Leadership is an invitation to responsibility, and responsibility means hard work. Leadership also is a trust. Leaders—especially in the church—must tend to two fundamental, legal duties: to act with due care and to not pursue self-enrichment.

I've discovered on my leadership journey that managing this trust presents more challenges than I would ever have imagined. I've learned to regularly ask some key questions to help monitor my own progress. Whether you're just getting started as a ministry leader or are already well on your way, I hope the questions presented here will help you maintain godly balance:

1. Who are you called to serve in your present position? Make sure your servant attitude is in high gear, especially if you're longing to grow in leadership responsibility.

2. Whose personality do you think your church is being built on—yours or God's? Whichever is your answer, you know what to do.

3. What are the three greatest struggles you're facing right now? Ask God to show you specifically what He wants to accomplish in your life through these challenges.

4. Are you allowing any situations that could undermine your moral integrity? If so, what are the consequences if you don't stop?

5. When was the last time you prayed, "Oh, Holy Spirit, move in this town; move in this church"? If it's been awhile (or even if it hasn't), start a new habit by praying it every day for the next 30 days. See what happens. Then keep on praying it.

6. Do you get tired of hearing over and over about what you should be doing for people but aren't? While you shouldn't be an "errand boy" for every whim of everyone in your flock, you may need to ask yourself routinely whether you're ministering the way others really need you or just the way you want to.

7. Is your credibility running on empty, a full tank, or somewhere in between? Consider whether there are places you need to shore up your integrity.

8. Do your board members have confidence enough in your judgment to defer to you at times—and vice versa? Think about what you can do to build the mutual respect that may be missing.

9. How is your church doing on its missions commitments? If you've fallen behind, decide now what you will do to change that.

10. Are there elements of your church's ministry that need to be changed because they've outlived their purpose? Come up with a plan to eliminate these, taking into account the individuals who will be affected by the change and how these people should be included in the process.

11. Is there a vision God has laid on your heart but that you need to lay aside to wait for His timing? Turn it back over to Him and have confidence in the implementation schedule He has in mind.

12. Are there potential leaders in your church whose legitimate desire for a position of leadership—whether lay or full-time—needs encouragement? Make a list of those you think should be feeling a desire to lead and find a time to explore the potential with them.

13. Is there someone you know who has been where you want to go and could help you get there? Ask that person to mentor you in how to negotiate the road ahead.

14. Do you take joy in keeping your church looking its best, or does facility maintenance feel like a necessary evil? While you probably shouldn't be doing all the work yourself, you should be making sure it gets done.

15. Can you find what you need quickly on your computer, or do you spend as much time clicking through documents and emails as you do working on them? Organizing your computer may be easier than you think if you find the right person to help. Most every church has at least a computer geek or two who can help.

16. Are you spending enough time in the community? Consider the possibility that you should get involved in an outside organization or take some other initiative to reach beyond the walls of your church.

17. Do you have a specific mechanism in place by which you can get genuine feedback on how your ministry is being received by the congregation? Get regular input from your board, and if you don't have a church-wide feedback loop in place, you might want to consider implementing one like the pastor vote procedure described in this chapter.

18. What kind of shape is your church accounting system in? You don't have to be the one in charge of it (in fact, you probably shouldn't be), but you need to have a reliable person in place and maintain a sound financial system for your church on a computer.

19. Is your selection process for lay leaders effective? It is if it:

• Allows for pastoral oversight and guidance
• Assures that new leaders are routinely selected
• Provides for rotation of leaders so that no one overstays his or her welcome.

20. Do you allow your lay leaders to participate in solving meaningful problems—even theological ones? Church members often have godly insights that may surprise you and that can serve you and the church well if they are allowed into a problem-solving situation.

21. Are you trying new things just because you're afraid not to? Do nothing out of fear.

22. Is there anything in your life or church that you think is so insignificant it would be beneath you to tend to it? Be very honest about this one. Pray about whether God might want you to pay more attention to whatever this is.

23. Do the children in your church need some special attention they've not been getting? Even Jesus was not too busy to give children the attention they needed.

24. Make sure you appreciate the good in what those around you are doing without its minimizing your own sense of mission. Think of another church in your area that is doing things you sometimes wish you could do. Make a list of all the good you see there. Then pray for the pastor and staff to continue under God's guidance to do all He's calling them to. You might even want to write that pastor a note of encouragement. Then make a list of what God is doing through your church, and set aside time to pray specifically to thank the Lord for what He has chosen to do through you and your people. Rejoice big time in this!

25. Be glad for what God has done in your ministry so far. List five things (10 would be better) you have started doing in your church in the past year that you weren't doing last year at this time, and remember: Little things count. Thank God for the progress you've made.

26. Are you getting dragged down or worn out by people who just won't be satisfied with what you do for them? Pray about cutting them loose emotionally so you can move on to more productive—and appreciated—ministry.

27. Have you established boundaries beyond which you know God doesn't want you to go in trying to help people who won't be helped? Think about people who have inappropriately drained your spiritual and emotional energy, and determine where they crossed the line between genuine need and leeching the life out of you. Let that be a line in the sand when you run into needy people in the future.

28. Are you focusing your ministry on people who are being productive for the Kingdom? Make a list of the top producers in your congregation, and be sure you're giving them their due.

29. Should you offload some of your counseling responsibility to someone who can legitimately spend the time working with people who need in-depth help? Perhaps your church should consider hiring a pastoral counselor, or perhaps you can simply develop a good network for counseling referrals.

30. Is there a continuing-education dream gnawing at you that you've ignored because it doesn't seem to fit into your current ministry? It may be God prompting you toward something that will be of great benefit later to you and those you serve. Pray about whether you should take action on the idea.

31. Are you afraid to pursue further education because you don't know how to pay for it even though you believe your educational goals are pleasing to God? Perhaps there are ways to fund your study—through the church, a personal donor or personal sacrifice—but "you have not because you ask not."

32. Is there something you need to do to get your financial house in order so you can pursue further education? Put together a plan for getting yourself where you need to be financially so you can do what God wants you to do.

33. Is God growing a vision in you? Write down your vision, and don't let it overwhelm or discourage you. Let it energize you. If the Lord of the harvest has pointed you toward a goal, believe that He is able and willing to bring it about.

34. Is your vision too small? You can't think too big for God, so consider expanding your expectations of the future.

35. Is there a message God is calling you to preach with which you're not comfortable? If so, double-check in prayer that you're hearing correctly and set your mind to obeying, no matter what.

36. Do you allow other ministry tasks to pull you away from study and preparation because you feel guilty doing something you enjoy so much? Being paid to study Scripture every week can sometimes feel too good to be true. But don't let that stop you from indulging fully in the blessing God wants you to enjoy—and pass on to your people.

37. How well do you mesh with the folks to whom you preach? Sometimes a preacher's mannerisms don't connect with the local culture. But if you're preaching to a congregation that doesn't offer the response you're used to, the worst thing you can do is keep saying, "Can I hear an 'amen'?" or "Can I get a witness?" Learn to adapt in healthy ways to your audience.

38. Which is your mindset: To hunker down and only do what you know your church can afford or move ahead with what you believe God has called you to do and trust Him for the resources? Moving ahead is better.

39. Do you know—but perhaps don't want to admit—God is calling you to take a step of faith in staffing for growth? Talk to your church leaders, and challenge them to move ahead with you.

40. Is there someone in your congregation who demonstrates ministry eligibility that you should seriously consider bringing on staff? Consult with your leadership team about whether to hire the person you have in mind.

41. How's your energy level holding out? If you're running on empty, consider going on a personal retreat to let God refill your spiritual tank.

42. When was the last time you saw God's hand giving specific direction to your ministry? Allow yourself to recall the details and appreciate how that has helped bring you to where you are now.

43. What challenge most makes you feel like quitting? Offer it to God—daily if you have to—and see how He wants to use that in your life.

44. Do you trust your church leaders to care about doing God's will? Pray for them to be conscious of what God wants to do in your midst.

45. Does love of money play a role in any ministry choices in your church? Introspection on this point is crucial to make sure no such evil intrudes itself in the work God wants to do.

46. Do you mind being the coach rather than the star? Do some soul-searching to make sure your ministry motives are pleasing to God.

47. How careful are you about what you put in writing? Your lack of circumspection may not have caught up with you yet, but it will.

48. Are you raising up spectators, or are you equipping the saints for the work of ministry? You may enjoy cheers from the crowd, but spectators don't help you win the game. How many people are actively engaged in ministry with you? Make sure you're sharing as much opportunity to serve as you possibly can.

49. Do you feel discouraged that you have to keep at it to maintain a healthy lifestyle? Try taking joy in everyday activities that contribute to overall health.

50. Have you thanked God for your spouse today? This should be on your prayer list every day.

What questions would you add to this list?

George O. Wood is the general superintendent for the Assemblies of God. For the original article, visit georgeowood.com.

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