Equipping Exchanges

Everyday you have a number of exchanges with people that range from politics to the weather. These exchanges take place sometimes as expected, and other times unexpected. Either way, they are exchanges and you shuold always be prepared.

What do your everyday exchanges look like with the people you come in contact with? As Christ followers, our conversations have to be about more than the weather, politics, and sports. They have to center around Jesus. They have to be equipping in nature, and when Christ is central, that breathes out in everyday exchanges. What are we doing to equip people when we have exchanges? There are people that I know as soon as I am in conversation with them, that they will say something I can be equipped by. There are others that I know when I am in conversation with, that I will be doing the equipping. So, either way, an equipping exchange will happen.

In scripture we see an OT personality who is a leader and nation-builder, Joshua. Joshua’s impact was so significant that the author of Judges wrote, “The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua.” (Judges 1:7) But then comes one of the saddest commentaries in the Bible. When Joshua and his contemporaries passed away, “another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” What a sad commentary on a group of leaders. How did this happen? A clue is found in what’s missing from the biblical record. From the beginning of the exodus, Moses came alongside of Joshua, preparing him for leadership. When Moses received the Law, “Joshua his aid” was with him (Exodus 24:13). Joshua witnessed Moses’ friendship with God (Exodus 33:11). At the end of his life, Moses laid his hands on Joshua, filling him with the spirit of wisdom (Deuteronomy 34:9). The Israelites naturally followed him because Moses’ stamp of authority was on his life (Deuteronomy 34:9). Moses came alongside of Joshua, and because of that, Joshua was hanging in the gallery of Moses.

So what’s missing in Judges? We don’t hear of Joshua mentoring another leader to take his place! It appears that he neglected this important principle of generations. There was no equipping exchanges to raise up new leadership. One of Protestantism’s greatest evangelists was the 18th century preacher, George Whitfield. Whitfield’s ministry touched thousands of people in America and in Great Britain, sparking the Great Awakening in the Colonies. He was a contemporary and friend with another great British leader, John Wesley. As Whitfield faced the cessation of his ministry, he sadly lamented: My brother Wesley acted wisely. The souls that were awakened under his ministry he joined in societies or tribes[small groups]; and thus preserved the fruit of his labor. This I neglected and my people are a rope of sand.
What a sad commentary! Without a commitment to equipping exchanges, we can leave behind a slowly dissolving legacy of a rope of sand. As a group leader it is important to be to generations; and for that to happen you have to come alongside people.

Are you a Moses or a Joshua?