David’s Note: I recently had opportunity to attend the REVEAL conference at Willow Creek Church in Chicago. When the REVEAL study was first released, the focus was on the controversy surrounding the results. However, this conference had  solid, clear focus on spiritual formation. These are my reflections from my time at the conference.

Pastors and other church leaders typically see people through the lens of “activity” – from minimally involved in church activities/programs to very involved. The key insight of REVEAL was that activity does not reflect a person’s heart for God or heart for others.

Spiritual maturity is not about activity but about intimacy. REVEAL found that there are four groups of people – those who are:

• Exploring Christ
• Growing in Christ
• Close to Christ
• Christ-Centered

The results of the REVEAL study led to the question: “What creates spiritual movement?”

That’s the purpose of this conference – to explore potential answers to this question.

But the words of Psalm 78 also make me think about my own leadership. Spiritual leaders need to lead with both “integrity of heart” and “skillful hands.” One of the leadership temptations is to focus on one to the neglect of the other.

I spent several months counseling a fellow pastor who entered into an emotional affair with a woman in his congregation. In the end, it destroyed his marriage and severely crippled his ministry. This was the same guy who led hundreds to become followers of Jesus and the whole church to a greater passion and vision — at the very same time!

And I also know of many guys who are among the most faithful and godly men I have ever encountered. But their leadership has been hampered by a series of bad decisions — not very skilful hands.

In my own journey of late, I’m being challenged by this issue of “skillful hands.” It’s all too easy to strive for excellence in personal integrity, but to not put the same effort into being excellent in my leadership skills.

My prayer for myself today is to become a leader like David — a man who leads with both skill and integrity. God — and the people I lead — deserve nothing less.

As I was reading Psalm 78 this morning I was struck by the closing words:

“And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them.” (Psalm 78:72 NIV)

Funny (and tragic) — how an issue of “integrity of heart” has been given over to the “skillful hands” of the spin-doctors…