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Monthly Archives: July 2012

You – Shut Your Mouth

27 Jul

Here’s an awesome blog post from James MacDonald for Christian leaders of every kind:

“A complex issue for ministry leaders is how to process the incredible amount of feedback that comes from so many sources, both in and outside the church. It falls into some basic levels, regardless of the source:

  •  General input (random and one time)
  •  Persistent input (continuous on many topics, not always negative)
  •  Irreconcilable disagreement without sin (Paul and Barnabas)
  •  Constructive criticism (always negative, but goal is helping)
  •  Destructive criticism (always negative, with goal to wound)
  •  Harsh unjust criticism (intended to tear down)
  •  Personal attack and character assassination (intended to destroy)

The further what you’re facing is down that list, the more this article is intended to guide you. Part of the puzzle in processing feedback requires evaluation of the person who brings it (let’s save that for another post).”

Read the rest of this insightful article chock-full of Biblical wisdom HERE!

 
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Posted by on July 27, 2012 in Leadership, relationships, Staff

 

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Relevant? Really?

25 Jul

There’s been a debate going on for about 10 years now in Evangelical churches regarding being “relevant” to culture. Recently, the discussion has pushed the envelope so far as to have some pastors employing profanity while preaching as an act of “being relevant” and connecting to current culture (This is pretty shocking to most reasonable and humble servants of Christ). Here’s a different take on being relevant from where I sit.

What if relevance is helping others process major cultural events that people are struggling with? An example of this would be the recent shootings in Colorado last week. How many pastors even mentioned this tragedy that is in the forefront of everyone’s minds? My guess is, most went ahead, business as usual and preached what they had been planning on all week anyway. Many people walked out of churches Sunday with deep and troubling questions about this evil event without any solid Biblical answers, left only with our media to form our opinions and perspectives.

I’m not saying we should look to the current headlines to determine preaching content, but there are times when a pastor must set aside previous plans or incorporate a significant current event into a message and guide those whom he leads through Biblical truth regarding that situation or circumstance that is preoccupying the minds of the people.

Where would you get an idea like that from, Greg? From Jesus himself! Check out Luke 13:3-5, Jesus takes an event that everyone was aware of and applies it to his hearers. No wonder He is not only our Savior, but also a Master teacher. It seems like less cussing and more Biblical preaching would go a longer way toward making disciples of Jesus.

If you like to hear an example of what I’m trying to explain, you can find my message from last Sunday, “Frontline Fighting” HERE.

 
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Posted by on July 25, 2012 in Church Growth, Leadership, Preaching

 

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Extreme Generosity – Try It, You’ll Like It!

12 Jul

Yesterday, I had a conversation with someone who shared with me that they had a life long goal to give away 1 million dollars (that’s right 1,000,000)! They were so excited because that dream will be fulfilled in a very short time. It’s a plan for extreme generosity that they set in motion years ago and now they are so close to crossing this amazing finish line.

Saturday, my family and I will fly down to Disney World in Orlando for a week. We actually could stay for two weeks, but years ago we had a dream to treat other pastors and their families to a week at Disney on us. Over the last 10 years, we’ve been able to provide seven weeks of vacation to pastors and their families to stay at Disney on us. It’s one of the parts of our family’s “Extreme Generosity Plan” that we have implemented and will continue to follow for years and decades to come and we LOVE doing it!

People don’t wake up one morning and become generous. Generosity is a decision that is followed by discipline and actions. The Bible says of those who are rich,

18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:17

Here’s the crazy thing, my family is far from “rich” by any national standard (we were even farther from it 10 years ago when we made the decision to become generous). My friend who is soon to give away one million dollars in his lifetime also isn’t rich either. We simply believe that we have more than enough for our families (our needs are all met, and there is some left over), so we give to others. We don’t expect anything in return, just the joy we experience inside from giving. Bottom line: Love GIVES!!!

“For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

It seems like God set the “Extreme Generosity” example for us all to follow and I’m so thankful for “extreme generosity”!
What’s your plan for “Extreme Generosity”? Maybe it’s time to follow our Heavenly Father’s example in loving others. Try it, You’ll Like It!
 
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Posted by on July 12, 2012 in relationships

 

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Beating The Summer Slump

10 Jul

For many Christians, churches and pastors, the summer is generally not seen as a season of spiritual growth. Instead, it’s easy to fall into a summer slump when it comes to spiritual progress. Here are a few suggestions for maximizing these months and beat the summer slump:

1. Read a biography of one of the great heroes of the Christian faith. Let their lives challenge and inspire you.

2. Change up your daily devotional schedule to a different time or place. Take advantage of the warm (and hot) weather to glorify God in the great outdoors he created for us to enjoy.

3. Focus on developing or deepening a spiritual friendship with someone you only know casually. Ask them their story then take time to listen.

4. Adjust your current exercise routine (are start one). It’s amazing how physical exertion will helps a person out of a spiritual rut.

5. Discover a new opportunity to serve others in an environment that doesn’t provide any reward to you for serving (except the joy of serving). Summer slumps are often the result of summer self-centeredness. Nothing cures self-centeredness like selflessness.

What are some ideas you would add to this list that have helped you break out of a summer slump?

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Posted by on July 10, 2012 in Coaching, Leadership, relationships

 

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Cultivating the Work of the Inner Life – Tim Keller

03 Jul

Tim Keller brilliantly explains the necessity of a Christian leader (Pastor) to cultivate the inner life:

“All the causes of either visible or pending failure stem from a failure to cultivate the inner life. Look at the list of the causes of fruitlessness. They are the results of failing to know ourselves, failing to believe the gospel, and forgetting the truth of God’s word. Thus, we must cultivate the work of the inner life.

It’s important to begin by saying that often ministry failures can be traced to a lack of true calling to the ministry–which is a subject for another article. Apart from that foundational flaw, however, most ministry failure stems from a neglect of the inner life and communion with God. Secondary problems, such as a minister’s insufficient training or misguided approach, usually do not become full-fledged failures unless they are accompanied with–and thus magnified many times over–by failures of inner life and character.

So while it may create problems if a young minister imposes an inappropriate model on a church, it probably won’t be disastrous unless he begins to interpret opposition as a threat to his identity of a successful minister, in which case he would respond with insecurity and drive people out needlessly.

Christian leadership is mobilizing God’s gifts to accomplish God’s goals in God’s way. Leadership involves developing our strengths in order to articulate the vision, persuade people to follow, and keep them all working together.

We must beware of identifying with our ministry and making it an extension of ourselves. Until we see this, we may be successful in the short term but may begin to see the telltale signs of fruitlessness: cowardice, hypocrisy, indulgence. We are clashing our cymbals, and the results are the noise of hurt feelings, a critical spirit, consuming anxiety, and persistent joylessness in our work.

As we have seen, engaging in Christian ministry will make you a much better person or a much worse person than you would have been otherwise. You will not remain static; you will be growing and changing. And thus, the question of “How am I doing?” does not have to be a pestering plumb line but can serve as a personal reminder to pursue godliness, cultivate fruitfulness, work diligently, trust completely, and preach confidently.”

 
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Posted by on July 3, 2012 in Leadership, Preaching, Staff, Uncategorized

 

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