I have a friends whose email tagline is "because efficacy matters." He works in an industry where there are plenty of Charlatans who are all trying to profit from their "snake oil." My friend's employer is committed to be known by selling products that actually produce the desired results.
Efficacy is "the capacity to produce an effect." There are many different ideas that clamor for our attention, but do we strategically focus on that which has the greatest capacity to produce the effect that we desire? Another way to put this is "activity does not equal effectiveness."
Life coaches ask people that they are mentoring to clearly define their life purpose, then they honestly look at their calendar and/or checkbook register to ask if they are doing the things that contribute toward their stated purpose.
Often when we are leading people, we get distracted from what is efficacious and settle for what is comfortable or what will make people like us. For example, great snacks and entertaining media may lead people to want to attend our class or group, but is that the effect we desire? Sometimes elements that CONTRIBUTE toward our desired effect get mistaken for the REASON we exist.
For the sake of discussion allow me to toss out a proposition - We exist to make MORE and BETTER followers of Jesus Christ. I have become convinced that there are some things that are generally efficacious toward that goal - truth, community (relationship), spiritual empowerment, and experience/competence.
I have found (and personally experienced) that people like to excuse a lack of results by saying "God doesn't call us to fruitfulness, He calls us to faithfulness." The problem is that they are often not faithful to be doing the things that are efficacious. Just showing up is not the same as faithfulness. Faithfulness is being and doing what God wants me to be and do at all times.
What do you think?
1. What have you found is efficacious toward making Christ-followers?
2. What have you found in your small group/class that distracts (even though it may be a good thing) from that goal?
I don't remember the exact quote - but it is something to the effect that if you do not have a target you are aiming at, chances are you will hit it all the time.
ReplyDeleteI think as small group leaders it is vitally important that we know what our goal is.
Is it just to get people to come to bible study?
Is it to make a place where everyone can feel comfortable and welcome and safe? But not challenged?
Personally, I think our goal is to partner with Christ to influence those in our small group on the road of becoming better and stronger and more effective witnesses and disciples.
Seeing that as my goal shapes what studies we take on and which ones we don't.
Seeing that as my goal keeps me thinking about how I can better pray for and encourage those in our small group.
Seeing that as my goal shapes the projects we take on and the ministry we choose to be part of as a group.
Without a goal, we are aiming at nothing and we will hit it every time.
Without Christ's goal - we will not only be unfruitful, we will be unfaithful as well.
Pastor Dave
ReplyDeleteYou named off some great things that will help us make better and more disciples.
truth, community, spiritual empowerment and experience/competence
Could you elaborate on those?
When you say "truth" - do you mean studying the word together?
When you say "community" do you mean just a bunch of christians gathering in the same place (forming a community) or do you mean a group of Christians that hold one another accountable and where there is vunerabilty and transparency happening and struggles and life issues are being shared? rather than just pretending that life is grand?
When you say "experience/competence" what does that look like?