Organizational Skills of Jesus

As previously considered, sometimes we shy away from organization in the Church thinking we’ll lose the freedom we have in Christ, as though being organized isn’t Christ-like. Yet, we find examples of Jesus organizing to best accomplish tasks or meet needs. Let’s look at just one big task — feeding the multitudes as recorded in Mark 6:39-41.

Elements of Organization Seen in Jesus’ Organizational Skills

We can learn a lot from Jesus to apply to the development of our own organizational skills even from this one situation of feeding a multitude.

1. Organization begins with a goal already established.

The goal had already been established that the disciples would give the people something to eat with available resources rather than send them away hungry or go purchase enough food themselves to feed the multitude of people (Mk. 6:35-38).

2. Organization often involves grouping in ways to best meet needs and to best reach your goal.

According to verses 39-40, Jesus directed the disciples “to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties”.

3. Organization includes determining logistics of where will be best for the ministry to take place, seating arrangements, etc.

In this case, Jesus directed the disciples to have the people sit down on the grass (Mk. 6:39).

4. Organization requires the gathering and allocation of resources.

In this case, the disciples found that they had five loaves and two fish to work with and brought it to Jesus (Mk. 6:38).

5. Organization involves making assignments of who will do what.

Jesus would miraculously produce enough bread and fish from the five loaves and two fish. The disciples would distribute it (Mk. 6:41).

6. Organization didn’t end when the task was complete.

An evaluation, of sorts was made, that “all ate and were satisfied” (Mk. 6:42). They gathered leftovers rather than let them go to waste (Mk. 6:43). We read specifically that twelve basketfuls were collected, undoubtedly to be used in some way, though Scripture does not say how.

Let’s learn from Jesus, becoming more and more Christ-like even in the way we organize.

These points are listed in the Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide along with a probing question about our practices in regard to each of these ways Jesus demonstrated organizational skills.

For More on Being Christ-like: Resources about Christlikeness in the Church

All Posts about Organization:

• Organization Following God’s Purposes?
• The Cause and Effect Factor of Organization
• The Need for Fluidity in Organization
• Living Organism Needs Organization
• Organizational Structures Help or Hinder?
• Organization Because of Freedom in Christ?
• Organization Enhancing Ministry Not Entangling It?
• Organizational Skills of Jesus
• Why Organizational Skills When We Have God?
• Spiritually Gifted to Organize
• Praying About How to Organize to Best Accomplish Goals
• Rely on the Spirit, Not Organizational Efforts
• The Gospel, the Organized Eternal Plan of God
• Organizational Efforts with a Life-Giving Effect
• The Effects of Life-Giving Organizational Efforts
• The Right Reason for Organization
• Aligning Organizational Efforts with Scripture
• Organization Reliant on the Name of the Lord
• Grace Helps Keep Organization in Check
• Leader’s Role as a Guide in Organizational Efforts
• Perspective and Power Needed for Organization