Normally, history would have just pasted them by and forgotten them. However, there was nothing normal about this night.
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“I feel like we lose more battles than we win.” A mentor figure had asked about if the ministry is going well. I knew I was called to faithfulness and Spirit dependence, but this was an honest reflection. Rather than offering sympathy, the man wisely counseled me to never speak that way again. His wisdom proved transformative. Keeping score of wins and losses (i.e. dualism) is an oppressive cycle. The call to faithfulness and Spirit dependence can mature into a better framework. What framework?
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The first quarter is at an end and the second is in full stride within the first year of this project which we call the E43Collective. A project that a year ago, I would have had no idea how to fit it into my bloated schedule, but now I could not imagine my life without it. Through roughly 4 months of podcasting and blogging, I see not only the positive impact and potential of the project but also see the change that this endeavor has made on me.
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At work, school, the mall, and all the other places we frequent, we walk and drive past hundreds of people every day. If you are like me, you often find that you really don’t reflect on who they are, where they are from, or where they are going. They are just other people. So what?
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I am fortunate in that I have many co-workers who share similar interests with me in the types of media we take-in. Whenever the next big blockbuster comes out, there are typically a slew of people who are in on the conversation, sharing various different opinions and thoughts on the latest (most of the time super hero) film. Everyone has their own take on how the story played out and whether or not they enjoyed it, but the most interesting discussions are those that find their way talking about the story’s theme(s). It’s a great conversation starter, and most of the time is both cordial and productive.
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Focus. How often do you focus on what you’re focused on? What we focus on can have wide-reaching implications to our lives from relationships, finances, and careers. What you choose to focus on directs the trajectory of your life. The decisions you make, the things you consume, and what you participate in are all influenced by your focus.
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“Don’t make a decision until you have prayed, then pray more. It will come in God’s timing. Are you sure it is God’s will for you? Wait on God, don’t force it.” In the church, when someone or the organization is unsure of making a decision, these and other phrases get thrown. If you are truly following after Christ and pursuing the plan that God has for your life, you will find yourself faced with moments of uncertainty, moments where you don’t know exactly what to do. These moments are ones where time, money, and other commitments are not always fully clear. It could be related to a new job opportunity, starting a new relationship, moving somewhere else, or choosing exactly what to focus on. If you try and seek counsel you will often hear these buzzword phrases, which are said with sincerity and are well intentioned, but often only provide a false sense of time, which can lead to a false sense of security.
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For as long as I can remember, I have loved a good story. Personally, I am somewhat of a sucker for the fantasy genre, and since childhood, I have found much enjoyment in these fictional tales. Not only have I enjoyed these stories but have engaged with them in the various different forms in which they manifest: books, short stories, movies, video games, etc. In fact, looking back on it, spending time consuming fiction takes up a rather large chunk of my life. The question is, was it time well spent or a waste of time altogether?
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Who is following and listening to you? To whom are you listening to and following? These are questions everyone should be asking themselves, because, willingly or not, everyone leads and follows someone or something. The next question that needs to be asked is, why? Why are you following and listening to the people or thing you are? Why should anyone listen or follow you?
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We as a church need to adopt a Spirit focused mind-set if we are going to see any change. Look at the verb used in the passage, walk. If you want to ensure you reach your destination, you have to constantly make the decision to walk in that direction, and choose that every day
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Think about your church, ministry, or life. How much growth is there? Are you better than what you were yesterday? Are you where you want to be? If not, why? I have been a part of churches that always talk about growing, but time and time again their desires never materialize. One of the reasons is very much the mind-set they chose, which ultimately impacts their effectiveness. Most churches chose a mind-set that caters to consistency and comfort, ultimately, they are just afraid to rock the boat.
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The Great Commission. If you have been going to church for any period time, you have probably heard or read this passage before. It is very action-oriented, with the pivotal actions being “go” and “make.” It sounds simple and straight forward, but why to churches find it difficult to reach their community.
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Something that is true about life is that we have days and weeks that are better than others, and years that are cherished more than others. The same can be said from my first 10 years involved in ministry within the local church. While, I am thankful for all the blessings and opportunities that God has given me within life, there are periods of time that are remembered and reflected on much more fondly than others.
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What is the most important asset for a healthy church? Is it the building? Is it the location? Is it their social media presence?
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Every church has something they do very well, or at least better than others, but in a local area you often have numerous different churches, doing the same things at varying degrees of success and the reality is that the one that does something the best will get the most attendees. Churches will see that and wonder, “Why don’t we have what they have?”
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Ten years is a long time to do anything on a consistent basis. Whether it is ten years in a specific field of work, at one work place, coaching a team, writing a book, or building a house, ten years is a significant amount of time to do something. This past fall marked, in my life, ten years of involvement in church ministry, specifically with the responsibility of teaching the Bible and discipleship.
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We live in a time where discipleship is practically non-existent with the younger Millennial and Gen Z generations. I am not saying that discipleship doesn’t happen, but the evidence is proving that what is currently happening is ineffective.
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