A few weeks ago I attended one of our local high school football games. It just happened that I sat between two fathers of players. They did not know me nor did I know them. However, they did know each other. During the game they would at times banter back and forth with friendly talk. But then when the opponents scored a touchdown on a kickoff return, the father to my right turned toward the father on my left and said, "Your son missed the tackle." I looked at that father whose son had missed one of the tackles that could have prevented the touchdown. The father's expression was one of indescribable pain and loss for words. Almost immediately, without thinking, I turned to the father who was so forthcoming with his criticism and responded, "Ten other players also apparently missed the ball carrier." The father whose son had been criticzed, quietly leaned toward me and said. "Thank you." I looked and saw a man filled with relief. The other father became a little more quiet and less critical during the rest of the game.
The point of my statement to the judgmental father was this: It takes eleven players to play the game. Football is a team sport. The players of the special team unit that was on the field each had an assignment. Those assignments broke down and as a result, the opponents scored. They scored not because of one player's mistake, but because the team play broke down.
I read this morning from 1 Corinthians 12:12 these words: "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."
We are so quick to criticize, judge, and blame others for mistakes, failings, and weakness. We blame the President for our nation's predictaments. We blame our fellow worker in our place of enployment. We blame our spouse. We blame our parents. We blame our children. We blame the pastor. We blame our church board. We blame one another, instead of of taking responsibility as a unit.
In Romans 15:1, Paul writes "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." Earlier in Romans, Paul wrote "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" (12:3-5).
There is a popular TV series on Tuesday night called "The Unit" that I enjoy watching. Each week's plot is based around one secret military special ops unit and their families. This unit understands that their missions can only be successful as they stick together. They cover for one another and also hold each other accountable. The wives the the unit do the same. No one thinks of themself as more important or unneeded. The unit works together to get the mission accomplished.
To paraphrase Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:27: You are The Unit of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." Last night I watched New England dominate Minnesota in Monday night football. Tom Brady was at his best. But really, he could only be at his best and look so good because there were many other players on offense, defense, and speacial teams that were also at their best. Whenever Brady threw a TD pass, I would notice a lineman or some other player exchange words of encouragement. Brady knows he can only be as good as the guy who is in front blocking for him or the guy who is catching his pass. It's all about the unit.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Esprit de Corps
This morning I was reading from Galatians 5 about our life in the Spirit. The words "let us keep in step with the Spirit" (verse 25) captured my thoughts for a few minutes. Back in the late 60's, I attended a miltary college for a short time. Believe it or not, I enjoyed the early morning drill time as we marched off to chow from our assembly point in front of our barracks. There was something very stimulating about marching in time as a company and integrating with the other companies to form our brigade and continue our march to the mess hall. The synchronization and coordination and timing all came together to form one unified movement of of corps of cadets toward an objective - chow. It was sound of the boots hitting the pavement that I can still hear in my mind that stands out. We were all in step.
Paul, the writer of Galatians wrote, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Synchronization, coordination, unison - all carry the idea of being in step with God. What do you think? Are you in step? Living by the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22).
Paul, the writer of Galatians wrote, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Synchronization, coordination, unison - all carry the idea of being in step with God. What do you think? Are you in step? Living by the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22).
Friday, October 27, 2006
Without Internet Access
How hard it is to go cold turkey without internet access since Tuesday noon. I am now in Springfield, MO, attending some meetings with our General Secreatry, Dr. George Wood. For some reason I hadn't been able to connect to my wi-fi at the hotel, but finally figured out the issue, so here I am. I discovered how edgy and unsettled I was without the ability to email and blog. I felt disconnected. Wow! Think how disconnected and alone I would feel if I were out of touch with God. The most important communication that you and I have is with the One who promises never to leave or forsake us. When there is a feeling of disconnection with God, it is not Him, but you, who have not been communicating with Him. Spend time today reconnecting with God.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Widow's Oil
2 Kings 4:1-7
"Faith makes things possible; it does not make them easy." - Vernie W. Reed
A woman tells the prophet, Elisha, that her husband who was a faithful servant to him has died and that a creditor is threatening to take his two sons. Elisha asks, "How can I help? What do you have in your house? That second question raises a point. Significance is found in what we do have! So often in our struggles and trial we overlook what we do have and focus only on what we need (or don't have).
Elisha wanted the woman to see what she had and to allow God to use them. In the passage we discover that she still has her house, her two sons, a little bit of oil, and her neighbors. He instructs her to go to her neighbors and collect empty jars, then go into her house with her sons and pour what oil she had into those collected empty jars.
The widow did as she was told. "She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring." When all the jars were filled with oil her sons told her they had no more jars and the "little bit of oil" in the original container stopped flowing. When the woman told Elisha this, he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
What a wonderful story of faith, hope, and provision. In the front of my Bible I wrote this quote a long time ago:
"Faith makes things possible; it does not make them easy." - Vernie W. Reed
A woman tells the prophet, Elisha, that her husband who was a faithful servant to him has died and that a creditor is threatening to take his two sons. Elisha asks, "How can I help? What do you have in your house? That second question raises a point. Significance is found in what we do have! So often in our struggles and trial we overlook what we do have and focus only on what we need (or don't have).
Elisha wanted the woman to see what she had and to allow God to use them. In the passage we discover that she still has her house, her two sons, a little bit of oil, and her neighbors. He instructs her to go to her neighbors and collect empty jars, then go into her house with her sons and pour what oil she had into those collected empty jars.
The widow did as she was told. "She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring." When all the jars were filled with oil her sons told her they had no more jars and the "little bit of oil" in the original container stopped flowing. When the woman told Elisha this, he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
What a wonderful story of faith, hope, and provision. In the front of my Bible I wrote this quote a long time ago:
There are no limits with God.
His resources are far beyond your abilities.
Never say, "I can't" without saying, "He can."
Never feel you are weak without knowing that He is strong.
THERE ARE NO LIMITS!
You will never have to hold back because of fear,
for He is with you . . .
You will never have to be defeated,
because His victory is yours . . .
You will never have to settle for the ordinary,
because His life is extraordinary.
- Roy Lessin
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The Widow at Zarephath
Three things stand out to me about the miracle at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-15). (1) Don't give up! Elijah finds a widow who is gathering sticks in preparation for a last meal for her and her child. She say's she is about to die. (2) Trust God! Elijah tells her, "For this is what the Lord says . . ." (3) Somone is watching after you! God can be seen at work in this miraculous provision. There is always hope for you and I in this life.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Lessons on Waiting
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
The KJV uses the word "wait" instead of "hope." As long as there is hope people are able to wait. But the longer we have to wait the weaker our hope becomes. The Bible is filled with examples of people waiting (hoping) in the Lord. David waited more than a dozen years before he was actually anointed king at the age of thirty. Sarah waited twenty-five years before the promise of a child was fulfilled and she was holding Isaac in her arms. Joseph waited over twenty years before he saw his brothers again. Moses waited forty years before hearing God's voice call him to lead his people out of slavery. Esther waited almost twenty-five years before she was able to stand and intercede for her people. Paul waited more than ten years before we knew his ministry to the first century church. I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to wait in this fast pace society that we live in.
There are three promises given to us in this one verse if we wait. Well, actually four.
Promise One: If we wait, we will renew our strength! How? In the following ways . . .
Promise Two: "soar on wings like eagles." Waiting implies a new perspective. The eagle, I have been told, is the only bird that will fly into a storm. Other birds will seek to fly around a storm or quietly sit out a storm in a protected manner. However, the eagle, will stretch outs it powerful wings and allow the power of the wind of a storm to lift it higher and higher until it is above the storm. I like that thought. It is from new heights that we have a new perspective on life. God gives you a new perspective when waiting or hoping in the Lord.
Promise Three: "run and not grow weary." Waiting implies new endurance. I have always enjoyed long distance running. I once ran in a marthon. Distant runners when running look forward to a euphoric moment that is called, "a second wind." It is a feeling of refreshment that comes over you. It is a feeling of floating or renewed vigor. You don't want this moment to occur too soon in a race. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). God gives endurance to those who will wait or hope in the Lord.
Promise Four: "walk and not be faint." Waiting implies patience. Walking implies the thought of patience, not hurrying. We must learn to pace our self. The object is to finish the race. I started out too quickly in my marathon and as a result ended up dropping out after twenty-two miles. I came so close to finishing, but had nothing left in me because I had not learned the pace that was right for me. I was tryining to run at everyone else's pace. Don't we do that in life? We expect others to be where we are. Or be at a different level of maturity. We become frustrated, upset, and impatient with people. God gives patience to those willing to wait or hope in the Lord.
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
The KJV uses the word "wait" instead of "hope." As long as there is hope people are able to wait. But the longer we have to wait the weaker our hope becomes. The Bible is filled with examples of people waiting (hoping) in the Lord. David waited more than a dozen years before he was actually anointed king at the age of thirty. Sarah waited twenty-five years before the promise of a child was fulfilled and she was holding Isaac in her arms. Joseph waited over twenty years before he saw his brothers again. Moses waited forty years before hearing God's voice call him to lead his people out of slavery. Esther waited almost twenty-five years before she was able to stand and intercede for her people. Paul waited more than ten years before we knew his ministry to the first century church. I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to wait in this fast pace society that we live in.
There are three promises given to us in this one verse if we wait. Well, actually four.
Promise One: If we wait, we will renew our strength! How? In the following ways . . .
Promise Two: "soar on wings like eagles." Waiting implies a new perspective. The eagle, I have been told, is the only bird that will fly into a storm. Other birds will seek to fly around a storm or quietly sit out a storm in a protected manner. However, the eagle, will stretch outs it powerful wings and allow the power of the wind of a storm to lift it higher and higher until it is above the storm. I like that thought. It is from new heights that we have a new perspective on life. God gives you a new perspective when waiting or hoping in the Lord.
Promise Three: "run and not grow weary." Waiting implies new endurance. I have always enjoyed long distance running. I once ran in a marthon. Distant runners when running look forward to a euphoric moment that is called, "a second wind." It is a feeling of refreshment that comes over you. It is a feeling of floating or renewed vigor. You don't want this moment to occur too soon in a race. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). God gives endurance to those who will wait or hope in the Lord.
Promise Four: "walk and not be faint." Waiting implies patience. Walking implies the thought of patience, not hurrying. We must learn to pace our self. The object is to finish the race. I started out too quickly in my marathon and as a result ended up dropping out after twenty-two miles. I came so close to finishing, but had nothing left in me because I had not learned the pace that was right for me. I was tryining to run at everyone else's pace. Don't we do that in life? We expect others to be where we are. Or be at a different level of maturity. We become frustrated, upset, and impatient with people. God gives patience to those willing to wait or hope in the Lord.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Leadership Lessons From Patton
I might as well continue the topic of leadership since I am attending a graduate class on leadership this week. I draw today's thoughts from a book I read a couple of years ago.
I enjoy reading World War II history. In fact, I have a special interest in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations because that was where my dad served. I have been actively researching my dad’s military life from his induction in May 9, 1942 until his discharge on November 11, 1945. I hope one day to completely retrace his footsteps from basic training in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, through the Louisiana Maneuvers and Desert Warfare Training at Camp Pilot Knob, California to his departure from Newport News, Virginia, to his arrival in Casablanca, North Africa and his participation in the major campaigns to liberate Italy.
In my search for information, I stumbled across an interesting book that had some practical application for us who are in ministry and are desirous of developing our leadership skills. I had never really thought about the qualities that made George S. Patton a highly successful leader until I read the book, "Patton On Leadership: Strategic Lessons For Corporate Warfare." Most people have probably formed an opinion about General George S. Patton from having seen the Oscar winning film starring George C. Scott as the general. Patton is a controversial figure in U.S. history. In spite of his faults, idiosyncrasies and controversies, he is among the greatest and most successful generals in U.S. history. Patton was a brilliant strategist and leader.
Patton had many flaws, but those same flaws made him approachable. For example, he suffered from dyslexia, yet managed to survive the academic rigors of West Point. As were many people of his time, he was a bigot and racist, yet he racially integrated his Third Army when the rest of the U.S. armed forces were resisting. By military standards, Patton was a conservative and worshiped tradition, yet he was the most innovative of commanders and the army’s leading champion of cutting-edge mechanized warfare.
What were some of the good nuggets I collected from my reading?
A leader will lead. We must look like a leader, talk like a leader, be a model leader. A leader is one who can adapt, not just apply, principles to circumstances. Leaders dominate but are not domineering. Patton led his men. He did not rule them. Leaders go the extra mile. They do more than is asked of them. A leader is committed and focused. “To command an army well, a general must think of nothing else” - Napoleon, quoted by Patton in his West Point notebook.
A leader develops a winning attitude. Success is a winning attitude. A leader goes forward. A leader will make every move count. Bill Parcells, coach of the Dallas Cowboys (formerly of the Patriots, Giants and Jets) exudes this. He has turned losing teams into winning franchises.
A leader is a student of learning. Patton was a product of his extensive reading.
A leader manages change. You cannot resist change - successfully. Leaders are able to navigate and lead their organization through change productively. Cultivate the habit of looking at situations from a fresh perspective.
A leader trains, mentors, motivates and inspires others. Invest in people. An effective leader is to busy training their subordinates to be their replacement instead of building a personal empire in order to appear indispensable.
A leader is a communicator. A leader can articulate his mission and goals clearly in a way that those under him are able to comprehend them. Communication is two-way. Be accessible and available.
A leader creates efficiency. A leader knows how to manage time and resources effectively for maximum productivity.
A leader exudes courage and character. Accept accountability for your decisions and demand accountability from others. Failures can be an opportunity for learning and recovery. Successes can dull further action or a drive to greater successes.
Leaders manage the impossible. With God all things are possible.
I enjoy reading World War II history. In fact, I have a special interest in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations because that was where my dad served. I have been actively researching my dad’s military life from his induction in May 9, 1942 until his discharge on November 11, 1945. I hope one day to completely retrace his footsteps from basic training in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, through the Louisiana Maneuvers and Desert Warfare Training at Camp Pilot Knob, California to his departure from Newport News, Virginia, to his arrival in Casablanca, North Africa and his participation in the major campaigns to liberate Italy.
In my search for information, I stumbled across an interesting book that had some practical application for us who are in ministry and are desirous of developing our leadership skills. I had never really thought about the qualities that made George S. Patton a highly successful leader until I read the book, "Patton On Leadership: Strategic Lessons For Corporate Warfare." Most people have probably formed an opinion about General George S. Patton from having seen the Oscar winning film starring George C. Scott as the general. Patton is a controversial figure in U.S. history. In spite of his faults, idiosyncrasies and controversies, he is among the greatest and most successful generals in U.S. history. Patton was a brilliant strategist and leader.
Patton had many flaws, but those same flaws made him approachable. For example, he suffered from dyslexia, yet managed to survive the academic rigors of West Point. As were many people of his time, he was a bigot and racist, yet he racially integrated his Third Army when the rest of the U.S. armed forces were resisting. By military standards, Patton was a conservative and worshiped tradition, yet he was the most innovative of commanders and the army’s leading champion of cutting-edge mechanized warfare.
What were some of the good nuggets I collected from my reading?
A leader will lead. We must look like a leader, talk like a leader, be a model leader. A leader is one who can adapt, not just apply, principles to circumstances. Leaders dominate but are not domineering. Patton led his men. He did not rule them. Leaders go the extra mile. They do more than is asked of them. A leader is committed and focused. “To command an army well, a general must think of nothing else” - Napoleon, quoted by Patton in his West Point notebook.
A leader develops a winning attitude. Success is a winning attitude. A leader goes forward. A leader will make every move count. Bill Parcells, coach of the Dallas Cowboys (formerly of the Patriots, Giants and Jets) exudes this. He has turned losing teams into winning franchises.
A leader is a student of learning. Patton was a product of his extensive reading.
A leader manages change. You cannot resist change - successfully. Leaders are able to navigate and lead their organization through change productively. Cultivate the habit of looking at situations from a fresh perspective.
A leader trains, mentors, motivates and inspires others. Invest in people. An effective leader is to busy training their subordinates to be their replacement instead of building a personal empire in order to appear indispensable.
A leader is a communicator. A leader can articulate his mission and goals clearly in a way that those under him are able to comprehend them. Communication is two-way. Be accessible and available.
A leader creates efficiency. A leader knows how to manage time and resources effectively for maximum productivity.
A leader exudes courage and character. Accept accountability for your decisions and demand accountability from others. Failures can be an opportunity for learning and recovery. Successes can dull further action or a drive to greater successes.
Leaders manage the impossible. With God all things are possible.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Empowering Ministry Leaders
I am at Valley Forge Christian College this week for my AGTS graduate class on Effective Leadership. I am looking forward to my time in class discussing leadership with my peers. I will try to do some posting this week but I am not sure how or when I may get around to doing so. So my thoughts this morning turn to empoweing leadership.
Bennis and Mesche in their book, "The 21st Century Organization," define empowerment as "removing bureaucratic boundaries that box people in and keep them from making the most effective use of all their skills, experiences, energies, and ambitions. It means allowing them to develop a sense of ownership over the parts of the process that are uniquely their responsibility, while at the same time demanding that they accept a share of the broader responsibility and ownership of the whole process" [36].
Empowering means "letting go." Leaders of growing churches concentrate on empowering other Christians for ministry. The question is what does an empowering leader look like? What are the qualities of such a person? Here are some qualities to consider.
Empowering leaders are vsionary, relational, modelers, delegators, reproducers, and coaches. Our greatest example of an empowering leader is Jesus Christ.
Bennis and Mesche in their book, "The 21st Century Organization," define empowerment as "removing bureaucratic boundaries that box people in and keep them from making the most effective use of all their skills, experiences, energies, and ambitions. It means allowing them to develop a sense of ownership over the parts of the process that are uniquely their responsibility, while at the same time demanding that they accept a share of the broader responsibility and ownership of the whole process" [36].
Empowering means "letting go." Leaders of growing churches concentrate on empowering other Christians for ministry. The question is what does an empowering leader look like? What are the qualities of such a person? Here are some qualities to consider.
Empowering leaders are vsionary, relational, modelers, delegators, reproducers, and coaches. Our greatest example of an empowering leader is Jesus Christ.
Friday, October 13, 2006
The Three T's of Relationship Building
Trust
Time
Transparency
When we talk about friendship, we are really talking about relationships. God, family, community, marriage, friendships are all about relationships. Developing relationships is a skill, and like learning any skill, it demands time, thought, and practice.
The idea of one person interacting with another is as old as the story of man. In Genesis, chapter 2, God introduced human fellowship with the creation of Adam and Eve. God said: “It is not good that the man should be alone.” (Gen 2:18). God never intended for people to live all by themselves. They need to associate with others and live in fellowship with one another. In this case God gave Adam a wife, and so began the human race.
Two wonderful Biblical examples of deep and lasting relationships outside of marriage are found in the life stories of Ruth and Naomi and Jonathan and David.
How do we go about establishing meaningful relationships? Listed are some rules from Susan Dietz’s column in the San Mateo Time (November 7, 1979):
1. Don’t cross boundaries that the other person might have.
2. Allow the other person to be himself/herself.
3. Decide which characteristics in the other person you can accept, and those you cannot. To do this, before you enter a close relationship you must be clear regarding your own goals.
4. Try to make it clear to the other person what you are thinking and feeling. To accomplish this, you must understand your own thoughts and feelings.
5. Try not to have irrational expectations of the other person. Do not try to change him/her in major ways.
6. Take responsibility for your own actions and your own life. Make your decisions for yourself and take responsibility for doing so.
7. Above all, be kind, courteous, and respectful.
They are some pretty good suggestions. The book of Proverbs says, "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Pr. 18:24 NIV). Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." (Jn 15:12-17 NIV)
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The Atmosphere
At the weekly PSU press conference Joe Paterno was asked: What do you remember about last year’s night game with Ohio State and how did that atmosphere of the crowd contribute to the specialness of that night?Joe Pa responded: "I think the whole environment last year, and I would hope we would have the same kind of environment this Saturday night against Michigan, is one of excitement, fun and the things that are really great to be part of. T
o be frank with you, I felt the same way when we went out to Ohio State this year. That was a great crowd. They were in it, all dressed in red and you felt like you were part of something exciting. People keep asking me, “Why do you still coach?” Those are the kind of days that you back away and say, “Boy, am I going to miss those when I am home cutting grass.” It is just a whole different environment. I think this Saturday night should be a very exciting, special night. The crowd won’
t win the game for us. I will give you a clue. We have to win the game. It isn’t going to come down to the crowd. The Michigan kids are not going to be intimidated by any crowd. They are going to play because they are a good, solid football team. The crowd will help, they will have a lot of fun and it will be great to see all of the white. It makes you feel like it is one of those events in your life that very few people take part in, but it isn’t going to win the game."
Reading Coach Paterno's answer reminded me of another writer's excitement. Hebrews, chapter 12 begins, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us . . . "And the chapter ends with, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe . . . "
This life is a journey filled with excitement, challenge, trials, and ultimately victory, if our faith in Jesus Christ is unwavering. Coach Paterno, at age 79, is still passionately in love with the sport. He has faced some hard knocks, but his zeal is still evident. How about you? I love life, in spite of the curve balls and sliders. I love the ministry in spite of interceptions, fumbles, and penalties. It's those TD's, the great plays, the roar of the crowd, the cloud of witnesses that keep the enthusiasm alive within me. Life in Christ is just a totally different environment.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:2-3 NIV)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Your Priority
What is important to you in this life? More stuff? Possessions? Bigger barns? Power? Control? What is tempting? What is enticing? Think about these words of Jesus.
Matt 16:24-28
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Influence and authority is very appealing. But to what expense should an individual pursue such? Jesus had the opportunity to have all the earthly power, authority, and influence given to him by the devil during his desert temptation. Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world (Luke 4:5-7), all their splendor and all authority to rule over them, if only Jesus would bow down and worship Satan. But Jesus refused such an opportunity.
Can you imagine that? As Alicia Chole wrote in her book Anonymous", what we could do with such power. We could . . .
". . . end child prostitution,
. . . make sure no one ever died of hunger again,
. . . find a home for every homeless soul,
. . . protect the helpless,
. . . provide jobs for the jobless,
. . . pursue justice for the oppressed,
. . . channel money toward truly worthy causes,
. . . ensure the elderly were never abandoned,
. . . prosecute drug traffickers,
. . . create the best environment possible for those with special needs,
. . . offer a college education to every desiring student,
. . .make sure everyone had adequate medical care,
. . . create and enforce laws to detox the environment,
. . . protect our natural respurces,
. . . remove abusive world leaders, and
. . . end most wars before they began."
I can think of a few others to add to that list. So can you.
Yet, Jesus recognized something far greater than obtaining an earthly kingdom. He recognized that nothing was more important than his relationship with God. He refused Satan's bribe. Jesus answered with, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."
The kingdom of Heaven is of greater value to this world than all the kingdoms of this world is to itself.
Matt 16:24-28
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Influence and authority is very appealing. But to what expense should an individual pursue such? Jesus had the opportunity to have all the earthly power, authority, and influence given to him by the devil during his desert temptation. Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world (Luke 4:5-7), all their splendor and all authority to rule over them, if only Jesus would bow down and worship Satan. But Jesus refused such an opportunity.
Can you imagine that? As Alicia Chole wrote in her book Anonymous", what we could do with such power. We could . . .
". . . end child prostitution,
. . . make sure no one ever died of hunger again,
. . . find a home for every homeless soul,
. . . protect the helpless,
. . . provide jobs for the jobless,
. . . pursue justice for the oppressed,
. . . channel money toward truly worthy causes,
. . . ensure the elderly were never abandoned,
. . . prosecute drug traffickers,
. . . create the best environment possible for those with special needs,
. . . offer a college education to every desiring student,
. . .make sure everyone had adequate medical care,
. . . create and enforce laws to detox the environment,
. . . protect our natural respurces,
. . . remove abusive world leaders, and
. . . end most wars before they began."
I can think of a few others to add to that list. So can you.
Yet, Jesus recognized something far greater than obtaining an earthly kingdom. He recognized that nothing was more important than his relationship with God. He refused Satan's bribe. Jesus answered with, "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."
The kingdom of Heaven is of greater value to this world than all the kingdoms of this world is to itself.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
As A Man Thinks, So He Is
Yes, that's me running for a touchdown, my senior season in 1968, during our school's traditional Thanksgiving Day game.In 1967, “Doc” Miller, my high school football coach, took over a winning tradition of which I had been a part of. In the nine years that I played the sport, only one year did my team mates and I have a losing season - our very first year together in the local midget football league. As a team, we played together on and off the field. We remained friends, as well as team mates, throughout grammar school and high school.
During “Doc’s” first year as our coach, we lost our first three games. Following our third loss, to our arch rival, he walked into a quiet and very discouraged locker room of players, and said ever so softly but forcefully, “I have shouldered the blame for the first two losses saying it was poor coaching and poor planning. But, I will not carry the blame for this game!” I will never forget those words or his thundering words that followed, NO MORE!!!
We went on to win the next six games that season, finishing with a 6-3-0 record. We won an additional 5 games the next season before our 11 game winning streak came to an end. Our senior and final year together, we finished the season with a 7-2-0 record.
The point of my story is this, "Doc" knew we were a better team. He knew that we also knew it. As a man thinks, so he is. Sometimes we concentrate on our mistakes, our failures, our blown opportunities. We replay in our minds the dropped pass, the missed block, the foolish penalty, the bad play call. We do the same thing in our spiritual walk. We replay in our mind the time we looked foolish; the word we wish we had not said; the slight that should never have been spoken; the missed opportunity; the botched plan. God says, the past is past. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)
All that matters is the future. God delights in taking people who are disappointed with themselves and helping them get hold of themselves and make a bold, new beginning.
“Doc” Miller was a good coach. It was my privilege a few years later to be at his bedside with several other former students and players to hear him pray the sinner's prayer. A few months later, he crossed the eternal goal line . . .
Monday, October 09, 2006
A Warming Fire
Over the weekend:
. . . Penn State won over Minnesota in overtime 28-27 :-)
. . . the Yankees lost and were eliminated from the series :-( (at least the Mets are still alive in the NL)
. . . New England Patriots won and are 4-1 :-)
. . . I went cruising on the lake one final time before the boat is taken out of the water and winterized for the winter. :-(
This last point got me thinking about our chilly fall mornings. How nice it is to warm one self by a fire on a crisp fall morning.
Towards the end of Jesus' earthly ministry we read of Peter warming himself by a fire. However, the companions he associated with around that fire provided him opportunity to deny his Lord and Savior. How sad, for three years he had been part of the inner circle of Jesus' associates. Yet, at the most critical moment he failed and denied the Lord (Luke 22:52-60).
After Jesus' ressurection but before his ascension, we read of Peter beside still another fire (John 21:1-7-9). At this fire we find Jesus. Jesus is restoring Peter's relationship with the Lord.
Two warming fires. Two different groups of people. Two different outcomes. Two different purposes at the fire, one tears down and the other fire builds up. On those cool lonely mornings, which fire will you draw up to warm your self by?
. . . Penn State won over Minnesota in overtime 28-27 :-)
. . . the Yankees lost and were eliminated from the series :-( (at least the Mets are still alive in the NL)
. . . New England Patriots won and are 4-1 :-)
. . . I went cruising on the lake one final time before the boat is taken out of the water and winterized for the winter. :-(
This last point got me thinking about our chilly fall mornings. How nice it is to warm one self by a fire on a crisp fall morning.
Towards the end of Jesus' earthly ministry we read of Peter warming himself by a fire. However, the companions he associated with around that fire provided him opportunity to deny his Lord and Savior. How sad, for three years he had been part of the inner circle of Jesus' associates. Yet, at the most critical moment he failed and denied the Lord (Luke 22:52-60).
After Jesus' ressurection but before his ascension, we read of Peter beside still another fire (John 21:1-7-9). At this fire we find Jesus. Jesus is restoring Peter's relationship with the Lord.
Two warming fires. Two different groups of people. Two different outcomes. Two different purposes at the fire, one tears down and the other fire builds up. On those cool lonely mornings, which fire will you draw up to warm your self by?
Friday, October 06, 2006
Leading Through Change and Transition
The following is a course paper that I wrote for a class, "Pastoring and Leading Change and Renewal." Good pastoral leadership is essential today.
Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."[1] Change is inevitable. It is occurring all around us. We recognize it in nature as we observe the change of seasons. We observe the changes in our physical bodies as we progress in age. In both cases, we as individuals and as a society have learned how to adapt. In the same way the church and its leadership cannot ignore the changes that are occurring within our culture if we are to be influential.
Today’s culture is forcing church leadership to look at the way that church is done. George Barna, founder and president of the Barna Research Group, wrote, "To remain relevant and influential, we must be current in our understanding of cultural changes and their implications. The changes that influence our lives and ministry fall within these key domains: demographics, attitudes and values, lifestyle and behaviors, and spirituality."[2] Barna goes on to write that if we understand the culture we are in, the more responsive we can be in developing and providing for the needs of the people to whom we are ministering.[3]
Churches are struggling with the rapid changes that are occurring in the world and with the impact that such changes are having on their ministries. These changes are occurring in our culture as the result of technological advancement, travel, and migration of people. The churches that are healthy and growing have apparently learned how to negotiate through this continual changing cultural maze, while the churches that have not learned how to negotiate the cultural maze are in decline.
Spencer Jones, author of Who Moved My Cheese?, described this complicated process of negotiating change through a humorous and profound parable about four fictitious characters named Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw. These imaginary characters lived in a maze and were continually in search of cheese in order to nourish themselves. Haw learned some valuable lessons during his journey through the maze. As he did, he wrote them on the wall. The lessons were these: "Change happens, they keep moving the cheese; Anticipate change, get ready for the cheese to move; Monitor change, smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old; Adapt to change quickly, the quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese; Change, move with the cheese; Enjoy change; savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese; and finally, Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again, they keep moving the cheese." Spencer’s parable is an apt description of our constantly changing life and world we live in. Pastors and church leaders must be ready to deal with these changes as they occur.
The prefacing statement and question by Herrington, Bonem, and Furr in their book, "If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting. Can you live with that?"[4], is a call to an open and honest assessment that change is necessary, if we are to be significant impact players in the kingdom of God.
According to Aubrey Malphurs, in Planting Growing Churches, eighty to eighty-five percent of our churches in North America are plateaued or in decline. This shows that we are facing a serious leadership crisis.[5] The post-modern culture that we are now living in is forcing church leadership to consider personal change and corporate change in order to remain relevant. A good leader will "anticipate, create and change cultures."[6] Today’s pastors and church leaders must understand and be able to give direction in the midst of change. However, we as leaders, cannot lead congregational change unless we are willing to change. This transformational process must begin with the pastor, the leader of the congregation.
Change must be internalized. The most important key to leading congregational change is found in the willingness of the leader to adapt to change. Herrington, Bonem, and Furr, in Leading Congregational Change, emphasize that the driving force in congregational change is found in spiritual and relational vitality. They define spiritual and relational vitality as "the life-giving power that faithful people experience together as they passionately pursue God’s vision for their lives."[7] The elements of spiritual and relational vitality are encountering God’s holiness, experiencing God’s grace, embracing unity, and engaging community.[8]
There must be a willingness on our part to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us those changes that bring us more in line with God’s Kingdom. Herrington, Bonem and Furr state that "the spiritual health of the pastor and other key leaders is intimately intertwined with that of the congregation."[9] They go on to point out that the congregation rarely grows beyond that of its leaders. Therefore, it is necessary for leaders to do their own self-examination and determine their willingness to be personally transformed.[10] John Maxwell refers to this as the "Law of the Lid - no group rises higher than its leader." Leadership and spiritual development are closely linked. One’s ministry can never rise higher than oneself. Leaders must continually strive to become the person God intended them to be. This work is done through an inward, outward, and upward process.
The transformational process occurs through a consistent practice of the spiritual disciplines as discussed in Dallas Willard’s book, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. Willard refers to the disciplines of abstinence as solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy and sacrifice and refers to the disciplines of engagements as study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, and submission.[11] The practices of such disciplines prepare leaders to navigate the maze of change and transitions. If one is not willing to submit himself to God’s transformational process inwardly and upwardly, it is doubtful that he will be able to submit himself to the process of transforming his leadership style outwardly to a new paradigm.
What kind of leader must a pastor become in order to navigate through the maze of change? From a personal perspective, I have observed that effective church leaders of change and transition are those who are able to establish vision, communicate their vision to others, and inspire trust and confidence by building healthy relationships within a congregation. I believe that such leadership skills are both observable and learnable.
One can begin observing and learning about leadership by looking at biblical models of leadership. There are many images of leadership presented in Scripture. There are individuals like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Peter, and Paul. There are various Old Testament and New Testament leadership functions that we can explore, such as the patriarchs, judges, prophets, priests, elders, and apostles. It becomes fairly evident that God used a diverse style of leadership throughout the history of Israel and the Church. It is also evident that God elevated or allowed certain kinds of leadership roles to play a more dominant role in the fulfillment of His purpose and plan throughout the history of Israel and the Church.[12] To negotiate and lead a congregation through a change, leaders must recognize that our culture does play a significant role and that God uses different personalities and leadership styles to accomplish His plan.
For example, a study of Peter within the context of Scriptures, portrays him as a kind of "point man" within God’s plan and purpose. The "point man" in military terms refers to the individual who is chosen to lead a group of individuals, whether on patrol or out of a fox hole. Peter was the first out of the boat. He was the first to raise the sword. Others, such as the Sanhedrin, saw Peter’s courage (Acts 4:13), but a thorough reading of Scripture also reveals a flawed individual. He was volatile. He was autocratic. He showed his inconsistencies at times. On some occasions, he would eat with the Gentiles and on other occasions avoid eating with them.
In Scripture we discover the apostle Paul, as a leader, had a brilliant mind. He was an academic. He led by speech and teaching. He was like a father to many, among them Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. He can be seen as team leader and team player. He did not like to be alone. He is often seen in his letters to be calling for someone to come and help him. He did not like the fighting between members. He sought for unity and harmony between members. Paul also had his flaws. He had little toleration for mistakes, failures and imperfections from others.
Jesus serves as our perfect biblical model for leadership within the context of our changing culture. In Matthew, chapter twenty, verse twenty-eight, we discover that Jesus had a purpose and a plan. His purpose was to serve, not to be served. As leaders we must have purpose. We must be able to answer the question, "Why are we doing what we are doing?" Jesus had a plan from the foundation of the world, from birth to resurrection, to orchestrate God’s plan of salvation. People want to follow people who know where they are going.
Throughout the course of Jesus’ thirty-three years of life in human form, he adapted his methods in order to remain relevant without compromising his mission or message. He navigated the changes, transitions, and seasons of life without losing sight of God’s purpose and plan for him. Our plans form who we are. The more intentional we are in planning, the more natural the plan becomes within our personal life.
Successful leaders recognize that core values, mission, and vision are key components necessary to navigate through the maze of change. Malphurs in his book, Advanced Strategic Planning, and Herrington, Bonem, and Furr, in their book, Leading Congregational Change, spend a great deal of time discussing the discovery process. Values, mission, and vision are the foundation for Malphurs’ strategic planning model and Herrington, Bonem, and Furr’s congregational transformation model.
The more natural or ingrained are our core values, mission and vision, the less likely we will act like the two mice named Sniff and Scurry or the character named Hem in Who Moved My Cheese? Sniff and Scurry used trial and error to find their cheese. Hem resisted change because he thought it would lead to something worse. It was Haw who realized, by adapting to change, that it would ultimately lead to something better.
Values, mission, and vision provide stability in the midst of change. Instead of change driving the organization, leadership is able to negotiate and determine what change is necessary to remain relevant within the context of the mission and purpose without compromising values, mission, and vision.
Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, introduced what he calls the hedgehog concept. It is a "simple, crystalline concept that flows from deep understanding about the intersection" of three circles. The three circles are (1) "what you are deeply passionate about," (2) "what drives your economic engine," and (3) "what you can be the best at." According to Collins, he discovered that those companies that focused on where the three circles intersected, became the companies that moved from being just good to becoming great.[13] Passion can represent our core values. What we do best might represent our mission, and the economic engine could represent our vision. Understanding the intersecting circles of value, mission and vision are central to a leader guiding an organization or church through change. It is in the area where all three circles are intersecting that leaders can help their people discover stability in the midst of change. Such pastors portray confidence. They have a sense of direction and a self assurance that they are leading the congregation in the right direction.
Jesus is the perfect personification of leadership stability in the midst of change. He knew who he was, why he was here, and where he was going. Such stability in the midst of change and transition are important qualities. Pastors who are successfully leading churches through change are constantly aware that there is always one factor that does not change - God!
A few years ago, I joined with a group of church friends on a one day white water rafting trip down the Penobscot River. Our river guide had a thorough understanding and knowledge of that portion of the river. His skills were essential to our successfully navigating the river without mishap. He correctly read the currents. He knew exactly where the rocks were. He was perfectly capable of steering our clumsy raft through the white water. He would shout out to either the right or left side of the raft to paddle hard, timing our turns and paddle strokes in order to avoid hitting rocks or flipping the raft. His ability to read the currents, his knowledge of the river and his navigational skills were the key to a successful and exhilarating day on the river. The pastor is very much like a river guide on a white water rafting trip. The change journey is exhilarating and it is also filled with perilous dangers along the way that must be carefully circumvented. The pastor is the key to leading the congregation safely through change and transformation. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that the pastor be a continual learner.
Leading congregations through change is a delicate balancing act. On one hand, pastors are trying to deal with all the demands of a congregation. He feels the tugs and pulls from multiple directions of his congregational needs. He must be preacher, teacher, leader, counselor, administrator, and more. On the other hand, the pastor also recognizes that he must devote his attention to a changing world in which his congregation lives. It is no wonder that many pastors feel stressed and deeply inadequate in their abilities to lead their congregations through change and transition.
Pastors who are successfully processing change and transformation within the context of their church are individuals who have moved from an autocratic style leadership to leadership teams. Roxburgh calls such a person a synergistic leader.[14] Such leaders are able to utilize the gifts and abilities of those who surround them. Synergistic leaders empower others to fulfill tasks and responsibilities. It is shared ownership of vision and accountability to one another. An Old Testament example of this is Moses listening to Jethro’s advice to appoint capable men to serve with him as judges over the people in order to share responsibility. (Exodus 18:25-26). A New Testament example of this would be Jesus’ words empowering his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything he had commanded them (Matthew 28: 18-20).
Such leadership styles, as Moses and Jesus, introduce the concept we, today, call leadership teams. The apostle Paul defined team leadership by comparing the church to the human body (1 Corinthians 12:14-27). Elsewhere, in writing to the church at Corinth, Paul pointed out that he planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase. Paul recognized the different functions that were being contributed to the church by various individuals on the team.
If leadership does not recognize and embrace the diverse abilities and giftings within the church, they will not be able to navigate the changing cultural currents. Transformational leadership expands and empowers others to work with them as a team.
Virtually all major change involves teamwork. It involves engaging, persuading, and working with other people within the congregation. Pastors who have the best interests of the congregation a heart and are motivated to make things happen for the better, for those they lead, will discover that people are much more inclined to follow them. Such an attitude is that of a servant-leader.
Change leaders are intentional in what they do. Malphurs’ recommended nine steps for implementing change in his book, Strategic Planning, which can serve as a helpful tool in creating a climate of change within the church. His steps include ministry analysis, values discovery, mission development, environmental scan, vision development, strategy development, strategy implementation, ministry contingencies, and ministry evaluation. The eight stage transformational model presented by Herrington, Bonem, and Furr, in their book, Leading Congregational Change, is also a helpful tool in assisting leaders in becoming more intentional. Their steps include making personal preparation, creating urgency, establishing the vision community, discerning the vision and determining the vision path, communicating the vision, empowering change leaders, implementing the vision, and reinforcing momentum through alignment.
Ray Bowman wrote about the power of pruning. He referred to Jesus’ comments in chapter fifteen of the Gospel of John regarding the vine and branches and the necessity for there to be a cutting away of dead branches in order for the vine to produce fruit. Bowman wrote: "Ministry, like the life of the vine, has its seasons. One season of ministry comes to an end and another begins. If the church is to be as fruitful as God wants it to be today, we have to let go of some of the activity that produced fruit during the last season of the church’s ministry. This pruning is usually painful, because the loss is real, but its purpose is not to punish; it is to increase fruitfulness."[15]
Change creates tension, conflict, and pain. Change leaders will carefully guide their congregations through the process. Throughout our class discussions and my reading assignments, I have been very cognizant of the fact that the transformation process does not occur instantaneous. Malphurs noted that the change process can take as long as five years. Herrington, Bonem, and Furr remark that the transformational process can take as long as five to seven years, or even longer. Pastoral longevity is crucial in order for the change process to succeed. There is no short cut or quick fix. The transformational process is a struggle, much like the metamorphosis process of an ugly worm being transformed into a beautiful butterfly. In the end, the pastor who deliberately and carefully navigates the maze of change and the turbulent waters of transition will experience satisfaction and success in their ministry.
End Notes
[1] The Holy Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1.
[2] George Barna, "The Second Coming of the Church," Enrichment, Winter 2000, 13.
[3] Ibid., 13.
[4] Jim Herrington, Mike Bonem, James Furr, Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey, (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2000), xiii.
[5] Aubrey Malphurs, Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1998), 131.
[6] Alan Roxburgh, Crossing the Bridge: Church Leadership in the Time of Change, (Percept Group, Inc., 2000), 41.
[7] Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey, 16.
[8] Ibid., 18.
[9] Ibid., 159.
[10] Ibid., 159.
[11] Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives, (New York, New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 1988) 158.
[12] Crossing the Bridge, 109-110.
[13] Jim Collins, Good to Great, (New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 2001), 94-97.
[14] Crossing the Bridge, 146.
[15] Ray Bowman, When Not to Build: An Architect’s Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2000), 108.
Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."[1] Change is inevitable. It is occurring all around us. We recognize it in nature as we observe the change of seasons. We observe the changes in our physical bodies as we progress in age. In both cases, we as individuals and as a society have learned how to adapt. In the same way the church and its leadership cannot ignore the changes that are occurring within our culture if we are to be influential.
Today’s culture is forcing church leadership to look at the way that church is done. George Barna, founder and president of the Barna Research Group, wrote, "To remain relevant and influential, we must be current in our understanding of cultural changes and their implications. The changes that influence our lives and ministry fall within these key domains: demographics, attitudes and values, lifestyle and behaviors, and spirituality."[2] Barna goes on to write that if we understand the culture we are in, the more responsive we can be in developing and providing for the needs of the people to whom we are ministering.[3]
Churches are struggling with the rapid changes that are occurring in the world and with the impact that such changes are having on their ministries. These changes are occurring in our culture as the result of technological advancement, travel, and migration of people. The churches that are healthy and growing have apparently learned how to negotiate through this continual changing cultural maze, while the churches that have not learned how to negotiate the cultural maze are in decline.
Spencer Jones, author of Who Moved My Cheese?, described this complicated process of negotiating change through a humorous and profound parable about four fictitious characters named Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw. These imaginary characters lived in a maze and were continually in search of cheese in order to nourish themselves. Haw learned some valuable lessons during his journey through the maze. As he did, he wrote them on the wall. The lessons were these: "Change happens, they keep moving the cheese; Anticipate change, get ready for the cheese to move; Monitor change, smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old; Adapt to change quickly, the quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese; Change, move with the cheese; Enjoy change; savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese; and finally, Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again, they keep moving the cheese." Spencer’s parable is an apt description of our constantly changing life and world we live in. Pastors and church leaders must be ready to deal with these changes as they occur.
The prefacing statement and question by Herrington, Bonem, and Furr in their book, "If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting. Can you live with that?"[4], is a call to an open and honest assessment that change is necessary, if we are to be significant impact players in the kingdom of God.
According to Aubrey Malphurs, in Planting Growing Churches, eighty to eighty-five percent of our churches in North America are plateaued or in decline. This shows that we are facing a serious leadership crisis.[5] The post-modern culture that we are now living in is forcing church leadership to consider personal change and corporate change in order to remain relevant. A good leader will "anticipate, create and change cultures."[6] Today’s pastors and church leaders must understand and be able to give direction in the midst of change. However, we as leaders, cannot lead congregational change unless we are willing to change. This transformational process must begin with the pastor, the leader of the congregation.
Change must be internalized. The most important key to leading congregational change is found in the willingness of the leader to adapt to change. Herrington, Bonem, and Furr, in Leading Congregational Change, emphasize that the driving force in congregational change is found in spiritual and relational vitality. They define spiritual and relational vitality as "the life-giving power that faithful people experience together as they passionately pursue God’s vision for their lives."[7] The elements of spiritual and relational vitality are encountering God’s holiness, experiencing God’s grace, embracing unity, and engaging community.[8]
There must be a willingness on our part to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us those changes that bring us more in line with God’s Kingdom. Herrington, Bonem and Furr state that "the spiritual health of the pastor and other key leaders is intimately intertwined with that of the congregation."[9] They go on to point out that the congregation rarely grows beyond that of its leaders. Therefore, it is necessary for leaders to do their own self-examination and determine their willingness to be personally transformed.[10] John Maxwell refers to this as the "Law of the Lid - no group rises higher than its leader." Leadership and spiritual development are closely linked. One’s ministry can never rise higher than oneself. Leaders must continually strive to become the person God intended them to be. This work is done through an inward, outward, and upward process.
The transformational process occurs through a consistent practice of the spiritual disciplines as discussed in Dallas Willard’s book, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. Willard refers to the disciplines of abstinence as solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy and sacrifice and refers to the disciplines of engagements as study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, and submission.[11] The practices of such disciplines prepare leaders to navigate the maze of change and transitions. If one is not willing to submit himself to God’s transformational process inwardly and upwardly, it is doubtful that he will be able to submit himself to the process of transforming his leadership style outwardly to a new paradigm.
What kind of leader must a pastor become in order to navigate through the maze of change? From a personal perspective, I have observed that effective church leaders of change and transition are those who are able to establish vision, communicate their vision to others, and inspire trust and confidence by building healthy relationships within a congregation. I believe that such leadership skills are both observable and learnable.
One can begin observing and learning about leadership by looking at biblical models of leadership. There are many images of leadership presented in Scripture. There are individuals like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Peter, and Paul. There are various Old Testament and New Testament leadership functions that we can explore, such as the patriarchs, judges, prophets, priests, elders, and apostles. It becomes fairly evident that God used a diverse style of leadership throughout the history of Israel and the Church. It is also evident that God elevated or allowed certain kinds of leadership roles to play a more dominant role in the fulfillment of His purpose and plan throughout the history of Israel and the Church.[12] To negotiate and lead a congregation through a change, leaders must recognize that our culture does play a significant role and that God uses different personalities and leadership styles to accomplish His plan.
For example, a study of Peter within the context of Scriptures, portrays him as a kind of "point man" within God’s plan and purpose. The "point man" in military terms refers to the individual who is chosen to lead a group of individuals, whether on patrol or out of a fox hole. Peter was the first out of the boat. He was the first to raise the sword. Others, such as the Sanhedrin, saw Peter’s courage (Acts 4:13), but a thorough reading of Scripture also reveals a flawed individual. He was volatile. He was autocratic. He showed his inconsistencies at times. On some occasions, he would eat with the Gentiles and on other occasions avoid eating with them.
In Scripture we discover the apostle Paul, as a leader, had a brilliant mind. He was an academic. He led by speech and teaching. He was like a father to many, among them Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. He can be seen as team leader and team player. He did not like to be alone. He is often seen in his letters to be calling for someone to come and help him. He did not like the fighting between members. He sought for unity and harmony between members. Paul also had his flaws. He had little toleration for mistakes, failures and imperfections from others.
Jesus serves as our perfect biblical model for leadership within the context of our changing culture. In Matthew, chapter twenty, verse twenty-eight, we discover that Jesus had a purpose and a plan. His purpose was to serve, not to be served. As leaders we must have purpose. We must be able to answer the question, "Why are we doing what we are doing?" Jesus had a plan from the foundation of the world, from birth to resurrection, to orchestrate God’s plan of salvation. People want to follow people who know where they are going.
Throughout the course of Jesus’ thirty-three years of life in human form, he adapted his methods in order to remain relevant without compromising his mission or message. He navigated the changes, transitions, and seasons of life without losing sight of God’s purpose and plan for him. Our plans form who we are. The more intentional we are in planning, the more natural the plan becomes within our personal life.
Successful leaders recognize that core values, mission, and vision are key components necessary to navigate through the maze of change. Malphurs in his book, Advanced Strategic Planning, and Herrington, Bonem, and Furr, in their book, Leading Congregational Change, spend a great deal of time discussing the discovery process. Values, mission, and vision are the foundation for Malphurs’ strategic planning model and Herrington, Bonem, and Furr’s congregational transformation model.
The more natural or ingrained are our core values, mission and vision, the less likely we will act like the two mice named Sniff and Scurry or the character named Hem in Who Moved My Cheese? Sniff and Scurry used trial and error to find their cheese. Hem resisted change because he thought it would lead to something worse. It was Haw who realized, by adapting to change, that it would ultimately lead to something better.
Values, mission, and vision provide stability in the midst of change. Instead of change driving the organization, leadership is able to negotiate and determine what change is necessary to remain relevant within the context of the mission and purpose without compromising values, mission, and vision.
Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, introduced what he calls the hedgehog concept. It is a "simple, crystalline concept that flows from deep understanding about the intersection" of three circles. The three circles are (1) "what you are deeply passionate about," (2) "what drives your economic engine," and (3) "what you can be the best at." According to Collins, he discovered that those companies that focused on where the three circles intersected, became the companies that moved from being just good to becoming great.[13] Passion can represent our core values. What we do best might represent our mission, and the economic engine could represent our vision. Understanding the intersecting circles of value, mission and vision are central to a leader guiding an organization or church through change. It is in the area where all three circles are intersecting that leaders can help their people discover stability in the midst of change. Such pastors portray confidence. They have a sense of direction and a self assurance that they are leading the congregation in the right direction.
Jesus is the perfect personification of leadership stability in the midst of change. He knew who he was, why he was here, and where he was going. Such stability in the midst of change and transition are important qualities. Pastors who are successfully leading churches through change are constantly aware that there is always one factor that does not change - God!
A few years ago, I joined with a group of church friends on a one day white water rafting trip down the Penobscot River. Our river guide had a thorough understanding and knowledge of that portion of the river. His skills were essential to our successfully navigating the river without mishap. He correctly read the currents. He knew exactly where the rocks were. He was perfectly capable of steering our clumsy raft through the white water. He would shout out to either the right or left side of the raft to paddle hard, timing our turns and paddle strokes in order to avoid hitting rocks or flipping the raft. His ability to read the currents, his knowledge of the river and his navigational skills were the key to a successful and exhilarating day on the river. The pastor is very much like a river guide on a white water rafting trip. The change journey is exhilarating and it is also filled with perilous dangers along the way that must be carefully circumvented. The pastor is the key to leading the congregation safely through change and transformation. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that the pastor be a continual learner.
Leading congregations through change is a delicate balancing act. On one hand, pastors are trying to deal with all the demands of a congregation. He feels the tugs and pulls from multiple directions of his congregational needs. He must be preacher, teacher, leader, counselor, administrator, and more. On the other hand, the pastor also recognizes that he must devote his attention to a changing world in which his congregation lives. It is no wonder that many pastors feel stressed and deeply inadequate in their abilities to lead their congregations through change and transition.
Pastors who are successfully processing change and transformation within the context of their church are individuals who have moved from an autocratic style leadership to leadership teams. Roxburgh calls such a person a synergistic leader.[14] Such leaders are able to utilize the gifts and abilities of those who surround them. Synergistic leaders empower others to fulfill tasks and responsibilities. It is shared ownership of vision and accountability to one another. An Old Testament example of this is Moses listening to Jethro’s advice to appoint capable men to serve with him as judges over the people in order to share responsibility. (Exodus 18:25-26). A New Testament example of this would be Jesus’ words empowering his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything he had commanded them (Matthew 28: 18-20).
Such leadership styles, as Moses and Jesus, introduce the concept we, today, call leadership teams. The apostle Paul defined team leadership by comparing the church to the human body (1 Corinthians 12:14-27). Elsewhere, in writing to the church at Corinth, Paul pointed out that he planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase. Paul recognized the different functions that were being contributed to the church by various individuals on the team.
If leadership does not recognize and embrace the diverse abilities and giftings within the church, they will not be able to navigate the changing cultural currents. Transformational leadership expands and empowers others to work with them as a team.
Virtually all major change involves teamwork. It involves engaging, persuading, and working with other people within the congregation. Pastors who have the best interests of the congregation a heart and are motivated to make things happen for the better, for those they lead, will discover that people are much more inclined to follow them. Such an attitude is that of a servant-leader.
Change leaders are intentional in what they do. Malphurs’ recommended nine steps for implementing change in his book, Strategic Planning, which can serve as a helpful tool in creating a climate of change within the church. His steps include ministry analysis, values discovery, mission development, environmental scan, vision development, strategy development, strategy implementation, ministry contingencies, and ministry evaluation. The eight stage transformational model presented by Herrington, Bonem, and Furr, in their book, Leading Congregational Change, is also a helpful tool in assisting leaders in becoming more intentional. Their steps include making personal preparation, creating urgency, establishing the vision community, discerning the vision and determining the vision path, communicating the vision, empowering change leaders, implementing the vision, and reinforcing momentum through alignment.
Ray Bowman wrote about the power of pruning. He referred to Jesus’ comments in chapter fifteen of the Gospel of John regarding the vine and branches and the necessity for there to be a cutting away of dead branches in order for the vine to produce fruit. Bowman wrote: "Ministry, like the life of the vine, has its seasons. One season of ministry comes to an end and another begins. If the church is to be as fruitful as God wants it to be today, we have to let go of some of the activity that produced fruit during the last season of the church’s ministry. This pruning is usually painful, because the loss is real, but its purpose is not to punish; it is to increase fruitfulness."[15]
Change creates tension, conflict, and pain. Change leaders will carefully guide their congregations through the process. Throughout our class discussions and my reading assignments, I have been very cognizant of the fact that the transformation process does not occur instantaneous. Malphurs noted that the change process can take as long as five years. Herrington, Bonem, and Furr remark that the transformational process can take as long as five to seven years, or even longer. Pastoral longevity is crucial in order for the change process to succeed. There is no short cut or quick fix. The transformational process is a struggle, much like the metamorphosis process of an ugly worm being transformed into a beautiful butterfly. In the end, the pastor who deliberately and carefully navigates the maze of change and the turbulent waters of transition will experience satisfaction and success in their ministry.
End Notes
[1] The Holy Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1.
[2] George Barna, "The Second Coming of the Church," Enrichment, Winter 2000, 13.
[3] Ibid., 13.
[4] Jim Herrington, Mike Bonem, James Furr, Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey, (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2000), xiii.
[5] Aubrey Malphurs, Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1998), 131.
[6] Alan Roxburgh, Crossing the Bridge: Church Leadership in the Time of Change, (Percept Group, Inc., 2000), 41.
[7] Leading Congregational Change: A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey, 16.
[8] Ibid., 18.
[9] Ibid., 159.
[10] Ibid., 159.
[11] Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives, (New York, New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 1988) 158.
[12] Crossing the Bridge, 109-110.
[13] Jim Collins, Good to Great, (New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., 2001), 94-97.
[14] Crossing the Bridge, 146.
[15] Ray Bowman, When Not to Build: An Architect’s Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2000), 108.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Are we there yet?
In my early morning prayer time, the phrase, "Are we there yet?" popped into my thoughts. So I began to listen to that still small voice reminding me that the journey is not complete and that my final destination is still before me. How I long to get there. And so, like a child, I find myself asking the Father, "Are we there yet?"
In our family devotions, we have been reading from the Gospel of Mark. So a little later this morning it just so happened (nothing just happens with God) that this was our passage:
Mark 13:21-37 (from THE MESSAGE)
No One Knows the Day or Hour
"If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. So watch out. I've given you fair warning. "Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. "And then they'll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky — no one will miss it! He'll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too — these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable. It's like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don't want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I'm saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch."
We began discussing the fact that we don't hear as much preaching in the church about the Second Coming of Christ as we did back in the late 60's and early 70's. There is not as much focus on Christ's return. In fact, a teenager recently said to me, "I hope He doesn't come too soon because I want to experience life, get married and have children." I wonder how many other believers have similar thoughts as this young friend? What would happen in our Christian walk if we were seriously looking forward to God's Son returning for His people? Would our lifestyle be different? Would our priorities change? Would we live differently?
"Are we there yet?' No, we're not. But that doesn't mean we should stop looking, expecting, and preparing for our future destination.
In our family devotions, we have been reading from the Gospel of Mark. So a little later this morning it just so happened (nothing just happens with God) that this was our passage:
Mark 13:21-37 (from THE MESSAGE)
No One Knows the Day or Hour
"If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. So watch out. I've given you fair warning. "Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. "And then they'll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky — no one will miss it! He'll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too — these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable. It's like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don't want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I'm saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch."
We began discussing the fact that we don't hear as much preaching in the church about the Second Coming of Christ as we did back in the late 60's and early 70's. There is not as much focus on Christ's return. In fact, a teenager recently said to me, "I hope He doesn't come too soon because I want to experience life, get married and have children." I wonder how many other believers have similar thoughts as this young friend? What would happen in our Christian walk if we were seriously looking forward to God's Son returning for His people? Would our lifestyle be different? Would our priorities change? Would we live differently?
"Are we there yet?' No, we're not. But that doesn't mean we should stop looking, expecting, and preparing for our future destination.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Pastor Appreciation
The month of October is set aside as a special time to honor pastors and their familes. In the Assemblies of God, we designate the second Sunday of October as National Ministers’ Day. This year it is October 8th.
I must admit that it is nice that to know that our pastors are going to be appreciated in a special way on a special day. However, it is just as important to remember and recognize them and their families every day of the year. The New American Standard Version reads, “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
I am convinced that the vast majorority of our pastors and ministers take seriously their call to ministry. They work hard, long, and sacrificially to fulfill their calling. There are times when they have to battle the feelings of lonlinest, disappointment, discouragement and even criticism. They wrestle with issues of personal finance. On one hand we live in a world which requires money to buy food, clothes, shelter, piano lessons and education for our children. Yet, at the same time, we are called upon to live a life of faith. It’s a matter of balance.
Ministers and their familes are living under incredible pressures. They live in a fishbowl. Congregations and communities observe and watch how the minister live out their faith in the the midst of a pressure packed world that surprises each one with crisis after crisis. The minister is often called upon to minister to a parishoner in crisis while at the same time dealing with his or her own personal crisis. In some cases people expect their pastor or minister to have ideal familes and be perfect people. There are sometimes the unrealistic expectations of having all the answers and to never let anyone down.
In spite of all the pressures, God has entrusted to your pastor, the calling to be your spiritual servant, your overseer, your guardian, the shepherd of the flock. A true shepherd of the flock will give his life for the sheep. I believe that is the attitude of your pastor. By the way, I believe that the same stresses and pressures apply to pastoral staff as well. They too experience the same calling and commitment as the senior pastor. Pastoral staff are “worthy of double honor” too.
Christianity Today listed eight ways to encourage your pastor that goes beyond just recognizing him or her on a special day or month. (1) Cut the cricism. Ministers are the most critiqued people. (2) Pray regularly. I am encouraged when I hear a congregation publicly lifting their pastor up in prayer. I suspect thhat those same people do so in their private prayers. (3) Express appreciating in writing. A spoken compliment is nice, but I have found written ones to be exceptionally encouraging. I have a “bless me” file filled with notes that I have kept over the years. They have been a tremendous encouragement in moments of personal despair. They can be read over and over again. (4) Use your skills to bless. Help your pastor master computer skills, if he is not proficient. If you are a mechanic, service his car. (5) Squelch gossip. If you hear a negative comment, respond with a positive one. If misinformation is being spread, correct it with accurate information. Walk away from gossip when you hear it. (6) Offer to meet a need. Instead of telling your pastor that he needs to do something about a particular need, why not instead offer to take care of that need yourself. (7) Be openly responsive. There is nothing so exciting as seeing people responding to one’s preaching and teaching. (8) Throw away the measuring stick. Don’t expect your pastor to do things the same way that their predecessors did. Focus oo how your pastor is being used by God to do effective ministry now. Put aside your own personal preference and agenda.
To these eight encouragements I would like to add two more that can be practiced and lived throughout the year. (9) Honor the pastor’s spouse. Their emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well being will enhance your pastor’s ministry. (10) Adopt the pastor’s children. I referred to my pastor’s daughter as "my #1 PK" (preacher's kid) and I treated her in royal fashion. Your pastor will appreciate your investment in their children's lives.
Do something special as an individual and as a congregation to honor your pastor and family.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Anger Destroys!
James 1:19-20 NIV
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
How do you control your anger? Or do you even try to keep it under control? There is a lot of anger being expressed throughout the world. Anger destroys. It destroys relationships. It destroys life. It will even destroy you. There is way too much anger being displayed today. "If it feels good, do it" should not be a reason for expressing ourselves so vehemently.
Anger in a minister's life works against him. In fact anger in any believer's life works against him or her. Anger is carnal - not spritual. It is a natural response - not supernatural. Anger reveals a lack of faith and trust in God. If we trust in God, we have faith in God to believe that our injustices will be met with peace and an awareness of God's purpose in our life. Any action that we take based on anger is bound to fail because it is being done in the flesh. Yes, there are examples in the Bible of God's anger. But the anger of God and the anger of man are not the same.
If you want to destroy your credibility, then let your anger rule. Visible anger works against you. It is the root of something else that needs to be addressed. That is why God asked Cain, "Why are you angry?" Cain's anger led to his murdering his brother, Abel.
It would be good to follow Paul's advice, "Be angry, and sin not."
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
How do you control your anger? Or do you even try to keep it under control? There is a lot of anger being expressed throughout the world. Anger destroys. It destroys relationships. It destroys life. It will even destroy you. There is way too much anger being displayed today. "If it feels good, do it" should not be a reason for expressing ourselves so vehemently.
Anger in a minister's life works against him. In fact anger in any believer's life works against him or her. Anger is carnal - not spritual. It is a natural response - not supernatural. Anger reveals a lack of faith and trust in God. If we trust in God, we have faith in God to believe that our injustices will be met with peace and an awareness of God's purpose in our life. Any action that we take based on anger is bound to fail because it is being done in the flesh. Yes, there are examples in the Bible of God's anger. But the anger of God and the anger of man are not the same.
If you want to destroy your credibility, then let your anger rule. Visible anger works against you. It is the root of something else that needs to be addressed. That is why God asked Cain, "Why are you angry?" Cain's anger led to his murdering his brother, Abel.
It would be good to follow Paul's advice, "Be angry, and sin not."
Monday, October 02, 2006
Celebrating Twenty-Five Years: Ellsworth Assembly of God
L-R: Treasures Past, Present, and Future
Treasures Past"The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Ps 118:23 NIV
Yesterday, I was invited back to Ellsworth Assembly of God to celebrate with the congregation their 25th Anniversary of the church's existance. It is hard to believe that 25 years ago, Jeanne and I drove into Ellsworth to plant a church. It has been quite a journey. It was fun to be among old friends and and make new acquaintances. Not only did we celebrate the past, we celebrated the present , and are looking to the future for this congregation. The verse above was used at our building dedication in 1986 and it still is true today. The establishing of the church was truely the work of God.
I preached a message titled "New Treasures and Old: Navigating and Transitioning Through Change." I used as my introductory text, Matthew 13:51-52:
"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied. He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
I then transitioned to my central text found in Luke 5:1-11.
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
My points were this: (1) Preliminary step: Our full attention is needed; Get in the right position and right place and get in the boat with Jesus, (2) Hear God's direction, (3) God's direction may seem unreasonable, (4) His direction requires our faithfulness, (5) God's direction brings fulfillment, (6) God's direction includes others (cooperation), (7) Give God the glory, (8) Leave the past behind (Get out of the boat with Jesus).
I preached a message titled "New Treasures and Old: Navigating and Transitioning Through Change." I used as my introductory text, Matthew 13:51-52:
"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied. He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
I then transitioned to my central text found in Luke 5:1-11.
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
My points were this: (1) Preliminary step: Our full attention is needed; Get in the right position and right place and get in the boat with Jesus, (2) Hear God's direction, (3) God's direction may seem unreasonable, (4) His direction requires our faithfulness, (5) God's direction brings fulfillment, (6) God's direction includes others (cooperation), (7) Give God the glory, (8) Leave the past behind (Get out of the boat with Jesus).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)