Lead With People In Mind
Session 3:
Introduction
Ministry, at its core, isn’t about programs — it’s about people. While we plan events, and organize programs, and rehearse music, and balance budgets — even so, none of those things are the real purpose for which we exist.
The true purpose and heartbeat of this church — and of every ministry within it — is people. At the end of the day, ministry isn’t about programs, budgets, or buildings. It’s about lives.
You have been called to lead people, not just manage organizations.
You’ve been called to see God bring transformation in people. You’ve been called to disciple people, to walk with them, to help them grow.
You’ve been called to love people — in their brokenness, in their questions, and lead them into their victories.
That’s the singular purpose of your ministry: to reach people, to shape people, and to point people to Jesus.
And, if we ever forget that, we miss the very heart of Jesus. That’s why Paul tells us (in Philippians 2:3–4), “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”
That’s a word not only for how we live as Christians, but for how we lead in ministry.
Leadership is never about making ourselves look good — it’s about lifting others up.
Here’s the guiding principle for this session:
Great leaders don’t use people to build up ministry;
they use ministry to build people.
That shift changes everything.
It means when you’re leading kids, youth, a worship team, a board, or even a media booth — your first thought isn’t, “How do I succeed?” but rather, “How do I help others grow in Christ.” And, “How do we serve together?”
So, let me give you a few thoughts to help you lead with people in mind!
And the first is this:
1. Build Trust Through Consistency
Trust is required. It is the foundation of every healthy relationship.
Hear me: You can have vision, and creativity, and talents, and the sharpest of skills — but, if people don’t trust you, they’ll never follow you! Not for long.
Because, leadership is influence! And influence grows in the soil of trust.
So how do you build trust?
Well, you don’t do it with talk — you do it with actions, with small consistencies.
You build trust by keeping your word. By doing what you say. By showing up when you say you will. By keeping appointments. By practicing what your preach.
You build trust by leading publicly, the way you live privately.
Let’s bring it into ministry contexts:
- In kids ministry, parents trust you with their children, when you’re demonstrate a consistency in the way you prepare to receive their children. When you consistently train your team to ensure safety, and provide a loving environment, and faithfully teach God’s Word. That will build their trust.
- In youth ministry, students will trust you when they see you demonstrating authenticity. And when you follow through on your promises, when you show up to their games (as you say you will), and when you pray for them (as you’ve said you will), and when you listen to them, and love them, and show them Jesus (consistently) — they’ll trust you more.
Because, small consistencies build credibility!
- On the media team, trust grows when you’re dependable. When you show up early, and change batteries in the wireless mics early, when you get things turned on and ready before others show up? People will begin to trust your leadership.
- For deacons or board members, consistency shows up in integrity — making decisions with transparency, handling finances carefully, and following through on commitments.
That’s how you build trust over time.
Understand This: While trust is built slowly — it can be lost quickly!
And once it’s lost, it’s hard to regain.
That’s why leaders must guard their credibility like treasure.
I once heard a leader say,
“People always buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.”
Let me add another important note on this thought. When it comes to ministry around here, I want to remind you that all ministries are a extension of your pastor’s ministry. You have this opportunity (as leaders), as a sacred trust that he’s extended to you.
You serve the people of this house as an extension of your pastor. In every way, you represent Jesus first, and your pastor second. As a leader, you don’t represent a group, or segment, or faction, or cause. You represent the heart of your pastor.
So, always remember that! Protect this opportunity. And always strive to honor it!
If you want your people to follow your lead, then cultivate trust and credibility by consistency in your life and ministry.
Alright, here’s another one:
2. Empower and Encourage Others
If the heart of ministry is people, then one of the most powerful ways we lead is through encouragement. Over and over, Scripture calls us to it:
- “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
- “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24–25).
- “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up” (Romans 15:2).
Encouragement is not optional — it’s essential. To encourage literally means “to put courage into.” That’s what leaders do: they infuse courage into others when discouragement, weariness, or doubt begins to drain them.
Encouragement doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s a well-timed thank-you that reminds someone their effort matters. Sometimes it’s a handwritten note or a personal text that says, “I see you. You are valued.” Sometimes it’s a public word of appreciation that not only lifts one person but inspires an entire team.
Never underestimate the weight of those small moments. A single word of encouragement can be the difference between someone giving up and someone pressing on. It can renew energy, strengthen faith, and call people to live out their God-given purpose.
And when encouragement becomes the culture of a ministry, everything changes. People stop seeing themselves as “helpers filling slots” and start seeing themselves as partners in God’s mission. They rise up with confidence. They bring their best — not because they have to, but because they want to.
POWERPOINT: Encouragement may seem small in the moment, but it multiplies impact in the Kingdom.
So lead with encouragement. Speak life. Call out gifts. Remind people of God’s work in them. Because when people are empowered and encouraged, the church moves forward stronger, healthier, and with greater joy.
Alright, here’s one more on this thought of Leading with people in mind. If you’re going to do this well, then:
3. Resolve Conflict Biblically
Wherever you have people, you’ll have conflict. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — conflict means people care. The problem isn’t conflict itself, but how we handle it.
Jesus gives us a blueprint in Matthew 18:15: “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.”
In other words: deal with it directly, humbly, and privately.
But what do we often do instead? We gossip. We avoid. We stew. We post vague things on social media.
As Leaders, we must do better.
Unresolved conflict doesn’t disappear; it multiplies. If you don’t deal with it, bitterness grows, trust erodes, and teams fracture.
Let’s make it practical:
- On a worship team, maybe one singer feels overlooked or another disagrees with song selection. Don’t let it simmer — have a humble an honest conversation.
- In youth ministry, when a volunteer clashes with another over styles or priorities, don’t leave it to fester. Instead, with grace and godliness, seek to resolve the matter before it divides them further.
- In the boardroom, when conflict arises over a budgetary matter or spending priorities, remember we are a team (not enemies). We’re brothers and sisters seeking to steward what God has entrusted with faith and boldness. And find resolve and common ground. Remember the vision and mission and seek to honor God by using the resources to accomplish that mission (in faith). And before you leave your meetings, pray together, stand together, and work as one!
- Regardless of the ministry area — when conflict arises, remember you are the body, you are one, so address the matter quickly and humbly. And work towards reconciliation.
Understand, healthy leaders lean into conflict (and don’t shy away from it). But they do it to repair and reconcile — not win. They work to restore, not dominate. We don’t seek to win an argument; but rather — to win over our brother or sister.
Closing Challenge
So what does it mean to lead with people in mind? It means you build trust through consistency, to empower and encourage others, and to work to resolve conflict biblically.
Think for a moment:
- Who on your team needs to SEE YOU lead with great consistency?
- Is there a CONFLICT you’ve been avoiding that you need to address?
- Is there someone the Holy Spirit is bringing to your mind, that you need to reach out to, and encourage?
Remember, leadership is not ultimately about what we accomplish, but about who we build up along the way.
— QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? —
Reflection / Table Talk (5–7 min)
- What’s one way you could build more trust with your team this month?
- Is there a conflict you need to resolve in a Christlike way?
- Who on your team could you empower or encourage this week — and how?
Prayer (Closing 2–3 min)
“Lord, help us to be leaders who love people the way You do. Make us consistent and trustworthy. Give us courage to deal with conflict in ways that heal, not harm. And teach us to encourage and empower others, so that every person we lead grows in their walk with You. May our leadership always keep people at the center — because that’s what matters most to You.”