The X-Trials Bible Study Group will begin a new Bible study on Thursday, September 25, 2009 at 7pm; we'll be meeting at Starbucks as usual. Don't let the start date scare you off. You can join at anytime!
We've just completed a look at several key figures in the Old Testament which was great! Thank you to everyone. We had some great discussions. I know that I learned a lot. This Fall we are going to be looking at the Messianic Prophecies and how Jesus fulfilled them. We'll be using the book "All the Messianic Prophecies of the Bible" by Herbert Lockyer. We’ll cover how the different prophecies accurately foretell of the coming of Christ including His ancestry, birth, character, and His death and resurrection.
As always, this course is designed to be a "come when you can" class. In other words, each week we cover something different so if you can't make a week...show up for the next one! We welcome everyone. It is a discussion oriented class but if you want to come and listen only...feel free.
Join us for a cup of coffee and a night of fellowship!
See you there,
Brian Borden
Monday, September 22, 2008
New Bible Study Starting September 25th
Monday, May 12, 2008
New X-trials Bible Study
OK, its time for a new Bible Study and I'm really excited about this one. Starting May 22, 2008 we'll be covering several Old Testament figures using the book "Following God: Learning Life Principles from the Personalities of the Old Testament" by Wayne Barber as a starting point. Now some of you may cringe at studying these old patriarchs of our faith: I mean haven't we heard their stories over and over? Well, yes...and no. We are going to take a fresh look at these "Righteous Dudes" and learn that they weren't perfect...in fact, they are a lot, and I mean a lot, like us today.
What can they teach us? Plenty!
So join us for an X-trials look at these old dudes of faith. Each week will be someone different, so if you miss a class...show up next time!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Another X-trials Bible study starting up!
Let's not beat around the bush. How about some tough questions? In this course we are going to do just that with "The 10 Most Common Objections to Christianity" by Alex McFarland...plus we'll through in a few of our own tough questions just to show we're serious! Don't believer me...here are some of the questions we'll be asking:
What about all those errors in the Bible?
How can anyone know that God exists?
What about Evolution?
What makes Jesus different?
Aren't there many roads to Heaven?
What about the other religions?
Why does God allow suffering?
Is Hell real?
Aren't most people basically good?
Do babies go to heaven?
Is there a difference between murder and killing?
Told you we weren't going to pull punches. We are going to ask the tough questions. Do we have the answers...well...we'll have to see about that. So join us starting February 21, 2008 and put your two cents in. As always, each week is different so come when you can!
For more info jump to www.X-trials.com.
Brian Borden
Thursday, August 16, 2007
New Bible Study for Fall 2007!
The X-Trials Bible Study Group will start up on Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 7pm; we'll be meeting at Starbucks as usual.
The new study will be based on Charles Stanley's book, "When the Enemy Strikes." For the last two studies we have been learning how to live the Christian life to the X-treme. With this study, we'l take it up a notch. At some point every Christian will experience a satanic attack-a willful, determined assault by the Devil to harm our spirit, soul, or body. God wants Christians to be under His control, but the Enemy will do his best to destroy everything good in our lives. So the question is not how to avoid satanic attacks, but how to overcome them.
Satan is a very powerful adversary. However, God does not leave us to defend ourselves, and He wants us to understand His supernatural and unlimited ability to help us. This Bible Study will show us how to achieve victory by:
* Identifying the enemy
* Dressing in the full armor of God and standing firm
* Releasing God's energy, divine power, and protection through prayer
* Sensing the forewarnings of Satan's attacks on finances, family, relationships, or health
Spiritual warfare is fought every day on the battlefield of your mind. The Adversary knows that if he can direct your thinking, it's only a matter of time before you're vulnerable to the allure of sin. Dr. Stanley teaches that to stand against Satan's attacks, you must meditate upon biblical principles and arm yourself with the sword of the spirit-God's Word.
For more information check out www.x-trials.com.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
X-trials Bible Study
This past Thursday was the first of my 13 week Bible Study class. The study is called X-trials and is based on the sermon series by Ed Young. We meet each Thursday at Starbucks. It was quite a class. It is one of the first that our church is having out in the public instead of at the church or in a home. We had 12 people in the class which is quite large and almost too large for the number of chairs that we had available at the coffee shop. As I had hoped we had several people listening to the discussion from other tables. Whether they approved or not I do not know but they were actively listening. We even had one young man pull-up a chair and join us.
We are working our way, verse by verse, through the book of James. Our first session focused on James 1:1-12. It covers God's purpose
for testing us and how we are to respond. We covered Ed Young's formula Eic2=M and how to use it in the trials of our life.
E=Evaluate
Examine the trial, identify it, and take a step-back to examine it. Look at trials through the eyes of faith. Then make a conscious decision on how God wants you to address it.
i=Information
Each trial gives us information on our strengths and weaknesses.
c=Cooperation
We must cooperate with God in these tests by relying on Him, persevering, and learning the lesson He is placing before us.
c=Conversation
Always go back to God. Talk with Him, listen to Him. Ask Him for your needs. Remember the quote from Oz Guinness
“As believers, we cannot always know why,
But can always know why we trust God,
Who knows why and that makes all the
Difference.”
M=spiritual Maturity
Doing all these things is how we grow in our faith.
Pray for our next class this Thursday and if you want a little more information on the class check out my website www.x-trials.com.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Calvinisim, It Ain't so Bad.
Many know that I am a Calvinist. The most disheartening thing about being one is the sometime gross assumptions of non or partial Calvinist. At the Founders Ministries Blog I came across this interesting post. Apparently Dr. Danny Akin of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary doesn't think all us Calvinists are the bain of the Christian world.
Sage, Courageous Counsel from Dr. Danny Akin
Dr. Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, sent the following email today to the students of that school. It is full of wisdom and is an example of the kind of clear thinking and careful speaking that we desperately need in our day. I appreciate his concern for the next generation of ministers, specifically, that they would be free from some of the more egregious theological irresponsibility that characterizes so much of our contemporary scene. I applaud his conviction and willingness to speak plainly in warning and instructing his students.
A Plea For Theological Responsibility And Integrity
In recent days it has become painfully evident that many Southern Baptists do not "do theology" very well. Some are apparently ill informed and sloppy. Others trying to be cute, are bombastic and irresponsible. Despite our rhetoric to be "people of the Book, we do not know the Book very well. We do not grasp its rich theology. We are
failing, and failing miserably, to obey 2 Timothy 2:15-16: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness."
I want our students to do better. I want you to do theology well. I want you to be clear and careful thinkers, gracious and competent teachers. I want you to be able to articulate a biblically balanced theology with conviction as well as charity. I want our Lord to give you the wisdom of knowing which theological hills are worth dying on, and which ones brothers and sisters in Christ can agreeably disagree, and yet love each other and work with each other in building the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and reaching the nations with the gospel.
If you are wondering what are some of the careless theological statements I have in mind that has moved me to put this challenge before you, let me note just a few that I have heard coming from a number of different directions.
1) You cannot attract a crowd and build a church on expository preaching. It is true you can build a crowd without biblical exposition, but you will never build a Christ-honoring New Testament Church without faithful exposition of the whole counsel of God's inerrant Word. Further, a number of churches in our Convention have built both a growing church in terms of breadth and depth. It does not have to be an either/or scenario.
2) Evangelical Calvinism is an oxymoron. Anyone who knows church and Baptist history knows how irresponsible this statement is. William Carey, Luther Rice, Adoniram Judson, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, Charles Spurgeon, James Boyce, Basil Manly Jr., and John Broadus are just a few of the great missionaries, pastors, and theologians who embraced a Reformed Theology. You may be convinced that Calvinism is wrong. However, do not make yourself look foolish by saying there are no passionate, evangelical Calvinists.
3) Five-point Calvinism is the same as Hyper-Calvinism. This statement again demonstrates historical ignorance. Hyper-Calvinism is a particular movement that appeared in the mid 1700's that rejects the mandate to share the gospel, denies man's responsibility to repent and believe the gospel, and in some instances runs perilously close to making God the author of sin. The overwhelming majority of five-point Calvinists would reject each of these positions. Spurgeon, himself a five-point Calvinist denounced in the strongest measure these errors in Spurgeon and "hyper-Calvinism."
Now, those of you who know my theology know I am not a five-point Calvinist. I believe Unconditional Election is not incompatible with "the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures" (Abstract of Principles, art. IV), I affirm a Universal Provision with a Limited Application as it pertains to the Atonement, and I believe Effectual Calling to be a much better way to describe a significant aspect of the salvation process than Irresistible Grace. Further, anything that weakens the missionary passion of the church and the evangelistic favor of an individual is both dangerous and useless to the Church. Perhaps what some mean by "hyper-Calvinism" is extreme Calvinism or Calvinists with an attitude. I have met more than a few in my lifetime and to be sure, they were not of much value when it comes to the health of the church and reaching the lost. Still, we need to be honest with history and accurate with the facts. Mischaracterizations are of no value on any level.
4) Calvinists are worse than Muslims. The irresponsibility of this statement is tragic. It is one thing to disagree with your brothers and sisters in Christ on a point of theology. It is incredible that you would place them in the category of unbelieving militants who murder innocent victims in the name of Allah.
5) Jesus was a Calvinist. Theological foolishness is not limited to one theological perspective. In a Pastor's Conference a few years ago one of my pulpit heroes made this statement. Recently a friend of mine wrote a book with one of the chapters entitled, "Christ, The Calvinist." Such statements are wrongheaded, and yes, again irresponsible, at several points. First, the statement is historically anachronistic. Second, it is Christologically disrespectful. Jesus is the Lord. He is the King. He is God. Our Savior is the grand subject of Christian theology. So whether it is Whitefield, Boice (men I greatly love and admire), or whomever, to call Jesus a Calvinist is theologically misguided and pastorally dangerous. Yes, Jesus believes God is sovereign but He also taught man is responsible. Yes, Jesus taught, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44), but He also gave us the Great Commission (Matt 28:16-20).
6) You cannot teach your young people theology. I have a simple and direct challenge: try it. Try it and see what happens. I suspect you will be wonderfully surprised. I suspect some of you will be significantly put to the test!
Though I could say much more let me conclude with a simple but helpful beatitude: "Blessed are the balanced, for they will avoid unhealthy extremes." This is true in doing theology. This is true in our speech. This is true for all aspects of the Christian life.
I love you and thank God for you. May you and your family have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
Daniel L. Akin
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
In the Beginning...
My church, First Baptist Church of Orange Park, is encouraging everyone to read through the Bible in 2007. If you haven't, then I would whole heartily recommend it for all. There are several websites that can give you reading lists for each day, and if you prefer to read the verses online or if you don't own a Bible, then you can read them there as well. The sites are:
www.oneyearbibleonline.com
backtothebible.org
bible.crosswalk.com
Backtothebible.org has several different orders to read the Bible which can give you a new perspective if you read the Bible regularly.
Biblecrosswalk.com even lets you have the verses read aloud to you.
If you have read through the Bible before, you might try and pick a different translation to get some new insight. Or try reading it chronologically.
If you are a new Christian, then I don't know if I would recommend reading the Bible straight through. You really need to be reading some of the basic tenants that the Bible teaches and that means doing some jumping around or reading portions that can help you grow and strengthen you as a new believer. I always recommend the book of John for new believers but talk with your mature Christian brothers and sisters for their recommendations.
Regardless of the method, translation or order, the important thing is to get into the Word. Remember too that if you miss a day...then skip it. Don't get hung up on trying to catch up and don't feel guilty. Just pick up with today and move forward. You have a whole lifetime as a Christian and will hopefully read the Bible through many, many times, so don't kill yourself for missing a few days. Besides, reading 98% of the Bible in a year is still more than most. Oh and you can skip the genealogies but only if this is your first time. You seasoned Bible readers have to read through them all! There will be a test.
Read the Bible, pray, worship, fellowship with other believers, witness, and help others. All bring you closer to God.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Ellison Doesn't Like The Bible?
OK, why is this such a big issue. A muslim wants to use the Koran to be sworn in with instead of the Bible. HE IS A MUSLIM! Having him swear an oath on the Bible would be meaningless because he doesn't have faith in the Bible as being the word of God. The Koran is what he has faith in and swearing his oath would/should carry more weight with him. Swearing an oath on the Bible holds no weight to anyone that does not believe in its authority. Can't we get over such pettiness. Besides, does swearing an oath on the Bible really mean anything in Washington. It seems more like a prop than anything else judging by some of the actions of our elected officials.
But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!
By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, found himself under attack last month when he announced he'd take his oath of office on the Koran -- especially from Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode, who called it a threat to American values.
Yet the holy book at tomorrow's ceremony has an unassailably all-American provenance. We've learned that the new congressman -- in a savvy bit of political symbolism -- will hold the personal copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson.
"He wanted to use a Koran that was special," said Mark Dimunation, chief of the rare book and special collections division at the Library of Congress, who was contacted by the Minnesota Dem early in December. Dimunation, who grew up in Ellison's 5th District, was happy to help.
Jefferson's copy is an English translation by George Sale published in the 1750s; it survived the 1851 fire that destroyed most of Jefferson's collection and has his customary initialing on the pages. This isn't the first historic book used for swearing-in ceremonies -- the Library has allowed VIPs to use rare Bibles for inaugurations and other special occasions.
Ellison will take the official oath of office along with the other incoming members in the House chamber, then use the Koran in his individual, ceremonial oath with new Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Keith is paying respect not only to the founding fathers' belief in religious freedom but the Constitution itself," said Ellison spokesman Rick Jauert.
One person unlikely to be swayed by the book's illustrious history is Goode, who released a letter two weeks ago objecting to Ellison's use of the Koran. "I believe that the overwhelming majority of voters in my district would prefer the use of the Bible," the Virginia Republican told Fox News, and then went on to warn about what he regards as the dangers of Muslims immigrating to the United States and Muslims gaining elective office.
Yeah, but what about a Koran that belonged to one of the greatest Virginians in history? Goode, who represents Jefferson's birthplace of Albemarle County, had no comment yesterday.
Love, Etc.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
How to Plan a Worship Service
Here is the basic outline of how Granger Community Church puts together a series. These are usually there main themed services and do not occur every week. What should be noted is that they are "specials." In other words, it's not the same ol' Sunday service you are inviting people to attend. It is special and addresses specific issues in an entertaining way.
How to Plan a Worship Service
6 steps to prepare to serve the living water of Christ.
by Mark Beeson
When I was in high school, my father gave me the great opportunity to work for him in the summer for no money. Some of you had a dad like that, interested in building character instead of a bank account. My dad took me to the farm where he was born and grew up.
On one of the hottest days of the summer, we worked when the sun was at its peak. My dad stopped and said, "Hey, Mark, let me show you something." We came to a spot where there were boards on the ground. Dad knelt by the boards and began to move them aside to reveal a hole. When the hole was cleared my father laid on his stomach, with his shoulders and head over the hole. "Mark, this is the spring. When I was your age, after we worked all day, I'd come with my brothers out to this spring." He reached down into the hole and brought up water. He said, "This is the best water I've ever had." I lay on my stomach beside my father, reached down into the hole, and cupped my hands. I drank that same ice-cold water my dad drank years ago, and he was right. It was the best water I've ever had.
In Genesis 26:18, Isaac reopened the wells his father had dug. Isaac went back when he was parched, thirsty, and in need. He went to wells that had satisfied his father, Abraham, and found refreshment.
Our churches aren't trying to create some new thing. When we innovate, we're simply coming back to the same source, the same Jesus, and we're drinking that water. Jesus said, "I'm the living water; come to me, all you who are thirsty." When we plan a worship service, we simply find ways to help people connect with Jesus, the living water.
Here's our six-step planning process for worship services.
1. Select the series
We outline the entire year in blocks, usually from 3 to 6 weeks for each topical series of worship services. Each series has a topic, theme, and agenda. That helps members invite their friends. Your people can tell friends, "We're starting a new series on family (or marriage or finances or parenting or sex)."
Often, the pattern in church is to build up to holidays. But we launch a new series on big holidays, when everyone is here, and say, "Come next week so you can see Part 2." Then we give people a postcard for the important, engaging topic that will be continued the next week. (Related PDF File: Planning process)
2. Determine the themes
About two or three months before we launch a series, our team determines the series name and themes of each service. Themes can tie to a particular church season, such as Christmas or Easter. Or they can be motivated by specific events in the life of the church, such as stewardship campaigns or leadership transitions. Some of the most-popular themes tie to popular culture, such as hit television shows. (Related PDF File: Series outline for "Lost")
3. Pay attention to the titles
About six or eight weeks before we launch a series, our senior leaders brainstorm specific titles for each week's worship service. (Related Video Clip: Senior Management Team Brainstorming Session)
The Arts Team takes what we come up with, and they hold a similar brainstorming meeting without us. They're just as excited as the senior leaders to present Jesus Christ in a relevant way for those who don't go to church. The Arts Team should share the mission, vision, and values of the senior leaders. (Related Video Clip: Arts Team Brainstorming Session)
4. Promote the series
Four weeks before the series starts, a Communications Team designs and produces postcards. The details of the series are featured on our website, our newsletter, and a press release. We mail the cards to neighbors one week in advance. Our congregation receives the cards in the bulletin, and they invite other people. (Related PDF File: Postcard for the "Lost" series)
The media team begins to create video elements, including short teasers on the topic that we promote in the service weeks ahead of time. (Related Video Clip: Sample teaser.)
In your church are high-capacity, talented, and committed people who do things you cannot: create logos, video, media, postcards. If you let people know what you're trying to do, let them use their time and talents for the cause, and give them enough lead time, they can do it.
5. Build and rehearse
Two weeks ahead, we build and rehearse. We build stage sets and rehearse the dramas. The band and vocalists start practicing. We try to keep any set designs covered until the weekend of the event.
Finding elements for the set can be challenging. Our "Lost" series stage design featured a plane crashed on our platform. Someone found a plane, then our stage designer made a trailer to haul the aircraft from Atlanta. (Related Video Clip: Stage design.)
For another series, based on the movie Signs, we transformed the auditorium into a cornfield. The room filled with fog. We bought the movie soundtrack, and positioned lights to penetrate the darkness.
Every week doesn't have to be a huge production, though. Between series, we address specific topics that need only one week, and we rest and build relationships.
6. Launch the series
We emphasize the first week to start strong. When people come, they must feel the series is helpful and that it's more than entertainment. We want to capture and hold people's attention so we can offer people Christ.
(Related Video Clip: How the planning finally comes together.)
I've learned to hand the ball to people. Give them parameters and get out of their way. You don't want under-challenged leaders. If you let them serve without you, you'll be amazed how far they can go.
Start where you are
If you've never had a planning process for your worship services, you can't immediately install a one-year planning process. But start where you are. Take steps in the direction that God is calling you, by building teams and processes to leverage the talents and abilities of God's people. Maximize every gathering, not just to have a great moment or wow experience, but so that people can meet Jesus.
When you lift up Jesus, people will be drawn to him and want to help because they love him. Oswald Chambers explains this in the title of his famous devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. We can't give a little bit of love and devotion to the loftiest mission in the world. We have to live all-out for God because we have only a limited time on earth.
Mark Beeson is the senior and founding pastor of Granger Community Church near South Bend, IN. This article is reprinted with permission from the 2005 Innovative Church Conference, hosted every year by Granger Community Church.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Church @ Bellair Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading Team Photos and Video
The Church @ Bellair hosted the Upward Flag Football Awards last week to a packed house. It was great seeing the kids so excited about their teams. Here are the team pictures (to see them all click Read More at the bottom of the post) and a link to the opening video for those interested. For anyone wishing to attend C@B here is a link to their website. We meet at 6pm every Saturday at the Orange Park Junior High School. Come see us!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
10 Advantages of Doing Ministry Without a Ministry Strategy
Another great post from Tony Morgan's website.
1. You give the loudest person the opportunity to decide what happens at your church.
2. Sharp leaders who are accustomed to serving in organizations with clearly defined plans for future growth won’t stick around your church. That means more ministry for you!
3. You’ll get to hone your debating skills as people argue about what to do next.
4. More meetings! Where there's no strategy, the meetings flourish.
5. Some people call them church splits. We like to call them church plants. More mother churches!
6. You don’t have to worry about celebrating success, because no one even knows what success looks like. It’s just better to keep that a secret.
7. Rather than trying to discern God’s will for your ministry, you can just rely on dumb luck.
8. You don’t have to pray as much, because there's nothing to pray for. As an added bonus, that means you don’t have to develop as much faith either—whatever happens…happens.
9. You can count your offerings a lot faster, because people will save their financial gifts for organizations that actually have a plan for the money they receive.
10.Your lack of ministry strategy, which is a ministry strategy, will do just fine in Nothing, Arizona.
I probably shouldn't post on my blog when I'm in a fiesty mood, should I? Regardless of how you answer that question, I still recommend that you don't vacation in Nothing, Arizona and don't do ministry without a ministry strategy.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
10 Easy Ways to Make Your Church Services More Boring
As most who know me, I am probably the exception to the rule in this matter. For me personally, many of the points I actually prefer myself. Longer services, the chorus, more scripture study, and children participating in the service. But I am also not naive. I realize that more and more people prefer the more modern service styles and for the church to reach these people we must adapt and not become mired in our own desired worship style. My service preferences are just that, preferences. The quality of praise and worship in my style is no different than another as long as we are a Christ following, Bible believing church. Our commission is to spread the word and not recruit another pew sitter.
Here's another post from Tony Morgan's website.
I've been sitting on this one for a couple of weeks thinking I might discover some insights to make it better. Instead, maybe you can help me figure out how to improve the list. One of the most frequent reasons cited for someone not attending church is because the services are boring. I think the only place there should be boring churches is in Boring, Oregon where I've identified, with the help of Google, that there are actually 25 Boring churches.
If I was intentionally setting out to create another boring church, though, this is how I might do it. Here are the:
10 Easy Ways to Make Your Church Services More Boring
1. Don’t worry about when you finish. I’m sure no one has plans after the service.
2. Straight Scriptures. No stories. Jesus didn’t teach that way, but you’re a better communicator than Jesus, right?
3. Television. Movies. It’s just a phase. People don’t really need visual stimulation. They prefer talking heads.
4. Use the same service order…every week…no exceptions…ever.
5. Make more announcements.
6. Encourage your elementary school kids to sit through your services. They love lively 45-minute sermons. It’s good for them. It builds character.
7. Talk more about the past and the less about the future.
8. Play the same Chris Tomlin song every week. And, try the chorus one more time.
9. Use lots of big words that no one uses in normal, everyday life.
10. Forget relevant topics and life application. People are really only interested in hearing what you think, not why it matters to them.
Ok, you probably get the point. The question is this: What are you doing to make your services memorable and impactful? Or, do you believe unchurched people, people who aren't in a relationship with Jesus, should just be expected to show up and put up with something they perceive as boring?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Final Smart Things Andy Said > Part 4
From Tony Morgan's Blog.
59. There's a difference between leading a team and leading a staff.
60. A high performance team is a group of competent individuals passionately engaged in the execution of a plan designed to solve a specific problem.
61. Team advantage = synergy instead of misaligned energy
62. Four essentials to team: (1) a clearly defined problem, (2) an agreed upon solution, (3) clearly assign roles, (4) a clear understanding of the interdepency among staff members.
63. The question we need to ask is this: What is the problem that won't be solved if we don't do what God has called us to do?
64. Teams dissolved when the problems are all solved. If meetings are a waste of time, you don't know the problem or you've lost sight of it.
65. If there are 60% of the people in your community driving by your church each Sunday, one of your problems is irrelevant church environments.
66. If you just want to be a boss with employees, just tell them what to do. (Tony's note: If you do this, your leaders will flee.)
67. Agreement necessitates "unfiltered debate."
68. Every team member must buy in before he will wholeheartedly pitch in.
69. Andy challenged us to create a one-sentence job description for each of our team members. That helps them understand their role.
70. A lack of clarity always results in poor execution...at which point we typically blame the person.
71. On a real team, when one person drops the ball, the entire team suffers.
72. You capture a person's heart, you'll get their hands.
73. What without "why" feels like a task.
More Smart Things Andy Said > Part 3
From Tony Morgan's Blog.
46. Your current system is perfectly designed for the results you're getting. That may be great news, or that may be bad news.
47. Connect the dots. You need to figure out a way for every single volunteer in your organization to understand what they contribute to the whole.
48. The very best people are busy people. Because of that, you need to define the terms of service. What's the commitment required?
49. Fresh starts always provide momentum. Let volunteers take a break and then start up again. (Tony's side note: That's why launching a new weekend series every 5 or 6 weeks is so important.)
50. Eliminate the competition. If you try to do everything, you'll run out of volunteers. One of the questions that's asked around NP is this: Where do we have competing systems?
Dr. Charles Stanley took the platform for this morning's session. I hope I can get these notes down, because I tend to get mesmerized by his voice. When I grow up, I want to have a voice like that. I think Emily would swoon every time I speak. I like it when Emily swoons.
51. Don't run because you face conflict. If you start running, you'll never stop. There will always be conflict. Wherever there's change, there's conflict.
52. To be leaders, you have to be strong and courageous. Don't show your fear. You cannot carry out your responsibility by being fearful.
53. Conflict in our ministry divides our mind. We think about it all the time. It's a distraction that keeps us from our goals. It destroys relationships.
54. Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.
55. The message must never change. The methods can.
56. Learn to fight your battles on your knees.
57. Just tell the truth.
58. If you focus on your opposition, that's bad. If you focus on God, that's good. It's easy to get distracted. Keep your focus where it belongs.
Friday, November 10, 2006
More Smart Things Andy Said > Part 2
From Tony Morgan's Blog.
19. God works through systems. For example, your body is a complex system designed by God. It's systematic and predictable. God created systems. That doesn't make him small. Likewise, God works through systems in our ministry. Systems aren't secular.
20. You can pray your heart out for change to take place in your church, but change will not take place without change to your systems.
21. Your church is a conglomeration of systems. You can't pray that away. You can't faith that away. You can't inspire that away. You can't preach that away. Somebody has to address those systems.
22. McDonalds and Coke have accomplished their "great commission." We say, "That's the worlds way." Maybe not. Maybe it's God's way. God works through systems.
23. There are some organizational systems that impede ministry. In effect, we are resisting the Holy Spirit.
24. Some systems free leaders and some obstruct leaders.
25. "I may not be right, but I'm going to be critical."
26. I know a pastor that is supposed to lead his church but a separate committee hires the staff. "That's stupid." It's obstructing ministry in his environment.
27. When you don't understand systems thinking, you always blame the players.
28. Systems create behaviors. For example, if you're a youth pastor, your teaching can't outweigh the influence of a dysfunctional family system. Or, if you're a parent, the wrong system of friends trumps what you teach at home.
29. The systems you inherit, adopt or create will eventually impact what staff and volunteers do.
30. The reason people are not inviting friends to attend services and events in your church is because you have a system that discourages people from doing that.
31. If you have to get up on the platform and beg people to do something (like recruit volunteers), that's a system problem.
32. Anytime you hear, "our people just won't," you're listening to someone who doesn't understand systems. They're blaming people instead of addressing the systems. (Tony's note: And these people are not leaders. They're just whiners.)
33. Components of a system include: expectations/rules, rewards (or lack of), consequences (or lack of), communication (content and style) and behavior of those in charge.
34. What's rewarded gets repeated.
35. Systems have a greater impact on organizational culture than do mission statements.
36. This principle explains why it is so difficult to transition a church.
37. You can't change, add or delete programs to change a church or change lives. Programming doesn't change behavior.
38. The NT does not present us with a comprehensive system model. We discover what the early church did, but it doesn't instruct leaders what to do.
39. Always ask the question: Is this what we are told to do or is this just what they did? Is it prescriptive or descriptive?
40. Delegation, accountability, authority, interdependence, point leadership and seeking counsel are all examples of systems outlined in the OT and NT. There's nothing to suggest congregational rule is an appropriate system for a church.
41. Your system should allow you to involve and hire the best person for the job. If you hire great people, great things happen.
42. Your system should provide you with the flexibility to get the right people to the table to make decisions.
43. Your system should allow you to make complex decisions within the context of a small group of empowered individuals. You cannot effectively communicate complicated information to a lot of people.
44. Your system should ensure that only person answers to "they." At North Point, Andy is the only person that works for a group. You can't answer to a boss and a committee.
45. Romans 12 indicates leaders need to "govern diligently." This is all about the systems.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Smart Things Andy Stanley Said > Part 1
From Tony Morgan's Blog.
1. We're not there yet. And we won't be.
2. We all do ministry in communities where people think church is for church people. That's the type of world we live in. People care about God. People want to connect with God. There's a hunger for God, but the church is in the way. "I'm giving the rest of my life to change that."
3. The church ought to be the magnet. It should be irresistible. If we're the body, we should be irresistible.
4. Sinners liked to be around Jesus. They liked him, but they were nothing like him.
5. Leaders are very dissatisfied unless there's progress.
6. Since the beginning of the church, the "insiders" have been making it difficult for the "outsiders." From the very beginning, the church has tried to change the outsiders before they can connect with the church. (Acts 15)
7. If we create obstacles for people to connect with the church and God, we are working against God.
8. The majority of churches have made it difficult for people to turn to God.
9. The Gospel should be easy and accessible.
10. For some reason, there's something in us that wants to make church a formula. We make it difficult for people who are turning to God.
11. The gravitational pull of your ministry is to create insider language, rules and programs that makes it more difficult for people to turn to God.
12. The only people that really love a big church are the pastors. It's a hassle for everyone else.
13. We had to create empty seats at optimal times in order to make room for people who were unchurched. Otherwise, I would have just been talking to the Christians.
14. This is the difficult question we need to continuously ask: Is it still easy and accessible here?
15. When a local church gets off-mission, God gets uninterested. God says, "They don't need me."
16. We made a fundamental decision years ago that we were going to be more committed to reaching people than keeping people.
17. We're not here for the party going to Heaven.
18. Are you willing to take a critical look at your organization or ministry team and determine whether or not you're unintentionally making it harder for people to take steps toward Christ?
5 Myths of Growing Churches
Another post from Tony Morgan's blog. To me, church is a home. A church can have all the bells and whistles, but if it isn't a home, its not my church.
5 Myths of Growing Churches
As I mentioned the other day, Mark, Kem and I spent a few days at NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina. In addition to surviving two of the three showers I took, we spent quite a bit of time with Perry Noble and his leadership team. It was an incredible experience. God is doing amazing things through this church. In fact, the NewSpring story really blows five big myths out of the water:
Myth #1: You have to be in a big community to have a big church. NewSpring had almost 7,800 people in attendance this weekend. The church is located in a town of 25,000 people. There are only 175,000 in the entire county. They're reaching about 1 out of every 22 people that live in their county. That's a staggering percentage.
Myth #2: You have to water down God's Word to reach a lot of people. Perry doesn't water down anything. He's probably the most "in your face" communicator I've ever heard. In the message I heard on Sunday, Perry hit tough issues like sex before marriage, cohabitation and pornography. And, on the flip side, he taught about sanctification. In all of this, he was jumping all over Scriptures to back up every point of his message. Perry doesn't back away from the Truth.
Myth #3: It has to be boring to be church. There's never a dull moment at NewSpring. The team uses lots of humor to help people connect with the message and each other. In one moment the teaching stretches your understanding of God. In the next moment the humor grabs your attention and prepares your heart to hear more truth.
Myth #4: Big churches are all about a big personality. NewSpring reminded me that growth usually happens when a team of people commits to fulfilling a mission from God. NewSpring has a great team. Their staff is incredibly talented and committed to helping people take their next steps toward Christ. And, there are 1,400 people who aren't paid by NewSpring that are volunteering their time and gifts to reach people for Jesus. God isn't working through one person at NewSpring--he's working through about 1,500 people.
Myth #5: Growth is incremental. Many times that may be the case in ministry. But, there are some instances, when the Holy Spirit moves through a congregation and revival happens in a community. When God moves and the church cooperates with God's agenda, amazing things can happen. Eight months ago, NewSpring was "only" averaging 4,000 people. Today, they're almost twice that size. Yes, it's a God thing. But it's much more than that. And, if you're interested in leading a growing ministry, you would be wise to study what's happening at NewSpring.
Thanks, Perry, for inviting us to join you. We had a great time. You and your team stretched our vision for the impact the local church can have on a community.
Are Your Church Services Enjoyable for Visitors?
Tony Morgan always has great ideas on church fellowship and services on his blog. Does it matter if church services are enjoyable?
Are Your Services Enjoyable for Visitors?
My son Jacob is in third grade. As part of his studies, he has to learn arithmetic. He’s a smart kid, but he doesn’t really enjoy doing worksheets in his schoolbooks. He does enjoy following sports, however, so we helped him start a sports card collection.
Jacob counts the cards. He studies the player stats on the backs of the cards. He looks up the value of the cards. And, wouldn’t you know it, in the process of enjoying his hobby, he’s learning some basic mathematical principles he’ll use for the rest of his life. Jacob learns math precepts much more easily if he’s enjoying the learning process.
Visitors at your church are no different than Jacob. But instead of math, these people are studying for challenges they’re facing in their lives. They’re trying to learn basic concepts of hope, purpose and forgiveness. The problem is, they continue to leave the church because they find it boring and irrelevant to their lives. We’re forcing our visitors to complete their biblical worksheets but providing little to no enjoyment along the way.
Since when does church=boredom? I love the book of Acts because it gives me a clear picture of what the early Church was like. This group was committed to the apostles’ teaching, sharing life and prayer together. As a result, many outsiders accepted Christ and experienced a transformed life. And what’s more, these people enjoyed their church experience. See for yourself:
“They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved” (Acts 2:46-47, The Message).
“People in general liked what they saw” suggests the early Church was “enjoying the favor of all the people,” and with that favor, came growth (NIV). Based on passages like this one in Acts, I believe boredom isn’t what God intended for the Church. He wants us to offer an experience that’s both biblical and enjoyable. To evaluate the enjoyment level of your services, consider these questions:
* Does the worship music reflect a style the crowd appreciates?
* Is the message addressing a topic that’s relevant to people’s lives?
* Is there an appropriate amount of humor in the service?
* Does the service flow smoothly from one thing to the next?
* Are you using visual elements to capture people’s attention as they engage in worship and hear the message?
* Do you periodically surprise people with something they weren’t anticipating?
These are basic questions, but it’s important to review them from time to time. Naysayers might argue that by offering services people enjoy, you are ultimately just catering to our culture’s consumer mindset, but remind them that there certainly is a consumer mindset in our culture, and unless we acknowledge that and deal with it, our message—the Gospel message—won’t be heard.
It’s entirely possible to offer biblical teaching and corporate worship in a way that people actually like. If you create an enjoyable service experience, people will not only choose to return, they’ll also invite their friends. When that happens, more people will hear the truth, and God may begin to add to your number daily.
Tony Morgan (TonyMorganLive.com) is a pastor serving on the senior management team at Granger Community Church near South Bend, Ind. Tony has co-authored three books with Tim Stevens including their latest project—Simply Strategic Growth (Group Publishing, 2005). Visit WiredChurches.com to learn more about the training and resources Granger provides to equip growing churches.
-Outreach magazine, "Web Exclusives," November/December 2006
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