Get a Bible, For Crying Out Loud…

Over the last year much attention on discipleship has been focused on self-feeding.

Pastor David Trotter says that in ten years of ministry at three different churches, he has heard hundreds of people say that they aren't being 'fed' enough -- they are getting too much milk and not enough meat. But he makes the point that several other prominent pastors and bloggers have made recently: As followers of Jesus, we are called to feed ourselves and feed others who are new in the faith...

How does the responsibility for self-feeding integrate with your responsibilities as a leader/teacher? I think teachers can model, train and honor self-feeding.

Modeling - occasionally share with your group things you have gleaned in your personal study that has nothing to do with the lesson plan you are delivering.

Teaching - Help people with practical advice about where to start reading, how much to read, strategies that help you in your personal reading (journaling, note-taking, highlighting, reading schedules, etc.). I just learned a couple of weeks ago about a leader who bought Composition Notebooks (like those used in college classes) and a stack of men's magazines. The students clipped headlines and pictures of things that were personal to them. Pasted them to the cover of the journal then wrapped the whole thing in clear contact paper. The thought was that a spiritual journal is PERSONAL interaction with God so the place where those thoughts are recorded should be personalized.

Honoring - We honor self-feeding by assigning it value. Promote it as a noble challenge (See the 31 Day Challenge) and give people a chance to share what they have been learning in their personal time of "eating alone"

MondayMorningInsight.com > Get a Bible, For Crying Out Loud…

Me2We: part 1 of 5

I just found the first installment of a series that has great potential. While it is written for pastors, I think it is a good taxonomy for any church leader. Below are some excerpts, for more detail see the link at the bottom. Through my 20 years of ministry I can sadly say that I have been guilty of many of these and have seen others in colleagues.

Me to We Series...

The term equip means different things to different people. Most pastors believe they "equip" (Ephesians 4) because they preach the gifts of the Spirit and support the priesthood of believers--and seek more volunteers. But I'd like to offer you a better way to assess where you and your church are in terms of the equipping value. This is #1 of a five-part mini-series that charts the degrees of equipping on a 10-point continuum where 10 represents the point of highest value.

Point 1: Emperor Pastor -- Point 1 is at the lowest end of the equipping continuum. This pastor functions as the pastor, striving to be all things to all people. He or she is the ultimate server, schooled and trained to do whatever it takes to carry out acts of service for people.

Although the Emperor Pastor can have a wonderful heart, a servant's attitude, and be fully committed, quite often there exists some degree of emotional baggage or self-image issue that causes the pastor to try to be all things to all people. Most pastors in this category go to bed with their cell phones or beepers on in case someone needs to get hold of them. They're available 24/7 and even make this one of their bragging rights. The problem is that this sort of codependent mind-set rewards enabling behavior from the church members, who applaud their pastor's efforts to "be there for them."

The problem is that most people are intentionally or unintentionally kept out of ministry and prevented from using their gifts because of the culture this type of pastor perpetuates.

Point 2: Controller Pastor -- The Controller Pastor is open to letting others be involved in a role of service, so long as it's one of support to his or her ministry.

Sometimes slightly more people are involved in acts of service, but the pastor sees them as ministry pawns and recruits them to do the "little jobs" around the church.

There's only room for one key leader.

The result of Emperor or Controller pastoring styles is limited spiritual growth because people fail to use their gifts in ministry and to receive significant ministry through others' gifts.

For an Empowering Continuum assessment, go to www.rev.org and click on Me to We resources, and then "The Empowering Church Assessment." In next week's edition of LeadingIdeas, we'll discuss Points 3 and 4, the Promoter and the Recruiter.

Alan

Alan Nelson is the executive editor of Rev! Magazine, the author

rev.org: Leading Ideas: Are U an Emperor or a Controller?

Expert Advice for Small-Group Facilitators

 Just found a great resource for Small Group Facilitators. If these 3 ideas are helpful to you, check out the link below for more from the same author.

• The biggest challenge for facilitators is staying focused on why the group has gathered together—to grow and develop people. It's all about people. It's not about your agenda; it's not about the great lesson you wrote; it's not about all of the social things that the group likes to do. It's about life-on-life learning. So the facilitator has to help the group avoid getting sidetracked by knowing that there are a lot of good things and bad things that can hijack group discussions, but the group has to stay focused on helping people.
• Tactically, something you can do with dominant people is to seat them right next to you. This takes them out of direct line of sight. When they get eye contact, they often take that as a green light to talk. So having them on your right and left side minimizes that.
• Once you've built the relationship capital, you can start going deeper. Tactically, you can start with the curriculum you study and the tools you use. Americans tend to know more of God's Word than they actually apply. So if you want to take your group deeper, the issue generally isn't how to get more biblical knowledge into them; it's how to get them to act on it.

Source: Expert Advice for Small-Group Facilitators | Building Small Groups

How Do You Fire A Volunteer?

 Found the following question and I wanted to hear your ideas. Post comments below. Just so you know, I don't have anyone on this list right now. I would just like to get ideas for when this inevitably will show up.

Peter Hamm writes: "I think it's possible that the hardest thing we have to do in ministry is letting a volunteer go. Sometimes it's because they do something they shouldn't, sometimes it's because it's a bad fit for them and their giftedness, sometimes it's because they just can't do the job. For instance, what if your welcome team has someone on it who never smiles and insults people as they come in?...

An extreme example, I know, but what happens when you have to let this person know you need to re-direct them into something else. Or say it’s a person who serves in Children’s ministry who just can’t connect with the kids, or even frightens them. Or perhaps it’s someone who just doesn’t get what your church’s mission and vision are, and they do more grumbling than serving.

The most difficult thing for me is creative artistic people, especially singers/worship leaders. (I’ve had some recent experience with this, as we re-aligned our worship teams, and I’m still wading through the fallout on this.) This is the one ministry in our church where easily three times as many people want to participate regularly than I can handle, and some of those people just can’t do it in the way that we have, with God’s guidance, concluded it should be done in our environment (This is a small number, I’d estimate less than one-third of those interested). Others are competent and dedicated, but just not up to the level of some others, who need to be used in this area of their giftedness.

Add to that that artists and singers and creative types tend more than others to integrate their whole value as a person with the thing they do (sing, play, act, draw, paint...) and you have a recipe for ministry nightmares.

So, I’m curious, what kind of tips have you picked up over the years to help you with this? How do you approach people? What secrets have you learned that you could share with the rest of us?

Source: MondayMorningInsight.com > How Do You Fire A Volunteer?

AYCE: All you can eat

Just received the following and thought it was superbly written. If the snippet I provide below whets your appetite, click on the source link then come back and leave your comment. 

If you’ve ever been to an All You Can Eat buffet then, most likely, you’ve seen or experienced this scenario.  The sights and smells have you thinking about second helpings before you even pick up a plate. You begin working your way through the buffet but before you know it, the coaster sized dish they call a plate is full.   Now, the less experienced will just grab a second plate.  However, a true buffet veteran might skip the vegetables altogether, use gravy to keep everything from sliding off, or just add an entire second story. 

Too often, I believe, this is the way I treat God’s teaching.  Whether from scripture, sermons, books, conferences, seminars, devotionals, newsletters, blogs etc…it’s all great stuff but as it begins to stack up I’m not always sure what to do with it.

Source: Guest Blog: Travis Petty at LifeChurch.tv : swerve

There is none righteous, no not one!

 I just read of a book being released today by a journalist who tried to obey every rule in the Bible for just ONE YEAR. Read below to see if your curiosity gets piqued, then click on the source link on the bottom of this post to read more. Return and leave your thoughts.

After A. J. Jacobs spent a year reading the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica for his book “The Know-It-All,” he figured he had the yearlong experiment thing down. How much harder could it be to follow every rule in the Bible? Much, much harder, he soon discovered, as he found himself growing his beard, struggling not to curse and asking strangers for permission to stone them for adultery. Jacobs spent the year carrying around a stapled list of the more than 700 rules and prohibitions identified in the Good Book, and also consulted with religious leaders and spent time with the Amish, Hassidic Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses. He spoke to NEWSWEEK’s Jennie Yabroff about his experience and his new book, “The Year of Living Biblically” (Simon & Schuster), which goes on sale Oct. 9.

Source: MondayMorningInsight.com > Journalist Decides to Follow Every Bible Rule for One Year

$8 Hot Dog

How do you use what you have received from God?

Advice from a leader of leaders: Balance

I read the following in a blog by one of my favorite pastors, Chuck Swindoll. 

My word to those of us engaged in ministry can be summed up in four words: keep a healthy balance.

If you teach, also remain a good student. Stay teachable. Read. Listen. Learn. Observe. Be ready to change. And then . . . change! Admit wrong when you are wrong. Stand firm where you know you are right. Since you are called to be leader, make sure you also follow well. You cannot do it all, so delegate and deliberately allow others to help you. And when they do it well, give them the credit. Our calling is serious, so cultivate a good sense of humor.

Source: The Pastor's Soul, Role, and Home.: Balance

Good Questions Show Good Listening

I admit I am inadequate at asking good questions. This is a skill I need to improve. If the list below intrigues you, check out the source for more information about asking good questions.

According to Robert L. Montgomery, author of Listening Made Easy, the ten most common characteristics of a good listener are:

1. Looks at me while I'm speaking.
2. Questions me to clarify what I'm saying.
3. Shows concern by asking questions about my feelings.
4. Repeats some things I say.
5. Doesn't rush me.
6. Is poised and emotionally controlled.
7. Responds with a nod of the head, a smile, or a frown.
8. Pays close attention.
9. Doesn't interrupt me.
10. Keeps on the subject until I've finished my thoughts.

Source: Good Questions Show Good Listening | Building Small Groups

Five Reasons to Have Hope

Some authors have recently been quite critical of the future of the Evangelical Church. Perry Noble, a pastor in South Carolina, gives 5 reasons why he has hope in the future of the local church. I've only given you his headlines, you need to check out the source to read his explanations. 

#1 - Unconventional Ways Of Spreading The Gospel Being Used!

#2 - I Am Seeing Denominational Walls Being Destroyed!

#3 - I Am Seeing Churches More Concerned With Who They Reach Than Who They Keep!

#4 - I Am Seeing Churches And Leaders That Care About The Quality Of Their Worship Services. 

#5 - I Am Seeing The Spirit Of Religion Being Destroyed.

Source: Perry Noble dot com » Blog Archive » Five Reasons I Have Hope

Consider the Symptoms

 About a year ago I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. That diagnoses came totally out of the blue for me. I had just completed my first physical in over 10 years and I had no idea how sick I was. After the diagnosis I read about anything I could find on the disease and found lists of symptoms. I had experienced over 75% of the symptoms, but each one by itself seemed inconsequential.

The quote below warns that there is another condition that many Christian leaders are facing and they may not even be aware. The source at the bottom of this post will take you to a list of symptoms.

Burnout can occur in the physical, emotional, and spiritual areas of life. Sometimes it affects only one or two of these areas, but it often takes its toll in all three, as it did with Elijah. He was physically exhausted from running before King Ahab’s chariot some 25 miles from Mount Carmel to the entrance of Jezreel (I Kings 18:46). He was emotionally drained as evidenced by his wish to die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life” (I Kings 19:4). He was spiritually distraught, which was shown by his words, “I, even I only, am left” (I Kings 19:10).

Many things cause burnout. While it is impossible to mention them all, here are the primary causes

Source: Dealing with Personal Burnout in Ministry

The Hardy Boys (and Girls)!

Found the following description of Hardy people. I thought it might be a good reminder to work on some of these area now so that we have resilience when things get tough.

For those of us in ministry, we know it is a demanding and often costly pursuit and calling from the Lord. Reaching others is not for the fainthearted but takes men and women who have a hardy personality. Let’s allow these ten qualities of a hardy personality to make us men and women who are dangerous for God and better equipped to reach today’s student, family, and culture.
• They have a balanced attitude toward pain and pleasure. Pain is not an indication of death, (some thing at all cost to be avoided) anymore than pleasure is an indication of life. They are both merely part of life. The hardy person is not afraid of pain.
• The hardy person is willing to embrace deprivation. The hardy person does not insist on having all his/her needs met, they understand that “going with out” won’t kill them. They are willing to forgo gratification.
• They are not given to addictions. Hardiness does not have to have highs or shots of adrenaline in order to survive and enjoy life. They are not easily addicted to anything.
• They have a new way of looking at control. They do not demand control or abdicate responsibility when others are in control. The hardy person knows that effort counts and that they can make a difference. “I may not change everything, but I can and will do my best.”
• They understand and practice perspective. “The story does not begin or end with me. I’m in the story, but it is God’s story. I’m part of something bigger than me, and even when I don’t understand, I will trust.”
• They possess a growing self knowledge. The hardy person has an extraordinarily high level of self awareness. They are non-defensive. They know their strengths and weaknesses and are comfortable with these, so they don’t have to think about their inner needs all the time. They are free from pre-occupation with themselves.
• They are willing and able to take responsibility. They are comfortable taking credit for the good they do and willing to take the blame for the bad. They are
not blamers! They understand that wherever they are, they are making something better or worse.
• They are givers, not hoarders. They live life richly, giving out of love, energy, resources and time. They are generous, open, trusting, working, and giving.
• They have a wonderful sense of hope. Hope is their anchor to which they hold unswervingly in times of storm; it makes a daily optimistic difference in their lives.
• “I am my own bottom line.” They realize that they need to guard their own heart and nobody is going to rescue them, so they commit to developing themselves. They are not whiny, or passive. Nor are they helpless nor dependent, but interdependent.
They know and practice cultivating one’s personal life and ministry life.

source: EFCA National Ministries Update

It’s Monday Morning, so somebody please remind me Why I Do This?!

I read the story below and thought it was a great encouragement that gives purpose to the headaches that come with ministry. 

Being a pastor/church leader does not make me immune to the Monday Morning Blues, especially after a weekend of intense and focused engagement where I’ve loved, led, helped, created, pulled people together, taught, preached, led small groups and managed crises. Like everyone else, I need to be reminded why I do what I do. So here are the reasons why I love being a pastor:

1. It’s my calling. It’s what God called me to do. I know deep down in my bones this is what I was made for. If you don’t have a calling, you may never understand why we often say we can’t walk away from the ministry. That would be to live in open defiance to God. And that’s not something we can do.

2. I love the gospel. It’s changed my life. I’ve lived it many decades and it’s still as powerful, still as sweet as it ever has been. Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so still moves me as much as it did 35 years ago when I met Jesus Christ.

3. I love people. I love being around people who come together with the same purpose, same heart, organized around a great mission to accomplish something really great for God and good for people.

4. I’m a leader. I was born that way. I’ve also been working hard to be made that way. I love leading people, influencing people to become more together than we ever could become separately.

5. I love pastors. I love being around them. The majority are loving, good, committed people; smart, fully-engaged, learners, leaders who love God and want to make a difference in the world.

6. I love what happens when a person is converted as a follower of Jesus Christ. I love seeing life change. I love seeing marriages being put back together. I love seeing people be set free from addictions and sinful habits that are destroying their lives, into a lifestyle of love, freedom, and joy.

7. I love being part of something that redeems culture in the world in which I live. I love being a part of a movement that knows no geographic or cultural barrier; that like water, finds its way into every crease and crevice of humanity.

8. I love being a pastor in leadership and ministry because it forces me to engage the Scripture in a way that transforms my life. I’ve never had a problem in the false dichotomy between reading and studying the Scripture for my own personal improvement, or reading and studying to teach. I can’t divide the two. I have to teach out of the overflow of what’s going on in my life as I engage the full scope of Scripture.

9. I love the Bible: not the pages, not the ink, not the leather; but the words, the ideas, the concepts that teach me that I serve a great God.

10. I do this because I believe that the gospel is the only hope of the world, that when church is done right, it is absolutely amazing.

11. I continue to do this because I accept the fact that the church of Jesus Christ can at one moment be an amazing and healthy, loving, growing environment, and in another can be a very toxic, destructive place. How could we expect anything different when we get broken people coming together confessing the reality of their own sin and brokenness? There are bound to be sharp edges among us.

12. I do this because I believe in advancing the good. The best way I can do that is promoting the redemptive mission of the gospel.

13. I do this because it is the best way I can spend my life. I’ve got to do something. I might as well be doing something that matters for eternity.

14. I love pushing myself to greater understanding and innovative ways of redeeming culture.

15. I love being around people who don’t get it, who struggle, who have questions, but are hungry and are open. I love presenting the gospel to them knowing it’s not my job to convert them.

16. I am in this work because I’m a seeker of truth. I love the truth. I embrace both mystery and certainty all at the same time. I do believe that Jesus is the answer, but not all the answers are available to me right now in the state I’m in.

17. I do this because I love being a part of a worldwide movement that has indeed changed the world and it continues to change it. It is not bound by lines on a map, or by race, creed, or color.

These are some of the reasons I do what I do and why I’m a happy pastor. How about you? What motivates you?

Source: MondayMorningInsight.com > Confessions of a Happy Pastor: It’s Monday Morning, so somebody please remind me Why I Do This?!

Yet another Leadership Lessons from Baseball

 Sometimes you've got to get in front of the ball, you always come home dirty, and you never give up early.....

Run Through the Bag

If you played on my Dad’s team, no matter what, after you made contact with the ball, you had to run full speed to first base. When running to first (and only to first), you don’t have to stop, but you can continue running “through the bag.” This enables you to give 100% and never have to slow down.

To him, it didn’t matter if you hit a pop fly that would surely result in an out, or if the shortstop threw you out five steps before you were to reach first.

Dad always said, “No matter what, run through the bag!”

I try to regularly apply this principle to my life and ministry. If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing with your whole heart.

Paul said in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…”

Whatever you’re doing, do it for the glory of God! Run through the bag!

Source: Leadership Lessons from My Baseball Dad 2 (of 5) at LifeChurch.tv : swerve

Another Leadership Lessons from Baseball

Below is another post from a blogging pastor with a Dad who coaches baseball.

By "get dirty" I don't want to ever imply worldliness, but those who take a risk often have evidence of the effort. I once heard a phrase, "Chicks dig scars." I don't want to demean women by calling them "chicks" but if you can get past that you will see the point that effort and risk are admirable!! 

Get Dirty

Dad always told us never to come home from a baseball game with clean pants. If your pants were clean, that meant…

• You never dove trying to stop a hot grounder.
• You never slid headfirst to beat a tag.
• You never collided with the catcher trying to knock the ball out as you hit home.

Dad always said, “Get dirty.”

Sometimes in the Christian world, people come to Christ hoping to ease the pain, or to escape hard times. In the church world, some try to avoid the pain.

If Dad was leading a church, I think he’d say…

• Go mix with people who are different.
• Go let your heart break with the poor.
• Go take a stand for something that you know is right but will get you criticized.
• Go hug someone who lives on the street. Listen to them.
• Take a risk on someone who has hurt you before.
• Reach out to someone who hates you.

I don’t think a sanitized Christianity is a real Christianity.

How is God leading you to get dirty?

Source: Leadership Lessons from My Baseball Dad 4 (of 5) at LifeChurch.tv : swerve

Leadership Lessons from Baseball

A Pastor blogger that I follow makes some connections between baseball and church leadership. Below are a few quotes from his blog and a link to the full article. 

My dad always taught us to “get in front of the ball” on defense. If we could get our bodies in front of a grounder, even if it popped up, we could use our body to knock it down and still have a chance at the runner.

Even if you take it in the chin, knock the ball down. Take it for the team.

Occasionally a pitcher would throw a wild pitch. As a batter, you could guarantee a place “on base” by letting the pitch hit you.

With a runner on first, the object was always to move the runner to second, into scoring position. That means dropping a bunt to sacrifice yourself to move the runner forward.

Occasionally in ministry, you have the honor of “taking it for the team.” How will that play out for you? I’m not sure. Here are some examples I’ve seen:

• You might be the volunteer no one recognizes or appreciates, but you do it all for the glory of God.
• You might endure public ridicule for your stance for the Gospel.
• You might pray, and pray, and pray, and pray. Even though no one knows, God knows.

Whatever your silent sacrifice, take joy when you get to “take it for God’s team.”

Source: Leadership Lessons from My Baseball Dad 3 (of 5) at LifeChurch.tv : swerve

The Childcare Checklist

 One of the first questions I am frequently asked when I invite a person to a small group is "How do you handle childcare?" The link below provides an excellent guide that your group can use to draw conclusions about the best option for your group.

Every church's small-group ministry is different. So is every small group. That's why we all need to think through the choices that will work best in our individual situations. If you plan ahead, the right childcare option can open up great opportunities for your small group instead of becoming a burden.

Source: The Childcare Checklist | Building Small Groups

Puddle, Swamp or Well?

I received the following in an email this week.

When you’re thinking about developing a new product or ministry, it’s essential that you find out two things: 1) How widespread is the public’s interest in it? 2) How deep is that interest? If interest is not widespread and not very deep, you’re looking at a puddle. Never invest time or money in a puddle. If interest is widespread but not very deep, you’re looking at a swamp. Be careful of swamps. They look like oceans at first because everyone is interested. Many have gone broke when what looked like a swamp turned out to be an ocean. If interest is wide and deep, you’re looking at an ocean. But you’re going to need a platform on which to navigate your ocean. If you don’t have a platform, you’ll drown. And you’re going to need a plan or you’ll drift. If public interest is narrow but deep, you’ve got a well. Don’t underestimate it. You can draw a lot of water from a well.
Monday Morning Memo 7/9/07

As I reflect there have been many times that I got muddled in a "swamp." I listened to a few voices that clamored for a particular program, then after I launched it I found that they weren't very committed to making it happen, so it got bogged down and failed.
It is like when I go to the Dentist and am reminded to floss. Generally, it sounds like a good idea and I don't have any strong objections to it, but I am not committed to it enough to make it happen on a regular basis.
Ministry leaders can find themselves stuck in the swamp if we try to carry out good ideas that are not backed by depth of commitment.

Facilitating Lively Discussions

As a small-group leader, how you respond to group members' inquiries is important to the life of any discussion. What you say and do when they pose a question either enhances or stifles further group interaction.

Check out the link below for some very practical advice in make others comfortable to share their thoughts.

Link to Facilitating Lively Discussions | Building Small Groups

4 Doors of Change

I just found this article that is a great reminder. Here are the bullet points and a link to the full article.

• The key to a change of mind is information.
• The key to a change of attitude is relationship.
• The key to a change of lifestyle is experiences.
• The key to a change of culture is commitment.

I don't know how many times I've failed at changing attitudes and lifestyles because I tried to open those doors with information. 

Link to 4 Doors of Change - BuildingChurchLeaders.com

The Cost of Christian Education

 I send a "Weekly Encourager" to all our Sunday School teachers and Small Group leaders. Some Christian Educators view these as competing roles. I think they are complimentary and both are only part of the Christian Education process. Read below for some thoughts about the best way to educate believers. At the bottom of this post is a link to the whole article.

The thought of watching my youngest pick up her high school diploma tomorrow has started me pondering education—in our nation and in the church.

I've been concerned about both, and I'm hardly alone. Teachers, students, parents, and administrators all can wax eloquent about the problems of public education. And anyone who has taught Sunday school knows that the joy of being with children during that hour is accompanied by concern about what exactly is being accomplished. In many churches, Sunday school feels like baby-sitting with a lesson attached.

Sensing a problem, we've created other venues to educate children—VBS, AWANAs, and so forth. Mostly, the church tells parents (rightly!) it is their "teaching" that ultimately matters the most. Yikes! This sends a bolt of fear through every parent's heart. I have a seminary degree, and I can tell you that I was often clueless about how exactly to teach my children about the faith.

Source: The Cost of Christian Education | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

I recently read a book that asks “Do you preach because you love Jesus or do you preach because you love preaching?” OUCH!!
I must honestly admit that over the years my purpose has shifted back and forth between a love for our Savior and a love for what He has called me to do. Any time you deal with people there will be encouragements and discouragements, times when you will love what you do and times when you question if you should keep doing it.
We are approaching the end of the Christian Education year and you are most likely fatigued and asking yourself if you should continue. I have a few suggestions.
1. Ask yourself “What has God done in my life through my role this past year?”
2. Ask yourself “Has God ever failed me in my role this year?”
3. Thank God for the opportunities He has given you to rely on Him for strength, ideas, wisdom, patience, etc.
I think Sean’s illustration yesterday of losing focus and ending up in the river (if you didn’t hear the story, check out the audio file on the church website) is applicable to all of us. As the educational year closes, now is an opportunity to regain perspective and focus. I love the song “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.” If you are unaware of the song, the chorus says “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
I have spent the last couple of days focusing upon God for who He is (not just what He does) and have been refreshed and energized in some amazing ways. I wish for you the same.

They Smell like Sheep

 A Couple of years ago I got the book "They Smell like Sheep" which sounds like a gripe book about congregations. But the general theme of the book is that when shepherds spend time with their sheep, then they begin to smell like sheep. The application for Small Group leaders is that when we spend time with the people in our groups then their problems (and successes) will become ours also. The link below highlights several ways that individuals can shepherd the group you have been called to lead.

Link to Learn to Shepherd Your Small Group | Building Small Groups

Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend.

In the last 24 hours I have learned that a personal friend (who is a police officer) shot somebody and in our staff meeting we discussed several situations where confrontation is necessary. What do these two have to do with each other? They are both loving and necessary, but neither are easy.
Loving – both of these actions required intentional, deliberate action without malice in the heart of the intervening person. Both the confrontations discussed and the police shooting are necessary for the benefit of others and neither permanently incapacitated the wounded party.
Necessary – If the behaviors of the criminal and the people to be confronted are allowed to continue, it would put the community’s good in jeopardy and the offending party could find themselves confronted by somebody else who does not have the skill or self-control to remedy the solution incrementally.
Easy – nobody wants to be the bad guy! Most soldiers and police officers dream of a career where they never have to discharge their weapon at another person. Most Christians yearn for an environment where confrontation is not necessary. We don’t want strife; we don’t want conflict; we want everybody to like us.
Proverbs 27:6 says “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” It takes a true friend who is willing to speak the truth in love! As a teacher or small group leader, that is my encouragement for you today – be that kind of friend.

Take a Sunday Off from Church to Reach Out

 I read the following story describing an event in what is currently the largest Evangelical Free Church. My first reaction was "Wow, that is great! I'm sure the community will see the church in a new light." But my second reaction was "Why does it have to be either/or? Why do they have to cancel worship in order to serve their neighbors?"

The seats at North Coast Church in Vista will be empty the weekend of April 29, but members won't exactly have the day off. The church, which attracts about 6,500 people on weekends, is planning the largest community-service event in its history, with participants painting, landscaping, washing and rolling up their sleeves for various jobs at 54 sites throughout North County on April 28 and 29...

In all, congregants will tackle 92 major projects, including painting and landscaping Washington Middle School in Vista and Claire Burgener Academy in Oceanside, with up to 200 people working at each site

What do you think? Is this a good idea because people need the example and motivation of one big event or is it detracting from teaching and worship (I know service can be a form of worship) that normally occurs during this time block.

What about a small group or S.S. class? would this be a good use of class time or should the class look to study AND serve together?

Source: MondayMorningInsight.com > Thousands at Megachurch Take a Sunday Off from Church to Reach Out to Their Community…

A Scout is trustworthy....

 I have been reading lately about the issue of TRUST in church leadership. Over 25 years ago I was in the Boy Scouts and one of our requirements was to memorize the 12 points of the Scout Law and be able to explain each one. The list started with "A Scout is trustworthy." I assumed it went without saying that a church leader is trustworthy (1 Tim 3:2 & Titus 1:6), but I am learning that trust is not a safe assumption. These are the examples have been rolling around in my mind of how prevalent broken promises have become in our society.

• Much of the growth in the modern "house church" movement can be traced to broken trust between church members and church leaders.
• A megachurch pastor whom I have known over 25 years (before he was a local church pastor) has been on the front page of the Kansas City Star because his financial integrity has come under fire.
• I read today that only 67% of church staff trust their Senior leadership (see reference at the end of this post).
• on Easter Sunday Pastor Sean's sermon introduction reminded us of many broken promises
• Easter afternoon I took my family to see Disney's new movie "Meet the Robinsons." I asked the kids what difference they saw from the movie and that morning's sermon. They each noticed that the character in the movie made promises that he did not intend to keep.

Do the people who attend your small group or class know that they can trust you? What have you done to earn that trust?

Link to MondayMorningInsight.com > Do You Trust The People You Work With at Church?

The Morning I Heard God's Voice

The following article was posted by John Piper on the Christianity Today website. It is a little longer than most blog posts but WORTH EVERY WORD!! Post your comments at the end. 

Let me tell you about a most wonderful experience I had early Monday morning, March 19, 2007, a little after 6 a.m. God actually spoke to me. There is no doubt that it was God. I heard the words in my head just as clearly as when a memory of a conversation passes across your consciousness. The words were in English, but they had about them an absolutely self-authenticating ring of truth. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God still speaks today.

I couldn't sleep for some reason. I was at Shalom House in northern Minnesota on a staff couples' retreat. It was about 5:30 in the morning. I lay there wondering if I should get up or wait until I got sleepy again. In his mercy, God moved me out of bed. It was mostly dark, but I managed to find my clothing, got dressed, grabbed my briefcase, and slipped out of the room without waking up my wife, Noël. In the main room below, it was totally quiet. No one else seemed to be up. So I sat down on a couch in the corner to pray.

As I prayed and mused, suddenly it happened. God said, "Come and see what I have done." There was not the slightest doubt in my mind that these were the very words of God. At this very place in the 21st century, God was speaking to me with absolute authority and self-evidencing reality. I paused to let this sink in. There was a sweetness about it. Time seemed to matter little. God was near. He had me in his sights. He had something to say to me. When God draws near, hurry ceases. Time slows down.

I wondered what he meant by "come and see." Would he take me somewhere, like he did Paul into heaven to see what can't be spoken? Did "see" mean that I would have a vision of some great deed of God that no one has seen? I am not sure how much time elapsed between God's initial word, "Come and see what I have done," and his next words. It doesn't matter. I was being enveloped in the love of his personal communication. The God of the universe was speaking to me.

Then he said, as clearly as any words have ever come into my mind, "I am awesome in my deeds toward the children of man." My heart leaped up, "Yes, Lord! You are awesome in your deeds. Yes, to all men whether they see it or not. Yes! Now what will you show me?"

The words came again. Just as clear as before, but increasingly specific: "I turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There they rejoiced in me—who rules by my might forever." Suddenly I realized God was taking me back several thousand years to the time when he dried up the Red Sea and the Jordan River. I was being transported by his Word back into history to those great deeds. This is what he meant by "come and see." God himself was narrating the mighty works of God. He was doing it for me. He was doing it with words that resounded in my own mind.

A wonderful reverence settled over me. A palpable peace came down. This was a holy moment and a holy corner of the world in northern Minnesota. God Almighty had come down and was giving me the stillness and the openness and the willingness to hear his very voice. As I marveled at his power to dry the sea and the river, he spoke again. "I keep watch over the nations—let not the rebellious exalt themselves."

This was breathtaking. It was very serious. It was almost a rebuke. At least a warning. He may as well have taken me by the collar of my shirt, lifted me off the ground with one hand, and said, with an incomparable mixture of fierceness and love, "Never, never, never exalt yourself. Never rebel against me."

I sat staring at nothing. My mind was full of the global glory of God. "I keep watch over the nations." He had said this to me. It was not just that he had said it. Yes, that is glorious. But he had said this to me. I heard the words as clearly as if at this moment I recalled that my wife said, "Come down for supper whenever you are ready." I know those are the words of my wife. And I know these are the words of God.

God Is Still Speaking

Marvel at this. Stand in awe of this. The God who keeps watch over the nations, like some people keep watch over cattle or stock markets or construction sites—this God still speaks in the 21st century. What effect did this have on me? It filled me with a fresh sense of God's reality. It assured me more deeply that he acts in history and in our time. It strengthened my faith that he cares about me and will use his global power to watch over me. Why else would he come and tell me these things?

It has increased my love for the Bible as God's very Word, because it was through the Bible that I heard these divine words, and through the Bible I have experiences like this almost every day. The very God of the universe speaks on every page into my mind—and your mind. We hear his very words. God himself has multiplied his wondrous deeds and thoughts toward us; none can compare with him! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told (Ps. 40:5).

And best of all, they are available to all. If you would like to hear the very same words I heard on the couch in northern Minnesota, read Psalm 66:5-7. That is where I heard them. O how precious is the Bible. It is the very Word of God. In it God speaks in the 21st century. This is the very voice of God. By this voice, he speaks with absolute truth and personal force. By this voice, he reveals his all-surpassing beauty. By this voice, he reveals the deepest secrets of our hearts. No voice anywhere, anytime can reach as deep or lift as high or carry as far as the voice of God that we hear in the Bible.

It is a great wonder that God still speaks today through the Bible with greater force and greater glory and greater assurance and greater sweetness and greater hope and greater guidance and greater transforming power and greater Christ-exalting truth than can be heard through any voice in any human soul on the planet from outside the Bible.

This is why I found the Christianity Today article "My Conversation with God" so sad. Written by an anonymous professor at a "well-known Christian university," it tells of his experience of hearing God. What God said was that he must give all his royalties from a new book toward the tuition of a needy student. What makes me sad about the article is not that it isn't true or didn't happen. What's sad is that it really does give the impression that extra-biblical communication with God is surpassingly wonderful and faith-deepening. All the while, the supremely glorious communication of the living God that personally and powerfully and transformingly explodes in the receptive heart through the Bible everyday is passed over in silence.

I am sure this professor of theology did not mean it this way, but what he actually said was, "For years I've taught that God still speaks, but I couldn't testify to it personally. I can only do so now anonymously, for reasons I hope will be clear" (emphasis added). Surely he does not mean what he seems to imply—that only when you hear an extra-biblical voice like, "The money is not yours," can you testify personally that God still speaks. Surely he does not mean to belittle the voice of God in the Bible that speaks this very day with power and truth and wisdom and glory and joy and hope and wonder and helpfulness ten thousand times more decisively than anything we can hear outside the Bible.

I grieve at what is being communicated here. The great need of our time is for people to experience the living reality of God by hearing his Word personally and transformingly in Scripture. Something is incredibly wrong when the words we hear outside Scripture are more powerful and more affecting to us than the inspired Word of God. Let us cry with the psalmist, "Incline my heart to your word" (Ps. 119:36). "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" (Ps. 119:18). Grant that the eyes of our hearts would be enlightened to know our hope and our inheritance and the love of Christ that passes knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 1:18; 3:19). O God, don't let us be so deaf to your Word and so unaffected with its ineffable, evidential excellency that we celebrate lesser things as more thrilling.

Source: The Morning I Heard God's Voice | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Running on Fumes «

Ministry is not a sprint, it is a marathon. I have heard some well-meaning Christians say "I would rather wear out than rust out," but both of those options take you out of the game! 

Rick Warren compiled the following reasons people run out of gas in their cars. I think there are many parallels to those who do ministry "in the flesh" rather than being empowered "by the Spirit."

What do you think about this list? Which is your most likely cause for "running out of gas" spiritually?

See if you notice any parallels to being physically ..emotionally.. spiritually running on empty!

1. Unprepared: Not starting out with a full tank!
2. Leaks: Having an unknown leak that is quietly draining you!
3. Availability: Can’t find a filling station!
4. Finances: Can’t afford gas - so you keep procrastinating
5. Presumption: Assuming you have what it takes to keep going, Lying to self. Wishful
6. Inattention: Being distracted & not watching your gauges or don’t believe them(broken)
7. Hurry: Driving at high speed which causes you to run out faster
8. Pressure: rapid acceleration , putting the pedal to the metal
9. Ego: Trying to drive to far and not knowing the limits of your tank
10. Busyness: Being too busy to stop and refuel
11. Lack of Knowledge: When you don’t know how to fill the tank
12. Overload: When you’re carrying too much weight

Source: 12 Reasons YOU CAN run out of gas «

Veggie Tales on Leadership

I read the following in a devotional today. I thought you might be inspired by it. At a minimum it might inspire you to watch the new Veggie Tales video. 

Read: Ephesians 3:7-12

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. - Ephesians 3:7

TODAY IN THE WORD
In a recent Veggie Tales production, “Lord of the Beans,” the main character, Junior Asparagus, was given a magic bean and sent on a perilous journey of discovery. Junior had to sort out among competing possibilities what the bean could do and what he should do with it. In the end, he learned that gifts are given so that we can employ them to help others. He then used the magic bean to provide for the needs of a desperate community.

Paul used the gifts of leadership and the gospel to reach out to the world with God's grace. How did he become a leader? Did the early church hire a consultant to headhunt and recruit him? Hardly. He became a leader only by God's grace and through God's power. In a dramatic confrontation on the road to Damascus, Christ rescued His chosen apostle—as He rescues us today—from being God's enemy. When Paul called himself “less than the least” (v. 8), it's not a crisis of confidence or a wallowing in self-pity, but an accurate assessment of who receives the credit and glory for Paul's life.

Paul defined “leadership” simply: to be a leader means to be “a servant of the gospel” (v. 7). Leaders obey their callings, in his case, to preach to the Gentiles. The overall calling of the church is to bear witness to God's plan for history, the mystery now revealed in Christ (v. 9).

Paul also clearly identified the purposes or goals of leadership. The point was not his personal reputation or even the number and size of churches planted (though God had given him a passion for unreached places). Instead, it was ultimately all about the good news of Jesus Christ, the redemption He bought with His blood, and the growth of His kingdom (vv. 10-11). All leadership roads, or at least all the holy and worthwhile ones, lead to and from these central truths.

Source: MBI - Today in the Word

How do you spell M-E-N-T-O-R?

 Found this following article that I thought was an interesting acronym for what you do as a small group leader or teacher.

A friend who was in charge of our men's ministry once said, "Some of these guys really don't want me coaching them; they don't want my help!"

"That's all right," I said, "If all these guys are living spiritually healthy lives, you can take it easy."

"But some aren't thriving spiritually," he said. "They need encouragement."

A coach's primary goal is to help leaders become fully mature in Christ. By mentoring, we participate in the process of presenting every man and woman complete in Christ. This happens by helping them cultivate their spiritual health—even when it's an uphill battle.

The acronym MENTOR provides steps to help you guide your small group leaders to spiritual maturity.

Motivate them to find a spiritual partner.

Encourage them to review the health assessment regularly.

Never forsake gathering together.

Tell them what you sense God wants them to hear.

One-on-ones are vital.

Release them to multiply their lives

Mentoring is essential to multiplication. It's not just about studying the Bible and spiritual formation--it requires that you dream a future for your students.

 

Source: Small Groups - Shaping Shepherds and Sheep

5 Vital Signs of Healthy Leadership

Found the following website this morning and I thought it might encourage you to do a personal inventory. 

The Apostle Paul was a healthy leader. In his letter to the church at Philippi we discover five vital signs of healthy leadership.

Vital Sign #1: Healthy Leaders Demonstrate Spiritual Vitality
Paul was a healthy leader because he was spiritually vibrant and alive. In Philippians 1:21 Paul stated: “For me, living in Christ and dying is gain.” Paul shared the secret to spiritual vitality: We must move from a self-directed life to a God-directed life. Ministry leadership in the church is not about us. It’s not about buildings, budgets, or baptisms – healthy leadership is all about God’s presence in our lives.

Vital Sign #2: Healthy Leaders Are Motivated by a Compelling Vision
Paul was consumed by a compelling vision. He understood his mission to share the gospel and nothing could stop him. Even being under house arrest couldn’t stop him. In Philippians 1:12 he shared: “How I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel.” He shared the gospel with prison guards.

Vital Sign #3: Healthy Leaders Commit to Ongoing Learning
In Philippians 3:10,12 Paul prayed, “ My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings…Not that I have already reached the goal…but I make every effort.” In this passage Paul stated that he wanted to know Jesus. He knew he has more to learn.

Vital Sign #4: Health Leaders Are Relationally Connected
Paul cherished his relationship with the believers at Philippi. In Philippians 1:3 he said, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you.” As a healthy leader Paul has established a partnership with this church. It was based on their common experience together. There are times when leaders must face loneliness, but leadership does not happen in isolation. Healthy leaders resist the temptation to push or pull. Healthy leaders are connected to those they lead.

Vital Sign # 5: Healthy Leaders Serve with a Sense of Divine Empowerment
In Philippians 4:13,19 Paul declared: “ I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me…And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Paul knew that the epicenter of his leadership was Jesus Christ. Paul knew that only when we are totally dependent on God and empowered by His Spirit are we genuinely sufficient.

Source: LifeWay: Biblical Solutions for Life - 5 Vital Signs of Healthy Leadership

Study Through the Bible Courses

Are you looking for small group lessons that get into the Bible rather than just talk about religious themes? Another advantage of this material is that it doesn't get bogged down--It appears that each theme is only 4 to 9 sessions.

I found the following resource. One benefit is that you buy the download then make as many photocopies as necessary so that each participant doesn't have to buy a book. With enough, notice I could help you with the copier at church to make the copies necessary. 

Check out the link below

Link to Study Through the Bible Courses

I’ve Got a List, Too!

 This week a website compiled the research of other lists of fastest  growing, most innovative and largest churches. This master list supposedly lists America's "top churches." The pastor of the church that topped the list at church relevance posted the following on his blog.

   I think LifeChurch may be on one list because its leaders value the things on the list below.

I didn’t want to be left out. Here is my list of some of the most successful Christians. (I left out their names because God knows who they are.)

• The small group members who bring shut-ins to church each week.
• The single mom with four kids, struggling to make ends meet, who tithes and gives a $5 offering to missions each week.
• The boy at our church who earned enough points to win two bikes, but gave them to a family who couldn’t afford them.
• The rich business guy who gives over half his income away and takes his two sons downtown to serve the poor every week.
• The bi-vocational pastor friend of mine who works a job for fifty hours a week, so he can preach for free on the weekends.
• The eighty-three year old who feels like she can die and go to heaven because her great-grandson just accepted Christ.
• The couple who prays all weekend long while I’m preaching.
• The leaders of the church who decided not to build a bigger building but give the money they raised to start churches.
• My daughters who pray every night for all the missionaries from our church.
• The guy I read about from another country who was beheaded because he wouldn’t deny Christ.

I only hope I can one day make a list like this one!

Source: I’ve Got a List, Too! at LifeChurch.tv : swerve

Do You Speak “Christianese”?

 I found the following illustration challenging. If it sitrs your curiosity, check out the source at the end of the post.

"In order to work right, the church must be relevant. It must communicate God’s truth and hope in the language of the culture in which it’s situated. Unfortunately, many consider cultural relevance a compromise for the church. Though they may be sincerely motivated, they’re wrong. As an incontrovertible example, let me share some words from Jesus Himself on this.

 
Videns autem turbas ascendit in montem et cum sedisset accesserunt ad eum discipuli eius et aperiens os suum doce bat eos dicens beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum beati mites quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram beati qui lugent quoniam ipsi consolabuntur beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt iustitiam quoniam ipsi saturabuntur beati misericordes quia ipsi misericordiam consequently beati mwido cordequoniam ipsi Deum videbunt beati pacific! quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter iustitiam quoniam ipsorum est regnum caelorum beati estis cum maledixerint vobis etpersecuti vos faerint et dixerint omne malum adversum vos mentientes propter me gaudete et exultate quoniam merces vesti-a copiosa est in caelis sic enim persecuti sunt prophetas quifuerunt ante vos

 
Wasn’t that awesome? It defines the foundational message of Christ and explains His life and ministry, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t be surprised if you stopped to read it a couple of times and contemplate its importance to your life. You just read a portion of the greatest sermon ever given by the greatest preacher in history ... the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12). The truths you just read are a part of the foundational hope that Jesus Christ came to give us.

Source: MondayMorningInsight.com > Does Your Church Speak “Christianese”?

What’s the Big Idea?!

    I learned recently of a new book entitled The Big Idea. I haven't read the book so I can't comment on it's quality, but I do think the authors have something to say that could improve your teaching. Often teachers try to say too much so that our students can't recall anything.

     See if you can identify with this segment.

Let’s start with a typical Sunday as a family returns home from church. ‘The question posed to the children is the same every week: “So what did you learn today?” And the response is too often the same: (Silence.) “Ummm ...” (More silence.) “Ummm ...” (Still more silence.) “Ummm..:”

Parents have tried to think of different ways to word the question for their kids, but it always comes out the same. “So what did you learn today?” It’s not the most enticing question, but it’s the question that gets asked millions of times every week during the car ride home from church. And the truth is, if our kids asked us, we might give them the same response.

How is it possible that so many people, young and old, can respond with nothing but silence to such a simple question after spending an entire Sunday morning in church? Is it too little teaching? Is it too little Scripture? Is it too little application of Scripture in the teaching? What’s the problem?

Dr. Haddon Robinson, in his classic book Biblical Preaching, recognizes the simple truth that more is less and challenges teaching pastors to communicate with crystal clarity “a single idea.” He says, “People in the pew complain almost unanimously that the ser¬mons often contain too many ideas.”’ Robinson is right on. And it is good news that people are complaining. Their complaints about too many ideas tell us that people in the pew want clarity, direction, and guidance in how to live out the mission of Jesus Christ. We can no longer afford to waste another Sunday allowing people to leave confused about what to do next. So let the change begin! But this change can’t be relegated only to the preaching. It also must happen in the teaching of children, students, adults, and families and in the overall experience of church life. How? The Big Idea.

Source: MondayMorningInsight.com > Hey… What’s the Big Idea?!

Trend Watching

 Here are some trends that sociologists are recognizing. Do you think any of these might affect the attitudes of your students?

Here are five lifestyle angles that Trend Watching says we should keep an eye on in ’07. I’ve added possible ministry correlations to help pastors and church leaders discuss what they can do in their ministry context to seize the day.

1) Transient Lifestyles—People have shorter satisfaction spans, which means they’re more interested in experiencing something new. A simple application of this in the church realm might be that a two- to four-month series on the book of Job will need to be replaced with a three- to four-week miniseries. Whatever it is you’re doing, look for more—and shorter—ways to do it. Keep creating new themes and events.

2) Participative Lifestyles—Consumers, especially younger consumers, want creative experiences. A ministry application would be to reduce the amount of sit-around, passive Bible studies, and instead engage participants by using their talents; for example through doing a service project or creating multi-sensory learning lessons. (See the cover story, “Make It Stick,” in Nov/Dec Rev! Magazine, at http://www.rev.org.)

3) Connecting Lifestyles—“In a post-material world, all that’s left to covet is…other people,” says Trend Watching. So don’t just hope people get together to socialize. Churches need to take concerted efforts to help make friendship matches, akin to eHarmony. (I spoke to eHarmony staff members recently who said that this service resulted in approximately 1 percent of all marriages in the U.S. in 2006.)

4) Eco-Lifestyles—Environmental friendliness is now in vogue with influencers. So what is your church doing to promote recycling, carpooling, or cleaning up dumps around your community? Does the pastor drive a Prius or a gas-guzzling SUV?

5) Add Your Own Status Lifestyle—Trend Watching suggests that effective marketers look beyond traditional status lifestyles and help develop unique opportunities for people to feel esteemed and engaged.

Source: MondayMorningInsight.com > Trend Watching:  A Change of Status

“I Want My Staff to Make Mistakes Every Week”

"I want my staff members taking risks and making mistakes. That means they're being innovative and it means they're not afraid to try. Now, I don't want them making the same mistake every week – that means they're not learning, and that is bad. But I tell them, 'Make a new mistake every week.' I tell them, 'Show the innovation and creativity to do something really stupid that you've never done before.'" - Rick Warren

There is a balance between perfection and recklessness. As with most things, the proper position is found somewhere in the tension of the middle.

Does the fear of failure paralyze you from risking big things for God? Does "trial-and-error" prevent you from seeing significant transformation in the life of your students or those you lead?

Link to MondayMorningInsight.com > Rick Warren:  “I Want My Staff to Make Mistakes Every Week”

Worshipping God or Worshipping an Idol?

 I just read that two worship leaders have made it through the first round of auditions and are going to Hollywood in the current season of American Idol. I don't know these men personally so I can't comment on their motives, but the idea of a WORSHIP leader pursuing the option of becoming an IDOL just seems wrong. I am deeply convinced that worship is more than music - it is a matter of mind, body and spirit submitting to the glory of God alone.

Is it possible for someone whose life calling is to lead people into worshipping God to pursue personal fame and fortune?

We've come a long way from the mindset that was prevalent in generations past of "it's good enough for Christian Music." Many of today's Christian artists are truly masters of their craft which is a good thing. But being a great musician does not qualify a person to lead WORSHIP.

I readily admit that God blesses some individuals with wealth and public prestige that can be used for good (i.e. the SuperBowl XLI coaches). But if I am going to submit myself to another persons leadership in the area of worship, I am looking for a person whose life passion is the glory of God, not personal fame.

What do you think? Am I being too critical?

Link to MondayMorningInsight.com > Two Worship Leaders “Are Goin’ to Hollywood, Baby” on American Idol

The Gift of Too Much

I have heard it said that if you want something done, assign it to somebody who is already busy. You are the type of people who fall prey to this type of thinking. Which may lead you to the conclusion that you have more than you can bear.

I recently watched a video of a preacher who spoke about the gift of too much. If you want to watch it yourself, click here. (This link is to his whole series. The message I watched is #3)

If you prefer a summary (becasue you are too busy to watch another 30 minute sermon) here are the high points.

1. The Gift of too much forces us to put something down. We must learn to prioritize and learn to say "or" rather than "and" when considering how to spend your day.
2. The Gift of too much forces us to hand something off. We must learn to live as the Body of Christ and realize that God has equipped others to cooperate with us in accomplishing His tasks.
3. The Gift of too much forces us to give something up. We must learn to cast our cares upon God!

Faith and Works

Most Americans know that a football game was played last Sunday. The last 7 days I have been watching 2 interesting perspectives on the game.

1. Both coaches have unashamedly declared their personal faith and the influence that faith has had upon their character and behavior. You can check this out for yourself at www.beyondtheultimate.org.

2. Less than a week before the game the NFL made it clear that churches would be in violation of copyright laws if they used the name "Super Bowl," charged admission, or viewed a screen larger than 55 inches. I believe this ruling will be challenged, but until it is clarified I believe that we should obey it. The day after the game Christianity Today did a poll to determine how churches responded to the NFL rules. The vast majority of the 566 respondants claim that their church did not have a large event for the game, but the following statistics startled me.

• 2% said they canceled their "Super Bowl" party because of the NFL rules
• 5% said they changed their plans to accomodate the NFL rules
• 18% said they ignored the NFL rules.

Put these two observations together and this is the message I get. The coaches believe that God honors their efforts when they live with integrity, nearly one in five churches believe they can ignore the law and still experience God's blessing. This is not the first time the church has run afoul of copyright laws. In many churches the photocopier is used for more illegal activity than a private Still during prohibition

How about your teaching? Do you strive to teach with integrity and trust the Lord to bless it or do you act as if the end justifies the means?

By the way, our youth group tweaked its plans so that they fully complied with the NFL rules and SLEFC purchases each year copyright licenses that allow you to photocopy music lyrics for group singing and use select video clips for teaching. There is also a section of the copyright laws that allows for duplication in certain "educational" settings.

What make a good leader?

You don't have to have all the answers or be the most dynamic speaker to be effective as a Small Group leader or teacher. An interview I recently read said that competency, concern and character are the essential requirements of a leader.

Leaders make decisions and take action; and if their leadership demonstrates competency, genuine concern for others, and admirable character, people will say, "I like what that person is doing. I'm going to follow him."

Source: Three Traits of a Leader - BuildingChurchLeaders.com

Leading in the Margins

I found this blog this morning with some wise advice for leaders. I have experienced similar dynamics. When people ask me "How is your church doing?" I have often responded, "It depends on who you ask." Often times a person's perception is shaped by whom they are listening to rather than factual analysis.
The quote below is addressed to pastors, but I believe it applies to anybody who leads a group of people.

I do not pastor or lead to the margins. About 85% of the people who attend our church would identify 3-5 basic reasons they attend. These are our strengths and we build upon them. On each side we have people who attend in the margins. What I mean is this. About 5% of people who attend our church are happy with whatever we do. Short of having a shirts and skins Sunday these people attend everything and love it. On the other side is a group of about 10% that don’t like anything we do. We could have 1000 people come to know Jesus on a Sunday and they are going to complain. Volume, appearance, lighting, temperature, length of sermon, parking you name it. If you pastor or have pastored a church, right now you can see the faces of these people in the margins. I simply do not believe the good press or the bad press from the margins. I know I am not as good as the people who praise me say I am and I am not as bad as the people who criticize me say I am.
I focus about 85% on the middle 85%. To pastor in the margins is to build your church focusing on your weaknesses and in doing so lessen your strengths or even worse to believe the good press and build a church on an ego. I am not saying marginalize people or treat people poorly who do not “go along to get along.” I am simply saying there comes a time when I must focus on what I am supposed to do.

Source: MMI Weblog

The Group that Serves Together Grows Together

Several of our ministry teams (worship team, Deacons, et al.) have begun to view themselves as a type of small group. Here are 5 suggestions for adding a "small group" dimension to your task group!

1. Encourage groups to meet before or after their serving time. No matter how frequent the serving opportunity (whether once per week or once per quarter), add a community dimension to each meeting.
2. Monitor task-group curriculum selection and usage. To begin with, use simple, open-ended questions, such as those found in Nav-Press's 201 Questions. Evolve to using an uncomplicated small-group curriculum. For instance, group members could respond to discussion questions after reading a short passage from a Serendipity Bible or Life Application Bible.
3. Develop a sense of teammates versus soulmates. People who join task groups generally have a primary commitment to the task and a secondary commitment to the people. Creating a teammate atmosphere helps everyone recognize that this group is different from the two-hour women's or couples' Bible study. Task-group members should accept and enjoy the fact that they have gathered in order to do something.
4. Make the task a means to a greater end. Ultimately, changed lives is our goal. Over 50 percent of those serving in a task group will never join a traditional fellowship group. Yet a task group is an excellent place to connect unconnected people. For this reason, encourage groups to form around any appropriate impassioned cause for which a qualified leader will emerge.
5. Provide ongoing leadership development. Leaders of task groups need regular support, training, troubleshooting help, and encouragement in order to lead over the long haul. Also, leaving an "open chair" (for the potential invited newcomer) in task group meetings will serve as the principle means of gathering the next generation of volunteers and leaders.

original source