Episode #39 – The Importance of Self-Awareness
The guys began the conversation on the 13 Characteristics of a Replanter/Revitalizer by unpacking Self-Awareness. In future episodes they will walk through the rest of the characteristics.
Of all the characteristics, Self-Awareness is foundational to pastoring whether you are a Replanter or Revitalizer.
Crisis provides a great opportunity to develop self-awareness.
He shepherded them with a pure heart
and guided them with his skillful hands. Psalm 78:72
Ministry is a work of the Holy Spirit-your skill is important but you must be aware of your ultimate dependence on the Holy Spirit.
The greater your skills and gifting the greater the challenge for you personally to rely on your abilities and not the Holy Spirit.
One of the important aspects of self-awareness is understanding that God designed you uniquely. God also places people with other gifting and strengths who will compliment your ministry. Embrace them as part of God’s design for your ministry.
Your strengths will help you be successful in an aspect of your ministry, not the entirety of your ministry.
Your home of origin impacts your life and ministry. Becoming self-aware of how that creates challenges and conflict is vitally important. Do the hard work of exploring your hope of origin dynamics. We recommend, How We Love by Milan and Kay Yurkovich.
Ministry is painful because it creates
Jimbo share this quote from Tennessee Williams: There comes a time when you look into the mirror and you realize that what you see is all that you will ever be. When that happens, you either kill yourself or stop looking in mirrors.
Accepting how God designed you is key to embracing your role in ministry. Find a good personality test like the DISC, get the results and understand your strengths and weaknesses.
One caution-some personality tests suggest that if you are not a certain type of personality. We do not believe that to be the case. Our observational experience has revealed that any personality type can successfully replant a church-with the understanding how their strengths and weaknesses impact their leadership.
