On Holy Ground

Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, shares how he became aware of God’s call on his life. He had just graduated from college and was working as a water-ski instructor at a summer camp. He was with a group of counselors planning the weekly chapel service when he volunteered to give the message sometime. They said, “Great! How about this Sunday?” He spent the rest of the week praying for God to give him something to say by Sunday. Let him explain what happened that Sunday.

“Sunday eventually came. I remember standing up to talk in front of those hundred or so people gathered among those pine trees and being aware of the presence of God in a terrifying way. Seriously, it was terrifying. But in a good way. The word that comes to mind is ‘holy’. I became aware of something so real, yet I couldn’t see it or touch it. I was standing there and I hadn’t said a word yet, and what did I do? I took off my sandals because I knew the ground I was standing on was holy and that my life was never, ever going to be the same again. It was in that moment that I heard a voice. Not an audible, loud, human kind of voice, but inner words spoken somewhere in my soul that were very clear and very concise. What I heard was, ‘Teach this book, and I will take care of everything else.’ In that moment by the side of a lake, barefoot, with my tongue tied and my heart on fire, I found something I could give my life to.” (Velvet Elvis, p. 40)

Sometimes we lose focus of the fact that what we do in our office throughout the week is holy and where we stand (or sit) on Sunday mornings or any day we are carrying out a ministry in the name of our church is holy ground. I know there are times late on Saturday nights or at other times in the week that we scratch our heads and think to ourselves, “Why am I killing myself doing this? What am I really accomplishing? Does it really matter to those that I will face in a few hours?” When those times inevitably come, I encourage you to take your shoes off, either physically or mentally, and remember that what you are doing is holy work. Take assurance in knowing that, like He did to Rob Bell that summer’s day, God will whisper to your soul, “Teach this book, and I will take care of everything else.” And you, like Rob, will feel that tightening of the throat and the glow in your heart and you will know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, “this is something I can give my life to.” You are making a difference in untold numbers of lives, not just for today but for eternity. God bless you!

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ......

FOR MINISTERS OF EDUCATION: Annual GBREA meeting, January 20-21, 2011, "Being a Transformational Church" with Bruce Raley - http://www.gbrea.org/

FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP: Sunday School in HD Conference, March 10-11, 2011 - http://www.sundayschoolinhd.org/

FOR YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP: Threads "NOW" Conference: Challenging & Equipping Young Adults to Live Missionally, April 15-17, Nashville, TN - http://threadsmedia.com/now

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/BIBLE STUDY: January 2011 Bible Study: The Truth About Grace (Studies from Galatians) Preaching Suggestions, FREE Age Group Resources http://www.lifeway.com/JBS

FOR WOMEN'S MINISTRY: Bundle discount for Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer simulcasts in 2011 - http://www.lifeway.com/event/423/

FOR WOMEN'S MINISTRY: Girl's Ministry Forum, February 25-26, 2011, Nashville, TN - http://www.lifeway.com/event/330/?cid=women-eupdate-GForum-121310-feature


FOR CHURCH-WIDE BIBLICAL LITERACY: "Read the Bible for Life" study - http://www.lifeway.com/product/005253507/

A Month for Giving

^{(adapted from an article in www.Carepages.com)}

December is known for a time of giving. Here are some ways to give something to someone this month or any other month of the year.

1. Give blood. One pint of blood can save three lives.

2. Give life. By being an organ donor you can save the lives of up to 50 people.

3. Give companionship. Call someone and brighten their day.

4. Give entertainment. Host a table game tournament for family and friends.

5. Give before you’re asked to. Volunteer to help an organization in your area.

6. Give confidence. Donate your locks to a child suffering from long-term hair loss due to illness at www.locksoflove.org.

7. Give wisdom. Become a role model to someone who can benefit from the wisdom of your experience. Mentoring.org can help you find the right opportunities in your area.

8. Give love. Adopt an abandoned or mistreated pet from a local shelter. Or volunteer your time to walk dogs on your lunch hour.

9. Give togetherness. Volunteer with your family. Familycares.org offers ideas for several kid-friendly projects you can do all together, from helping the homeless to holiday-specific projects.

10. Give warmth. Clean out everything in your closet you haven’t worn in more than a year and donate it to your thrift store.

11. Give energy. Call you local utilities company and give to their program to help families in need with their electric bill.

12. Give gratitude. Write a note to a parent or good friend, telling them how much you love them.

13. Give compliments. Point out something special about every person you encounter today.

14. Give yourself a break. Enjoy a timeout from chores today. Do something "frivolous" instead: eat cake for breakfast, get a massage or watch bad TV.

15. Give yourself time. Get up 30 minutes earlier in the day to do something you never have time for. Meditate, exercise, read or just enjoy the stillness!

16. Give yourself props. Write down three things you really like about yourself. Refer to this list the next time you need a boost.

17. Give it a shot. Resolve to take up that new hobby or register for that new class you’ve been thinking about forever.

18. Give hugs. Never underestimate the power of the human embrace.

Things You Might be Interested in ....

FOR CHURCH STAFF: "The Exchange with Ed Stetzer", a free monthly live webcast featuring Ed Stetzer to discuss issues of the day that confront churches and church staff - http://www.lifeway.com/article/169973/
FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP: Sunday School in HD Conference, March 10-11, 2011 - http://www.sundayschoolinhd.org/
FOR MINISTERS OF EDUCATION: Annual GBREA meeting, January 20-21, 2011, "Being a Transformational Church" with Bruce Raley - http://www.sundayschoolinhd.org/
FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP: How to use the Transformational Church Assessment Tool to its Greatest Effect - http://www.lifeway.com/article/170252/

FOR PASTORS: "Pastoring with Passion" by David Holt - http://www.churchsmart.com/store/viewItem.asp?idproduct=1263
FOR CHURCH STAFF: "Kickstarting a Plateaued or Declining Church" by Ed Stetzer - http://www.edstetzer.com/2010/10/kick-starting-the-plateaued-an.html
FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP: "Courageous" the movie, to be released in September - http://www.courageousthemovie.com/home
FOR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: Theo, an upcoming animated small group discipleship for kids - http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/kidsministry101/2010/11/a-sneak-peek-at-theo.html
FOR DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY: "Read the Bible for Life", a whole church emphasis for biblical literacy - http://www.lifeway.com/product/005253507/

Conducting Leadership Meetings

Adapted from an article by Christina Crawley

The Monthly Planning Meeting

To stay apprised of new situations and to manage implementation of the plan, a monthly Sunday School Planning Team meeting needs to be set in place. By meeting regularly, the Sunday School Planning Team positions itself to be proactive - addressing matters related to implementing the annual plan toward fulfillment - rather than reactive - addressing issues in the midst of crisis.

Here are some guidelines:

ð Select an appropriate meeting time. A regular meeting following the last Sunday of the month is ideal because statistical data for the month usually is available.

ð Use an agenda. A valuable tool for an effective monthly planning meeting is a meeting agenda.

ð Plan the elements of the agenda. The plan sheet is build around these ingredients:
- Inspiration. Set the meeting within a spiritual context and relate the work to the commission of Christ and the mission of the church.
- Information. Provide pertinent information that can help leaders improve the effectiveness of Sunday School.
- Evaluation. Discuss the effectiveness of events that have been completed and consider ways they could have been improved.
- Communication. Report on current activities or on upcoming events.
- Preparation. Initiate efforts related to future or new projects.

- Preview. Provide an overview of upcoming lessons, highlighting each lesson’s Biblical truth and Life Goal. Also alert teachers to any potential ‘trouble’ verses and ways of possible interpretation.

ð Follow Up the Meeting. Send members a summary of the meeting. Absentees will know what occurred during the meeting, and those who attended will be reminded of assignments.

Weekly Leadership Meetings

The weekly leadership meeting is to help all Sunday School leaders to be more effective in all aspects of Sunday School ministry. Here is suggested content of a weekly Sunday School leadership meeting:

· General Period (15 min.). This period is a brief gathering of all Sunday School leaders led by the Sunday School director, pastor, or minister of education. Click here for general period suggestions.

· Department/Class Leadership Meeting. This period is the primary focus of the weekly leadership meeting. Generally, the department directors or class teacher leads it. Each segment is to contribute to the achievement of the objectives in Sunday School.

· Focus on the Mission (10 min.) This portion of the meeting is an opportunity to relate the work of the Sunday School departments and classes to the mission and the ministry of the church. Information is shared concerning the church's ministry. Leaders are made aware of churchwide emphases, needs, and concerns.

· Focus on Relationships (25 min.). During this time, relationships with members and prospects are discussed, individual needs are assessed, and as appropriate, plans are made to involve members in responding to them. Churches using the FAITH Evangelism will use this time to review assignments, give reports, and make follow-up assignments. Occasionally during this time, a study and review of witnessing approaches can be conducted.

· Focus on Bible Study (25 min.). Teaching for spiritual transformation is facilitated when leaders work together to plan the best way to bring members into a life-changing encounter with the Bible message. During this time, previous Bible study sessions may be evaluated and assignments made for subsequent studies, in particular plans deciding how the Bible content for subsequent Sundays will be taught. If your team of teachers uses a variety of curriculum options, allow them to meet together according to their curriculum preference.

THINGS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN .....

FOR CHURCH-WIDE EMPHASIS: Consecrate the People by Claude V. King is an 8-day devotional guide designed to help Christian individuals, churches, and groups prepare themselves for a sacred assembly before their holy God. http://www.lifeway.com/product/005354150/

FOR CHURCH-WIDE EMPHASIS: Read the Bible for Life teaches believers how to read the various types of biblical literature in a way that unlocks God’s intended meaning, enabling them to accurately interpret the Bible and appropriately apply its teachings to life. http://www.lifeway.com/product/005253507/

FOR SMALL GROUP/DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY: Building Biblical Community is a 4 session group experience designed to help members understand what it means to belong in a small group, know how to live in community and do life together, discover mission, and learn the importance of “story” in group life. http://www.lifeway.com/product/005271302/

FOR SMALL GROUP/DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY: Small Group Life/Barbarians - Barbarians are not paralyzed by fear nor do they look for someone else to fight for them. A barbarian for Jesus Christ has accepted the call to fight for our king with reckless abandon. http://www.lifeway.com/product/005180090.2010-FAL/

FOR BIBLE STUDY MINISTRY: Bible Study by Demand series - a plug and play, independent, DVD supported Bible study you can use 'in a pinch'. One volume for all adults; three volumes targeted for women's groups http://www.lifeway.com/product/005081527/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP TRAINING: Sunday School in HD Conference, FBC/Woodstock, March 10-11, 2011, information and registration at http://www.sundayschoolinhd.org/

FOR EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION: LifeWay will no longer be printing and mailing the Customized Order forms. We will only be sending the blank colored order form starting in Spring 2011. We will also stop mailing multiple copies of that blank colored form; we will only send one and the church can either make copies themselves, or they can download an print from the website at: lifeway.com/order

FOR EDUCATION MINISTERS: Register for 2011 Georgia Baptist Religious Educators Association (GBREA) annual meeting, January 20 & 21, 2011, Central Baptist Church, Warner Robins; keynote speaker, Bruce Raley - http://www.gbrea.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=39977&PID=784381