The Value of a Covenant

In this story a student who attends a Christian school will not be allowed to graduate because he attended the prom with his girlfriend at her public school.

Ohio Christian school tells student to skip prom

Regardless of your personal opinions about dancing, rock music or suggestive clothing, do you think the school has a right or an obligation to be consistent and hold students to the promises they have made?

When believers claim to commit to one specific behavior (whatever it is) then intentionally break that commitment, what is the obligation of the faith community around them? If the school “looks the other way” on this one, would it set a precedent that would prohibit the school from having any integrity if disciplining another student on another area (cheating?) of the student life code?

My personal opinion: This event did not sneak up on this student. Had he taken any steps to change the covenant (appealing to authority in advance) before unilaterally determining to break it? His own words were that he “expected a short lecture..that would be the end of it.” He made a voluntary commitment to a voluntary group. He should be held to the commitments of that group (using progressive loving discipline/restoration) or be removed.

What about the covenant in your small group? If members commit to “not repeat anything shared in the group” and you find that one member is intentionally violating that trust. Does the group have an obligation? Does it just give a short lecture then ignore it?

What do you think?

Sermon in a Sack

Years ago I had a Childrens’ Sermon as part of our Sunday Evening service. Occasionally I would do “sermon in a sack.” A child was given a bag in which to bring an item for the following week. Then I would have to make an object lesson spontaneously from whatever was in the sack. This forced some quick thinking and creativity. I think the most difficult was a toy of a “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.”

The picture above shows a creative solution to a problem, I would like to hear some of your creative solutions. Click on the “leave a comment” link below and share your ideas.

I am holding a back of bark mulch (the chipped wood that is spread around garden plants) and asking you to come up with a Biblical lesson based upon that product.

Definition of Leadership

Tom Peters on the Definition of Leadership from Tom Peters on Vimeo.

I do not know anything about this guy’s theology, but he does have some good things to say about the nature of leadership.

God is Bigger than the Swine Flu Bug

I learned 2 days ago of nearby churches that cancelled services due to the Swine Flu.

My first thought was “What kind of a god (small “g” god on purpose because the big “G” God is not intimidated by influenza!) do they worship who is no stronger than a flu virus.” Granted, I do not know the leaders of these churches and cannot critique their motives. My reaction is totally dependent upon my perception of what they might be thinking. Perhaps they have resigned themselves to religious activities rather than true worship of the true God.

Even the Centers for Disease Control released a Press Release for Faith-based organizations and the closest they got to suggesting worship services be cancelled is the quote below.

Evaluate your organization’s usual activities and services (including rites and religious practices if applicable) to identify those that may facilitate virus spread from person to person. Set up policies to modify these activities to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza (e.g. guidance for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, and instructions for persons with influenza symptoms to stay home rather than visit in person.)

PandemicFlu.gov

I feel sorry for churches where the worship of and dependence upon Almighty God has been substituted for religious activity that is just business as usual. One church leader was quoted on WISN.com as saying

The thought is, once churches get past this weekend. It will be business as usual.

Years ago the VeggieTales sang “God is bigger than the Boogie man.” Perhaps a new praise chorus needs to be written “God is bigger than the flu virus.”

From Entertainment to Empowerment

Last week I spent some time with a dear friend who leads a nearby College Campus Ministry. Some of our discussion focused on transitions to and from the college years. Here are two of the challenges:

Many youth ministries thrive because of fun and creativity. Often churches design their High School ministries around “winning” or “reaching” teens. But what are they won to? Teens find a place where they are accepted and loved and everything is done to affirm them and draw them in, but they are never challenged to DO anything with their faith. They are recipients of “ministry”.

In most Campus ministries, the staff is driven by a desire to be world changes and they don’t have time to “hold hands” or merely entertain students. When it comes to entertaining, they can’t compete with the options around campus so they call their students to leadership and impact, to being world-changers. All of the students who came from “fun” youth groups don’t have their expectations met in this new high-commitment setting and many drop out all together.

At the end of 4 (or 5 or 6) years these college graduates who were won by and deeply involved as leaders of collegiate ministry transition away from school and find that the adult ministry of most churches doesn’t provide many opportunities to be in front of the large group meeting or in charge of the Bible Study. These 20-somethings feel like their “leadership” isn’t recognized so their expectations aren’t met and they drop out. (until they have kids whom they want to be raised in the church and many come back).

A mature view of the body of Christ moves people to participation in the Body. It’s not about me being ministered to. It’s not about me being seen by others. It’s about being part of community where myself AND those around me are becoming like Christ in our thoughts, motives and behaviors.

One Youth Pastor suggested 5 steps that can be taken to move people from receiving felt-need ministry to being involved, empowered and having an “others” focus. Are any of these part of your small group or class?

5. Cultivate an atmosphere that allows your students to experiment.

4. Give away VITAL aspects of the ministry:

3. Challenge the ordinary:

2. Always give a measurement of growth:

1.  Give them the license to FAIL:

MondayMorningInsight.com > 5 ways to effectively EMPOWER students