Ministry GPS

 

Ministry GPS

When a family gets into a car and prepares to take a trip, there are certain things that are in place. First of all, there will be an agreed upon destination. Few families jump into the car and say, “let’s just see where we end up.” They have a plan for where they are going and usually a purpose for going there.

Additionally, there is an agreed upon route. We live in the day of GPSs, Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze. When you put a destination into your chosen device, it will give route options. Some of these routes are quicker, some are shorter, some eliminate traffic disruptions, but you have to choose a route.

Once your journey has commenced, there are regular check-ins with the route. Sometimes, your device will tell you that there is a faster route. It will tell you how to avoid traffic jams, police officers, and road closures. As you travel, you will frequently check the route to make sure you are on the best route to reach your destination.

Occasionally, you will find that course corrections are necessary. Maybe there has been a traffic accident, maybe weather has forced a road closure, maybe you took a wrong turn or missed a turn, but course corrections have to happen. If we fail to make course corrections, we may not arrive at our destination or we may arrive much later than we had planned.

This reality of travel and devices can serve as a great metaphor for us as it relates to leadership, especially leadership within ministry. In ministry, we rarely travel alone. In fact, our biblical mandate is to develop others for ministry. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (ESV). So how do we accomplish this task?

1.      Have an agreed upon destination. This destination may relate to the overall vision of the church, “this is who we want to be.” It may also relate to a particular ministry within the church, “this is the scope of what we are trying to accomplish.” Either way, if we do not know where we are going, we will not know how to get there or when we have arrived. Establish an agreement as to what the destination is.

2.      Have an agreed upon route. As the old saying goes, “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” However, you cannot skin a cat in two different ways at the same time. Once we have determined our agreed upon destination, we must decide how we are going to get there. Obviously, the route will shift from time to time, but we want to start out with a planned route so that we are of one accord and one mind.

3.      Next, we must have regular check-ins. This can take on several forms. Sometimes, that is us checking ourselves to make sure that we are still on course and have not become distracted or unintentionally rerouted. Another form this may take is the form of accountability. We have agreed on a destination, we have agreed on a route, and I have released you to accomplish the task. However, there needs to be regular check-ins to make sure you are still on track, that you have not met roadblocks, and for me to see what I can do for you in the process. As has been said, “delegation without examination is merely relegation.” Don’t relegate, delegate.

4.      Finally, there will be needed course corrections. Sometimes these course corrections are a result of getting off course and sometimes the result of the course needing to change. Either way, an important part of the aforementioned check-ins is the willingness to make correction. Having to correct others is never fun. However, it can be done in love and with the mission in mind. The discomfort of having to make corrections must be weighed against the cost of not reaching our destination.

Ministry and leadership are complex. No single plan or method will work all the time. However, having some framework to apply is helpful. So, the next time you sit down with an individual or group, as the leader, think in terms of the GPS. Where are we going? How will we get there? How often will check-ins happen and in what way? And, if necessary, how will course corrections be made?

Respect Your Elders

“I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’”

Job 32:6-10

(Elihu should have stuck with his first opinion. The verse above reflects nothing but arrogance)

I grew up in a home where the “elderly” were loved and respected. When I was about 14 my family moved to First Baptist Markham, TX where my mother started a senior adult ministry (The Pace Setters if I remember correctly). I watched my mom plan events, call on the elderly, and simply show love to those who were on the backside of life. I learned at a very young age that the wisdom of the “old” was to be respected. Even if the elderly you were talking to were difficult to deal with, or flat out wrong, you just smiled and showed respect.

Scripture is clear as to how we are to treat the elderly in our midst:

Leviticus 19:32 – You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

Job 12:12 – Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

Proverbs 16:31 – Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Proverbs 20:29 – The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

1 Timothy 5:1 – Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Without a doubt, scripture gives deference to the elderly. A fact that Elihu, the young man in the book of Job, forgot. After sitting quietly for a while, he can no longer restrain himself. Then, once he begins talking, he seemingly cannot stop. He makes a number of wrong assumptions about Job, reveals a complete lack of understanding as to how God is moving and working, and ultimately shows the foolishness of his youth. He would have been well served to have remained quiet and just listen.

Unfortunately, there are times that we, like Elihu, devalue the aged. We view them as old and out of touch. We tend to think that we know better and do not listen. I have observed this over and over in church work. I have watched as the older voices on committees are drowned out by the younger, who know better. I have watched as pastors who are approaching retirement age are forced out, because they are no longer young and hip. I have listened to more than one discussion about reaching younger people, as if the elderly do not matter to God. I have watched as the church, not the world, has forgotten that we are to honor the aged.

Certainly, I am not saying that young people do not bring anything to the table. But what I am saying is that we need to proceed with respect and honor as we deal with those who are older than us. Yes, there may be a time that someone is hurting the organization that they lead, or road blocking needed change, but even in those times respect can be shown.

Despite all of our advances, we would do well to remember the Golden Rule, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, ESV). As my step-dad used to tell me, “You will be old one day too…if you live long enough.” How will you want to be treated when you are the old man, or old lady, at the table speaking from years of wisdom?

When Difficulties Direct

Throughout the book of Acts we have seen the progression of the gospel. We are reminded once again of Jesus’ Great Commission. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We have seen the gospel proclaimed in Jerusalem, in Judea, and Samaria. Now we come to Acts 13 and we see the gospel launched “to the ends of the earth.”

Paul and Barnabas have been preaching the gospel. The Jewish people that they were speaking to were responding with great interest. Unfortunately, this upset the leaders of the people. The Bible says, “But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him” (Acts 13:45). Paul and Barnabas could have allowed this to discourage them. They could have looked at the situation and quit. Instead, they simply say, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). The Gentile response is also worth noting. We are told, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).

This story has two things for us that are worthy of note. First, we are reminded once again that God has a heart for the nations. God’s desire is that all people will come to a saving knowledge of Him. As believers, we are to take part in this gospel advance. Second, it was after a difficult situation occurred that the gospel was preached to the Gentiles. We must be careful not to view every challenge as a negative. Sometimes God uses these difficulties to direct our path and accomplish His will. Walk in faith and expectation…even in the difficult times.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

 

When the Lord calls us to action the time to respond is now. This call to action can vary greatly, depending on where you are in your spiritual journey. This call to action could be a simple call to surrender your life to Him. This call to action could be a call to take a giant leap of faith and step out to do something or go somewhere far from home. This call to action could be to have that long avoided tough conversation with a friend or family member. Whatever the case, when He calls, we must act.

Jesus shares a parable in Luke 13:6-9. It is the story of a fig tree, and unproductive fig tree to be exact. For three years the land owner has come by the tree looking for figs. Each of the three years the land owner has found the tree to be unproductive. Finally he says to the vinedresser, “Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?” (v. 7). The vinedresser, however, is not ready to give up. He says to the land owner, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure” (v. 8).

Jesus does not interpret this parable for us. However, the content of the story would indicate that Jesus is referencing Micah 7 and Isaiah 5. These passages are referring to Israel’s failure to recognize her season of opportunity to respond to the Lord. With this in mind, the point of the story becomes very clear to us. We must respond to the Lord in due season. When His call is clear, we must respond in obedience.

I do not want to miss the element of grace in this story as well. The land owner was done with the fig tree. He was ready to cut the tree down and haul it off to the burn pile. However, his hired vine dresser made a plea for one more year and the land owner agreed. Though the tree had been unproductive until now, it was given another chance. You may be aware of a pattern of disobedience in your own life. However, God is a God of grace. It is never too late to recognize our mistakes, adjust our course, and begin walking in obedience.