Church Leaders: Answer These Questions

I sat down to make a list of some things church leaders ought to know and be able to answer. Today’s blog is only a beginning point. What would you add?

What is your plan for personal spiritual growth? Describe how you personally walk with God.
Both individually and in the church you lead, what is your plan (and what are you currently doing) to develop future leaders?
What do the local leaders do to help and encourage one another?
What is your plan for shepherding the church, insuring contacts with the entire flock, etc.?
How often do you pray (individually or collectively) for the members?
What is your plan (and current activity) for evangelism?

The Place of Professionalism in Ministry

Last week I sat down to write about some of the things on my heart. I was thinking about the general subject of church leadership and ministry. I thought my ideas and reflections could be used for upcoming blogs. But…the “blogs” got longer and longer, eventually becoming articles.

Today I share another link to an article that started out as a blog. Here’s the link: Is Professionalism a Desirable Quality in Ministry?

Becoming More Like Jesus

I have been rereading the Gospels. I want to understand Jesus. I want to know about him. Even more I want to know him well enough that I can imitate him.

Jesus came teaching, preaching, and healing (Matthew 4:12; 9:35). Jesus came seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus came for the ill, not the healthy (Luke 5:31-32). Jesus came touching lives by serving and teaching (Mark 1-4). Finally, Jesus came dying (Matthew 16:21). How can one summarize the life of Jesus? What is “the big picture” that reflects all of the little pieces?

In his ministry to others, Jesus did three basic things. He did many things, but three things summarize virtually all of his “people actions” during his ministry prior to his death on the cross. Jesus spent his time in faithful proclamation, compassionate service, and supportive fellowship. Think about Jesus’ life. Read and study afresh the gospels. These three points encompass virtually every action. This is how Jesus reflected God to others. This is how Jesus showed what God is like. Both the actions and the descriptive words of the summary are chosen carefully. Not just proclamation—proclamation that is faithful to the purpose and will of God. Not just any kind of service—service that reflects the compassionate heart of God. Not fellowship for the sake of fellowship, but supportive fellowship that connects hearts and reaches out to others to help and encourage.

These three fundamental descriptions of Jesus’ life do not demand expansion. If Jesus did these things, how should we spend our time if we are serious about becoming like Jesus? What would we do if we wanted to imitate him? Yes, we imitate his death, burial and resurrection in our baptism, but does our imitation of Jesus stop there? If disciples become like their Master (Luke 6:40), what would we do to show that we are like Jesus and that we are followers of Jesus? Would we not do what he did? Would we be able to omit any aspect of Jesus’ example?

Let us recommit and seek daily the opportunities God gives us for proclamation and teaching. Who is open to hearing about the strength we receive from our walk with God? Whom is God putting in our path? What opportunities is God giving for telling others? Let us pray for opportunities for faithful proclamation.
We become like Jesus as we serve others compassionately. Jesus came serving others. He came meeting needs. He came and lived out compassionate service. His compassion caused him to do for others what they could not do for themselves. Sometimes we serve others but do not meet this basic criterion for compassionate service. It is easy to serve those
who can serve us back. Jesus said the Pharisees did that and missed the blessing. Christianity calls us to do more than others do. Let us pray about how and where and when we can compassionately serve each day.
We become like Jesus as we share fellowship and encourage one another in supportive ways. People have needs. Too often our “fellowship” is too superficial to be supportive of others. Jesus lived a life of supportive fellowship in his relationships and interactions with others. How can we become more like him?

Considered together, these are the essence of our Christ likeness. These are the basic components that drive our adoration and praise to God. These people interactions drive us to prayer and relationship with God.

Some Thoughts About Giving

[Note: The following is not original with me. This basic outline provides a framework or structure for developing expanded thoughts (article, sermon, class). Although the biblical texts are all from 2 Corinthians 8-9, there are numerous other biblical passages that could be added.]

This is “Thanksgiving” month in the U.S. Christians talk too little about gratitude. We do not hear many sermons or classes about giving or thanksgiving. Giving is a “touchy” subject in many churches. Here is some “fire starter.”

  • 1. Give Thankfully. [2 Cor. 9:7] At the foundation of my giving is my relationship with God. My life is all about God, I exist for him.
  • 2. Give Generously. [2 Cor. 9:6-11] God’s love for me generates generous, lavish giving.
  • 3. Give Regularly, Planned, Deliberately. [2 Cor. 8:11] The Bible tells us of systematic, regular giving. Some give accidentally, out of the leftovers, sporadically. The Bible teaches that we are to give personal attention to this effort.
  • 4. Give Voluntarily. [2 Cor. 8:4, 14] I can give voluntarily, not because I have to, and beyond my duty.
  • 5. Give Sacrificially. [2 Cor. 8:1-5] How much can I give?
  • 6. Give Excellently. [2 Cor. 8:7] I want to learn to give more, to give more often, and to give strategically.
  • 7. Give Cheerfully. [2 Cor. 9:7] God loves a hilarious giver. Giving blesses three times—we bless God even though he needs nothing from our hands, we ourselves are blessed, and the recipients of our gifts are also blessed.
  • 8. Give Worshipfully. [2 Cor. 9:12-14] Giving should be directed to God before anyone else.
  • 9. Give Proportionately. [2 Cor. 8:12] God looks not only at what I give, but also at what I keep.
  • 10. Give Quietly. [2 Cor. 9:7-8] I give to glorify God, not to impress people. God loves humble givers.

    • Is money for me a blessing or a test? [2 Cor. 9:10-11]

    An Open Door

    Many churches in our nation have an unrecognized, unused opportunity for evangelism not far from their front door. There is a place where the gospel can be preached regularly to a captive audience. That place is the prisons and jails of our nation. There are more people in prison in our nation than ever before. Church leaders who follow Jesus’ instructions will see the fields white unto harvest and pray for workers for the harvest (Matt. 9:35-38). Souls are being won behind bars. Lives and families are being changed. That should be motivation enough for our churches to walk through the open doors God is providing for us.

    But there is another motivation. Jesus included visiting those in prison in his list of “judgment criteria” (Matthew 25). I realize that not every Christian can visit those in prison; I know from personal experience that some prisons have complex requirements for visitors. Nevertheless, there are some things that we can do in every local congregation. Every Christian can pray for those in prison. Every congregation can provide financial support for prison ministry. Every Christian can pray for the harvest and for workers.

    I hear the public prayers of our assemblies every week—opening prayers, closing prayers, shepherds’ prayers. I very seldom (almost never) hear prayers for the harvest, for more workers, or for those in prison. Shame on us!

    What a Spiritual Family!

    Our visit with a different part of our “forever family” yesterday did not disappoint. The opening scripture and prayer led by a young teenager, songs of praise and adoration, a thoughtful and challenging meditation as we surrounded the Lord’s Table, prayers for special needs including a special time of assembled prayer to send a member to work on a special project in Africa, in-depth spiritual conversations around the coffee table, a lively Bible class that challenged us to walk in the way of the Spirit.

    As Christians assemble with the local family each week, it is easy to forget how special the fellowship and faith we share really is. It is easy to forget the deep, spiritual longings that bind us and bring us together each week. Our visit reminded us that week after week, around the world, God’s people assemble and touch one another’s hearts and lives to provide strength for the coming week. The love within the family was evident as overheard foyer fellowship asks about special situations in the members’ lives. Here are people who know one another and deeply care. We were inspired and encouraged.

    It’s Sunday Again: Are You Part of My New Family?

    The little girl, only six years old, was in awe at the number of people who attended the ceremony as her mother remarried. Since the accidental death of her father three years earlier, the little girl and her mother had struggled. Her mother’s family was quite small, her mother an only child. Few relatives lived close by and the emotional support system was limited. Her new father’s family was quite large–lots of brothers and sisters who were now her uncles and aunts (as it was explained to her). She could not quite believe the good fortune of having such a large family with so many people to whom she was now connected as family. As a result, she spent most of the evening going from person to person asking, “Are you part of my new family?” Family gives identity; she was seeking identity.

    Today, Jan and I will worship with a part of God’s family we have never met. They will help us know who we are. They will give us a fresh perspective on our identity. They will in small unseen ways mold us and make us. In a world where many Christians choose not to assemble with the church when they are on vacation, traveling, or away from home, we are looking forward to meeting new people who are part of our spiritual family. Perhaps this is something of what Jesus had in mind when he said, “Except you become as little children, you cannot be part of the kingdom.” The innocence of children, the joy at new experiences, the willingness and excitement at meeting new people–how refreshing! A favorite song says it: We’re part of the family. That family does not stop at the borders of the local congregation–that family extends around the world. Why would anyone not want to meet and know and spend time with the members of that family?

    One of the things I see frequently in mission travels is the joy that our brothers and sisters in small congregations in isolated parts of Latin America feel as they thrill to hear the stories and know the reality of a grand spiritual family that exists around the world. We rejoice to be with our “forever family.” I hope you get to be with your “forever family” in worship today. Even though I do not know many of my readers personally, I hope you are not intentionally absent from your “forever family” today. Why? Because you are part of the family!

    “Missioning”

    Today has already been a busy and productive day–lots of birthday greetings sent, prayers for special people in my life, meditation and reflection, an online “chat” with a brother who lives in Central America, a review of upcoming activities…. In one of the birthday greetings, I used the word “missioning” to describe my activities for the upcoming weekend. As I reread what I had written, the word caught my attention. I wondered about it, but I did not change it. This weekend I am “missioning.”

    Isn’t the English language wonderful? Take whatever noun you wish and turn it into a verb. The possibilities are almost endless (and at times discordant to the trained ear!). “Missioning.” I do not know if I coined a new verb or if I perhaps used something I had already heard. For Jan and me, missioning means that we are making contacts with the purpose of advancing mission work. Missioning is our involvement in activities which are designed to advance God’s mission in the world.

    It strikes me that this may be a good word–one that should describe our lives as Christians every day. Are we not called every day to participation in God’s mission? Are we not called daily to join him in his work in this world? Would not a Christian desire to be “on mission” every day, and never to be “off mission”? God has a purpose in the life of every person–may he help you and me find our specific roles and niches this day, so that we might fully share his mission!

    “Here we go a-missioning….”