In the church, you need to work overtime to actively give away leadership, especially to the next generation. I routinely invite 20-somethings on teams whenever I can, and also work with teens as often as I can, too. It’s harder work, they are less reliable, but someday, when I’m too old to be relevant, it will pay off like crazy! These people feel like this is THEIR church. They OWN it. They ARE Jesus’ church, they don’t go there.

As worship Arts pastor of my church, I am responsible for the worship teams, but for two months this year, January and February, I don’t lead any of them. The one I normally lead is now led by somebody (who I still play for) who does a great job, but last weekend, we did every song different from how I would have. Ask me how many of those songs I said to the guy “Hey, we should do it this way instead”. Zero. Two other teams I don’t play on at all, and the fourth is another long story, but a good one…

In short… Do NOT always get your own way, and work hard to make sure you don’t.

And yes, I’m arrogant too much, and yes, I have people who smack me down when I need it!

I think Peter you make a great point about giving away power.  Ministry is the one position you should be actively trying to work your way out of (at least training someone else as you go)

Cross Cultural Ministry was the best training ground for me in this area, as my call was to build up a ministry area, train indigenous leadership, and the walk away and start a new one.

At first it was very very hard.  But as I went along I realized what a privilege and joy it was.  That truly my greatest joy was in handing over the ministry to the person that I had had this training relationship with.  Letting go was hard in a lot of ways.  But I got to where it became a personal celebration of sorts.

I think arrogance creeps in when we think we have all the answers and become unteachable.

Do I consider myself arrogant at times?  Usually not before my wife does! 

I do read and answer my own email (is it possible to do it otherwise?).  And I’m fascinated by the social networking thing, simply because when I’m MySpacing with our youth group or Facebooking with everybody else, the ground really feels level.

Tye, I agree that the ministry does attract these types of people.  But more often, the ministry transforms otherwise-humble people into those narcissistic, self-serving types.  It is intoxicating to simply mention an idea or two and have them treated as a mandate from God.  It is exilerating to be needed by needy and grateful people.  It is beyond exciting to have people quote you, “amen” you, and write down notes of the things you say.  And the compliments!  Mercy, Bertie! 

The danger comes, of course, when we actually start believing all those complements.