This is Ed Stetzer speaking at the Southern Baptist Convention 2007 Annual Meeting. He speaks rather powerfully about the change that MUST happen among Southern Baptist.
Love Song: Where Are They Now?
3 years ago
Saturday, October 6, 2007
What Is A Missional Church? (a little extra)
My father-in-law posted on his blog some awesome thoughts that very much deals with this subject. Check out his post about being culturally relevant.
Also check out my brother-in-law's blog Practical Worship, which frequently contains missional-minded content.
Also check out my brother-in-law's blog Practical Worship, which frequently contains missional-minded content.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
What Is A Missional Church? (answered via video)
Are you missional? Is your church? Check out some of these answers via video. They don't contain all the answers but maybe it will get you thinking.
What is a missional church?:
So what does it mean to be a missional church? Watch this (it's a good bit longer):
Being missional is a mindset of the leadership which filters down to the congregation. It something that requires a great deal of transitioning. We're talking about changing the way people think, which is rarely easy. Watch this to get a "tip of the iceberg" understanding of what it means to have a missional mindset:
The idea of being missional, as a church, is something that burdens my heart. Anyone who has viewed my pattern of teaching (whether it was lessons to the youth, topics I taught in Sunday school, or sermons) over the past 3 years would see that. I don't have it figured out and I haven't discovered exactly what the journey would look like. . .but what about you?
What is a missional church?:
So what does it mean to be a missional church? Watch this (it's a good bit longer):
Being missional is a mindset of the leadership which filters down to the congregation. It something that requires a great deal of transitioning. We're talking about changing the way people think, which is rarely easy. Watch this to get a "tip of the iceberg" understanding of what it means to have a missional mindset:
The idea of being missional, as a church, is something that burdens my heart. Anyone who has viewed my pattern of teaching (whether it was lessons to the youth, topics I taught in Sunday school, or sermons) over the past 3 years would see that. I don't have it figured out and I haven't discovered exactly what the journey would look like. . .but what about you?
Monday, October 1, 2007
What If Your Superhero Didn't Make The Cut? (Part Two)
. . .continued from Sept. 14th's blog. . .
So what would the real test look like? Would your favorite superhero make the cut?
Dictionary.com defined the qualities of a hero as these:
He gave his life for so many! He knew it had to be done and he saw it through until "it was finished". He did not turn from his course of action. He could have stopped the pain at any moment, but he knew it had to happen. He is fighting in a war against sin, which suffers billions of casualties. Look at how he lived, who he offended, and who he challenged.
So what would the real test look like? Would your favorite superhero make the cut?
Dictionary.com defined the qualities of a hero as these:
- Sacrifice is the forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.
- Determination is a fixed intention or resolution; a firmness of purpose or resolve.
- Loyalty is the feeling of allegiance or the act of binding oneself to a course of action.
- Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets danger without fear.
- Dedication is a selfless devotion; complete and whole hearted fidelity or the act of binding oneself to a course of action.
- Intrepidity is firm, unshaken courage.
- Valor is courage exhibited in war, and can not be applied to single combats.
- Selfless is the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others and acting with less concern for yourself.
- Conviction is a fixed or strong belief; a necessity of the mind or an unshakable belief.
- Focused is the ability to direct one's energy toward a particular point or purpose; to concentrate one's energy.
- Gallantry is adventurous courage, which courts danger with a high and cheerful spirit.
- Perseverance is a persistent determination.
- Fortitude has often been styled "passive courage," and consists in the habit of encountering danger and enduring pain with a steadfast and unbroken spirit.
- Bravery is daring and impetuous courage, like that of one who has the reward continually in view, and displays his courage in daring acts
He gave his life for so many! He knew it had to be done and he saw it through until "it was finished". He did not turn from his course of action. He could have stopped the pain at any moment, but he knew it had to happen. He is fighting in a war against sin, which suffers billions of casualties. Look at how he lived, who he offended, and who he challenged.
Fearing They'll Leave
During my time in ministry, I think I may have obtained a reputation for running a few people out of the church.
An eleven year old boy overheard me talking with another adult concerning the origins of many traditions we do at Christmas (this was after I had given the youth a lesson on the origins of Halloween), and the discussion I was having with the adult concerning Santa Clause popped the little eleven year old's bubble. He finally learned the truth and mom and dad were so angry that they stopped coming to church regularly and the child was forbid from coming to youth group. Now, if the child had heard the same thing from their teacher at school do you think they would have pulled the kid out of school and started homeschooling them? Doubtful! Yet, somehow it's convenient for us to just leave the church.
Every person that I've "ran away" has been a case very similar to that one. Can you see where something just isn't quiet right there? How does a person in ministry dodge such things? How do we do the job of shepparding and avoid those kind of things from happening? Is it wise to teach ourselves to be more sensitive and give in more to their demands in order to avoid running people off?
Lately I've been hearing this one, "Fine! Well I just won't come to youth group anymore!" (or "Fine! I'll just leave and not come back!") That's one I frequently get when I say something, privately, to a youth (or their parent) about the disturbance they cause when they walk in 15-20 min. late; youth group is nearly halfway over and I'm roughly halfway into the lesson by that point (and of course I'm not talking about the first time visitor that may have gotten the time things start mixed up). Or sometimes I get that when I'm doing an illustration or game, that relates to the lesson, and it requires everyone in the room to participate, but there's some kid that doesn't want to do it. So the moment I even hint at them joining in with the rest of us they're quick to say, "no thanks, I'll just leave."
They're trying to drive into me the "fear that they'll leave" and "I have done something greatly wrong". This is a sentiment I have encountered since I've been a Christian. I've seen people doing it when I was in Campus Crusade for Christ (not to me but to the other leaders), the Presbyterian church I attended while in college, my church back in Louisburg, and the church I'm currently serving in. In fact, there's another church locally that just went through (and may still be going through) a major problem of the same kind, where a family that gives a significant amount of the church's income was threating to leave.
Now those of us who try to minister, whether we're pastors, elders, deacons, or members of the church, how are we supposed to handle this? Should we give in? Can you see how nasty and real of a problem this is for the Church, that so many are willing to leave for such trivial things.
You know what though, it's not really a problem. In fact, it's rather normal. It's what you get when you're working with a large number of people who aren't making a serious attempt to walk with Christ and are handed membership to a church. They're given their "God's membership card" and now they can make their list of demands, and if you don't meet their demands they'll pull out their arsenal of guilt and they'll rally the crowds to say how horrible of a person you are to run someone out of the church.
If we want to avoid this do we give in? Do we meet their demands? Absolutely not!!! To do so would rank right up there with giving in to the demands of terrorist. Bending in a direction that in the end only causes greater harm. Eventually they try to force something to not be taught, more entertainment and less meat, some activity to not happen, a lot of talk and so little action, some shifting of finances (away from where God's work can really be accomplished), something to not be spoken of, some absurd public apology that must be made, etc. The cancer begins to take root in the church and slowly spreads. Then they want the leadership to bow down to their whims; still using guilt, still using the crowd. And if the leadership agrees and gives in to their demands then they become part of the cancer and at that point, the cancer will spread more rapidly.
To be continued. . .
An eleven year old boy overheard me talking with another adult concerning the origins of many traditions we do at Christmas (this was after I had given the youth a lesson on the origins of Halloween), and the discussion I was having with the adult concerning Santa Clause popped the little eleven year old's bubble. He finally learned the truth and mom and dad were so angry that they stopped coming to church regularly and the child was forbid from coming to youth group. Now, if the child had heard the same thing from their teacher at school do you think they would have pulled the kid out of school and started homeschooling them? Doubtful! Yet, somehow it's convenient for us to just leave the church.
Every person that I've "ran away" has been a case very similar to that one. Can you see where something just isn't quiet right there? How does a person in ministry dodge such things? How do we do the job of shepparding and avoid those kind of things from happening? Is it wise to teach ourselves to be more sensitive and give in more to their demands in order to avoid running people off?
Lately I've been hearing this one, "Fine! Well I just won't come to youth group anymore!" (or "Fine! I'll just leave and not come back!") That's one I frequently get when I say something, privately, to a youth (or their parent) about the disturbance they cause when they walk in 15-20 min. late; youth group is nearly halfway over and I'm roughly halfway into the lesson by that point (and of course I'm not talking about the first time visitor that may have gotten the time things start mixed up). Or sometimes I get that when I'm doing an illustration or game, that relates to the lesson, and it requires everyone in the room to participate, but there's some kid that doesn't want to do it. So the moment I even hint at them joining in with the rest of us they're quick to say, "no thanks, I'll just leave."
They're trying to drive into me the "fear that they'll leave" and "I have done something greatly wrong". This is a sentiment I have encountered since I've been a Christian. I've seen people doing it when I was in Campus Crusade for Christ (not to me but to the other leaders), the Presbyterian church I attended while in college, my church back in Louisburg, and the church I'm currently serving in. In fact, there's another church locally that just went through (and may still be going through) a major problem of the same kind, where a family that gives a significant amount of the church's income was threating to leave.
Now those of us who try to minister, whether we're pastors, elders, deacons, or members of the church, how are we supposed to handle this? Should we give in? Can you see how nasty and real of a problem this is for the Church, that so many are willing to leave for such trivial things.
You know what though, it's not really a problem. In fact, it's rather normal. It's what you get when you're working with a large number of people who aren't making a serious attempt to walk with Christ and are handed membership to a church. They're given their "God's membership card" and now they can make their list of demands, and if you don't meet their demands they'll pull out their arsenal of guilt and they'll rally the crowds to say how horrible of a person you are to run someone out of the church.
If we want to avoid this do we give in? Do we meet their demands? Absolutely not!!! To do so would rank right up there with giving in to the demands of terrorist. Bending in a direction that in the end only causes greater harm. Eventually they try to force something to not be taught, more entertainment and less meat, some activity to not happen, a lot of talk and so little action, some shifting of finances (away from where God's work can really be accomplished), something to not be spoken of, some absurd public apology that must be made, etc. The cancer begins to take root in the church and slowly spreads. Then they want the leadership to bow down to their whims; still using guilt, still using the crowd. And if the leadership agrees and gives in to their demands then they become part of the cancer and at that point, the cancer will spread more rapidly.
To be continued. . .
Friday, September 14, 2007
What If Your Superhero Didn't Make The Cut?
Video editing by my brother-in-law Nathan, check out his blog.
Pretend for a moment that there were superhero try-outs. In order for you to do your acts of saving the world you would have to first be tested and if you failed the test then you would have to be just a normal guy (or gal). Even though there was something special about you, if you failed the try-outs you had to live life not using your powers.
What would a test like that look like? I think of the movie Mystery Men where a group of guys, who have some rather ridiculous powers (a guy who is only super strong when he gets angry, but he can't seem to get angry; a guy who is invisible, but only when no one is looking; a guy who's farts are so bad people pass out, and he can aim them with precision; and more). This rag-tag group decides to hold try-outs to be on their team and the people that show up are even more ridiculous.
So what would the real test look like? Would your favorite superhero make the cut?
. . .to be continued. . .same Bat-time! same Bat-channel!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Impressing the Crowd vs. Influencing the Crowd
I stop and think about the word "impress" and all that it implies. I can't help but think about my life and how it's been lived trying to impress everyone.
As a child I tried to impress my parents. I sought the "good job" from them, especially my father, and I didn't just hope for it but I did anything to get it; from being stupid to excelling at grades in school. I remember so much of my childhood being unhappy because I didn't feel that I was impressing my parents enough.
I tried to impress my teachers. I remember taking computer science in high school, learning the programming language of Pascal, and getting so far ahead of the class that the teacher began to teach the rest of the class based on projects I was goofing off with. One of those project was actually designing a program that would manage and calculate grades for my English teacher, to impress her because I was doing horrible in her class.
I tried to impress my friends. I remember literally practicing soccer for hours every day, even if I was only juggling by myself, just so I could show off in front of my friends and on the field. I remember doing a lot of things I'm ashamed of and doing it less from peer pressure to be cool or to fit in, but most often to impress everyone. Most of my life choices were based on what would impress my friends the most.
What an empty life I led. I could never satisfy the world enough.
And then I came to know Christ. . .yet the desire to impress remained. It comes to me, like fire to dry straw.
I had been a believer for only a few months when some leaders from Campus Crusade for Christ asked me to play drums for the worship team. I said yes. Why? To impress the crowd. Later when I became a leader in Crusade I still remember choices I made because I was trying to impress that cute girl who was also on leadership, or to just impress the other leaders.
I've now been a youth pastor for over 3 years and I've been a believer for 9 years this November and I still have this feeling that ignites within me to impress others around me. I find myself trying to impress those I teach, impress the congregation that hears me speak, impress that same congregation by leading them is worship, etc. It's a thorn in my side, that feeling that if they're not impressed then I'm not accepted.
The desire to impress others is such a dangerous one. The desire to impress others leaves you at the whims of man, when our life should be give to the desires of God. Our desire should not be to impress but rather to influence. How easy it is for us in the ministry to be caught into this devilish snare! How many churches place so much weight on hiring a pastor based on if they can give a good sermon, when giving a sermon is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to running a church. They want someone who "looks good" and can impress the visitors. Oh, how many times I've been told I should pastor a church all based on the message I gave that Sunday morning (I appreciate the compliments but leading a church is yet to be in God's timing for me and unless I'm supernaturally given some knowledge and gifts I don't currently possess then it's not happening anytime soon).
I just want to pause for a moment and praise God for opening my eyes and showing me my sinfulness, desiring the affections of man and their applause through impressing them. And I thank God that He's given me vision, passion, and strategy to transition from impressing those around me to influencing them. May I never give the crowd what their ears itch to hear, but rather teach through word and deed only Christ, His love, His commands, His sacrifice.
As a child I tried to impress my parents. I sought the "good job" from them, especially my father, and I didn't just hope for it but I did anything to get it; from being stupid to excelling at grades in school. I remember so much of my childhood being unhappy because I didn't feel that I was impressing my parents enough.
I tried to impress my teachers. I remember taking computer science in high school, learning the programming language of Pascal, and getting so far ahead of the class that the teacher began to teach the rest of the class based on projects I was goofing off with. One of those project was actually designing a program that would manage and calculate grades for my English teacher, to impress her because I was doing horrible in her class.
I tried to impress my friends. I remember literally practicing soccer for hours every day, even if I was only juggling by myself, just so I could show off in front of my friends and on the field. I remember doing a lot of things I'm ashamed of and doing it less from peer pressure to be cool or to fit in, but most often to impress everyone. Most of my life choices were based on what would impress my friends the most.
What an empty life I led. I could never satisfy the world enough.
And then I came to know Christ. . .yet the desire to impress remained. It comes to me, like fire to dry straw.
I had been a believer for only a few months when some leaders from Campus Crusade for Christ asked me to play drums for the worship team. I said yes. Why? To impress the crowd. Later when I became a leader in Crusade I still remember choices I made because I was trying to impress that cute girl who was also on leadership, or to just impress the other leaders.
I've now been a youth pastor for over 3 years and I've been a believer for 9 years this November and I still have this feeling that ignites within me to impress others around me. I find myself trying to impress those I teach, impress the congregation that hears me speak, impress that same congregation by leading them is worship, etc. It's a thorn in my side, that feeling that if they're not impressed then I'm not accepted.
The desire to impress others is such a dangerous one. The desire to impress others leaves you at the whims of man, when our life should be give to the desires of God. Our desire should not be to impress but rather to influence. How easy it is for us in the ministry to be caught into this devilish snare! How many churches place so much weight on hiring a pastor based on if they can give a good sermon, when giving a sermon is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to running a church. They want someone who "looks good" and can impress the visitors. Oh, how many times I've been told I should pastor a church all based on the message I gave that Sunday morning (I appreciate the compliments but leading a church is yet to be in God's timing for me and unless I'm supernaturally given some knowledge and gifts I don't currently possess then it's not happening anytime soon).
I just want to pause for a moment and praise God for opening my eyes and showing me my sinfulness, desiring the affections of man and their applause through impressing them. And I thank God that He's given me vision, passion, and strategy to transition from impressing those around me to influencing them. May I never give the crowd what their ears itch to hear, but rather teach through word and deed only Christ, His love, His commands, His sacrifice.
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