YOUR MINISTRY WILL GO BETTER IF YOU...

Last week I spent 3 days at Cohutta Springs Conference Center for continuing education with 24 pastors who are tracking toward ordination/commissioning. It’s called “Young In Ministry”. I was asked to share some thoughts that would be relevant to these men and women who are in their first 4-6 years of ministry. I thought about titling my presentation, “20 Habits You Want To Build Now To Better Your Ministry In The Future”. But, no, that’s just too smooth - like some kind of polyester blazer. Then I juggled the idea of titling it, “20 Ideas To Expedite Pastoral Ministry And Credibility”. But, nah; that was a bit too formal - too much like a starched white power dress-shirt. I finally settled on, “Your Ministry Will Go Better If You……”. There. That will work …. home grown - like denim! Here’s a summary of the presentation. The points are not in order of priority, but simply in the order that I initially thought of them.

YOUR MINISTRY WILL GO BETTER IF YOU ……..

1. KNOW AND EMBRACE YOUR VALUES AND VISION.
a. Do whatever it takes to bring your life into alignment with your vision.

2. GET & GIVE HEALTHY, LOVING ACCOUNTABILITY

3. GET YOUR MIND RIGHT
a. Be humble
b. Purge your motives
c. Love who, what, and where God has sent you to minister

4. COMMUNICATE – MORE…BETTER….BROADER.

5. PRIORITIZE RECONCILIATION OVER RESOLUTIUON.
a. Reconciliation = “restoration of relationship”.
b. In the Body of Christ, there may be reconciliation without resolution, but there can never be authentic resolution apart from reconciliation.

6. RECOGNIZE THAT INSPIRATION MUST NOT BE EQUATED TO INFORMATION
a. You have not inspired people just because you’ve informed people - even if you’ve informed them well. Cognitive assent does not equal passionate commitment.

7. FOCUS ON PROCESSES, RATHER THAN PROGRAMS.

8. MODEL WHATEVER YOU WANT OTHERS TO DO.

9. FOSTER A BIBLICALLY FUNTIONING CHURCH.
a. The Church is intended to function like a healthy, loving family:
“You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.” 1 Peter 3:8 (LB) “Don’t reprimand a senior member of the church, appeal to him as a father. Treat the young men as brothers, and the older women as mothers. Treat the younger women as sisters...” 1 Tim. 5:1-2 (Ph) See also: Gal. 6:10, Heb. 2:10-12, 1 Peter 4:17.

b. Just as a healthy family does, so also a healthy church is intended to function primarily on the basis of LOVING RELATIONSHIPS, and NOT primarily on the basis of RULES. Note Matthew 22: 36-40. When Jesus was approached by a by a “church member” and asked what is the most important “rule”, Jesus’ response revealed that it is RELATIONSHIPS, NOT RULES that are the primary directives as to how the church family is to function: “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like unto it (equal to it): Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

c. Therefore, no church family member would want to embrace ANY action or attitude (even if it feels “right” or “justified”) that breaks down or threatens loving relationships with God and/or between members of the church family. This is out of harmony with God’s will and what is done outside God’s will cannot receive God’s blessing.

10. REPLACE “CONTROL” WITH “EMPOWERMENT” (accompanied by training and equipping)

11. REFUSE TO ALLOW FEAR TO CONTROL YOU.
Explore – Discover – Risk – Experiment … and, when necessary - Fail … with courage!

12. GIVE DIGNITY TO GRUNT-WORK.

13. RAISE YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS ABOUT 10 NOTCHES.
a. Know the Church Manual better than anyone else in your congregation. (you can be sure your resident antagonists will know it well!)

b. Know the difference in the purpose of church board meeting and church business meetings (see the Church Manual!)

c. Implement regular evaluations and assessments for ministry leaders …including yourself!

d. Analyze reliable facts and figures (tithe and baptisms, for example) to determine what they may be indicating about the health of your congregation.

e. Advocate the nomination of leaders based on their spiritual gifts and spiritual maturity, rather than on the basis of their wealth, popularity, or length of tenure.

f. Be prepared

g. Be on time.

h. Pay attention to details.

i. Build consensus within your core leadership regarding important decisions.

j. Express authentic gratitude, without bias – OFTEN.

14. DON’T LEAVE A CHURCH/MINISTRY UNTIL GOD RELEASES YOU. DON’T STAY IN A CHURCH/MINISTRY AFTER GOD CALLS YOU TO ANOTHER.
a. Obey God’s “call” regardless of the pro’s and con’s of moving/staying. The “call” takes precedence over comfort, convenience, or even logic.

15. REPENT – TO GOD AND CONGREGATION – AS OFTEN AS NEEDED.

16. MAINTAIN YOUR INTEGRITY. PERIOD.

17. CORRECT MISPERCEPTIONS – EVERY TIME, WITHOUT DELAY.

18. INSIST ON SOLA SCRIPTURA.

19. SEASON MINISTRY WITH WIT AND LAUGHTER.

20. ORDER YOUR INNER SPIRITUAL WORLD …. FIRST.