Paradigm 11: Philosophy of a Mentoring Leadership
The philosophy "Think big, start small, grow deep" is one of Edmund Chan's most fundamental. It is potentially relevant not just for people in ministry, but for all of us - those who are starting businesses, getting married, or planning any programme,
Are these ideas even Biblical? Or are they in the same line as stuff we find in management books?
The question is whether there are examples in Scripture for us. Jesus certainly had a plan that spanned all of the created universe, and He started with building into the lives of 12 fallible men. Paul has a hesitant start to his great ministry to the Gentiles and a record of investing into people's (e.g. TImothy's) lives.
This means dreaming big dreams in rather than for God. The difference between the two is that one plans to do things for God that we think He might like, whereas in the other our God-centered consciousness should lead us to identify what He wants us to do.. Edmund Chan says we should "dare to do something so big that if God is not in it, we are doomed to fail" My thought is that thinking big requires a foundation of Scriptural truth in God's greatness, faith to act on that foundation. Scripture is replete with truths of God's power (e.g. Gen 18:14, Jer 32:37, Matt 19:25, Eph 3;20, Is 40:12-31) as well as of instances where men would ask less of God than He is willing to provide (e.g. the 12 spies in Canaan and the faithlessness of the Israelites, 2 Ki 13:14ff, Jn 16:24, Ro 8:32)
Dreaming 'in' God should mean that there should be both a calling to a particular area as well as the intimacy with God to know His desires with respect to that calling. This distinguishes foolish impulses from genuine vision. We need to own our vision for God instead of acting on the vision of others. But how does one be sure of one's calling and gain intimacy with God so that we can think big without going astray? It seems to me that the answers lie in the spiritual disciplines - like study, prayer, meditation and deep fellowship. This is how we get a sense of the directive will of God. There is no shortcut.
We need security to start small.
A rested (contented, non-striving) disposition is necessary to begin on a small scale. We are not to hurry. We are to be certain of the path ahead and to be patient enough to build foundations that last.
The Bible suggests that the work of the Kingdom is both small and unimpressive when it starts (c.f. Zec 4:10 "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice") and also, something that completely permeates the world though the invisible transformation of the human heart.(Mat 13:31-32). Again there is the theme of inner transformation preceding effective action.
This approach requires security because we tend to be impressed by large-scale efforts and great successes (c.f. Hag 2:3 "Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?"). Small incremental developments are fine (Prov 13:11
"Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it".). As a principle, God tests our faithfulness with little things before giving us greater things (Lk 16:10, 19:17)
Yet it needs to be asked if there are no large scale movements in the Kingdom. Jesus certainly drew great crowds and Pentecost resulted in the conversion of thousands. So what is wrong with starting big? Were there not times when both approaches seem valid? (Ezr 8:22 vs Neh 2:9). I think is that in each case where that was a large scale movement, there was always preceding inner transformation - so the large scale events occur down the line.
We need wisdom to build deep
This means we must focus on the fundamentals. Depth and influence are preferred over breadth and impact. To do this we need to develop a biblical worldview and depth of character.
It seems that building deep is the foundation for thinking big and starting small. I see that building deep is not in terms of programmes, but in terms of people. It takes wisdom and time to do this in the lives of those we influence. We can be open to influence others in expanding circles of intimacy, while at the same time being open to divinely appointed opportunities to reach out to strangers whom we come across.
Are these ideas even Biblical? Or are they in the same line as stuff we find in management books?
The question is whether there are examples in Scripture for us. Jesus certainly had a plan that spanned all of the created universe, and He started with building into the lives of 12 fallible men. Paul has a hesitant start to his great ministry to the Gentiles and a record of investing into people's (e.g. TImothy's) lives.
This means dreaming big dreams in rather than for God. The difference between the two is that one plans to do things for God that we think He might like, whereas in the other our God-centered consciousness should lead us to identify what He wants us to do.. Edmund Chan says we should "dare to do something so big that if God is not in it, we are doomed to fail" My thought is that thinking big requires a foundation of Scriptural truth in God's greatness, faith to act on that foundation. Scripture is replete with truths of God's power (e.g. Gen 18:14, Jer 32:37, Matt 19:25, Eph 3;20, Is 40:12-31) as well as of instances where men would ask less of God than He is willing to provide (e.g. the 12 spies in Canaan and the faithlessness of the Israelites, 2 Ki 13:14ff, Jn 16:24, Ro 8:32)
Dreaming 'in' God should mean that there should be both a calling to a particular area as well as the intimacy with God to know His desires with respect to that calling. This distinguishes foolish impulses from genuine vision. We need to own our vision for God instead of acting on the vision of others. But how does one be sure of one's calling and gain intimacy with God so that we can think big without going astray? It seems to me that the answers lie in the spiritual disciplines - like study, prayer, meditation and deep fellowship. This is how we get a sense of the directive will of God. There is no shortcut.
We need security to start small.
A rested (contented, non-striving) disposition is necessary to begin on a small scale. We are not to hurry. We are to be certain of the path ahead and to be patient enough to build foundations that last.
The Bible suggests that the work of the Kingdom is both small and unimpressive when it starts (c.f. Zec 4:10 "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice") and also, something that completely permeates the world though the invisible transformation of the human heart.(Mat 13:31-32). Again there is the theme of inner transformation preceding effective action.
This approach requires security because we tend to be impressed by large-scale efforts and great successes (c.f. Hag 2:3 "Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?"). Small incremental developments are fine (Prov 13:11
"Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it".). As a principle, God tests our faithfulness with little things before giving us greater things (Lk 16:10, 19:17)
Yet it needs to be asked if there are no large scale movements in the Kingdom. Jesus certainly drew great crowds and Pentecost resulted in the conversion of thousands. So what is wrong with starting big? Were there not times when both approaches seem valid? (Ezr 8:22 vs Neh 2:9). I think is that in each case where that was a large scale movement, there was always preceding inner transformation - so the large scale events occur down the line.
We need wisdom to build deep
This means we must focus on the fundamentals. Depth and influence are preferred over breadth and impact. To do this we need to develop a biblical worldview and depth of character.
It seems that building deep is the foundation for thinking big and starting small. I see that building deep is not in terms of programmes, but in terms of people. It takes wisdom and time to do this in the lives of those we influence. We can be open to influence others in expanding circles of intimacy, while at the same time being open to divinely appointed opportunities to reach out to strangers whom we come across.
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