This Saturday my younger son will get married to his best friend. They have been dating for seven years. The length of time should indicate they know what they are doing. They both have jobs. Both are respected in their work. They share common interests and yet also have their differences. My son loves sports. My soon-to-be daughter-in-law has her unique interests in studying people through her psychology training. Two sets of parents have watched their children grow up, go through changes, and now there is this one more change. A new family is born.
This wedding/marriage reflects other changes. Both from the east, they have planned their wedding in California. That is not what you would consider traditional. It will be a waterside wedding on the beach, again not traditional for us Midwesterners. There will be no tuxes, and the bride will be barefooted beneath her wedding gown. Again this might seem a bit nontraditional. She is maintaining her maiden name, and children are not to be considered a foregone conclusion.
Things are different from when my wife and I got married 34 years ago. Traditions are not the hard and fast rules any more. They are options. To be honest I'm just glad to be getting a daughter. I've had two boys. I want a daughter. Now I'm getting one!
None of the traditions that were not followed in this wedding or the marriage ahead need have any impact whatsoever upon the love and commitment these two young people have for each other. They are all outward formalities. The critical aspect of their marriage will be their commitment to the Lord they both claim as Savior and to the vows they make to each other. Those are the things that make their relationship rich and enduring.
The same can be said of a church. Rituals come and go and must be seen as traditions that are options rather than commandments. A healthy church will be wise enough to see the difference between traditions and fundamental beliefs and values. A healthy church will know that traditions can change and often must do so for the gospel to have the opportunity to be heard, understood, and accepted. Compromise on the message cannot be allowed. Compromise on the method of communication is essential.
Every church needs to go through a period of self-evaluation and introspection on a regular basis. Methods that worked 30 years ago may have lost their effectiveness. Programs that met missional needs in the community for the last generation may not be meeting any of the foremost needs of the current generation. Leadership that stopped adjusting to their changing context may need to retool or resign so that prepared leadership can move into position.
Today I read a parable of five foolish maidens and five wise maidens in Matthew 25. All came to the wedding feast prepared, assuming nothing changed. Well, change happened. The groom was late. The situation changed. Plans and preparation had to change. Those who were prepared for change joined the marriage feast. Those who had refused to be prepared for change were left out in the darkness.
Where will our churches be left standing when the Bridegroom comes?
Showing posts with label leadership skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership skills. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Encouraging Brings Risk to All of Us
My small deskside dictionary provides me with this defintion of encourage: to inspire with courage and hope. One of my biblical heroes is Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement. He didn't seek the spotlight, but he helped other people do more than they ever would without him. We don't know of any manuscripts that we are certain he wrote, but he encoraged one who wrote a lot of what constitutes our New Testament. He is not noted for having started any particular churches, but his support gave another young man the start he needed to eventually be an important disciple of the Apostle Paul and a compiler of the second gospel.
Encouragement is something we all need and can be easily given away. Encouragement, however, does bring risk, both for the giver and the recipient. Once offered, encouragement can produce an energy of its own, and the results may be beyond our human ability to control.
To inspire with courage and hope is to let a person see that what he or she may be at the present need not be the final result. That person can be more, go farther, and turn dreams into reality. Sometimes the person who encourages becomes the strong shoulders that allows the other to attain heights undreamed of. Sometimes the encourager can be forgotten in the heady rush of success and accomplishment.
Our churches need to be encouragers. The gospel is all about encouragement. The gospel is a message of encouragement. The gospel shows people what they are, what they can be, and what God has done to make the transformation possible. The gospel leads people to look beyond the limitations of this world and see what they can become both in this world and in eternity. That's real encouragement! Of course these people may leave our churches. They may follow the Spirit to a mission field in the inner city or overseas. If we encourage them, we may lose them.
The association also must be in the business of encouragement. Our member churches too easily can fall into the trap of self-criticism and limited dreams. The local congregation will look at its numerical attendance and financial resources. It will see the bigger church down the road, on television, or in the headlines, and fall into spiritual despair. "We're too small. We're too poor. We're too old." The Holy Spirit gnashes his teeth at such thinking!
The association must be in the business of encouragement. When we take our eyes off God, we will see only our own limitations. We will see only what we can do in our strength. We will see only what our dreams could be without any hope of reaching those dreams.
Associations must encourage each of their member churches to see their context through the eyes of God. The churches must see their resources through the eyes of God. The churches must see their potential through the eyes of God. The association must help each church see the open door that God has placed in front of every congregation (Rev. 3:8). No one can shut the door, but too many churches are willing to walk away from it. Yet if we encourage them, they may move beyond our own resources to help them. They may see themsleves no longer needing the support of the association. Let us dare to celebrate with them!
We as associational leaders must learn how to encourage our churches, their leaders, and their membership. It will be a lot easier if we can help them keep their focus upon God. He offers a lot of encouragement.
Encouragement is something we all need and can be easily given away. Encouragement, however, does bring risk, both for the giver and the recipient. Once offered, encouragement can produce an energy of its own, and the results may be beyond our human ability to control.
To inspire with courage and hope is to let a person see that what he or she may be at the present need not be the final result. That person can be more, go farther, and turn dreams into reality. Sometimes the person who encourages becomes the strong shoulders that allows the other to attain heights undreamed of. Sometimes the encourager can be forgotten in the heady rush of success and accomplishment.
Our churches need to be encouragers. The gospel is all about encouragement. The gospel is a message of encouragement. The gospel shows people what they are, what they can be, and what God has done to make the transformation possible. The gospel leads people to look beyond the limitations of this world and see what they can become both in this world and in eternity. That's real encouragement! Of course these people may leave our churches. They may follow the Spirit to a mission field in the inner city or overseas. If we encourage them, we may lose them.
The association also must be in the business of encouragement. Our member churches too easily can fall into the trap of self-criticism and limited dreams. The local congregation will look at its numerical attendance and financial resources. It will see the bigger church down the road, on television, or in the headlines, and fall into spiritual despair. "We're too small. We're too poor. We're too old." The Holy Spirit gnashes his teeth at such thinking!
The association must be in the business of encouragement. When we take our eyes off God, we will see only our own limitations. We will see only what we can do in our strength. We will see only what our dreams could be without any hope of reaching those dreams.
Associations must encourage each of their member churches to see their context through the eyes of God. The churches must see their resources through the eyes of God. The churches must see their potential through the eyes of God. The association must help each church see the open door that God has placed in front of every congregation (Rev. 3:8). No one can shut the door, but too many churches are willing to walk away from it. Yet if we encourage them, they may move beyond our own resources to help them. They may see themsleves no longer needing the support of the association. Let us dare to celebrate with them!
We as associational leaders must learn how to encourage our churches, their leaders, and their membership. It will be a lot easier if we can help them keep their focus upon God. He offers a lot of encouragement.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
People Investments
I have a retirement program into which I make regular financial investments in preparation for a future that may or may not ever arrive. By most that is considered wise planning. I wish I could invest more, but there is no chance of a future unless I also take care of today.
Whether we realize it or not, we are all investing in the people around us. Sometimes that is intentional. Many times it is not. You can call it mentoring, teaching, directing, or simply influencing. Whatever name you give it, you are investing in people.
As couples we are investing in our spouses. As parents we invest in our children. As workers on the job we invest through our efforts and work ethic in the lives of employers, coworkers, and employees. In our churches we are investing in our membership. As leaders we do it with a high level of intentionality, but everyone does it to one extent or another. And it all relates to our present and our future.
Investing in people should be intentional. As followers of Christ we should always be seeking to influence others in a way that will point them to the relationship they need with Jesus. Our daily actions will influence others as they watch us and interact with us. Our speech will reveal the priorities of our hearts. Our words, tone, and body language will convey a desire to build up or tear down. No matter what we do, for better or for worse we will be investing in people.
Jesus invested his ministry in his followers. He chose twelve to walk with him. He chose three to share in his most critical moments. As church leaders we would do well to follow such an example. The next generation of leaders will look to someone to see what to do or what not to do. If they can see the positive in you, then your investment in their lives will be to the benefit of many yet to come.
Paul's command to his young disciple in I Timothy 4:12 is clear wisdom for all of us. Set an example for the believers in speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Be intentional in pouring yourself into the life or lives of one or more who will carry the mantle after you are gone. Your name is not important, only Christ's. What you have received from others is very important. Share the teaching and set the example of a crucified life in this world, faithfully carrying out the work of the Master until he returns to claim his own.
Whether we realize it or not, we are all investing in the people around us. Sometimes that is intentional. Many times it is not. You can call it mentoring, teaching, directing, or simply influencing. Whatever name you give it, you are investing in people.
As couples we are investing in our spouses. As parents we invest in our children. As workers on the job we invest through our efforts and work ethic in the lives of employers, coworkers, and employees. In our churches we are investing in our membership. As leaders we do it with a high level of intentionality, but everyone does it to one extent or another. And it all relates to our present and our future.
Investing in people should be intentional. As followers of Christ we should always be seeking to influence others in a way that will point them to the relationship they need with Jesus. Our daily actions will influence others as they watch us and interact with us. Our speech will reveal the priorities of our hearts. Our words, tone, and body language will convey a desire to build up or tear down. No matter what we do, for better or for worse we will be investing in people.
Jesus invested his ministry in his followers. He chose twelve to walk with him. He chose three to share in his most critical moments. As church leaders we would do well to follow such an example. The next generation of leaders will look to someone to see what to do or what not to do. If they can see the positive in you, then your investment in their lives will be to the benefit of many yet to come.
Paul's command to his young disciple in I Timothy 4:12 is clear wisdom for all of us. Set an example for the believers in speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Be intentional in pouring yourself into the life or lives of one or more who will carry the mantle after you are gone. Your name is not important, only Christ's. What you have received from others is very important. Share the teaching and set the example of a crucified life in this world, faithfully carrying out the work of the Master until he returns to claim his own.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Barnabas Effect
We are not bishops, superintendents, or conference directors. So how do we impact the pastors in our associations? Maybe Barnabas can give us a few tips.
Barnabas set an example for unseflishness and generosity. He made meeting the needs of others a priority in his life. Acts 4
He tried to see the good in others and then take action to give them a chance to prove themselves. Acts 9
He recognized that people sometimes make mistakes and need to be given a second chance to show their true stuff. Acts 15
He was not perfect and he made mistakes which the grace of God was able to overcome. Galatians 2
We as associational misionaries can set an example by our lifestyles what we would like to see our pastors doing. I don't think any of us are overpaid, but we do need to realize that church leaders may be more attentive to what we share with them if they see us willing to go through some of the same stuff they have to face day in and day out. Especially among our smaller churches and bivocational pastors, our examples need to be ones of generosity and compassion irrespective of church size or pastoral educational level.
We can help our ministers by helping pave a path for them into our areas. We can walk beside them in learning the ropes of the new church field. We can make key introductions that will hopefully make the transition easier and add resources to their toolbox. We can know who provides dependable service in several areas of life so that new ministers and their families have a reasonable place to start as they seek services in their communities.
I am not advocating that every associational missionary be qualified to throw himself into a church conflict as a mediator. However, there are basic people skills that every DoM should learn to be an effective listener when a disgruntled church member comes to the office or a pastor needs a shoulder to cry on concerning a messy situation for which he is responsible. Knowing how to encourage other people to ask for or to offer a second chance is a fundamental part of the redemption plan we are supposed to be offering people both outside and inside the church.
And do we all make mistakes? Oh and how! The associational missionary needs to be willing to admit mistakes and to ask for forgiveness. We also have our times when we need someone to give us a second chance.
Barnabas set an example for unseflishness and generosity. He made meeting the needs of others a priority in his life. Acts 4
He tried to see the good in others and then take action to give them a chance to prove themselves. Acts 9
He recognized that people sometimes make mistakes and need to be given a second chance to show their true stuff. Acts 15
He was not perfect and he made mistakes which the grace of God was able to overcome. Galatians 2
We as associational misionaries can set an example by our lifestyles what we would like to see our pastors doing. I don't think any of us are overpaid, but we do need to realize that church leaders may be more attentive to what we share with them if they see us willing to go through some of the same stuff they have to face day in and day out. Especially among our smaller churches and bivocational pastors, our examples need to be ones of generosity and compassion irrespective of church size or pastoral educational level.
We can help our ministers by helping pave a path for them into our areas. We can walk beside them in learning the ropes of the new church field. We can make key introductions that will hopefully make the transition easier and add resources to their toolbox. We can know who provides dependable service in several areas of life so that new ministers and their families have a reasonable place to start as they seek services in their communities.
I am not advocating that every associational missionary be qualified to throw himself into a church conflict as a mediator. However, there are basic people skills that every DoM should learn to be an effective listener when a disgruntled church member comes to the office or a pastor needs a shoulder to cry on concerning a messy situation for which he is responsible. Knowing how to encourage other people to ask for or to offer a second chance is a fundamental part of the redemption plan we are supposed to be offering people both outside and inside the church.
And do we all make mistakes? Oh and how! The associational missionary needs to be willing to admit mistakes and to ask for forgiveness. We also have our times when we need someone to give us a second chance.
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