Are You a Grinch or a Scrooge?

Remember how the Grinch hated Christmas so much that he didn't want anyone else to enjoy it? Remember when Ebenezer Scrooge only begrudgingly gave his employees half of Christmas day off? Does your own family or friends think you’re a Grinch or a Scrooge?

To avoid being labeled as one of those maligned characters, try to emulate the qualities that made them change by the end of their respective tales (and take note of the biblical principles demonstrated).

1.       Learn from your past mistakes. Scrooge traveled to different stages of his life to figure out what had made him the way he was. But in the end, he didn't allow those experiences to control him, and he changed. “When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11).

2.       Treat others better than you’d want to be treated. Pretty much everyone in Whoville shunned the Grinch because he didn't want anything to do with them. But even the most bitter person doesn't really want to be a recluse. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

3.       Realize that having fun is easier than being a grump. Think of the energy both Scrooge and the Grinch wasted making everyone else’s life (and their own) miserable. Learn to enjoy life. Laugh a little! “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

4.       Watch how children enjoy life, and follow their lead. Cindy Lou Who single-handedly helped the Grinch’s heart grow. And Scrooge had Tiny Tim to warm up his stone-cold heart. “Let the little children come to me...for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).

5.       Throw a great party. One of Scrooge’s dreams took him back to observe his old boss, Mr. Fezziwig. This was a man who enjoyed life and knew how to throw a great party. Scrooge learns from this and buys the fattest goose in town to take to the Cratchitt home for Christmas dinner. “Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!” (Philippians 4:4, The Message). _{- Copied}  

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

 FOR EDUCATION MINISTRY LEADERS: GBACE Annual Conference, Lizella Baptist/Lizella, January 22, 2015 - http://www.gbace.org/annual-conference.html

FOR EDUCATION MINISTRY LEADERS: 2015 BACE Conference, Johnson Ferry Baptist/Marietta, April 9-10, 2015 - http://www.baptisteducators.org/conference/

FOR CHURCH DEVOTIONALS: DevoHub is Coming! Church devotionals delivered directly to personal devices - http://www.devohub.com/?emid=BL-BSI-DevoHub-20141118

FOR NEW BELIEVERS: The Beginning -http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Gospel-Centered Teaching Conferencewith Trevin Wax, January 24, 2015 (for those using The Gospel Project Bible study resource) - http://gabaptistsundayschool.org/gospel-centered-teaching-conference-january-24-2015/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: 2015-18 Plans for The Gospel Project unveiled – A Chronological Journey for all ages! -http://www.gospelproject.com/2015-2018/

FOR LEADERS USING EXPLORE THE BIBLE: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age group ministries -http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible

FOR LEADERS USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age group ministries -http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife

FOR LEADERS USING THE GOSPEL PROJECT: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age group ministries -http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Praying with Paul by D.A. Carson - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/praying-with-paul-leader-kit-P005644096?intcmp=Praying-MTX-Text-LeaderKit-20141031

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke (student edition available also) – http://www.lifeway.com/Product/jesus-religion-leader-kit-P005615715

FOR FAMILY MINISTRY: Building a Family Legacy by Dr. James Dobson - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/building-a-family-legacy

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: D’Now resources -http://www.lifeway.com/n/merchandised-landing-page/DiscipleNow?intcmp=DnowSearch-MTX-Button-ViewAll-20130227

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: LifeWay Girls Conference, Nashville, TN, February 20-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Student-Event-LifeWay-Girls-Conference-Nashville-TN

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin  -http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-sermon-on-the-mount-leader-kit-p005644877

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: What Love Is by Kelly Minter - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/what-love-is-the-letters-of-1-2-3-john-leader-kit-P005635537

Some Books that Have Impacted My Life

I don’t want to burst anyone’s high perception of me, but I’m not an intellectual giant. I was a stellar student in grade school, but when I hit junior high and the courses became more advanced, my grades drifted toward average and my attention became more focused on the fields of athletics.  Then I quickly hit the ceiling in my athletic career as well.  Oh, well ….

I divulged all that to prepare you for what I’m about to share with you so your expectations won’t be so high.  Below is a list of books (besides the Bible - that's a given) that have had a deep impact on my life in regards to my spiritual walk, my professional career, and in helping me wrestle with the greatest challenge in my life - the lifelong, life threatening condition that my son, Jacob, dealt with and which ultimately resulted in his death at the tender age of 21.

Let me assure you that I have read more than these books but I wouldn't describe myself as a voracious reader.  In fact, reading is way down on my list of things I like to do.  You will readily recognize that when you look at my list.  There are no literary giants or no ageless classics on my list.  I have tried to read some of those from time to time and on rare occasions I have actually succeeded in completing one but I was usually thankful that I didn't face a quiz on the content because my head was still wading through the fog of words.  But before you brand me a Neanderthal, I am happy to admit that when I do succumb to reading, either as a pastime or to seek some knowledge or wisdom, I have been greatly rewarded and I say to myself, ‘I need to do more of this!’

So there have been many books that have inspired me, informed me, challenged me, angered me, forced me to think (I can hear your comments) and have brought me closer to God. But these particular books always seem to rise to the top when I’m asked to create my favorites list.  So here goes, in no certain order (except the last one), this is my list:

A.      Books that helped me develop my spiritual walk with God

Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby (http://www.lifeway.com/Product/experiencing-god-revised-P005123828 )

This classic helped me to understand that there was a difference between knowing information about God and truly seeking to walk with Him and seeing Him at work around me and then joining Him there.

The Mind of Christ by T.W. Hunt (http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-mind-of-christ-P001069699 )

This book took me deep into a favorite passage of mine, Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”  His chapters on Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer and his death on the cross shook me to the core.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-purpose-driven-life-P005611842 )

This book helped me to synthesize a plan for seeing my purpose in life and keeping that purpose in focus.

B.      Books that helped develop my professional effectiveness

The Growth Spiral by Andy Anderson (http://www.amazon.com/Growth-Spiral-Step---Step-Calculating/dp/080543013X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415336943&sr=8-2&keywords=the+growth+spiral )

This book, more than any seminary class, helped me, as I started out in my education ministry, to understand what the ingredients were that it took to grow a Sunday School and a church. And Andy did say that little can be accomplished unless it is done under God’s leadership.

You Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less by Josh Hunt (http://www.amazon.com/Double-Your-Class-Years-Less/dp/0764420194/ref=pd_sim_b_2  )

I loved Josh’s fresh, sometimes ‘did he really say that?’ approach to how to organically grow a Bible study group.

Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni

The title alone scored points with me … but this narrative has solidified how I am to do my work in my current avenue of ministry.

C.      Books that helped me grapple with the tough issues in life

Both of these books came in a period of time when my wife, Karen, and I were facing life and death issues with the health of our son, Jacob.  Philip Yancey quickly became a favorite author of mine and I have devoured every book he has written. In addition to the two significant ones below, these have also left an imprint on me: Prayer, Does it make Any Difference?   - Soul Survivor   - Church? Why Bother?      - What’s so Amazing about Grace?   - The Bible Jesus Read    - What Good is God?  

Where is God When It Hurts? by Philip Yancey (http://www.lifeway.com/Product/where-is-god-when-it-hurts-P001063931 )

This book helped me to see the value in pain.

Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey (http://www.lifeway.com/Product/disappointment-with-god-P001064030 )

This book addressed the questions I often shouted out: Why is God unfair? Why is He silent? Why is He hidden?  And sometimes I still shout them.

But my all time favorite book that has helped me understand my relationship with God and his call on my life is ….

Lessons from a Sheep Dog by Phillip Keller (http://www.lifeway.com/Product/lessons-from-a-sheep-dog-P001072354 )

Maybe it’s because I am a huge dog lover, but this little book that contains the true story in Keller’s life helped to illustrate to me what I was created to do and what my relationship to God is all about.   The chapter where he illustrates the importance of obeying the command to stay while the shepherd leaves for another task has slapped me upside the head on numerous occasions.

In closing, I remind you that I never presumed to be a world class reader.  I often joke (and it’s a sad commentary) that most of my reading is in the sports section.  I readily recognize that I have denied myself an entire universe of mentors that could help me in my need for growth, wisdom, and understanding. 

But I do value what I have learned from these books and how they have shaped me in my spiritual and professional life (along with the host of other books that I’ve read).  You may have already read all of these, but if not, I encourage you to try them out.  Hopefully, you’ll be blessed and changed in a way like I have.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR EDUCATION MINISTRY LEADERS: GBACE Annual Conference, January 22, 2015 - http://www.gbace.org/annual-conference.html

FOR NEW BELIEVERS: The Beginning - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Gospel-Centered Teaching Conference with Trevin Wax, January 24, 2015 (for those using The Gospel Project Bible study resource) - http://gabaptistsundayschool.org/gospel-centered-teaching-conference-january-24-2015/

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERSHIP: 2015-18 Plans for The Gospel Project unveiled – A Chronological Journey for all ages! - http://www.gospelproject.com/2015-2018/

FOR LEADERS USING EXPLORE THE BIBLE: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age group ministries - http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible

FOR LEADERS USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age group ministries -http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife

FOR LEADERS USING THE GOSPEL PROJECT: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age group ministries - http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject

FOR FAMILY MINISTRY: Building a Family Legacy by Dr. James Dobson - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/building-a-family-legacy

FOR SMALL GROUP MINISTRY: 3 Childcare Options for Small Groups by Rick Howerton - http://www.lifeway.com/groupministry/2014/10/20/3-childcare-options-for-small-groups/

FOR BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES: Download the new LifeWay catalog - http://www.lifeway.com/n/publisher/lifeway-christian-resources

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: 3 Tips for Speaking to an Audience of Kids - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2014/06/26/3-tips-for-speaking-to-an-audience-of-kids/?emid=lcurtis-LWKnewsletter-20140716

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: D’Now resources - http://www.lifeway.com/n/merchandised-landing-page/DiscipleNow?intcmp=DnowSearch-MTX-Button-ViewAll-20130227

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: LifeWay Girls Conference, Nashville, TN, February 20-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Student-Event-LifeWay-Girls-Conference-Nashville-TN

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin  - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-sermon-on-the-mount-leader-kit-p005644877

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Breathe by Priscilla Shirer - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Breathe?emid=BL-Product-BSI-Breathe-20141014

Ten Dangerous Distractions for Pastors

Ron Edmondson, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, KY, recently posted an excellent article on his blog (www.ronedmondson.com) alerting any minister who serves the Bride of Christ about dangers that can trip us or ensnare us if we do not remain grounded in who we are in Christ and not who we desire to be in the eyes of men. Please read this slowly and allow the warning to take root.

I encounter so many struggling pastors. And unfortunately, I know so many who used to be pastors but no longer hold the position.

It may be through a blatant sin or a casual drifting from doing what they knew to be right, but it landed them in disaster. A pastor friend of mine said recently, “We need healthy churches and we need healthy pastors.”

Amen. Agreed. We must stand guard.

What are we guarding against?

No single post would be perfect. Obviously sin, but I can’t address everything that gets in the way of a healthy pastor. I can only list some that are more common in my experience.

Here are 10 dangerous distractions for a pastor:

Neglecting your soul. One of my mentors reminded me recently. “Ron, don’t forget to feed your own soul.” It was subtle. Almost given as a sidebar to our discussion. But it was gold. One of the biggest dangers for a pastor is when we begin to operate out of stored up knowledge of and experience with God. We need fresh encounters with truth and His glory.

Sacrificing family. Families learn to resent the ministry when it always trumps the family. Ministry families get accustomed to interruptions. They are part of the job as they are part of many vocations. But the family will hopefully be there when no one else is around. Ministry locations change but the family does not — so we must not neglect them. I’ve sat with men who lost the respect of their family. I know countless pastors whose adult children no longer want anything to do with the church. Apparently, there’s not much that hurts anymore than that.

Playing the numbers game. Whenever we put the emphasis on numbers we are always disappointed. They will never be high enough. God is in charge of the numbers. We are in charge of what He has put us in charge of — but it’s not the numbers. We must be careful to concentrate on making disciples and the numbers will take care of themselves.

Comparing ministries. There will always be a “bigger” ministry. Someone will always write a better tweet — or a better book — or a better blog post — preach a better sermon. When we begin to compare it distracts us from the ministry we’ve been God-appointed to lead.

Finding affirmation among the rebels. This is the one that gets me in trouble among the rebels when I point it out to pastors. But we must be careful not to get distracted by people who would complain regardless of the decision we make. Yes, it stings the way some people talk to a pastor. And, it’s certainly not always godly how some people express themselves in the church. But, what if Joshua had listened to the naysayers? What if Nehemiah had? What if Moses had given up every time the complainers were louder than the people who are willing to follow? Okay, he probably was willing to give up a couple of times but he held the course. If you are leading there will always be someone that is not happy with the decisions you made. People bent on pleasing others — more even than pleasing God — have a very hard time finding peace and joy in ministry.

Sacrificing truth for popularity. It’s easy to preach the easy stuff. Grace messages are pleasant to share and popular to receive. And, we need them. Where sin increases — grace should increase all the more. But, we need truth. Even when it is unpopular. Making disciples becomes impossible when we sacrifice either one — truth or grace.

Stealing glory. My mama used to say “that boy got too big for his britches”. Sadly that can happen in ministry also. Many pastors struggle with ego problems. God is never honored in that. Pastors are in a God glorifying position. Actually, everyone yes, but it is written into our job description.

Poor boundaries. In an effort to “minister” to people, I know too many pastors who fell into a trap because they didn’t have proper boundaries in place. The enemy enjoys a door of opportunity.

Neglecting friendships. Most pastors struggle knowing who to trust, but because of that they have few people really get to know them. Therefore they often have no one who can speak into the dark places of their life. And, pastors have them too. So, they put on a good front — but inside, they struggle alone. It’s dangerous.

Abusing power. The pastor holds a certain amount of power just because of position. It has been said, “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.” One of the more dangerous things I see churches doing these days are giving a pastor too much power, without enough built in personal accountability. (That’s coming from a church planter’s heart — and one who is prone to lead strong.) BTW, I’m not for controlling the pastor or forced relational accountability — and I haven’t discovered the perfect system here — but there needs to be one that balances truth and grace equally. Again, I don’t know how to systematize that, but it is a dangerous distraction. My challenge would be to the pastor or ministry leader to build this system into his or her own life absent a system within the ministry.

Those are some that I have seen. These distractions are displayed in a number of ways — and all of them are not fatal thankfully — but all of them are real. And all of them are dangerous.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTORS: National Sunday School Director Seminar, October 25, FBC/Vidalia - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-National-Sunday-School-Director-Seminar-2014-Vidalia

FOR MINISTERS OF EDUCATION: Minister of Education Roundtable at FBC/Woodstock, October 22 & 23 – Allan Taylor is calling Ministers of Education to come together to discuss how to disciple people with intentionality; call Angela at 678-494-2861, for details and registration

FOR EDUCATION MINISTRY LEADERS: GBACE Annual Conference, January 22, 2015 - http://www.gbace.org/annual-conference.html

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Gospel-Centered Teaching Conference with Trevin Wax, January 24, 2015 (for those using The Gospel Project Bible study resource) - http://gabaptistsundayschool.org/gospel-centered-teaching-conference-january-24-2015/

FOR LEADERS USING EXPLORE THE BIBLE:  Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age ministries: http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible

FOR LEADERS USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age ministries: http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife

FOR LEADERS USING THE GOSPEL PROJECT: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age ministries: http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Worship for Life: Kids, a large group, media-driven, interactive worship experience for kids. - http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/worship+for+life

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Levels of Biblical Learning: Learning as they Grow by Landry Holmes - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2014/08/19/levels-of-biblical-learning-learning-as-they-grow/?emid=lcurtis-LWK-newsletter-20141001

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: I’m a Christian Now (for new believers) - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/im-a-christian-now-leader-resources-P005191564

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2015 VBS Jumpstarts in Georgia - http://gabaptistsundayschool.org/training-conferences/2015-vbs-jumpstarts/

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: LifeWay Girls Conference, Nashville, TN, February 20-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Student-Event-LifeWay-Girls-Conference-Nashville-TN

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Becoming a Young Man of God by Ken Rawsom - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/becoming-a-young-man-of-god-an-8-week-curriculum-for-middle-school-guys-P005148051

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: The Beginning: First Steps for New Disciples - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path?emid=BL-Product-BSI-DiscPath-20140925

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Building a Family Legacy Library (Dobson) - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/building-a-family-legacy-library-p005693781

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath by Priscilla Shirer - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/breathe-making-room-for-sabbath-leader-kit-P005656144?intcmp=Breathe-MTX-Text-Kit-20140821

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: A Beautiful Mess by Sherry Surratt & Tracey Eyster - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/A-Beautiful-Mess?emid=BL-BeautifulMess-20140724

10 Ways to Double Your Volunteer Recruitment and Retention

by Dr. Thom Rainer (copied from his blog, thomrainer.com)

Without volunteer labor and ministry, our churches would not exist. The recruitment and retention of volunteers should be one of the highest priorities of church leaders.

While we typically honor our paid labor force on Labor Day, I want to take the opportunity to focus on volunteer labor in our congregations. Specifically, I want to share with you ten ways the most effective churches are recruiting and retaining volunteers. In many cases, they have more than doubled the success of those churches where these approaches are not taken.

1. Tie their work to the vision of the church. First, the church must have a clear and compelling vision. Then leaders should redundantly express how different volunteer ministries tie to that vision. Such a clarification gives purpose to the work of the volunteers. And without purpose, volunteer ministries struggle.
2. Consider recruiting with specific end dates. If possible, recruit volunteers with a definitive term. They are much more likely to say “yes” if they know they will have a time when the work is done. At that time, they can renew their commitment or move to another area of passion.
3. Recruit toward a member’s passion. Find out areas where members are already passionate and gifted. If not, you will have to recruit with compulsion or guilt. Volunteers recruited in that manner are not only likely to quit their work at the church; they are also likely to leave the church altogether.
4. Honor your volunteers at least once a month. A number of churches have annual ministry appreciation banquets. That’s not sufficient. Leaders should find ways, even if it’s as simple as a phone call or email or letter, to honor volunteers at least monthly.
5. Volunteer recruitment and retention should be the priority of the pastor. While pastors should by no means do all the work, they should make certain it is a priority focus of their ministries.
6. Get your best leaders to oversee volunteer recruitment and retention. It’s just too important to hope oversight happens without strategy. Your best leaders should have the responsibility of oversight of these ministries.
7. Communicate openly and frequently with volunteers. Indeed, a clear strategy should be in place for such communication. That is one reason why number 6 is so important.
8. Recruit through relationships. Strategically ask people who already have healthy established relationships to work together in a ministry. Those relationships will be vital in keeping people motivated. After all, we all prefer to work with people we like.
9. Provide periodic checkups. A critical part of the communication process should be a checkup to see how each volunteer is doing. It should be open, transparent, affirming, and non-threatening.
10. Allow volunteers to quit honorably. Burnout is always a possibility. Members may discover that their ministry is actually a bad fit for them. They should have the prerogative of quitting, taking a break, or finding a new area of passion.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTORS: National Sunday School Director Seminar, October 25, FBC/Vidalia - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-National-Sunday-School-Director-Seminar-2014-Vidalia

FOR MINISTERS OF EDUCATION: Minister of Education Roundtable at FBC/Woodstock, October 22 & 23 – Allan Taylor is calling Ministers of Education to come together to discuss how to disciple people with intentionality; call Angela at 678-494-2861, for details and registration

FOR LEADERS USING EXPLORE THE BIBLE:  Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age ministries: http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible

FOR LEADERS USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age ministries: http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife

FOR LEADERS USING THE GOSPEL PROJECT: Free helps for lesson preparation and teaching tips for leaders in adult, student, and kids age ministries: http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject

FOR BIBLE STUDY:  2015 January Bible Study: Deuteronomy, A Challenge to a New Generation  - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/January-Bible-Study?intcmp=jbs-erdr-314

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Conference, Nashville, TN, October 6-8 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/LifeWay-Kid%27s-Ministry-Conference?type=events&intcmp=KidsMinistryConferenceSearch-Button-KidsMinistryConference-20130426

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Using Technology with Preschoolers - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2014/07/14/using-technology-with-preschoolers/?emid=lcurtis-VBS-newsletter-20140806

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Worship for Life: Kids, a large group, media-driven, interactive worship experience for kids. - http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/worship+for+life

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: 5 Things to Remember about Ministry and Family  - http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/2014/08/28/5-things-to-remember-about-ministry-and-family/

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: LifeWay Girls Conference, Nashville, TN, February 20-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Student-Event-LifeWay-Girls-Conference-Nashville-TN

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Becoming a Young Man of God by Ken Rawsom - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/becoming-a-young-man-of-god-an-8-week-curriculum-for-middle-school-guys-P005148051

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: A Beautiful Mess by Sherry Surratt & Tracey Eyster - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/A-Beautiful-Mess?emid=BL-BeautifulMess-20140724

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-family-of-jesus-bible-study-leader-kit-P005679770

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin  - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-sermon-on-the-mount-leader-kit-p005644877

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Children of the Day by Beth Moore - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Children-of-the-Day?emid=PD-Product-BSI-ChildrenoftheDayhero-20140424

FOR SENIOR ADULTS: Fall Celebration at Ridgecrest, NC, October 14-17 – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Adults/Senior-Adults?type=events&intcmp=SRAdultsSpec-MTX-Text-Events-20140417

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/SMALL GROUPS: Digital Short Term studies you can download - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Special-Emphasis/Digital-Leader-Kits?emid=BL-Product-BSI-DigitalBundles-20140605

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/PARENTING: Ready to Launch by J.D. & Veronica Greear - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/ready-to-launch-leader-kit-p005644089

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Overwhelmed by Perry Noble - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/overwhelmed-bible-study-kit-P005644093

Inviting Friends to Church

Over the years, numerous studies has shown that our unchurched friends and neighbors are open to attending our churches simply if they were personally invited. So why aren’t our church members making it their conscious goal to invite people they have a relationship with to attend a church service with them.  Chuck Lawless, Professor of Evangelism and Missions at Southeastern Seminary, has listed these 10 reasons (in no particular order of importance) his team of church consultants have heard in their interactions with church members:

1.      “I just don’t think about it.” – Many church members have contact with the unchurched every week, if not every day. They go to school with them, work with them, live beside them – and sometimes live with them. What church folks don’t do, though, is see the unchurched as “sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36), as spiritual beings in need of redemption and a church family.

2.      “I’m afraid I’ll be rejected.” – Nobody likes to be turned down, especially after taking the risk to invite somebody to church. It’s just easier to avoid that possibility by not inviting anyone at all (interestingly, church members could tell us times when others said “no,” but few could tell us of times when they were rudely or unkindly rejected).

3.      “The music isn’t that good.” – Some may argue the worship wars are over, but the battles seem to be ongoing. Our teams continue to hear refrains like, “it’s too loud,” “it’s too boring,”  “we sing it over and over again,” and “nobody knows the songs.” Church members who themselves don’t enjoy the music don’t readily invite others to join them.

4.      “The preaching isn’t strong.” – This response was seemingly the most painful one to admit. Church members who love their pastors do not want to hurt them, but they spoke honestly to our consulting teams. When the preaching is poor, invitations to the unchurched decrease.

5.      “We’ve got too many church problems right now.” – Church members don’t always know all the issues facing a congregation, but they frequently recognize when something “just isn’t right.” They see the attendance decreasing, or they hear of internal conflict. Simply stated, they do not invite their friends onto a battleground.

6.      “Our church is already too crowded.” – This issue is particularly an American one, as Americans protect our personal space. We don’t like being cramped, even in church. Moreover, we don’t want to have to search for a parking space before entering that already crowded building. One way to avoid more crowding is to stop inviting anyone.

7.      “Nobody ever challenged me to invite anyone.” – This reason is related to the first one on this list. Some church members never think about inviting others because no one has challenged them to do so. This response is especially tragic if many unchurched would respond affirmatively to an invitation.

8.      “I don’t know how to start the conversation.” – Simply inviting somebody to church would seem easy, but that’s not the case for many church members. In a culture where discussing religion or politics is almost forbidden, even long-term Christians struggle with initiating an invitation to church.

9.      “It’s the Spirit’s job—not mine—to bring people to church.” – To be fair, we have heard this response primarily from congregations seeking to avoid any “man-centered” approach to evangelism. In their zeal to keep their focus on God, they walk cautiously when considering their role in evangelism – including simply inviting others to church.

10.  “It’s too far for people to come.” – We live in a mobile culture that promotes church attendance sometimes quite far from where we live. Our teams have learned, however, that church members who drive a long distance are less willing to invite others to drive that same distance.

As you look over these reasons (and I’m sure there are others you could add) you could put them into one of several categories:

A.     Ones a church member can control

B.     Ones a church (staff) can control

C.     Ones you can’t control

How would you categorize these, particularly the ones you can control or help your church members to control?

When will you begin to make the changes necessary in those two areas?

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTORS: National Sunday School Director Seminar, October 25, FBC/Vidalia - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-National-Sunday-School-Director-Seminar-2014-Vidalia

FOR MINISTERS OF EDUCATION: Minister of Education Roundtable at FBC/Woodstock, October 22 & 23 – Allan Taylor is calling Ministers of Education to come together to discuss how to disciple people with intentionality; call Angela at 678-494-2861, for details and registration

FOR BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES: Download the new LifeWay catalog - http://www.lifeway.com/n/publisher/lifeway-christian-resources

FOR BIBLE STUDY:  2015 January Bible Study: Deuteronomy, A Challenge to a New Generation  - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/January-Bible-Study?intcmp=jbs-erdr-314

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Worship for Life: Kids, a large group, media-driven, interactive worship experience for kids. - http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/worship+for+life

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: ZIP for Kids, a tool for after school project or community ministry - http://www.zipforkids.com/

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids and Baptism - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2014/07/01/swimming-at-church-kids-and-baptism/?emid=lcurtis-LWK-newsletter-20140730

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: LifeWay Girls Conference, Nashville, TN, February 20-21, 2015 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Student-Event-LifeWay-Girls-Conference-Nashville-TN

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Becoming a Young Man of God by Ken Rawsom - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/becoming-a-young-man-of-god-an-8-week-curriculum-for-middle-school-guys-P005148051

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: A Beautiful Mess by Sherry Surratt & Tracey Eyster - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/A-Beautiful-Mess?emid=BL-BeautifulMess-20140724

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-family-of-jesus-bible-study-leader-kit-P005679770

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin  - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-sermon-on-the-mount-leader-kit-p005644877

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Children of the Day by Beth Moore - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Children-of-the-Day?emid=PD-Product-BSI-ChildrenoftheDayhero-20140424

FOR SENIOR ADULTS: Fall Celebration at Ridgecrest, NC, October 14-17 – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Adults/Senior-Adults?type=events&intcmp=SRAdultsSpec-MTX-Text-Events-20140417

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/SMALL GROUPS: Digital Short Term studies you can download - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Special-Emphasis/Digital-Leader-Kits?emid=BL-Product-BSI-DigitalBundles-20140605

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/PARENTING: Ready to Launch by J.D. & Veronica Greear - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/ready-to-launch-leader-kit-p005644089

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Overwhelmed by Perry Noble - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/overwhelmed-bible-study-kit-P005644093

 

When Servant Leadership Goes Wrong

By Marc Cortez (copied from Pastor’s Today blog, May 21^st)

 

Christian leaders are called to be servants. We understand that. After all, Jesus made it pretty clear that he wanted leaders who would follow his example as one who touched lepers, washed feet, and bore the burdens of a broken world.

But what if being a servant isn’t always a good thing? Or, said a little differently, what if there are various ways to be a servant, and some of them aren’t quite what Jesus had in mind?

A while back I asked a group of teenagers to discuss which of Marvel’s Avengers best exemplified the biblical idea of a servant. And quite a few of them went with Tony Stark (aka Iron Man). After all, he dedicates a considerable portion of his wealth to helping humanity, and he routinely puts his own life on the line to save random strangers. And to top it all off, at the end of Avengers (spoiler alert!), he sacrifices his own life to save the world. You can’t get much more Jesus-like than that! (Granted, he didn’t actually succeed in sacrificing his life, but he gets points for trying.)

For many of my students, then, Tony Stark exemplifies servanthood. But here’s the problem: Stark only exemplifies a particularly dangerous and toxic form of servanthood, but it’s the one that we often find the most attractive.

Service vs. Servanthood

In Stark’s version of servanthood, we serve from a position of power. Stark is the one with all the money, fame, and influence. Sure he spends a lot of time helping the little people, and that’s a great thing. At the end of the day, though, he’s like the wealthy homeowner who occasionally takes some dishes to the kitchen. He feels good about himself for his kind act of service, but he’s still the master.

Stark exemplifies service without servanthood. And that’s a tempting model for Christian leaders. Service lets us help out and feel good about ourselves; servanthood requires a complete transformation of our identity. One leader may help set up chairs for the banquet, but he’ll do it with a sense that he’s doing everyone a favor. He’s actually above such things, but he doesn’t mind helping out. That’s service. Another leader may set up the same chairs because it needs to get done and he’s available. That’s servanthood.

Condescension vs. Humility

In a similar way, John Henry Newman draws an important distinction between condescension and true humility.

“This is true humility, to feel and to behave as if we were low; not, to cherish a notion of our importance, while we affect a low position….It is an abdication, as far as their own thoughts are concerned, of those prerogatives or privileges to which others deem them entitled….As the world uses the word, ‘condescension’ is a stooping indeed of the person, but a bending forward, unattended with any the slightest effort to leave by a single inch the seat in which it is so firmly established. It is the act of a superior, who protests to himself, while he commits it, that he is superior still, and that he is doing nothing else but an act of grace towards those on whose level, in theory, he is placing himself.” (The Idea of a University, p. 143)

Combining these ideas, then, we can say that Tony Stark exemplifies condescending service. He lends a hand without leaving his seat. He still sees himself as superior, but he’s gracious enough to help out anyway.

That is a form of service, yes. But it is far short of what Jesus calls us to. When the disciples argued about which of them was the greatest, Jesus told them to be like children (Mk. 9:33-37). Whatever else that might mean, children have no status, power, or authority. They are clearly not among the “greatest” as the world defines the concept. They don’t “stoop”; they just serve.

And that’s exactly what Jesus himself modeled. He didn’t lean down from heaven, offering a hand to those in need. He took “the very nature of a servant” and “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death” (Phil 2:7-8). That’s not condescending service, that’s humble servanthood.

Time to Stop Stooping

The difficulty is that there’s a fine line between the two, and it’s tough to spot the difference. The same two leaders setting up the same chairs before the same banquet. Condescending service and humble servanthood in the same action. The difference lies in the identities and attitudes of the leaders involved, and we are quite adept at disguising our identities and attitudes, even from ourselves.

The question to ask: Am I stooping? When I serve, do I see myself as stooping below my position and doing others a favor? If I asked the people around me, would they describe me as a humble servant, or would they see me just as someone who serves? (Or worse, someone who doesn’t serve at all!)

What kind of leaders are we and what kind of leaders will we strive to be? Will we be masters who stoop or humble servants? I don’t know about you, but I need to stop stooping.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR LEADER DEVELOPMENT: State Sunday School Leader Workshops in August - http://www.cvent.com/events/2014-sunday-school-training-workshops/event-summary-e2fb4951a6f145479837d71b535b5f6e.aspx

FOR BIBLE STUDY:  2015 January Bible Study: Deuteronomy, A Challenge to a New Generation  - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/January-Bible-Study?intcmp=jbs-erdr-314

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Explore the Bible for Kids leads babies through pre-teens to dig deep into the Bible – http://www.lifeway.com/Explore-the-Bible/c/N-1z13wmcZ1z0zrd0

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Worship for Life: Kids, a large group, media-driven, interactive worship experience for kids. - http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/worship+for+life

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Explore the Bible for Students, designed to equip students to become students of the Bible, one book at a time - http://www.lifeway.com/Explore-the-Bible/c/N-1z13wmcZ1z0zrcv

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-family-of-jesus-bible-study-leader-kit-P005679770

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin  - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-sermon-on-the-mount-leader-kit-p005644877

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Children of the Day by Beth Moore - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Children-of-the-Day?emid=PD-Product-BSI-ChildrenoftheDayhero-20140424

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Priscilla Shirer Live at Warner Robins, GA, August 22-23 - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Womens-Event-Priscilla-Shirer-Live-2014-Warner-Robins-GA?intcmp=PriscillaShirerLive-MTX-Button-WarnerRobins-20130731

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Main Event 2014, August 1-2, 2014 featuring former President George W. Bush, - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/The-Main-Event?type=events&intcmp=MensEvents-MTX-Text-TheMainEvent-20130815

FOR SENIOR ADULTS: Fall Celebration at Ridgecrest, NC, October 14-17 – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Adults/Senior-Adults?type=events&intcmp=SRAdultsSpec-MTX-Text-Events-20140417

FOR ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Explore the Bible with coming enhancements - http://www.lifeway.com/Explore-the-Bible/c/N-1z0zrd1Z1z13wmc?EMID=rpoinde-Email-ETB-20140513

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/SMALL GROUPS:  Digital Short Term studies you can download - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Special-Emphasis/Digital-Leader-Kits?emid=BL-Product-BSI-DigitalBundles-20140605

FOR DISCIPLESHIP/PARENTING: Ready to Launch by J.D. & Veronica Greear - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/ready-to-launch-leader-kit-p005644089

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Overwhelmed by Perry Noble - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/overwhelmed-bible-study-kit-P005644093

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Recovering Redemption by Matt Chandler - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/recovering-redemption-leader-kit-P005644109

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Overcome: Living Beyond Your Circumstances by Alex Himaya - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Bible-Studies-for-Life-Small-Group-Studies/overcome?intcmp=BSFLSmallGroups-MTX-Text-Overcome-LearnMore-20140530

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: TGP-Kingdom Come by Halim Suh & Jason Dukes, a study of the Kingdom of Christ - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-gospel-project-kingdom-come-P005695953?intcmp=TGPShortTermAdults-MTX-Tiled-KingdomCome-20140411

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Hebrews, part 1 & 2 - http://www.lifeway.com/Explore-the-Bible/Topical-Studies/c/N-1z0zrd1Z1z13wmcZ1z1058r