Question 1

Why should leaders evaluate their organizations or groups?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 39:42-43The people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses. Then Moses inspected all their work. When he found it had been done just as the Lord had commanded him, he blessed them.Evaluation and inspection are an essential part of success. Leaders hold their organizations or groups accountable so that they have objective criteria for growth, productivity, and quality. Leaders keep the organization asking the right questions and improving their work.

Question 2

How does a leader evaluate people?

Accepted Answer

1 Timothy 1:4-7Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God. The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.Leaders have the difficult task of examining people to determine their fitness for particular tasks and responsibilities. This may seem like judging a person, but it isn’t. Judgment has to do with reaching a negative conclusion about a person’s eternal destiny—something only God can know. Evaluation is about determining a person’s fitness for service and for discerning areas for growth and development.

Question 3

How can I determine what is right and wrong, good and bad?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.Acts 17:11The people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.2 Timothy 3:16-17All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.God has revealed himself and his instructions for living in the Bible. It guides us, teaches us, and corrects us. Like the Bereans, we too should search the Scriptures regularly and seek to understand what God is teaching us.Exodus 20:1-17God gave the people all these instructions: “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. . . . You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. . . . Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”God’s law is summarized in this passage—the Ten Commandments—clearly stating right and wrong.

Question 4

When is evaluating or judging people all right?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 7:1-2“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”Judging people is easy, especially when we don’t know their motives or the context of their words or actions. So we should be careful about making assumptions and judgments until we have all the facts.Romans 14:10-13Why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.Unfortunately, believers often criticize and even condemn other believers, in a local church or in the wider Christian community. We should not do this unless the person is in obvious sin, and, even then, we should correct that person in love, knowing that God alone is the ultimate judge.Galatians 6:1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.If a fellow believer—family member, friend, church member—is “overcome by some sin,” we have the responsibility to that person and to the church to confront that person privately first about his or her sin, but we should do this “gently and humbly.”1 Timothy 5:20Those who sin should be reprimanded in front of the whole church; this will serve as a strong warning to others.A person who has been confronted privately but who continues to sin (especially a church leader) should be disciplined by the church, which includes a public denunciation of the sin.

Question 5

What standard does God use to evaluate/judge me?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 11:21-24“What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”God will judge people by what they know, not by what they do not know.Luke 12:47-48“A servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”God expects us to use well the truth and resources he had given to us, including our knowledge of right and wrong.John 12:47-49“I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.”At the day of judgment, God will judge us on how we responded to Jesus and his message.

Question 6

When is self-evaluation appropriate?

Accepted Answer

2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.1 John 5:10-12All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.Many people assume that they are Christians because they live in a “Christian country,” have believing parents, or have lived a relatively good life. But the only valid test is their own relationship with Jesus. So, we can evaluate ourselves to see if our “faith is genuine,” that is, if we have trusted Christ as Savior.Mark 11:25“When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”1 Corinthians 11:27-28Anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.Before partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Communion), we should evaluate ourselves to see if we need to confess any sins to God. We should also forgive those who have sinned against us.James 4:17Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.Sin can be subtle, not just words or actions that we know are wrong. We also should be careful to do what we know is right.