My daughter told me that I was whinning in my last post. That wasn't my intent. I was trying to point out that preachers do a lot more stuff than people realize.
The USA Today ran an article for its 25th anniversary to site the people that have inspired them over the last 25 years. Some great names were on the list: people of flight United 93, Lance Armstrong, "Mattie", Oprah, Nelson Mandella, etc.
Got me to thinking about the people that have inspired me. (Jesus is a given). Here is a few on my list - in no order of importance following my parents and children :
1.) My father and mother.
2.) My children
3.) George Washington
4.) Abraham Lincoln
5.) Ronald Reagan
6.) Jerry Jones (teacher, mentor)
7.) Jimmy Allen (professor in college)
8.) Mrs. Howerton (my high school biology teacher)
9.) Bill Hybels
10.) Mrs. Humphrey (5th grade teacher)
11.) Norman Dale
12.) Brick Hendricks
13.) Ruby Bridges
14.) T.L.Spears
15.) Billy Blakney
16.) Max Lucado
17.) Alexander Campbell
18.) George Baldwin
19.) Lillie Rucks
20.) Lucille Walls
21.) Marcille Breeding
22.) Steve Saint
23.) "Mattie"
24.) JFK
25.) Martin Luther King, Jr.
26.) Marvin Phillips
27) Randy & Martha Crider
28.) Jackie Robinson
29.) People of United 93
30.) Jim Cymbala
31.) Steve Osborn
32.) Ann Kullberg
33.) Rick Atchley
34.) Mike Cope
35.) Harry Fox
36.) Chuck Mix
37.) George Patton
38.) Ben Franklin
39.) Harold Abrahams
40.) Steve Meeks
41.) Marshal Keeble
42.) Rick Warren
43.) Clint O. Crowe
44.) Erwin McManus
45.) Andy Stanley
I'm sure I'll think of a few more - right after I push the "publish" button. Here's a question worth pondering today - you has inspired you? and why?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
What does a preacher do anyway?
I've been asked the question a million times - just what does a preacher do anyway, besides just working for one hour on Sunday?
Saturday (day off, right? It's a holiday weekend!) - we have a celebration for our high school graduates. Lasted about 2 hours. Our youth committee did a great job!
This past Sunday we only had one worship assembly (holiday weekend), with class at the normal time (10:15 a.m.) "Boy, Randy had a day off today!" What they don't know is that I was at the building at 7:45 a.m. to rearrange the chairs so I could get about thirty more chairs from the storeroom to allow for the one service. I then dowloaded my powerpoint slides, got the DVD I was using as an illustration all set; then downloaded the worship slides from gmail. That was all set. By now - it's about 9:00 a.m.
Saw that my secretary forgot to print the children's bulletins. I run them through the copier (both sides) and folded them. Time is now about 9:20 a.m.
While I'm doing this, the person in charge of the praise team asked me if I had a couple of minutes to help her do a mike check - she forget to tell the sound person to be there early. No problem I tell her - I've got all the time in the world!
I unlock all the doors for the building. Check the thermostat to a cool 68 - with a packed room it will get hot in a hurry.
Go to the kitchen to prepare the Lord's Supper. Our small group was in charge this month - so I go back to do that. Since we're having one service - we'll need two more trays of everything.
Time is now about 10:00 a.m.
During the class I take about five minutes to look over my sermon notes.
After class its apparent that we have a ton of guests! Need more chairs! A few guys see me getting folding chairs from the classrooms and pitch in to help!
Get a call that I'm to be in charge of the silt fence that surrounds the construction of our new building. That requires a staple gun and hammer. Got both so I'm qualified. Actually, I live just two blocks from the site ( I was NOT on the land committee!) - so I get volunteered for a lot of things. (For example, a few weeks ago I was called on to water the entire six acres with a fire hose for my Friday night's excitement!)
Monday morning (day off, right? ) I go to the building to put up the extra chairs and return th e folding chairs to their classrooms as our Christian school will need them. Have a nice picnic with a life group at a city park. I go back to the building around 10:15 p.m. to meet Won by One from Pepperdine and get them to their houses. night. They will sing for us on Tuesday Get home around 11:00 p.m.
It's good that I have a Master's Degree in Bible, otherwise I wouldn't be qualified to do these things! Actually, I'm like most preachers. A lot of what we do doesn't invovle our training. We just serve and do a lot of the day to day things that need to be done that no one will ever notice. Its not exciting work most of the time.
I do love what I do. I love ministry.
I do live for the day that all I think and worry about are preaching and people. Don't know if they day will ever come. It's a nice thought. Hey, a brother can dream, can't he?
But it does make me wonder - think Max Lucado ever sets up the chairs?
Saturday (day off, right? It's a holiday weekend!) - we have a celebration for our high school graduates. Lasted about 2 hours. Our youth committee did a great job!
This past Sunday we only had one worship assembly (holiday weekend), with class at the normal time (10:15 a.m.) "Boy, Randy had a day off today!" What they don't know is that I was at the building at 7:45 a.m. to rearrange the chairs so I could get about thirty more chairs from the storeroom to allow for the one service. I then dowloaded my powerpoint slides, got the DVD I was using as an illustration all set; then downloaded the worship slides from gmail. That was all set. By now - it's about 9:00 a.m.
Saw that my secretary forgot to print the children's bulletins. I run them through the copier (both sides) and folded them. Time is now about 9:20 a.m.
While I'm doing this, the person in charge of the praise team asked me if I had a couple of minutes to help her do a mike check - she forget to tell the sound person to be there early. No problem I tell her - I've got all the time in the world!
I unlock all the doors for the building. Check the thermostat to a cool 68 - with a packed room it will get hot in a hurry.
Go to the kitchen to prepare the Lord's Supper. Our small group was in charge this month - so I go back to do that. Since we're having one service - we'll need two more trays of everything.
Time is now about 10:00 a.m.
During the class I take about five minutes to look over my sermon notes.
After class its apparent that we have a ton of guests! Need more chairs! A few guys see me getting folding chairs from the classrooms and pitch in to help!
Get a call that I'm to be in charge of the silt fence that surrounds the construction of our new building. That requires a staple gun and hammer. Got both so I'm qualified. Actually, I live just two blocks from the site ( I was NOT on the land committee!) - so I get volunteered for a lot of things. (For example, a few weeks ago I was called on to water the entire six acres with a fire hose for my Friday night's excitement!)
Monday morning (day off, right? ) I go to the building to put up the extra chairs and return th e folding chairs to their classrooms as our Christian school will need them. Have a nice picnic with a life group at a city park. I go back to the building around 10:15 p.m. to meet Won by One from Pepperdine and get them to their houses. night. They will sing for us on Tuesday Get home around 11:00 p.m.
It's good that I have a Master's Degree in Bible, otherwise I wouldn't be qualified to do these things! Actually, I'm like most preachers. A lot of what we do doesn't invovle our training. We just serve and do a lot of the day to day things that need to be done that no one will ever notice. Its not exciting work most of the time.
I do love what I do. I love ministry.
I do live for the day that all I think and worry about are preaching and people. Don't know if they day will ever come. It's a nice thought. Hey, a brother can dream, can't he?
But it does make me wonder - think Max Lucado ever sets up the chairs?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
The Traveler's Gift
Just finished "A Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews. Pretty good book. A little cheesy, but I liked it. The sub title is "Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success". Here are the seven decisions:
1.) The buck stops here.
2.) I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others.
3.) I am a person of action.
4.) I have a decided heart.
5.) Today, I will choose to be happy.
6.) I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.
7.) I will persist without exception.
What I liked was that in each of these "decisions" - the character in the book went back in time to visit an historical figure who personified that particular trait. For example, in the first decision he has a conversation with Harry Truman. Would be a great gift for a high school grad.
Is there any question who will win American Idol? Jordan hands down. Of course, the best singer wasn't in the finale, but I've let that go. Melinda will have a great career, you just wait and see!
Looking forward to the LOST season finale tonight.
It's my "sabbath" day. I'm digging into David Baldacci's new book "Simple Genius". I'm also still listening to "1776" by David McCullough.
1.) The buck stops here.
2.) I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others.
3.) I am a person of action.
4.) I have a decided heart.
5.) Today, I will choose to be happy.
6.) I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.
7.) I will persist without exception.
What I liked was that in each of these "decisions" - the character in the book went back in time to visit an historical figure who personified that particular trait. For example, in the first decision he has a conversation with Harry Truman. Would be a great gift for a high school grad.
Is there any question who will win American Idol? Jordan hands down. Of course, the best singer wasn't in the finale, but I've let that go. Melinda will have a great career, you just wait and see!
Looking forward to the LOST season finale tonight.
It's my "sabbath" day. I'm digging into David Baldacci's new book "Simple Genius". I'm also still listening to "1776" by David McCullough.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Nine "C's" of Leadership
In his book "Where Have All The Leaders Gone?" Lee Iacocca shares his list of qualities that a leader needs to have:
A leader has to show CURIOSITY. He has to listen to people outside his "Yes, sir" crowd in his inner circle. He has to read voracioulsy, because the world is a big, complicated place. If a leader never steps outside his comfort zone to hear different ideas, he grows stale.
A leader has to be CREATIVE, go out on a limb, be willing to try something different. You know, think outside the box.
A leader has to COMMUNICATE.
A leader has to be a person of CHARACTER. That means knowing the difference between right and wrong and having the guts to do the right thing.
A leader must have COURAGE.
A leader must have CONVICTION - a fire in your belly. You've got to have passion!
A leader should have CHARISMA. I'm not talking about being flashy. Charisma is the quality that makes people want to follow you. It's the ability to inspire. People follow a leader because they trust him.
A leader has to be COMPETENT. You've got to know what your doing.
You can't be a leader if you don't have COMMON SENSE.
That's a good list. It's good to ask ourselves ourselves some tough questions ever now and then. Things like - am I being an effective leader? Am I exicted to preach every Sunday?
Am I being creative in my preaching? In my ministry? In my small group? In the way I teach my Sunday school class?
Am I showing courage or just taking the easy way out in order to keep my job?
Ask yourself some tough questions today! Self examanation is good for the soul.
A leader has to show CURIOSITY. He has to listen to people outside his "Yes, sir" crowd in his inner circle. He has to read voracioulsy, because the world is a big, complicated place. If a leader never steps outside his comfort zone to hear different ideas, he grows stale.
A leader has to be CREATIVE, go out on a limb, be willing to try something different. You know, think outside the box.
A leader has to COMMUNICATE.
A leader has to be a person of CHARACTER. That means knowing the difference between right and wrong and having the guts to do the right thing.
A leader must have COURAGE.
A leader must have CONVICTION - a fire in your belly. You've got to have passion!
A leader should have CHARISMA. I'm not talking about being flashy. Charisma is the quality that makes people want to follow you. It's the ability to inspire. People follow a leader because they trust him.
A leader has to be COMPETENT. You've got to know what your doing.
You can't be a leader if you don't have COMMON SENSE.
That's a good list. It's good to ask ourselves ourselves some tough questions ever now and then. Things like - am I being an effective leader? Am I exicted to preach every Sunday?
Am I being creative in my preaching? In my ministry? In my small group? In the way I teach my Sunday school class?
Am I showing courage or just taking the easy way out in order to keep my job?
Ask yourself some tough questions today! Self examanation is good for the soul.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Missional Vision by Fudge
Here is the post on "The Missional Vision" from Edward Fudge. This is awesome! - Randy
THE 'MISSIONAL' VISION:Old Truths in New Clothes (3)
In an "attractional" church, success is usually measured by the number of people in attendance, the size of the offering and (using those calculators) the growth of the institution itself. In a "missional" church, success will not be measured by counting heads or dollars but by faithfulness to God's mission, deepening faith and the development of Christ-like disciples. Obviously these intangible indicators are much harder to assess than those borrowed from the business world. That does not bother missional people, however, because their focus is not on the institutional church to begin with. It is rather on the kingdom and mission of God.
Missional people understand that the church is called to be an expression of God's kingdom during the interim between Christ's first coming and his final appearing. God has planted the church in the world as a model community, an advance demonstration of the redeemed society of the new heavens and earth to come. But they understand that even at its best the church is always a flawed and incomplete expression of God's kingdom. They confess that sometimes the church scarcely resembles God's kingdom at all. To the extent that the church does express God's kingdom now, its presence in this world is a sign of God's kingdom that has come and is yet to come. And to the extent the church aligns itself with the mission of God, it is also an agent of God's kingdom to which that mission is surely leading.
This vision of a missional church is old truth in new clothes. It is the vision of discipleship we hear in all the parables and teachings of Jesus. It is the sort of Christianity we discover throughout the Book of Acts, the kind of church the Epistles all call us to become. Consider, for example, the following missional goals which in reality are New Testament values: * Using God's mission as the standard for determining priorities and allocating resources (Matt. 6:33; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:8-15). * Measuring success by sacrifice and self-giving (Mark 12:41-44). * Placing kingdom concerns ahead of any particular congregation or denomination (Acts 13:1-3). * Expecting believers to meet high standards (Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 1:28). * Participatory worship meetings open to the fresh leading of the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:26). * Learning truth to obey it and not merely to know it (Eph. 4:20-24; 1 Tim. 1:5-7). * Every believer a missionary on God's mission (Phil. 2:13; Eph. 2:10). * Being honest, authentic and real (1 Thes. 2:3-10; Eph. 4:25). * Changing the world in keeping with principles of God's kingdom (Titus 2:11-14; 3:8). The list could go on and on."
Those who wish to be missional people, God's fellow-workers on behalf of his kingdom, must cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as living members of his spiritual body the church. We must become a people of prayer, a people fed by the Word, a people totally dependent on God and not on ourselves, a people guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Such a prescription holds little attraction to a fleshly-oriented, self-centered or worldly-minded church. On the other hand, nothing less than this prescription will enable us effectively to become God's fellow-workers through whom his mission is carried out in this world.
Copyright 2007 by Edward Fudge
THE 'MISSIONAL' VISION:Old Truths in New Clothes (3)
In an "attractional" church, success is usually measured by the number of people in attendance, the size of the offering and (using those calculators) the growth of the institution itself. In a "missional" church, success will not be measured by counting heads or dollars but by faithfulness to God's mission, deepening faith and the development of Christ-like disciples. Obviously these intangible indicators are much harder to assess than those borrowed from the business world. That does not bother missional people, however, because their focus is not on the institutional church to begin with. It is rather on the kingdom and mission of God.
Missional people understand that the church is called to be an expression of God's kingdom during the interim between Christ's first coming and his final appearing. God has planted the church in the world as a model community, an advance demonstration of the redeemed society of the new heavens and earth to come. But they understand that even at its best the church is always a flawed and incomplete expression of God's kingdom. They confess that sometimes the church scarcely resembles God's kingdom at all. To the extent that the church does express God's kingdom now, its presence in this world is a sign of God's kingdom that has come and is yet to come. And to the extent the church aligns itself with the mission of God, it is also an agent of God's kingdom to which that mission is surely leading.
This vision of a missional church is old truth in new clothes. It is the vision of discipleship we hear in all the parables and teachings of Jesus. It is the sort of Christianity we discover throughout the Book of Acts, the kind of church the Epistles all call us to become. Consider, for example, the following missional goals which in reality are New Testament values: * Using God's mission as the standard for determining priorities and allocating resources (Matt. 6:33; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:8-15). * Measuring success by sacrifice and self-giving (Mark 12:41-44). * Placing kingdom concerns ahead of any particular congregation or denomination (Acts 13:1-3). * Expecting believers to meet high standards (Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 1:28). * Participatory worship meetings open to the fresh leading of the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:26). * Learning truth to obey it and not merely to know it (Eph. 4:20-24; 1 Tim. 1:5-7). * Every believer a missionary on God's mission (Phil. 2:13; Eph. 2:10). * Being honest, authentic and real (1 Thes. 2:3-10; Eph. 4:25). * Changing the world in keeping with principles of God's kingdom (Titus 2:11-14; 3:8). The list could go on and on."
Those who wish to be missional people, God's fellow-workers on behalf of his kingdom, must cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as living members of his spiritual body the church. We must become a people of prayer, a people fed by the Word, a people totally dependent on God and not on ourselves, a people guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Such a prescription holds little attraction to a fleshly-oriented, self-centered or worldly-minded church. On the other hand, nothing less than this prescription will enable us effectively to become God's fellow-workers through whom his mission is carried out in this world.
Copyright 2007 by Edward Fudge
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Sunday Night Thoughts
In the things I will never understand department: How in the world did Melinda Doolittle get voted off American Idol? Going back on your word (Dremz on Survivor) to win a million dollars - and you think people will vote for you? Why is the slowest car is always front of me?
I really enjoyed the posts this last week that Edward Fudge wrote on "Missional" churches. If you didn't catch them - go to gracEmail. Anyone have a more simple explanation of missional church that Fudge presents?
Our tribe had a good day today. Our shepherds each presented a different angle on our new building project. They really showed some great leadership today. I preached on giving from Malachi 3:8,9. Response was overwhelming!
Just began reading "The Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews. Our book club is reading "In His Steps" for our summer read.
The steel arrives this Wednesday. The structure begins going up! The floor was poured last week. When the steel goes up it begins to look like a new building. Very exciting.
I probably shouldn't blog on Sunday night. I'm quiting while I'm ahead.
I really enjoyed the posts this last week that Edward Fudge wrote on "Missional" churches. If you didn't catch them - go to gracEmail. Anyone have a more simple explanation of missional church that Fudge presents?
Our tribe had a good day today. Our shepherds each presented a different angle on our new building project. They really showed some great leadership today. I preached on giving from Malachi 3:8,9. Response was overwhelming!
Just began reading "The Traveler's Gift" by Andy Andrews. Our book club is reading "In His Steps" for our summer read.
The steel arrives this Wednesday. The structure begins going up! The floor was poured last week. When the steel goes up it begins to look like a new building. Very exciting.
I probably shouldn't blog on Sunday night. I'm quiting while I'm ahead.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
This N' That
Drove three hours (one way) for lunch today! Why? I had lunch with our future associate minister, Kevin Hooper. Since his family can't join us until September, I wanted to spend a few hours catching him up on what is going on here. We had a great time - and the six hour drive was a good time to listen to the book "1776" by David McCullough. Great book.
Was really disappointed that Melinda Doolittle got the boot on American Idol last night. I predict she will have a better career than either Jordan or Blake. I wasn't disappointed in the season finale of "Bones". Good to see "LOST" getting back in form, although it took them most of the season to refind their groove.
Haven't read a Lucado book in a while but I am really enjoying his latest book "Facing Your Gaints".
"The Last Sin Eater" is out on DVD. GREAT MOVIE. Rent it this weekend.
If you know of someone that has a used Treo for Verizon let me know! I loved mine. It was ran over by a car. Oh, well. Can't afford a new one. Maybe a used one will show up!
Tonight our bookclub will discuss "This Present Darkness". Read it 20 years ago - it still is a great read! The classic book was the first Christian fiction that I read. Still one of the best!
(I like the sequel, too!).
Was really disappointed that Melinda Doolittle got the boot on American Idol last night. I predict she will have a better career than either Jordan or Blake. I wasn't disappointed in the season finale of "Bones". Good to see "LOST" getting back in form, although it took them most of the season to refind their groove.
Haven't read a Lucado book in a while but I am really enjoying his latest book "Facing Your Gaints".
"The Last Sin Eater" is out on DVD. GREAT MOVIE. Rent it this weekend.
If you know of someone that has a used Treo for Verizon let me know! I loved mine. It was ran over by a car. Oh, well. Can't afford a new one. Maybe a used one will show up!
Tonight our bookclub will discuss "This Present Darkness". Read it 20 years ago - it still is a great read! The classic book was the first Christian fiction that I read. Still one of the best!
(I like the sequel, too!).
Monday, May 14, 2007
Leadership #2
My guess is this - that if you asked church of Christ ministers this simple question - "do you feel restricted by elders in your church to do what you feel lead to do to grow the church you serve?" -- what percentage do you think would answer in the affirmative?
I would say the percentages would be high to answer in the affirmative. 75% 80%? I bet it's somewhere in that range.
We are hesitant (in the churches of Christ) to give the evangelist any leadership authority. For example, we say that there is no blueprint for choosing elders and so we come up with our process; however, there is a bluprint - Paul told Timothy to appoint the elders! I've NEVER heard of a church doing that. Have you?
What I'm saying is this: our present model clearly is not producing growing churches for the most part. We clearly need to get out of our business model that we adopted from the world and refocus on what a true Biblical model of leadershp would look like.
I'm not saying that the shepherds have no authority. However, I'm saying that the evangelist has more authority in the NT church that he currently does in the contemporary church. Agree or disagree? Why or why not?
What we are doing for the most part is not producing disciples, growing churches, equipping people for ministry or reaching the world for Christ. If it's not working, why don't we fix it?
I would say the percentages would be high to answer in the affirmative. 75% 80%? I bet it's somewhere in that range.
We are hesitant (in the churches of Christ) to give the evangelist any leadership authority. For example, we say that there is no blueprint for choosing elders and so we come up with our process; however, there is a bluprint - Paul told Timothy to appoint the elders! I've NEVER heard of a church doing that. Have you?
What I'm saying is this: our present model clearly is not producing growing churches for the most part. We clearly need to get out of our business model that we adopted from the world and refocus on what a true Biblical model of leadershp would look like.
I'm not saying that the shepherds have no authority. However, I'm saying that the evangelist has more authority in the NT church that he currently does in the contemporary church. Agree or disagree? Why or why not?
What we are doing for the most part is not producing disciples, growing churches, equipping people for ministry or reaching the world for Christ. If it's not working, why don't we fix it?
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Biblical Model for Church Leadership?
Been reading a book entitled "Go Big". The theme is explosion growth as a God given mandate for the church. He uses several examples from Acts that are convicting.
In the book he makes this statement, "The pastor lead model is the most Biblical model of church leadership." Now, if he had said that the pastor led model was the most practical - I may be in agreement with them.
I want to raise a question that I'm wrestling with: what is "the" most Bibical model for church leadership? What is the most practical model? Is one at the expense of the other?
The authors of "Go Big" assert that most dying or stagnant churches have a democratic or "committee" led model while most, if not all, growing churches have a "pastor" led model.
Just because "it works" - does that mean that we should follow the model?
Is the Biblcial role of "shepherds" lost in our corporate model of church goverment?
I'll share my thoughts in a day or so. What thinking have you done along these lines? What model of leadership do you think we (as the church) should adopt?
Is the model of church leadership where you worship producing disciples? A growing church? A vibrant church? Is it producing people who are equipped for ministry?
In the book he makes this statement, "The pastor lead model is the most Biblical model of church leadership." Now, if he had said that the pastor led model was the most practical - I may be in agreement with them.
I want to raise a question that I'm wrestling with: what is "the" most Bibical model for church leadership? What is the most practical model? Is one at the expense of the other?
The authors of "Go Big" assert that most dying or stagnant churches have a democratic or "committee" led model while most, if not all, growing churches have a "pastor" led model.
Just because "it works" - does that mean that we should follow the model?
Is the Biblcial role of "shepherds" lost in our corporate model of church goverment?
I'll share my thoughts in a day or so. What thinking have you done along these lines? What model of leadership do you think we (as the church) should adopt?
Is the model of church leadership where you worship producing disciples? A growing church? A vibrant church? Is it producing people who are equipped for ministry?
Monday, May 07, 2007
Loving God; Loving Our Neighbor; Serving Everyone
Yesterday the leaders of the Southside Church met and simplified what we are all about: Loving God (greatest command); Loving Our Neighbors (second greatest command); Serving everyone (continuing the ministry of Jesus - he came not to be served but to serve). Every ministry at Southside will have the same vision - Loving God; Loving Our Neighbor; Serving!
You could call this: Upward Growth; Inward Growth; Outward Growth. I think Milton Jones wrote a book called "How to Make Disciples" using that wording, so this is not original with us!
Instead of growing a church, we have set our minds on making disciples!
We're learning to think steps not programs. How do you get a person from worship to small groups? You think steps - perhaps a "Discovering Southside" Workshop; an ice cream social with the elders/ministers/ministry leaders, etc that will lead them to be in a small group.
We see this as a process - first step -- worship. More than likely, that will be their first connection with Southside. Second step - small group experience. Third - invovled in serving; using their gifts, talents and abilities to glorify God. We're also going to limit people to one area of serving!
We talked about learning to count horizonally instead of vertically. If worship increases by 50% but small groups grows only by 10% - something is wrong with our process! So, we will begin to think horizonally.
One of our elders said it best when he made this comment, "I hope that this is just not a new slogan; but a new standard of how we do church. It will take a lot of commitment to adopt this new way of thinking; maybe even dropping some activities that are popluar but that do not contribute to the process." BINGO!
So, we have laid the foundation. I really like the idea of growing disciples instead of growing a church. I'll keep you posted!
You could call this: Upward Growth; Inward Growth; Outward Growth. I think Milton Jones wrote a book called "How to Make Disciples" using that wording, so this is not original with us!
Instead of growing a church, we have set our minds on making disciples!
We're learning to think steps not programs. How do you get a person from worship to small groups? You think steps - perhaps a "Discovering Southside" Workshop; an ice cream social with the elders/ministers/ministry leaders, etc that will lead them to be in a small group.
We see this as a process - first step -- worship. More than likely, that will be their first connection with Southside. Second step - small group experience. Third - invovled in serving; using their gifts, talents and abilities to glorify God. We're also going to limit people to one area of serving!
We talked about learning to count horizonally instead of vertically. If worship increases by 50% but small groups grows only by 10% - something is wrong with our process! So, we will begin to think horizonally.
One of our elders said it best when he made this comment, "I hope that this is just not a new slogan; but a new standard of how we do church. It will take a lot of commitment to adopt this new way of thinking; maybe even dropping some activities that are popluar but that do not contribute to the process." BINGO!
So, we have laid the foundation. I really like the idea of growing disciples instead of growing a church. I'll keep you posted!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
I Should Be in Malibu!
Met with some other ministers this morning for the National Day of Prayer Breakfast. It was a great time. Our church is having a gathering tonight. The motto of our prayer ministry is "making prayer our first response instead of our last resort." Boy, I like that!
This is my week to be in Malibu for the annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures. Instead, I had to stick around and get my stitches taken out following my skin cancer surgery of last week. Bummer. I do hope to make it to Nashville in October for the Zoe Worship Conference.
Reading a really good book right now entitled "Go Big". As I read more, I share some insights.
Found a copy of "Facing the Giants" at Blockbuster yesterday for $14.99! "The Last Sin Eater" comes out May 8th; can't wait to show it to our church! (Yes, we have a license to show movies).
It's been good for me to re-read "This Present Darkness". I had forgotten how good that book is!
Getting ready for the summer movies! Spiderman 3 is upon us. Any movie you're looking forward to above the others?
Did I mention that it is twenty degrees cooler today than yesterday? And that its raining in the valley and snowing in the mountians?? And that I should be in Malibu?
But I'm over it.
This is my week to be in Malibu for the annual Pepperdine Bible Lectures. Instead, I had to stick around and get my stitches taken out following my skin cancer surgery of last week. Bummer. I do hope to make it to Nashville in October for the Zoe Worship Conference.
Reading a really good book right now entitled "Go Big". As I read more, I share some insights.
Found a copy of "Facing the Giants" at Blockbuster yesterday for $14.99! "The Last Sin Eater" comes out May 8th; can't wait to show it to our church! (Yes, we have a license to show movies).
It's been good for me to re-read "This Present Darkness". I had forgotten how good that book is!
Getting ready for the summer movies! Spiderman 3 is upon us. Any movie you're looking forward to above the others?
Did I mention that it is twenty degrees cooler today than yesterday? And that its raining in the valley and snowing in the mountians?? And that I should be in Malibu?
But I'm over it.
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