Pride and getting volunteers
Filed under: Body of Christ, Encouragement, Random Thoughts, church growth, community, leadership, ministry, personal growth, volunteering
I am one of those guys who will let you borrow anything I have, I will jump in to help out someone without a second thought…yet for some reason, I have a hard time asking others for help. Why is that? I could just chalk it up to being a guy. Is that true though? Or is pride my stumbling block? So how does my personal question affect the church? If you are a pastor or lay leader who has my natural tendencies that cause an aversion to asking others for help, that can seriously damage your ministry! We cannot and must not try to do it all by ourselves! (I am not being super spiritual here and talking about doing it without God….I mean without other people.) So how do we get people to help out? Unfortunately for our personality type, we have to bust out of our mold and ask them personally. I am not talking about a from the pulpit plea like, “Will you please see sister Baby Sitter after the service if you can work in the nursery.” I mean personally approaching the person and saying, “I see that God has given you this and this strength, I would like your help in this area of ministry. Are you up for it?” The first part of that needs to be sincere! You can’t just drag them in to take care of toddlers because they are a warm body and couldn’t think of an excuse to say no. They won’t be a great piano player if they can’t play a lick, no matter how much they want to help out. Some people get great satisfaction out of seeing a spotless church they have just cleaned! Others feel like they have been sentenced to Siberia if they had to face cleaning the bathrooms. Look for people who have a gifting and help them fulfil that gifting. You might find that certain “traditional jobs” in the church just don’t get filled. (Though if no one is “gifted” at cleaning the toilets or taking out the trash, it still needs to be done.) Reach out, ask personally and you will be surprised at the results! Many people want to help, but don’t know where to start. This isn’t just for senior pastors! If you lead any area of ministry in your church, this is for you!
Going that extra mile
Filed under: Direction, Marketing, Random Thoughts, Vision, church growth, leadership, ministry, planting
When you go to a restaurant, what makes you go back to one, and avoid another at all costs? There are some basics, like…the food. If you can’t stand the food, chances are, no matter how great everything else is, you won’t be frequenting that restaurant. A place with friendly courteous greeters is likely to not turn you off to them. Your server is probably a huge part of your decision to frequent that establishment again. Does she do the little things like make sure your glass doesn’t go empty? Does he warm the coffee mug for you before giving you coffee? Do you have to ask for silverware? Does your server clearly communicate your order to the cook in such a way that what you get is exactly what you ordered? So why write a restaurant service review on a page about church life, pastors and lay leaders?
When an unchurched person drives into your parking lot, are they warmly and courteously greeted? Are they helped to find a way to their seat or to check their kids into the nursery? Do people take the time to talk with them? Like the restaurant, even if the service is great, if the food isn’t they likely won’t come back. Pastors, music ministers, that is your part. Like the cook, you and your creative team cook up a service that will feed the hungry. I didn’t say that you should preach unbiblical fluff, just in case anyone tries to read that into it. I mean that each sermon should be prepared like it is the last one that God will allow you to preach. This worship time is the last time God will allow you to play your instrument or sing. There is a quote by Dave Ramsey about personal fincance, but it applies here too. “Pray like it all depends on God, work like it all depends on you.” It does all depend on God, yet somehow he doesn’t seem to like to bless laziness. “Go to the ant thou sluggard” comes to mind. Is your church a place where people want to come back? Or is it somewhere they tell their friends to avoid?
How big is the box you put God in?
Filed under: Direction, Encouragement, Random Thoughts, Wonderment, church growth, creativity, healing, personal growth, worship
Odd title? The idea of us doing anything to God seems ludicrous? For some reason, it is human nature to try to put God in a box. So how big is the box you put him in? Does your God simply watch while the world spins, but not get involved? Does he subtly guide you, but doesn’t do anything too big? Or is your God such an overwhelming part of your life that your whole being is consumed with pleasing HIM? Is HE able to bust your box open? Does HE heal the sick? Does HE raise the dead? Does HE send fire from heaven to consume your enemies? Does HE guide your every move? Does HE speak to you? Does HE save people from lives of sin? Or even that neighbor next door? Can you let God have a bigger box? Can you open the box you keep HIM in and let HIM out completely? If HE calls you to be a missionary, will you go? What about talking to the waitress about HIM? Will you give all you own away and trust HIM to take care of you? Our God is an awesome GOD! HE is the God above ALL gods, HE is the KING above ALL kings! HE can do absolutely anything! Yet, Jesus told us that HE was unable to do more than heal a few sick people because of the people’s lack of faith. When we keep God in a box, that is our lack of faith. So how big is the box you put God in?
Confessions of a Blogger/Pastor
Filed under: Body of Christ, Book Review, Direction, Encouragement, Fear, Pornography, Random Thoughts, Repentance, accountability, healing, leadership, personal growth, reading
I just finished reading Craig Groeschel’s book, Confessions of a Pastor. It surprised me in a good way! I expected it to be a decent book. I enjoy Craig’s teaching and the articles he has written that I have read. I must admit, it was the first book by him that I had picked up. I read it almost all the way through last night…finally about 3:30 in the morning, I decided that the book would still be there in the morning and I needed to get some sleep. It got me thinking, which is part of Craig’s motive for writing the book, that I am as guilty as he is about not taking off my mask and trying to let people see the new and improved me instead of letting them see the “real” me. As he “confessed to me” through the book, I found myself wanting to talk out loud to him saying, “I am right there with you!” I have been in church since the week after my parents conceived me, yet it wasn’t until November 28, 2003 that I finally broke down and gave myself 100% to God! Why did I wait so long? I had said a sinner’s prayer when I was three years old. Was it real? I thought it was, but was my life bearing fruit of someone sold out to God and crazy about reaching the world for Jesus Christ? I can answer that for those who didn’t know me…it wasn’t! I was a “convenient Christian”. What about now? Each day is a new struggle. I have previously blogged about having had a pornography addiction and leading the pornography addiction recovery group at church. So how do I admit that there are days when I just want to give up on almost 6 years being porn free? There, I admitted it. (Yes, I know that giving in would destroy my witness, it would cause problems in my marriage, it would end my ability to be an effective pastor and leader in the church, it would take away the credibility I have built with the guys who talk to me about their own addictions…) Yes, I know that stuff…and yet there are days when I don’t feel as close to God and don’t feel his love. I know HE is still there watching out for me. Yes, there are days when I wake up tired on Sunday morning and don’t want to go to church. (And the senior pastor is an incredible leader and speaker! I love the worship band! I just want to stay in bed.) Do you ever have those feelings? Comment away!
And if you are struggling with a pornography and/or sexual addiction, feel free to contact me privately. If you are a pastor, I really encourage you to do so! If you don’t want to talk to me, get an accountability partner! Very, very few men/or women can kick the habit alone without the help of a friend.
Personal Celebration
Filed under: Book Publication, Book Review, Marketing, Random Thoughts, Wonderment, reading
Ok, this post has nothing to do with church leadership! I am just happy. The author’s proof of my book came in yesterday! I made some minor format changes, and now it is done! (So all of you who were anticipating buying a copy can now click here to get one!) The feeling of satisfaction just holding a copy of Wild About the Church! Thought Provoking Ideas for Pastors and Lay Leaders was one I wasn’t ready for. There it was in my hands…a book with my name on the front…And people have actually paid money to buy copies! (No, I am not yet on the NYT best seller list, but sales have been made!) It is the same joy I get when I see that people actually read my blog. I think for the first six months or so, the only person who read it outside my family was my pastor.
Challenge Yourself – Read differing opinions.
Started reaching John McArthurJr’s Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry this week. It is quite an interesting read, especially since he is slamming many authors and pastors that I admire. In order to grow in our areas of ministry, we must constantly be challenged. Reading great books is one way to do that! Read not only those authors who you agree with, but also those who you disagree with. As they challenge your faith, you will come to one of at least three conclusions. One, “They are right, and I was wrong, now I can change for the better.” Two, “I was right and they were wrong, but I am glad that my faith is challenged.” Three, “I am still not sure who is right or wrong, but at least now I see that my way might not be perfect.” These three options are assuming that the reader is teachable and open to change. There could always be the “I don’t care if i am wrong, I am still going to do things the way I want to” mentality, but my writing is for those who are trying to challenge the way they lead their congregations. Back to John McArthurJr’s Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry, Do I agree with him 100%? I really do not, but I will say that he is a brilliant author and there is a lot of truth in the things he says. Now if you are a McArthur fan, then I recommend you read something by Bill Hybels or Rick Warren for another side’s view.
Sound Doctrine
Titus 2:1 challenges us with these words: “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” Are we as pastors and church leades keeping that exhortation in mind as we live our lives, preach our sermons and run the programs of our church? We have a mandate here to teach sound doctrine. That means that we first must know sound doctrine! We can’t preach it or teach it if we aren’t spending time every day in God’s Word an in prayer. Titus is such an awesome book! So short and to the point, but always worth reading. In my Bible, almost every verse in those three short chapters is underlined, highlighted and/or noted in some way. (Sorry if you are one of those people who think you shouldn’t write in a Bible.) Chapter 3 starts with the words “Remind the people to…” That is a huge part of our job as pastors and lay leadership in the church. Remind the people of all that God want to tell them. Have an awesome Sunday!
Doing the Little Things is Important!
Filed under: Random Thoughts, church growth, leadership, ministry
Do you pay attention to the little things? Does God care if the trashcans in the church lobby are full and no one has taken them out. I think He does! The Bible is full of references to God wanting things done in a specific way. The priests in the Old Testament had to keep the temple/tabernacle clean, and in perfect order at all times. I am not really just talking about trash in the lobby. It can be all those little things that keep a visitor from coming back. Now, if they go down the road to another church, that really isn’t a problem eternally speaking. But, what if they never try church again, don’t get saved, and end up spending eternity in hell just because the greeters didn’t offer a smile and a handshake in the parking lot? It is the little things that matter. Not all of them seem “spiritual”. Is the grass mowed? Are there people to help them find where to go? Does anyone talk to them? These “little things” can kill the experience that someone has when they come to church. And worst case senario, they never come back.
Is your church worth attending?
Filed under: Body of Christ, Direction, Encouragement, accountability, community, evangelism, ministry
This morning, I started reading Brad Powell’s Change Your Church For Good: The Art Of Sacred Cow Tipping. I hadn’t gotten very far when I came accross this quote: “multitudes of people are giving up on the whole idea of attending church. And, in their defense, many churches aren’t worth attending.” Now, the first part of that quote may very well be true and I am sure Mr. Barna has some research to back that one up. The second part of that quote bothers me. Not because it isn’t true, but that it is! How can the church, which is the bride of Christ, the holder of the best news ever in the history of the world, the sons and daughters of God…how can that church be not worth attending? I think the problem lies in that not all buildings with people meeting in them on Sunday morning are really churches in the previously mentioned sense. Some are just clubs that may sing some songs and listen to a somewhat morally positive speech for a while while those in attendance think of the roast in the crock pot or where they want to go for lunch. We as the church of Jesus Christ must get out of our comfort zones and share the Love of Jesus with our communities or we may all very well end up as “churches [that] aren’t worth attending.”
Easter Egg Drop…
Filed under: Body of Christ, Events, Family, Marketing, Service, Uncategorized, church growth, community, creativity, evangelism, small groups
You may be thinking, (((Dude, its July! What are you doing posting on Easter))) Well, I am happy to say that Dean Herman and I went to talk with Greg Powell of the Easley, SC Department of Parks & Recreation and we have locked in the date of March 27th 2010 for the next Easley Egg Drop. I am excited about this as we have been back and forth with them since April 7th or so about getting this date reserved. Sometimes, planning big events takes some time. I am thankful that we can now start working on some of the othe details…like getting 200,000 plastic eggs stuffed with candy, a helicopter, enough hotdogs, cotton candy, snowcones, popcorn etc. to get 10,000 kids and their parents on a good sugar high! Golf carts to shuttle people from parking, a band to play, inflatables for the kids to play on…you get the picture…still a lot to do!
So why do this stuff? Because guys like my friend Aaron bring their families to it because it is free and open to the public. And then after being shown the love of Jesus through a crazy event like this, he decides to take his family to check out that church that gave all that stuff away free. And then his wife up and gave her heart to Jesus! And a couple weeks later, so did Aaron! Then they got baptized together! Then they got involved in my Home TEAM(Small group)! They got involved in reaching out to other people and are now volunteering to help with other events! That is why we do it.
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