LEAD THE WAY HANDBOOK

The Way MicroChurches

LEAD

Lead With Jesus

Matthew 4:19

Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me.”

John 15:5,7-8,9-11

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

2 Timothy 2:1-2

You, then, my child, be empowered by the grace that is in Christ Jesus and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people, who will be able to teach others also.

Those seeking leadership within The Way will …

  • Be maturing followers of Jesus

  • Sense God’s call on their lives to lead a MicroChurch

  • Depend on the empowerment of the grace that is in Christ Jesus and so growing in …

    • Gratitude - It is only by grace that we have been grafted into Jesus Christ, the True Vine, and so our lives should be characterized by ongoing gratitude.

    • Dependence - We are fully dependent on the Vine because apart from Jesus we can do nothing.

    • Expectation - As we depend on the Vine, we can be confident that we will bear much fruit to the Father’s glory.

    • Obedience - Our fruitfulness grows through the dynamic of God’s grace working through our obedience.

 
“Grace is both pardon AND power. Grace is God’s pardon—by God’s grace we are saved from our sin and set free from our bondage to Satan’s kingdom. But grace is also God’s power—by God’s grace we are empowered to live the Christlike life and to fulfill our God-given calling and ministry. God’s grace, then, doesn’t just start our Christian life, it continually sustains our Christian life. Once again, grace is both pardon for sin AND power for living. So be empowered by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
 

  • Faithful

    • Do you follow through with your commitments? Are you someone who can be counted on? Are you passionate about the mission of The Way? Will you pursue servant leadership even when things are hard and messy?

  • Available

    • Time is a huge limiter to actually doing ministry. Do you have time to commit to leadership? There are many who have all the gifts, character and calling to be leaders, but they don’t have the time.

  • Teachable

    • One of the most important qualities of a biblical leader is their ability to receive instruction, correction and reproof. How do you receive constructive criticism? Do you welcome it or do you become defensive?

  • Replicable

    • Can you teach others what you have learned? Can you coach others and so replicate your ministry DNA, vision, passion and skills?

Lead With The Way

1 Corinthians 11:1

Follow me as I follow Christ.

2 Timothy 2:1-2

You, then, my child, be empowered by the grace that is in Christ Jesus and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people, who will be able to teach others also.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

  • Our hope and prayer is that we can help you “build with care” using the best Kingdom resources available.

  • Leadership starts with a relationship with a MicroChurch leader of The Way. That’s because leadership development is ultimately a relational journey—first with the Lord and also with others.

  • Welcome your leader’s and The Way Network’s leadership, training, support, supervision and accountability.

  • Network Support Team

  • Keep in mind that The Way Network is not a church. The MicroChurches are the churches. Think of the Network as a missionary equipping and sending ministry. We are called to activate ordinary Christians (YOU) to join Jesus in mission to their circles of influence.

  • Lead The Way is our relational equipping tool to prepare you to enter your God-given mission field as His missionary, disciple-maker and leader of a MicroChurch.

  • Called, gifted and qualified men and women may serve in leadership at The Way. See Women in Leadership.

  • Complete Follow The Way Discipleship Journey.

  • Guide others through Follow The Way.

  • Apprentice under a commissioned leader and assist in leading all aspects of a MicroChurch.

  • The Way uses the MAWL pattern when training apprentices …

    • MODEL

      I Lead / You Watch / We Talk

    • ASSIST

      (Part 1) I Lead / You Help / We Talk

      (Part 2) You Lead / I Help / We Talk

    • WATCH

      You Lead / I Watch / We Talk

    • LAUNCH

      You Lead / We Keep Talking / I MAWL Someone New

  • The Way uses the Discovery Discipleship Group - 3/3s Format when MAWLing apprentice leaders …

    • Connect - Care, prayer and loving accountability for previous I will statements

    • Discover - Training using Lead The Way Handbook

    • Lead - I will statements flowing from the training

  • Work through Lead The Way Handbook with your apprenticing leader.

  • Complete Lead The Way Progress Chart.

  • Affirm The Vineyard Statement of Faith and The Way’s Theological Distinctives.

  • Embrace the Mission and Pathways of The Way.

  • Receive the recommendation of your apprenticing leader.

  • Receive a background check through Checkr.

  • Be commissioned, supervised and supported by your MicroChurch and The Way.

  • Faithfully attend The Way’s ongoing Leadership Support meetings.

  • In time, apprentice a new leader.

  • Imitate before you innovate.

  • Sign the Statement of Affirmation.