Bring Yourself to the Presentation

I found a great post that could refine your approach to teaching. One of the admonitions in Scripture is to "speak the truth in love." Love is NEVER abstract or theoretical--It is always personal. When we attempt to communicate the Truth of God's Word without allowing it to impact us personally and sharing how it has impacted us, we just may be guilty of speaking the truth without love.

What do you think about these thoughts from another Christian communicator and leader? His original thoughts were focused on "preaching" but I have changed them to "teaching." I especially like his reference to the "authentic-meter."

Every year, I personally mentor a handful of young speakers. Most of the speakers I work with don’t struggle with researching the text, teaching creatively, building meaningful outlines, or pointing people toward the gospel. Most of the communicators I see struggle to bring all of themselves to a message.

When you preach or teach, you must bring you. Without you in, around, and through the message, you will not impact today’s listener.

The younger audience today has a built in authentic-meter. You can teach with passion, humor, clever points, or heart-wrenching stories. But if the scriptures haven’t touched your life, the listener will know it—and ignore your well-crafted message.

People want to know:

• How has the text affected you?
• How have you failed in the area(s) the Scripture addresses?
• What about the text makes you uncomfortable?
• What do you feel about what scripture is saying? (I know our feelings don’t trump scriptural truth, but talking about how we feel about the text can help engage others to listen at a deeper level.)
• How are you becoming different because of your study in God’s word?

Authentic and Transparent Communication at LifeChurch.tv : swerve

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Community

Chuck Swindoll is known to have said that he is hoping for 6 friends who would carry his casket without looking at their watches. I think a person who easily identifies these 6 people is a person who is living in community.

I found the following article that differentiates between having friends and living in community.

I've been thinking a lot about community lately. I'll confess I believe I'm missing a skill set. I don't really know how to form community. Is this a lost art, or is it just me? Sure, I know how to make friends. I have terrific coworkers, whom I consider friends. I have friends at church, I'm friendly with my neighbors, and we get together regularly with other families we consider our friends. Many of our friends are scattered throughout the country, and some of them overseas—but we keep in touch.

But I don't think a network of friends necessarily equals a living, breathing community of people. Come to think of it, most of my friends don't even know each other. I can bounce from one friend to another—or one group to another—without a second thought. Even my church feels like a nice weekly gathering of people I barely know. I am not surrounded by a tightly woven web of people who experience life together.

Perhaps community life has become a lost element of our society, its formation a lost art. Where are the bridge parties, ice cream socials, dinner parties, barn dances, and block parties hosted by people who actually live on the block, rather than sponsored by Pepsi?

I used to think it was weird to see silver serving sets, complete sets of beautiful china, ice buckets, crystal glasses, and other entertainment accessories in the homes of people who had been around for a while. Seemed like a waste—all those beautiful elements saved up for special occasions. Maybe it was a waste, I don't know. I'm not planning to go out a buy a silver set anytime soon. But something about it actually makes sense to me. It suggests that people valued hospitality and community, and saw those special occasions as worthy of something extra.

Community: Past, Present, and Future | Building Small Groups

Selling Ancient Disciplines to Moderns

I have a friend in ministry who challenges leaders to "Make the Big Ask". His understanding is that people are willing to sacrifice if given a compelling vision.

I have heard consultant warn that we often overestimate what we can accomplish in the short-term and underestimate what we can accomplish in the long-term.

In an era where spiritual disciplines like fasting, solitude, scripture memory and Bible Study (not to be confused with a group of people talking about life issues) are rare. We must be wise in the ways we call people to these ancient practices.

The quote below comes from a posting with some specific suggestions on motivating others to practice spiritual behaviors. If the thought below stir your heart, you can read more at the link on the bottom of the page.

Avoid the Dual Dangers
Two dangers confront us in encouraging spiritual disciplines. One is giving people the impression that it's all up to them—they were saved by grace, but now they had better roll up their sleeves and get to work. One woman in our congregation, for example, returned from a teaching seminar and made six life-changing commitments, including one to meditate daily. I rejoiced in her enthusiasm but cautioned her to be easy on herself. Her five children weren't knocking at her knees when she made her commitments. The challenge of stepping into spiritual disciplines must be tempered with realism.

On the other side are those who believe God does everything. They're content to relax, not wishing to disturb grace by their works. Having walked with the Lord for 20 years, they're still giving the Lord only 5 quick minutes before falling off to sleep at night. Such people may need a kick in the pants rather than a pat on the back.

For example, I recently called George, a member of our congregation, to tell him I expected him at the men's prayer group at 6 the following morning. He wasn't home, so I left the message with his wife. I told her that if he wasn't at the breakfast, I would come over and throw him out of bed.

My wife, who heard me, wondered why I'd spoken so insensitively. The reason could be seen the next morning. When George's alarm went off, he struggled to decide whether to get up. However, when his wife remembered my call and passed on the message, he decided to come. During the prayer meeting, George thanked the Lord for the "encouragement" he'd received from a brother "who cared whether I came." As I explained to my wife, some people need toughness and can handle it. George is a coach who knows both how to give and how to receive a challenge.

Growing as a pastoral leader involves discerning whether a person needs a kick or a pat. I've had church members who responded best to a challenge that demanded everything of them. Those who don't have that kind of motivation may need encouragement bit by bit. Paul struck the balance when he urged believers, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling," adding that "God is at work within you both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Selling Ancient Disciplines to Moderns | Building Small Groups

The Ministry Treadmill

I believe this is a common problem for church volunteers and leaders. Does this sound familiar? "I make it a priority to prepare the lesson that I am going to share but I never have quite enough time to do as good of a job as I would like so don't even suggest that I need to spend time contemplating the future."

The quote below probably resonates with your experience.

Have you ever been on the ministry treadmill? Are you so busy with the work of today that you never have the time to plan or dream for the ministry of tomorrow? Determining your vision and future plans takes time. Many pastors and leaders find themselves too busy with the pressing demands of today to take the time to plan for tomorrow. The result is that when tomorrow gets here, you’re still busy doing the day-to-day menial tasks of ministry, and all of a sudden you find that you no longer have a plan or strategy.

I have learned when working on a project I often need to take a few steps back and view my work from a larger perspective.

I don't want reflection and examination to be an additional burden upon you as a leader, but the time spent in contemplation may make you more effective in the tasks at hand.

MondayMorningInsight.com > Thinkholes: The Ministry Treadmill

Choosing the Moment to Lead

I found a great article that highlights a ministry skill that is often missing in young leaders. Young leaders who are driven by vision and passion often forget that others often need time to allow an idea to germinate and blossom before committing their personal resources.

I have found as a teacher that I will often spend weeks mulling over an idea in my head, then when I present it to a group I am surprised at an apparent lack of response immediately.

As I continue to mature as a leader I am learning the value of timing in addition to the quality of ideas.

Great leaders understand the importance of timing, specifically when it comes to making decisions. There are right times to consider issues and right times to make moves. Conversely, even the right issue tackled at the wrong time faces certain defeat.

There is no formula for great timing. It is part instinct, part intuition, part paying attention to surroundings, part prayer life, and all of the above. But it is not guesswork. Leaders who have a good sense of timing seem very wired into their situations while, at the same time, wired into God for a perspective that transcends just what the leader and his or her advisers can see.

Leaders adept at timing know how to read audiences and situations. They have practiced this over the years, testing out their hunches and intuitions. They have learned how to monitor their own internal sensors and when to pay attention to the voices around them and the voice within. Leaders with great timing know how to test the water, sniff the wind, and commit just enough to gauge reaction before committing it all. They risk, but they do not gamble.

Off the Agenda: Choosing the Moment to Lead

Using Parables: How to Teach Like Jesus

I found a good tool teachers can add to their toolbox. Read the quote below and if it prompts some interest, click on the source link for the full article (with some very helpful specifics).

Parables were the storytelling method of choice for our Lord. A parable can be defined as a brief story that can stand alone—like a self-contained module that appeals to the thinking and attitudes of its hearers. There are other ways to tell stories, of course, but I want to focus here on the parable telling (or storytelling) of Jesus. I see them as one and the same, because parables are a particular kind of story.

Using Parables: How to Teach Like Jesus | Building Small Groups

Ten Questions for Ministry Leaders about Relationships

Here is another set of great reflection questions for ministry leaders. ISOLATION is not good...God designed us to live in community!

Are the people closest to me in ministry lifting me higher or dragging me down?

How have I intentionally developed the leaders around me in the past week?

Am I speaking transparently with at least two other close trusted friends on a weekly basis?

Am I submitting myself to the correction and coaching of at least two mentors?

Am I holding a grudge against someone?

Am I speaking well of other ministers?

Am I falling for the temptation of comparing, complaining, criticizing or gossiping?

Are my words and relationships characterized by words of faith or negativity?

Do people enjoy being around me or am I often “down”?

Have a made at least three new ministry friends in the last year?

LifeChurch.tv : swerve

Ten Questions Every Leader Should Ask about His/Her relationship with Christ

I found the following list from a pastor of a mega-church in another state. I think his reflections questions are good for every ministry leader in any size church.

What did I learn in God’s word this week?

Is my burden for prayer growing or diminishing?

Does my heart break for the things that break the heart of God?

Have I grown accustomed to or accepted sin in my life?

Am I doing ministry out of an overflow of God’s work in my heart or out of my own strength?

Has my teaching and ministry deepened, changed, or evolved in a positive way in the last year?

Do I have a sincere peace that I’m living an authentic life of spiritual integrity?

Is my heart growing larger for people and God or is it shrinking?

Am I closer to God today than I was a year ago?

Do others comment that they can clearly see evidence of God’s work in my life?

Ten Questions Every Leader Should Ask at LifeChurch.tv : swerve