spiritual formation
Multiplying Your Ministry
This is the first part of some training I’m taking my leaders through at Western Hills. Here are the notes to part 1.
Couple of thoughts as we begin on this topic of multiplication.
First, when we speak of multiplying our ministry, what we are really talking about is multiplying people. People advance the Kingdom of God, not programs. Programs will and should come and go. Programs are tools to be used and evaluated and changed. Their effectiveness will change from year to year.
People on the other hand are the constant. It is people that we are called to multiply and make disciples. The life change stories, the relationships – these are what we are talking about when we talk about multiplying ministry.
Second, this is essential if we really want to be an outward-focused church that functions as the hands and feet of Christ to our community. ESSENTIAL. Any church or follower of Jesus that takes seriously the words of Jesus MUST effectively and consistently multiply their ministry. It is what is at the core of the Great Commission (Matthew 28).
Quick Exercise #1
List all the stuff you are involved in. School stuff, family stuff, church stuff, work stuff. Just a quick list that demands time of you other than specifically your job.
Keep that list handy – we are going to come back to it.
The 3 Circles Of Multiplication
I think there are 3 concentric circles that we need to think about when it comes to multiplication. No particular order, all are needed and important. Ministry, People, and Process.
Circle 1- Ministry WORTH multiplying
This is the program side of the equation. Lot’s of questions and issues we can deal with in this circle. Is it relevant? Is it fun? Is the effort it takes to pull it off worth it? Is it making a difference? Is it producing what we want it to?
But the fundamental, core question that MUST be dealt with is this: Is the focus of the ministry the same as God’s focus?
God’s focus is clear. Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Love God, Love Others, Serve All, Make Disciples who do the same. At Western Hills we articulate these as – Love, live and serve.
Just pay careful attention to question. It’s not “are there elements that support or participate in love, live and serve?” Almost every program does that in a church but not every program has it as its focus. The question is what is the real focus of that ministry? Is it reaching the lost, making disciples, serving the community? Time to be brutally honest.
Hold on to this question — put it right over here. Let me quickly hit the other two circles.
Circle 2 – People READY to Multiply
Should you multiply yourself in every person inside your ministry?
Harsh reality is NO. Every person deserves to be ministered to. NOT every person is ready to be multiplied into leadership. 2 Timothy 2:2 – invest in able, qualified people.
Some are not ready because of character issues, giftedness, competency, season of life.
Different roles will have different expectations.
The core question in this circle is this:
Do you invest in potential OR do you look for provenness?
Circle 3 – Process WORTH Multiplying
Key Question: Is there a simple yet proven process that moves people from spectator to participant to multiplier?
Lots of other questions go into this circle. Do you have processes that protect the people AND the ministry in case things go upside down? Do you have clearly defined roles and leaders in that process? Do you have markers that let you know you are heading the right direction? What skills and competencies are you looking for?
To successfully and consistently multiply leaders, all three of these circles need to have these key questions answered with definite action points.
The point tonight is not to answer all these questions or even flesh out all of these circles but rather to give us a 35,000k foot viewpoint of this process. To begin to start thinking in these terms so that as we add these pieces to the puzzle, multiplication can start happening.
Quick Exercise #2: The Importance of Ministry Worth Multiplying Circle
Take that list of activities that you created at the start of the evening.
Ask for volunteer.
There is a great opportunity to tutor at risk kids after school, using any curriculum I want. I can even use the scriptures for character studies but I need someone to help me, are you in?
First – any opportunity that I’m offered I’m first going to my list of stuff that I’m already involved in and I’m asking myself – is this opportunity WORTH fitting into my life? Either cramming it into an already packed life OR by saying NO to something else. WORTH is relatively defined.
I’m also going to evaluate my list of activities with this question – is this WORTH doing?
Second – as a leader – I want to make sure I define WORTH like God has defined WORTH. This is a love, live and serve opportunity. This is a Great Commandment/Great Commission opportunity.
My job as a leader is NOT to guilt people into showing up or participating. That won’t last and it’s not of God. My job is to be a champion of what God is doing. To point out the already there eternal value and worth of the opportunity.
Quick Exercise #3 – Take a ministry you are in and walk thru 3 circles answering key questions.
Example: Men’s Fraternity
Circle 1 – focus is to disciple men into being spiritual leaders who love, live and serve. YES, worth it.
Circle 2 – Need a key PROVEN leader for director/champion position. Same vision, passion for discipleship. Deep Christ-follower, self-starter, available to do it, teachable, high character, honest, not perfect, vulnerable.
Found the guy – now ready to start.
Circle 3 — Process proven to work
Other churches have their trophies, we don’t…yet. We have process we want to try, run with it and evaluate as we go.
Nor do we have a process to replace Director…yet. We will need to address this if this is going to make it beyond just one season. Every ministry needs to wrestle with that question otherwise focus becomes the program and filling slots.
4 Foundational Multiplication Principles
1. Make micro decisions with macro viewpoint of does this advance God’s Kingdom?
2. Call people NORTH. Even yourself.
Ask more of people than where they are. Don’t ever demand more of those around you than yourself. Keep Love, Live, Serve in the forefront.
3. Something is better than nothing.
It’s easier to steer than start. GO! Starting somewhere and changing it later is better than doing nothing until you have the perfect plan. We know what doing nothing produces – nothing.
4. Invest in PEOPLE, not the program.
Programs have shelf life. Our job isn’t to keep the program running. Our calling is to make disciples who love, live, and serve.
Open Questions, Comments, and Thoughts
Which circle should we start with? Depends. All three need to be developed and dealt with but program and condition of culture will have a HUGE role in determining which circle to tackle first.
Key entry points into ministries is PEOPLE (relationship) and MINISTRY (program) but long term investment will only happen if all three are developed.
PROCESS is the most neglected circle in most churches. They spend time and energy running around to fill slots instead of developing people. Must change in order to be a multiplying church.
Live Connected
This originally appeared on whillschurch.org as a weekly devo.
Part 4 of Vision Devo series.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Live Connected is perhaps the most difficult of the three (love, live, and serve). It’s the easiest to misunderstand and hardest to actually do.
There are two common misunderstandings of what “live connected” means. The first is a small group dedicated to the gaining of knowledge. Bible study, Sunday school, and most small groups are of this variety. We study the scriptures, we look and listen for insights and we will talk about how it COULD apply in real life. The other misunderstanding is a group dedicated to accomplishing a task. Ministry teams – youth, children, worship, tech team – any group that has an event or specific task to accomplish.
It’s possible to live connected with each of these two groups but most of the time it doesn’t happen. Why? Because to live connected is messy. It’s allowing other people access to our lives in a way that gives them the right and responsibility to speak truth to us and to love on us for the purpose of life change, to look more like Jesus. That’s the key difference between live connected and just a bible study or serving together. Life change, vulnerability, authenticity – these are necessary for live connected.
Take a look at your current small group experience. Is the purpose of that group life change? To challenge and love each other towards Christ-likeness? Or is it just the pursuit of more Bible knowledge? Or the accomplishment of a task? There’s nothing WRONG with those two other options. It’s just that those alone will not result in life change.
Why is live connected even necessary? Because we won’t naturally strive for life change on our own…at least long term. We need encouragement, a model, and even accountability for this to happen. We can’t “love our neighbor as ourselves” without others. Jesus modeled this for us.
It’s part of our mantra because we know that it will be impossible for us to be who God wants us to be without the ministry of others in our life. Impossible.
I Pray by Granger Community Church
Prayer from Granger Community Church on Vimeo.
You can bet we’ll be using this soon at Western Hills….what a message.
Be incredibly uncomfortable while teaching the scriptures
We are finishing up our series on money – How To Be Rich – which we completely stole the idea from Life Church in Tulsa. But going through the series has reinforced just how uncomfortable I am teaching on money. I mean…really uncomfortable. I don’t think this is a good thing seeing how Jesus said an awful lot about money. A quick look into my sermon history shows that you can count the sermons I have on money on one hand.
Part of this is because there are pastors and ministries that this subject is ALL they talk about. Every sermon or bible study points to us giving money to the church – namely their ministry. Gold plated altars, slick back hair, $1000 suits all reinforce the thought that religious leaders just want your money — they are no different than the used car salesman. Work their angle to get your dough. One uses cars, the other uses spirituality.
But part of it is because I often find myself trying to do exactly what scriptures says that is impossible to do – worshiping both God and money. WHAT??? “Grant worships MONEY!!” No, I’d never admit that BUT…let me give an example of how subtle and sneaky the worship of money is.
Answer this question – are you successful?
What was your first answer? Why did you give that answer? Was one of your first thoughts of how much money you make or don’t make? What you do and do NOT have? At times – that is how I answer the question. Not out loud, of course. I mean, I can’t be having people really know how stupid and shallow I am at times. But to myself — sometimes…yeah, that’s exactly how I answer it — by my income and stuff.
We define “success” by what we think is most important in our life — our “god”, if you will. And when I’m not careful or thoughtful, my default position easily becomes how much money I don’t have.
There is another way to answer the question but it requires a bit of discipline and thought – two things I’m not always good at. Am I successful? I’ve got incredible kids who at this moment seem very much tender and open to the things of God. I’ve got the best (in quality) extended family in the world. There is close to 20 years of life change stories because of our work with dear people who have become family. There are countless lives who will now spend eternity with Jesus because of our investment in Kingdom things. Right now, I’m watching two men of God grow into DEEP men of God and they are RADICALLY allowing the Spirit change them.
It doesn’t make me any less uncomfortable…as was pretty apparent this past Sunday. But — hopefully what will come through is this: I’m a fellow learner on this journey on becoming rich the way God wants us to be rich – generous, living below our means, having margin so that we are able to be generous.
Does this job ever get easier? (Please don’t answer that question, I already know the answer…)
Rowland Smith…is he back?
There is no hiding my man-crush (bromance) with Rowland Smith. Never mind the fact that I am the only person on the planet that calls him “Row” or that he will allow to call him “Row.” Never mind the fact that he completely rocks the metro-sexual worship pastor quiz. He is writing again and that is always a good thing. It’s better than a good thing, it’s a great thing.
Here is his blog and this is his latest post. Just go read it and start following his blog. I promise you will be challenged both personally AND in your understanding of worship.
If you don’t know Rowland, let me give you a short introduction. He’s the most talented worship leader I’ve ever worked with. This talent causes both elation and frustration for those who work with him. There is no way around this and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s what drives us deeper in our understanding of God, deeper in our worship of Him. It’s what helps create memorable worship experiences that become spiritual markers for people.
I promise you this – if you start reading Rowland (and let’s pray he continues to write for a while…), you will be challenged. And let’s be honest, we need this.
His post today is outstanding. Check him out.
Serving is BOTH
This originally was posted on our church website as the devo of the week…by a couple of hours.
Oswald Chambers is my Yoda and Obi Wan combined in terms of spiritual mentors. So why is there a picture of Iron Man? I’ll get to that in a minute…but I read My Utmost For His Highest every year. Every year I find something new and challenging. It’s been the single most life changing book I’ve read other than Scripture itself. There are lots of times I find stuff I don’t like. But that is altogether different. Jesus says a lot of things I don’t like…doesn’t make them untrue.
I read this on Monday and it’s challenging me… Here’s what Oz said…
Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Emphasis mine.
Here they are – the two opposing thoughts of how and why we should serve standing in tension with each other. The first thought is that we need to be changed first, have “it” together before we serve so that we aren’t hypocrites. The other thought is we serve because it’s only through serving that we are changed and eventually we will have “it” together.
Oz is saying — and I agree with him — BOTH are true. Our service is what we bring to God – mess and all – AND it’s the result of WHAT He is doing inside of us. And God uses it all to make us more like Jesus.
Hence, Ironman. Tony Starks is a mess but he serves anyway. And through his serving, he becomes a hero – both as Ironman and eventually as a man. He serves because he knows he OUGHT to and he sees something that needs to change. Both in the world and in himself. He knows he’s a mess but he serves anyway and it’s through serving that the change starts to happen. Not all at once. It’s in stages. It’s a process. But his setbacks aren’t excuses to stop serving.
It’s easy to see the parallels, right? The call to SERVE ALL is both an opportunity to change the world, worship, make a difference AND be changed, transformed, and challenged. And you don’t have to have “it” all together. That’s the beauty of Jesus. He’ll take our pieces, our mess and use it. For the good of others as well as ourselves.
It will be impossible for us to become who God wants us to be without serving. IMPOSSIBLE. So any thought of getting good BEFORE we serve, it’s not just a pipe dream. It’s a lie from the enemy to keep us from serving, to keep us from experiencing the life change God has for us and it keeps so many potentially awesome servants of God on the sideline.
To steal another quote from Oswald – Never let the sense of past failure defeat your next step.
Time to fire up the suit and start serving…
I’m Back…And Nationwide
You can’t really go wrong with a ZZ Top reference to start the year.
This year, the Church Council is getting focused on answering the questions – what does a spiritual leader look like and HOW do we become that, how do we model that, how do we reproduce that, celebrate that, and empower that? If we are going to be a Love, Live, Serve church that impacts our city (and beyond) it’s crucial we know and become deeper servant leaders. Can’t reproduce what you aren’t, right?
So this morning was our first gathering attempting to seek God’s answers to this question. We meet twice a month, once solely for study and prayer, the second for study and decisions. Here are most of the thoughts that hit the floor this morning.
I put them out here for a couple of reasons. First, I want our congregation to know that leadership is more than just making decisions and meeting once a month. At least it’s more than that here. It’s about character development, it’s about creating a culture where God gets the last word. It’s having the audacity to say “I don’t know, I need some clarity from God on this.” Second reason is often times the journey is just as important as the destination.
At some point in this coming year, we will have some answers to those questions. And those answers will drive us to the next step at Western Hills in what we do in reproducing spiritual leaders. Those answers will define what programs we do and don’t do, what projects we tackle and which ones we pass on. But for now — we’re seeking, we’re listening. And that’s okay…and that kind of discipline is best done in community.
So consider this an invitation to listen with us.
Tuesday, January 4, 7:00 am
Opening Question:
What is a spiritual leader? What does he/she look like? What scriptures help form this kind of person?
1 Peter 3:1 - Wives submit to your husbands. (This was given by a woman around the table, by the way.)
“There is a need for us to understand the goodness of submission, especially submission to Jesus. We submit because He loves us, He leads us. He wants best for us. Submission is at the heart of servant leaders.”
“Not compartmentalized in their understanding of God.”
“Faithful in small things.”
“Can hold the paradoxes of our faith humbly. Truth AND grace.”
Galatians 2:20
“Famous first part of verse most of us know — it is not I that I live but Christ in me. Larger focus needs to shift to second half of verse – the life I NOW live, I live by FAITH in the Son who loves me and gave Himself for me.”
What do we do with those people who see and hear the truth of deeper spiritual waters but won’t go there? Not the people who CAN’T go there – because of hurt and need healing. But rather those that willfully say – “No, don’t want any of that kind of Jesus?”
How do we get people to the place of maturity in Christ?
What are the gauges for us to know if we are heading in the right direction?
What thermometers are there for us to let us know if we are doing this right?
Do we know where that place is well enough to start with? If we can’t answer the WHAT, it doesn’t matter how we answer the HOW.
Most people are sick of church, tired of church. Is it possible to be a spiritual leader without the Church?
GE: This is a question we need to return to again. Lots of implications in this question…
Colossians 4:1-6
Spiritual leaders pray and seek for the opportunities to speak about the ‘mystery’ of God wherever they are. They church where ever they find themselves.
What scriptures have formative power over us? What scriptures have challenged us to change and be better people and leaders?
GE’s thoughts:
This is a starting point. We have to be able to answer the WHAT question before the HOW. What are we trying to reproduce in the life of another believer? This is by no means a final answer but a starting point for us as we seek to articulate God’s grid for Western Hills and what it means to be a spiritual leader here.
Being a spiritual leader is multi-faceted to be sure. There are some skills and competencies that I’d like to see but the baseline is character. The stuff that is harder to see and evaluate. Paul gives his list in Ephesians.
Ephesians 4:1-6
Walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling….
7 key thoughts of what it means to walk worthy of the calling…
1. humility – self-explanatory, not self-serving, not false humility
2. gentleness – the lack of an edge with people. There is no way to get around the stumbling block of Jesus. Just let that block be Jesus, not my personality.
3. patience – Am I as long suffering with others as I pray God to be with me?
4. accepting with love – everybody has baggage. love them anyway, in spite of their junk.
5. diligent about unity of Body – diligence not about status quo but unity and….
6. Unity is based on Christ – not on traditions, programs, my ego, etc.
7. lives with knowledge that God is in all, around all – non-compartmentalized
Great starting point…more to come.
Trumpet Practice and Reason #30 of Why I’m In A Life Group
Camber is learning the trumpet. She’s very good at it…considering that she’s only been playing since August. She comes home every afternoon and practices. She’ll do her scales, she’ll warm up, then she’ll tackle her music.
And I’ve been impressed with the progress. Yes, those first few practices she sounded like a harpooned whale on life support in an Seinfeld episode. But she kept blowing that horn and now – she’s good. I can recognize the tunes. And they are in time. And she likes playing.
But having a trumpet player in the family means that the whole family is committed to the process. You don’t secretly practice the trumpet. It doesn’t happen. We don’t have to ask Camber if she’s practiced her trumpet. We know. When she is about to start, she walks through the house warning us – “I’m about to rattle the roof with the awesomeness of the brass horn!”
And the more she practices, the more enjoyable it is. For us all.
This is the idea behind Life Groups. We know if someone is practicing because we’re around. We see it. We hear it. We experience it with them. It’s the idea of practicing our serve or other spiritual discipline. It’s awkward at first but the more we practice, the more enjoyable it is for us all.
And because life-change is a public thing, we see and hear and taste and know the difference. It’s obvious. And we want to celebrate it when it happens well.
Just another reason.
Reasons 14-29 of Why I Am In A Life Group
You can check out the first 13 reasons if you missed them. After that conversation, I’ve been asking folks the same question when I remember. Here are more of the answers.
14. I know I have others praying for me.
15. And with me.
16. My kids get to have cool friends.
17. My older kids get to learn how to serve younger kids.
18. I don’t have to pretend to be okay with these people.
19. Finally found another adult to play Halo with. (names are withheld to protect the guilty.)
20. Gives my kids access to other adult believers.
21. I’m learning to be a better parent.
22. I’m learning to be a better spouse.
23. I feel more connected to God.
24. I have free emergency baby-sitters.
25. I now know how to pray to God.
26. I know someone I can borrow power tools from.
27. It’s where I can learn about Jesus without all the big, churchy words.
28. I feel more connected on Sunday morning.
There aren’t too many situations more intimidating than walking into a room full of people and not knowing the name of single person. It’s like that dream of showing up at school with nothing on but your underwear. And don’t lie to me either, we’ve all had it. That feeling of being exposed, vulnerable. HATE IT!! I had a friend tell me this week that looking for a church home was harder than finding a home to live in.
A Life Group is huge in bridging this gap on Sunday morning. It’s going to be difficult to feel connected without deep, meaningful relationships. A Life Group is THE way to develop these kinds of relationships.
And it doesn’t have to always be serious stuff. I know a life group that is going to carve jack-o-lanterns together this weekend.
Reason #29 – Learn how to carve a pumpkin.
We Still Doing See You At The Pole?
As I was dropping Cooper off at school yesterday, I noticed about 12 to 13 students gathered around the flagpole.
“Holy cow, man. How did we miss this? Today is See You At The Pole?”
Cooper: “Yeah…I guess it is.”
We just sat there for a moment and then Coop said, “Should I go to that instead of my club meeting?”
“Do what you think God is telling you to do.”
“I’m going on to my club meeting.”
“Great choice.”
I then hugged him & kissed him and told him to make wise choices in a loud voice.
Okay – I didn’t do that last line. Would never do that.
But as far as choices go, Cooper made a great one right then and there. Go to a club meeting with other students where the vast majority do NOT know Jesus and be the church with them? Or withdraw around a pole to pray for the school then never engage in NON-believing relationship the rest of the year?
I’m not anti-SYATP. I just don’t want to hear how it’s one of the most important things a student or a student pastor can do on a middle school or high school campus. It’s not. It’s not even in the top 200. And what started out as a cool tool to connect other student believers at the beginning of the school year, has morphed into a combative standoff with school administrations in some cities. Isn’t that the exact OPPOSITE of what we’re supposed to be doing?
If we really want to see God change a campus, join a club or a team and start being the Church in that context. SYIOCISIJN is what we need… See You Involved On Campus In Something In Jesus’ Name. And it needs to be all year long as we teach and coach students how to church in their school, how to be a person of blessing in Jesus’ name on their team, in the classrooms, with their friends.
The LIFE Series takes a twist
Our current series has an interesting story behind it. Our mantra at Western Hills is Love God, Live Connected, Serve All. A believer needs to traveling in these three key areas – worship, transformative small group, and service – for them to be maturing in Christ Jesus. The church then is a conduit to participate in these activities. Those two simple statements pack a lot of punch in terms of programming (or lack thereof) and preaching. Quite bluntly it means asking the question is what we do and what we say line up with Love, Live, and Serve?
Take our current series (LIFE: Living Connected in a Disconnected World) for example. When we put this on the calendar (last year) it was a value decision. If Love, Live, and Serve are real values and really core, we are going to HAVE to teach on them…consistently and creatively. Not enough to JUST illustrate them, put them on the walls, in the bulletin, and in the announcements.
While the last 4 weeks of this series have been good, I’m amped about how we are closing out the series over the next 4 weeks. We’ve looked at the theoretical and practical implications of living connected and why it’s important. Now it’s time to hear some real life stories how a life group experience really changes people and how that change impacts the world around them. Here is the journey in front of us for the next 4 weeks. I’m super amped about the twist in the series!!
John Mark – how he discovers his identity and gifts.
Barnabas – how an investor of resources and time develops others.
Ruth & Naomi – how fierce loyalty and belonging led to believing.
Zipporah – how keeping others accountable led to the Exodus.
Reggie McNeal and the Future of Church
I had the incredible honor of listening to Reggie talk yesterday. I’ve read his books, I’ve heard him multiple times – he never gets old. It’s like listening to Yoda…and he’s about that same height. My favorite quotes from yesterday.
Being missional starts with the understanding that Christianity is not a western philosophy but an encounter with the real person of Jesus.
I’m not here to help you do church better. I’m here to challenge you to BE the church FOR your community, not just IN your community.
The Church, not A church. When people say “a church” they reveal that they don’t get it. We are THE church. We church wherever we go.
Missional Church is a redundant term.
Missional is simply the people of God partnering with Him in His redemptive mission in the world. He is already at work, we are to be a people of blessing in that work.
The Church is a people of blessing. This mission predates the church because blessing is the character of God himself. See Genesis 12.
How can we practice being the church? Start asking “how can we be a people of blessing?” How can we bless at our jobs, schools, clubs, social circles, city, community?
Every church ought to have at least one school they have adopted. Showing up at a school once a year to paint the playground is NOT a partnership. Pray for those teachers, provide school supplies, ask them – “what do you need to help you overcome the obstacles that you are facing?”
The problems of our community first manifest themselves in our schools.
We aren’t the point. The Church isn’t the point. Thinking the point is the church is like thinking the airport is the point of travel. We go to places and the airport is the means to the ends. It’s a vital part of our journey but the journey isn’t about spending time in the airport. The Airport is a tool. Same for church – she is a connector to real LIFE and Kingdom.
One of the largest obstacles we face in the West is the Outsource Mindset. We outsource everything – car maintenance, lawn mowing, education and even spiritual formation. Program based churches feed this monster. What is needed is more people-development, more life on life, as we go, in the middle of life church.
The Nines Highlights, Part 1
This isn’t all the speakers but these were the ones that resonated the most with me.
Dino Rizzo
1 Samuel 15. Stay small so that God can stay big. The big hinges on the small. The small is – writing thank you notes, shaking hands, being available, staying connected, noticing people.
Jenni Catron
Real leaders navigate through the gray. Nehemiah did this, beyond the problem to the solution to HOW the solution should be pursued. Gray is an opportunity to hear God and obey Him.
John Bishop
Until he dealt with his own son’s addiction to heroin, he never really understood the heart of the Father in Luke 15. Then we did it changed everything. Risk everything so that everyone can know Jesus.
Frank Turk
Loved this guy — simple concept of gamechanger — treat people as if they really exist and they belong to Jesus.
Dave Ferguson
A movement requires a YES reflex. When we ask HOW we sow seeds of doubt. HOW is a strategy answer to a VISION question. YES does NOT mean we fund it or staff it. YES is permission to dream and explore. YES is a coute de ta against clergy only ministry.
Eric Bramlett
The importance of saying NO. Funny. Not sure how many people got his humor at our site.
Scott Williams
Personally — my favorite one this morning. Change your perspective, change the game. What you see is often what you look for. “Is this a black church or a white church?” That’s the stupidest question ever. What he was really asking was – “Will I be accepted there?” Diversity on the stage will equal diversity in the pews.
Jorge Acevedo
Move from a heroic solo leader to a team generative leader. Can’t have every single decision flow through one single person. Set up processes and teams that elevate and advance the vision and values.
Troy Gramling
Don’t trust a spiritual leader without a limp. Not all pain is good pain but some pain must be endured because it helps us heal faster.
Toby Slough
Powerful story of the awesomeness of authenticity in leadership.
LIFE Week 2 Thoughts
The progression seems simple enough –
We are spiritual beings first therefore real meaning of life is going to found in the spiritual.
We were created and designed for intimate relationships. Relationships have great meaning to us.
God designed these relationships to be both vertical (with Himself) and horizontal (with others).
The best way to develop and deepen these spiritual relationships is in the context of a smaller group.
The purpose of a Life Group is to connect with God and others for the purpose of life change – to look more like Jesus.
2 Incomplete Small Group Experiences that get confused for a Life Group.
#1 – Ministry Teams – groups that are organized and function around a task.
#2 – Bible Studies – groups that are focused on knowledge.
It’s possible to be active in both of these of groups and never connect with God or experience life change.
The key to it all is authenticity. When we take off our mask and reveal who we really are – our hurts, fears, failures.
The mask we wear is a double-edged sword. We wear it because it does offer some form of protection. One of the greatest fears we have as people is if they knew who I really was, they wouldn’t want anything to do with me.
The same mask that offers a little protection is also the exact thing that prevents true healing. Jesus will always demand that the mask come off first.
Mark 5 is a tragic tale of an entire community that didn’t want to be authentic.
Authenticity will cost you something. It’s expensive. It’s worth it – but it does cost something.
My Thoughts About The New Series: LIFE, Week 1
Our new series LIFE got a HUGE start with the help of the Creative Team turning our entire set into a kitchen and then our fine actors knocking the drama right out of the park.
As our actors so wonderfully asked — is this all there is to LIFE? I have a nagging feeling there is more to it than what I know and am experiencing.
Some of the nuggets said on Sunday morning…
Humanity’s search for happiness and meaning is hindered by two fatal blind spots.
First, we are spiritual beings with a body, not a physical being with a soul. Therefore, first priority should be given to our souls. More often, the physical/temporal gets priority over the spiritual/eternal.
Second, we were designed by God for intimacy. Relationships that are vertical and horizontal. It’s why the Greatest Commandment were about intimacy vertical (love God) and and horizontal (love others).
How Jesus established His ministry and His Church addresses these two blind spots. His focus on the Word of God and the use of a small group of disciples.
The decision to use a small group as basis for His Church and discipleship model was purposeful and still useful for the church today. And it’s why we do Life Groups at WHBC.
It is impossible to be mature in Christ without a small group experience. The large communal worship time is the appetizer to the main course. Live, Love, and Serve can best be incarnated in Life Groups.
Good start to what I think is going to be a fantastic series.
The Silence of God
Had a friend confide in me this:
People keep talking about how our prayers aren’t answered because we don’t pray correctly. I get exasperated at that notion. Are there set rules for how you approach a deity? I understand that “oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz” is probably not what prayer is all about. AND I know James speaks about not being double minded when we pray. But I find it hard to believe that when I pray about something that appears to go unanswered (or not answered in the way I would like it to be) that this is due to my not speaking the right words in the right way. I think that unanswered prayer has more to due with the differences in our perspective as opposed to God’s perspective.
My first thought is this – all prayer is answered. All. It’s either a yes, no, or wait. Having said that, it doesn’t make the silence of God any easier to understand. I remember as a kid asking for something and the worse possible answer you could get was “wait” or “not now.” The. Absolute. Worst. Answer. Ever.
Wait is ambiguity at its best. Wait tests to the core the true character of who I am…and the failure rate is at times alarming. Wait is that sick feeling at the top of the roller coaster in between the climb and when the bottom falls out from underneath you. Looking back — it’s a split second. In that moment — it’s an eternity. Wait. Not now.
What would happen in that split second at the top of the coaster if I decided I was tired of waiting and did something about it? Like — get out of the coaster. Unhooked the safety harness? Unpacked a sandwiched and a drink to stay for a while? It’s ridiculous to think like that, isn’t it? The impatience would get you killed. The complacency would get you messy. The only response that makes sense in that moment is readiness…just be ready. Do what you know to do — which on a coaster is raise up your hands and scream like a little girl.
Real life is that coaster – our life is but a vapor – about the length of a coaster ride. And I’m not trying to diminish the moment between the climb and drop. There is real hurt, frustration, confusion, and anguish in those moments. But that just further amplifies what God says to us — BE STILL and KNOW. Don’t get ahead, don’t lag behind. Be ready. Wait. Be still. It’s not a ‘unpack the lunch, pitch the tent’ kind of wait. It’s not a run ahead of God kind of wait. It’s a wait kind of wait. Active, ready, stillness wait.
Stillness is different than complacency. But that might just be another post.
The Edge of the Gospel
I said this in church last week – I believe we are in a position to push the edge of the Gospel into the edge of culture. But it’s going to require some risk and the end of ourselves. We’re seeing God do awesome things with the Pottawatomie, in Brazil and even in our own culture and neighborhoods.
I think God captured me with this thought in Brazil and He’s repeating this idea this week at camp. We’re studying Moses and his conversation with God in Exodus 33. There are some radical things in this chapter!!
Moses challenging God to lead and if He doesn’t lead, then end the trip to the promise land immediately.
God responding to Moses saying — All right. I’ll make it happen.
God promising Moses – “I will be on the journey with you and I will see it to the end.”
The rest of the nation standing at attention outside the Tent of Meeting waiting to hear from God, expecting to hear from Him and ready to move in obedience.
Moses wanting more of God, to see His glory. God allowing him to do so.
The boldness of Moses, the responses of God — it’s challenging my heart this week. More to come.
RAFT, Part 2
How important is RAFT?
RAFT must be a non-negotiable for an organization to have long term success in developing people. There really should be no compromising on these four traits – responsive, available, faithful, and teachable. If we cheat on these early, the consequences get steep even fatal later.
The plain truth of the matter is that these are in fact unavoidable. You WILL deal with them one way or another. It’s inevitable. Choosing to ignore them out of the gate is akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. (Which is both a worn-out cliche and a horrible movie.) General rule of thumb is the more you compromise early, the more you’ll have to compromise later. An entrenched non-RAFT person is miserable, makes everyone around them miserable and CAN infect the whole system. And we’re not doing them any favors either because whatever missing piece they have is hindering their effectiveness. No amount of gifting and training will compensate for a missing RAFT piece.
So what’s the answer? Only accept those RAFTs? What about someone who is only missing a letter? What if you’ve got a RFT or a AFT or a FAR? (I’d make more acronyms but it’s getting dangerous.) Instead of punting them to the curb, I’d start with the missing letter. If Joe is an awesome candidate for a leadership role but he’s just so busy with work, then that’s the first thing we approach. “Joe, I see a ton of potential. Faithful, teachable, and all around responsive and pleasant to be with. But your schedule…what’s up with that? To be effective, you’ve got to be available. How are we going to tackle this?”
And we stay on that issue until it is resolved. I’ll stay on the journey with them as long as I’m seeing some progress and we stay working on that foundational issue.
However, there is a tipping point. This is when the potential is seen, a taste of what could be is had and the potential monster leader realizes that to go any further and deeper is going to require a significant personal change. Will they take the plunge or walk away? Will you as a leader take them to that point ON PURPOSE or will you avoid that point? Will you hold loosely and allow God to deal in His time and His way? Will we have the same courage to do as Jesus did and watch them “walk away sad because he was a man of great wealth?”
In that moment – I try to do everything I can to not compromise RAFT as well as keep the door open for them to return, to try again.
Next up: Where does gifting fit in developing people?
I’m Looking for a RAFT
This is part of the Beyond The Starting 5 project. A writing safari where I explore the idea of what people-development looks like in the local church. I have no idea what I’m doing, mileage may vary.
“What exactly are you looking for when you look for a great volunteer?”
I think a lot of people set themselves up for failure right out of the gate because they don’t have a good answer to this question. They either expect too little or too much. Both errors are costly.
I just need a warm body. Wrong answer. If you get the wrong person with the wrong gifting with the wrong passion in the wrong place, it is just going to make everyone involved miserable. The worker, the leader, the participants — it will be like poison. Plus, if they don’t know they are the wrong person with the wrong gifting and the wrong passion, it may take years to fix that problem and all of the sudden the collateral damage will be huge. A warm body is expecting WAY too little.
We need Jesus, we’ll settle for Paul. Then there is the other extreme – expecting new volunteers to be mature, gifted, and skilled in leading a bible study with middle school boys their first night. Or being able to deal with a difficult topic the first Life Group. This is the “God knows I need this particular person and He will bring that person to me” mindset. It’s dangerous because disciples are made, leaders are developed. They don’t hatch and miraculously show up.
So what’s the baseline? This is where the RAFT comes in. Responsive (gets things done), Available, Faithful (dedicated), and Teachable.
If a person has those 4 key traits, I’m willing to roll the dice with them. Being teachable is probably the biggest one. If the person can’t or won’t listen to coaching, God will have to break them some more before they are ready for leadership.
I was talking with a bunch of other pastors in town about the baseline of leadership development and the question was asked if the person had to be a believer. For example – could a non-Christian guitarist play on the worship team? For most of the guys, the answer was no. Part of their baseline for serving and being developed — they already had to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. In other words, one would have to belong before they could be invested in and developed.
I disagree. I went back to the RAFT. If a person has those 4 key characteristics and they are willing to take the journey — I am too. Serving and people development then becomes another avenue for people to connect with Jesus and His church. Now, I’m not going to set this person up as a Life Group Leader or a teacher. BUT – not having a relationship with Jesus is not going to be the excluder for being invested in and developed.
I got a little push back on this and I told the guys — In your scenario, the person leaves the church and probably doesn’t come back. In my scenario, they have to spend 1.5 hour ‘band’ practice a week playing songs about Jesus. They have to sit through 2 services on Sunday morning. They have to research and listen to music they probably don’t normally listen to — which will be about Jesus. Then they are going to develop relationships with members of our worship team and figure out they all aren’t crazy. I’ll take my chances that my person is going to meet Jesus before your person does.
But — RAFT will only go so far. Can’t just stay there and that be considered development. More on that later.
First Thoughts On New Series: Hostage
Wow. What a start to a series.
Yesterday we dealt with bitterness and I’m already hearing God-stories. The highlights for me:
The only solution to bitterness is forgiveness. Only those who’ve been forgiven can really give forgiveness.
And forgiveness is NOT about justifying the hurt. It’s about moving us to a place to be healed. Without this healing, we’ll end up poisoning ourselves as well as those around us.
Had the opportunity to pray with people for forgiveness and a new start.
Going to be a great series….going to see a lot of healing over the next few weeks.
The Starting Blocks of Beyond the Starting 5
This is part of the Beyond The Starting 5 project. A writing safari where I explore the idea of what people-development looks like in the local church. I have no idea what I’m doing, mileage may vary.
My first attempt in trying to ‘institute’ this idea of people-development was with a team of youth volunteers. We were all eager and excited but we quickly realized we had one major problem. None of us really knew where to start. Part of the problem (and maybe I should have listed this as another obstacle) was that so few of us were really developed (discipled) in the first place. And those of us who were had two opposite extreme experiences.
The Navigators/Crusade/Para-church Method
There is a point A and a point B. There is a mentor and a mentee. There is a definite path to take and way to do it. And we will ONLY do it that way. Learn this tract, this subject, this method. When we get the checklist done, you are ‘discipled’ and ready to lead.
There is a lot to like in this method. It covers the basics. It’s easy to understand. It’s focused. It’s structured. Some would argue TOO STRUCTURED.
However, there are some limitations to it. It’s often times more focused on getting a person enough KNOWLEDGE to perform a certain task than it is developing them as a person. The goal is to either get that person to lead a small group Bible study or share their faith. Both tasks are awesome things but it’s not necessarily developing the person. It still functions like “we train to run the program” instead of developing the person. When this kind of method runs into someone who doesn’t fit, the job is no longer trying to develop that person but to find someone else who does fit.
I’m not saying it’s incorrect. It’s just incomplete. And while this method rubs us visionary/abstract random people the wrong way, let’s face it — for years (decades?) it was still better than anything the local church or denominations were putting out. Which could probably be best summarized by this…
The Osmosis/If You Throw Enough Stuff On The Wall It Will Stick Method
Get a little Old Testament, a lot of Gospel, a little Revelation, a dash of the Letters. We’ll sprinkle in some current events and hot button issues that really aren’t hot button issues for those outside the church walls (worship style, dress codes, women in ministry, denomination politics). We’ll meet once a week and ask questions like “have you just lied to me” which puts us in this “Spiritual Police” mentality. Just hang around people who look like they know what they are doing and eventually you will catch “it.”
There is a lot that goes wrong with this method. Those people who look like they have it together really don’t. Ends up they are more focused on keeping the mask on. If people found out how messed up they (I) were, they’d be kicked off the team, out of the church. Besides that piety is easier than messy spirituality.
BUT – the one true nugget of this method that shouldn’t be missed is that true people development is going to mean hanging around people and getting involved in their TRUE story BEFORE we figure out the destination.
Every time I get a chance to sit down with another ministry leader, I’ll ask this question:
“When you start to develop and invest in person, what are the markers you want to hit? How do you know that your discipleship/people development process is working?”
And that’s the question I’ll tackle next. Unless something else comes up.
I Can’t Believe I’m Raising 2 Girls
I honestly believe that the Disney Corporation has it out to ruin my daughters. I’ve already ranted about Tinkerbell and the disaster she is. Now Miley Cyrus comes out with her new video – You Can’t Tame Me – and I was saying to myself — “Self, haven’t I seen this somewhere before?” when I stumbled on Walt Mueller’s wonderful piece about the metamorphosis of teen pop stars to adults and how Miley is just following in the footsteps of past Disney stars of Simpson, Spears, Lohan, and Aguilera. The article is worth a read, in fact, Walt is a great read for any parent of teenagers. He’s one sharp cookie when it comes to culture and God.
I’ll be the first to admit that the ‘system’ isn’t helping. The industry makes this huge push to ‘grow up’ and then defines ‘growing up’ with sexuality instead of character and maturity.
But maybe I need to take a step back. It can’t all be Disney’s fault, right? I mean, at some point it’s on me. They aren’t holding a gun to my head making me buy the stuff or keep the TV on that channel. I’m ultimately responsible (to some degree) as to what images and models of maturity I put in front of my girls, right?
I get that the culture has this momentum of sin and sexuality to it. I get that it’s getting next to impossible to even watch sports and get away from it (thank you Tiger, Roethlisberger). It’s crazier than it’s ever been. Agreed.
But we fed the beast, now the beast is ready to feed.
We fed the beast by becoming the first generation in history to be completely kid-centric. I wonder in the pursuit of wanting things bigger and better for our kids, we instead made them worse? Do we dare ask how many family calendars are dominated and driven by the kids? Their sports, activities, hobbies, and entertainment have become the drivers of the family agenda.
And I wonder in so doing, we’ve modeled and taught them that they are the center of their own universe. Have we lied to them in allowing them to believe that, like Miley, they are the main character in the story of life which is about them? I think we created some of this mess by not saying “No.”
“No – you can’t watch that. You can’t listen to that. You can’t play that video game. You can’t watch that movie. Because I love you and you deserve better than to put that junk in your head and fool yourself that is reality.”
And my girls are old enough now that saying “no” isn’t enough. They need more than that. They need to know that a truly beautiful woman is one who loves God deeply and cares for other people, a woman that can laugh at herself and knows she’s valuable not because she is pretty but rather she is pretty because she is so valuable – in character and spirit.
And yes, there are times I feel like I am fighting a losing battle against the world and Disney isn’t helping. Fortunately, I worship a God that’s got a larger imagination and larger arsenal than that.
Obstacles and Developing People In The Church
This is part of the Beyond The Starting 5 project. A writing safari where I explore the idea of what people-development looks like in the local church. I have no idea what I’m doing, mileage may vary.
I don’t like talking about obstacles. I think it’s counter-productive. Especially if you spend more time focusing on the obstacle instead of just doing the mission. However, the reality is there are obstacles to any movement or change and sometimes it’s nice to know what you’re facing. (And no, this list isn’t exhaustive but I think these are the “big ones.”)
Not all obstacles are really obstacles. Not everything that slows us down is an obstacle. Sometimes they keep us from hitting landmines and running off a cliff. I remember moving into a new ministry and immediately was told to avoid this particular guy. He was a trouble maker, questioned everything. He was a bit of a hot-head, spoke first, thought later.
Then I met him. And worked with him. And loved him. His name? Steve Boehm. Steve is still one of my best friends in the world. And the warnings on him were partially right – he was a trouble maker and questioned everything. That’s why he was an outstanding leader. He wasn’t an obstacle, he was a difference maker because he thought deeply about student ministry and missions. He was willing to take risks and shake things up. He made me and all of us that served with him better leaders and followers of Jesus.
Point is this – not everyone who initially questions or challenges you is your enemy or an obstacle. They may be slow adopters or process people. They may see something you don’t. Take the time to figure that out before labeling something or someone an obstacle.
We could list about a thousand things in this space but I’m only going to hammer on three because I’m finding that these three tend to poison everything else.
Programs are easier to run, look better in the brochure
I don’t think much explanation is needed on this one. People develop is messy. And time consuming.
Time and Priorities
Families are out of control with their schedules. Sports, school activities, hobbies, entertainment and a kid-centric calendar inside the family unit is building a huge sense of entitlement in our kids that is not healthy and is not conducive to helping other people.
I could rant on this forever but there is no price tag on how important it is for my kids to see Amy praying and studying the Bible with teenagers. Or the impact my kids seeing me get up every Wednesday morning, reading books that challenge my faith. We’re not perfect parents – far from it. I say things I shouldn’t say when I hit my hand with a hammer just like you. We don’t do the Bible story every night complete with sermon illustrations and prayer and hymn sing.
BUT Amy and I want our kids to understand the value of investing in people, in serving them and that is something that has to be modeled and ‘caught’, not just taught. And our kids know that we love them but they aren’t the center of anyone’s universe.
Cruise Ship versus Battleship Mentality
Did you know that kids grow up? To be adults. Just saying. If they saw their parents pick a church based on what it does for them or meets their needs, guess how they will probably pick a church?
The first question I ask in our new members class is “why do you want to join Western Hills?” I listen to the answers. If the answers are because of a great children’s/youth/women’s/men’s program or the music is kicking or the teaching is awesome – I just smile and say “I hope not.”
That’s a cruise ship mentality. Meaning – we come to church for the services that are provided, the staff is nice and friendly and exist to meet my needs and to make sure that I have a pleasant ‘cruise.’
I hope we join a church because we find one that is going to help us in our journey to look more like Jesus. We call that spiritual transformation. That’s a “Battleship” church, a church with a mission larger than just herself, part of a larger fleet with a higher command structure. A church that exists to serve those outside their walls and not yet going to church there. A church that serves her community in Jesus’ name. A church that develops people and then unleashes them into the community.
There are probably more I could list but these three are the big ones. And these just aren’t obstacles for the organization but for me personally as well. I’m not sure if there are any “magic” solutions to these obstacle other than the stuff we’ve already talked about.
The bottom line is that we are always going to face obstacles. At some point you just have to do the work of investing in people. Just do it. It will get messy and unorganized and you’ll never have enough resources. So since all of that is true and will always be true — start doing it.
More later.