiritually healthy, you will burn out, you will fall out, or you will run away. I was one of those guys, young in ministry, all I want to do is run away. I was beaten and discouraged. Lasting fruit requires longevity. Longevity requires spiritual health. Spiritual health requires gospel community.
I need people in my life to help me see things in myself that have the potential to be the demise of my longevity and the demise of my fruitfulness. I say it this way. I can't confess what I haven't grieved. I can't grieve what I haven't seen and I can't repent of what I haven't confessed. I need to be surrounded by a community of rich gospel encouragement and love because my longevity depends on that.
