Does it really matter?

This advent we are taking special effort to de-clutter Christmas, to surgically remove anything that detracts from a godly celebration of the incarnation. The last 2 weeks in our worship services we have discovered that “bigger is not better” and “frenzy is not beneficial.” We are finding that without conscious review, our practices morph into something unintended.

As I thought of the things that get added to our celebrations and practices I thought of the marine creatures known as Barnacles. Wikipedia describes them this way “Barnacles are encrusters, attaching themselves permanently to a hard substrate” and goes on to say there are over 1220 species of barnacles.

One of the “barnacles” that gets attached to the incarnation is the debate as to the date of the birth of Christ—was it 4 B.C.? was it 2 B.C.? was it truly year 0 as the basis of the Julian calendar? If it happened in Winter what were shepherds doing in the fields? What was the “star” that was observed by the Magi and when did it appear? (According to this website, Jesus may have been born on June 17.)

I don’t think this really matters and it is just a distraction from the truth of the incarnation. IMHO, (that’s text language for in my honest opinion) the Bible never instructs us to remember or celebrate the birth of Christ. His Death, Resurrection and 2nd Coming are to be remembered in Baptism and Communion. His Resurrection is to be celebrated on the first day of each week. But his birth was never an event that was ceremoniously observed until hundreds of years later.

Back to my original thought…What are the “barnacles” that get added to your class or small group. Some elements start with very good intention (e.g. snacks/beverages help people to relax and become more open) but then become a distraction from the main purpose (i.e. becoming better followers of Jesus). Sharing of prayer requests can turn into a game of “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.” Even the study of God’s Word can become an opportunity to showcase the knowledge or the library of the leader.

Over 20 years ago I heard a quote attributed to a former President of Moody Bible Institute, George Sweeting, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

As we celebrate Advent and lead our groups, are you keeping your eye on the main thing?

Redefining Success

I just read a blog post from a church leader in Oklahoma that I follow. Although he leads a LARGE ministry, he does not define success in numbers. He asks 3 questions that could be asked of Bible Study leaders, Small Group leaders and Sunday School teachers.

1. Is your group successful if you are failing morally in your personal life?
2. Is your group successful if your family is being neglected?
3. Is your group successful if your personal passion for Jesus has grown cold?

If your character is intact, your family is nurtured and your love for Jesus is growing, you may be more successful of a teacher/leader than you realize.

Be ENCOURAGED! If you would like to see the original post and/or read comments on it click the link below.

http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/2008/12/08/successful-ministry-1/

Doing what comes unnaturally…or challenging assumptions.

This morning was the first significant snowfall of this winter. As I came in to the office, our secretary mentioned that it would be a perfect day to cuddle up in a blanket next to the window with a good book. While the women of our family agree that this is the type of day best spent “hunkering down” the men had a different idea! We got up earlier than usual, bundled up and chose to serve our neighbors!

(Full disclosure statement: We just bought a new snowblower so the motivation was more because of the testosterone release of men working with a new power tool than it was in the satisfaction of helping others!)

Now back to the story…after finishing our drive and walkway I cleared the driveway entries where the street plows had piled snow for 4 of our neighbors and cleared the front sidewalk for an elderly couple across the street. The point is that we did not do “what comes naturally”

Yesterday I overheard a couple of families talking about seeing each other at their small group meeting that will be held this evening. One of the individuals had assumed that the group would not be meeting because of the holidays.

I think we often assume people are busy so we think we are doing people a favor by cancelling classes or group meetings. In reality, we may be perpetuating the problem where the “head cheerleader never has a date to prom because everybody assumes she’s already been asked.”

Naturally, a cold day when it gets dark early makes us want to seclude ourselves in our comfortable homes and we assume others may want to retreat to their own homes also. But the holidays and the cold weather provide great opportunities to encourage one another personally, with a phone call, with a personal note or email to the individual members of your group/class.

SAD (seasonal affective disorder) caused by the lack of sunlight and Vitamin D is a very real concern here in the upper Midwest. Some respond with supplements or tanning beds. I wonder if Hebrews 10:25 might be relevant (“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching”). I’m not talking about Sunday morning attendance, I’m suggesting we take steps to encourage one another!