Mark Conner's Space

Kid's Doctrine

How's this for some kid's doctrine, taken straight from Sunday School ...

• "The first book of the Bible is the book of geniuses in which Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree."
• "Noah’s wife’s name was Joan of Arc."
• "Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night."
• "Samson slayed the Philipines with the axe of the apostles."
• "Unleavened bread is bread that is made without ingredients."
• " Moses went to the top of Mount Sianide to get the 10 commandments and the seventh one is, 'Thou shalt not admit adultery'."
• "Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines."
• "Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption."
• "The people who followed Jesus were the 12 decibels."
• "The epistles were the wives of the apostles."
• "A Christian should only have one wife. That’s called monotony."

"Out of the mouths of babes ..."

[Source Unknown]

NEWSFLASH: CityLife Church - Whittlesea

We are excited to announce that CityLife Church will be adopting a congregation in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Serafim and Bev Antoniou, founders of Open House Christian Fellowship, a congregation of 300 people meeting in Lalor, have approached us and asked if their church could be part of CityLife Church. As a result, we will be launching CityLife Church – Whittlesea on November 24th of this year. Transition plans are already underway. We believe that this new partnership will help us to reach more people for Christ in this growing area of our great city, in ongoing co-operation with other existing churches in the area.

The Life of a Preacher's Kid

I am a PK - a "preacher's kid" or a TO - a "theological offspring", as my father used to call me. Growing up in a pastor's or minister's home is not easy. Many people think you should be perfect or at least have an extra holiness gene. It's just not true. Your surname brings all sorts of pressures and expectations, many of them unrealistic. No wonder far too many PKs drop out of the church and some from faith altogether. 

I am a survivor. People often ask me why. It's hard to explain ... but a few things I do mention are:

1. My parents were the real deal. They were the same on the platform as they were off. No masks. No pretending. Life integrity influences more than any words that could be said.

2. My parents never expected me to be perfect. Sure, they disciplined me when I messed up, but they let people know that I was a normal kid, like everyone else, and not to put undue pressure on me.

3. They never pressured me or my sister to be in church ministry. In fact, they encouraged us to do other things, knowing that if God called us, it would all sort out. Funny enough, both my sister and I have been involved in church work for most of our adult lives. 

4. They made ministry life fun. We got to go places, do things and meet people that many people never have the opportunity for. I was enriched by all of these experiences. 

Other than that and even with all of this, I still know it is the grace of God at work in my life that has me where I am today - nothing more, nothing less. It's all God - for each one of us. You can't get much beyond this simply yet profound truth:

Eph.2:8-10. Saving is all God's idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. Message Bible

Do you know a preacher's kid? Why not reach out to them today and let them know you love and appreciate them, just for who they are - not because of the family they belong to.

Here is a recent article about preacher's kids that's worth the read:

Beneath the Stereotypes - a Stressful Life for Preacher's Kids

The day Franklin Graham was born, he received a telegram. “Welcome to this sin-sick world,” the Western Union message said, “and to the challenge you have to walk in your daddy’s footsteps." It didn’t take long for Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, to realize that being a preacher’s kid would be both a blessing and a burden. “I love my parents,” Graham said in a recent interview, “but there came a time where I couldn’t let my parents live my life.” After a rebellious youth, Graham found a straight and narrow path that took him to the pulpit and the helm of his father’s Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

But for every Franklin Graham, there’s a Friedrich Nietzsche, the atheist philosopher whose father was a Lutheran minister. For every Condoleezza Rice, there’s an Alice Cooper, the heavy-metal singing, fake-blood spouting son of a preacher man.  

Beneath the stereotypes of preacher’s kids as either goody two-shoes or devilish hellions lies a tense and sometimes taxing reality, the children of clergy say. Studies show that many PK’s, as the lingo goes, struggle with issues of identity, privacy and morality. There’s even a support group, Preacher’s Kids International, dedicated to the “celebration and recovery of those who grew up in the parsonage.”

It’s unclear how the pressures of life as a prominent pastor’s child affected Matthew Warren, who took his own life on April 5. Warren was the son of megachurch pastor Rick Warren. Warren and leaders of his Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif., declined to comment on Matthew, who was 27 when he died. After his son’s death, Warren said in a statement that Matthew had “struggled from birth from mental illness, dark holes of depression.” If Matthew Warren also battled with his role as the son of a world famous pastor and bestselling author, Rick Warren did not mention it in his brief statement. Still, after Matthew Warren’s death, several pastors and children of clergy stepped forward to offer empathy.

Jay Bakker, the son of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, said he identifies with Matthew Warren as a fellow PK and as someone who has also suffered from depression. Jay Bakker, the son of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, said he identifies with Matthew Warren as a fellow PK and as someone who has also suffered from depression. “It’s especially hard because his dad wrote the book `The Purpose Driven Life,’ which has this incredibly optimistic tone,” Bakker said. “My parents wrote the same kind of books, and it was like, 'Things are good for everyone else. What’s wrong with me?' I can’t imagine the pressure he must have felt.”

Preacher’s kids are often considered an extension of their parents’ ministry, Bakker said, and are expected to put on a happy face, even during tough times. At the height of the Bakker’s success during the 1980s, before their fall from grace, they sent thousands of copies of Jay’s school photos to loyal viewers of their show “PTL.” “You start to feel like you’re a prop,” Bakker said, “because you know that, behind the scenes, mom and dad fought on the way to church.”

Baptist pastor Corey Hodges said Matthew Warren’s death prompted him to reflect on the lives of his own three boys. “A pastor’s family has to share him or her with church-members,” Hodges wrote in his hometown paper, The Salt Lake Tribune. When tragedy strikes, pastors are expected to counsel their congregation, even if it means missing their children’s basketball games and school plays. “My boys masked their disappointment, but being a child of a pastor myself, I understood how much it hurt them,” Hodges wrote.

The children of non-Christian clergy struggle with similar issues, writes Israel N. Levitz in “A Practical Guide to Rabbinic Counseling." “It is well known,” Levitz writes, “that the higher expectations placed upon children of clergy create for them inordinate difficulties in growing up.” As Levitz notes, many rebel against those expectations, acting out to gain attention from their parents and to assert their own identity.

For Franklin Graham, his crusading father was often away from home, schoolmates tested his toughness and his behavior was scrutinized for chinks in the Graham family honor. He struggled to forge his own identity while remaining true to his father’s evangelical ideals. He didn’t always succeed: he fought, drank, smoked and got kicked out of college.

“It wasn’t that I wanted to rebel against God or my parents,” Graham said, “I just wanted to live my own life. But the more I thought I was going to have fun and show my independence, the more miserable I became.”

After a series of its own dramatic twists, Jay Bakker’s life has arrived fairly close to where it began. Like his infamous father, he’s a pastor. The first service at his new Revolution Church in Minneapolis will be on May 12. Bakker is married but doesn’t have children of his own yet. When he does start a family, he’s sure of at least one thing. “I wouldn’t use my kids in my ministry,” he said. “I’ll probably be a stay-at-home dad.”

[Full Article]

National Volunteer Week

This week, May 13-19th, is National Volunteer Week here in Australia, a time to thank and honour those who volunteer their time and effort for the benefit of others. Today there are over 6 million people volunteering annually in Australia, representing 36% of the adult population. I know that our church and its ministries could not be doing what it is today without the tireless contribution that our amazing volunteers make week after week. Thank you so much!

If you are a volunteer, please be assured of our appreciation for your service. What you do really does make a difference in the lives of people, making our world a better place.

If you aren't a volunteer, its never too late to start. Pick an area of passion in which you have some competency OR just start to serve wherever you can. If you are from CityLife, unwrap your spiritual gifts and activate your abilities today. We'd love to have you serve, so go ahead and Join the Team

Modern Family (Pt.2) - Parenting

You can become a parent in an instant but learning the art of parenting can take a lifetime. Children don’t come with instructions but thankfully we can glean God’s wisdom through the Scriptures, from other effective parents, and from the common sense that comes from life experience. God describes himself in parental terms (as a “Father”) and calls us his “children.” Each one of us has the opportunity to be “born again” spiritually into God's family (John 1:11-13. Rom.8:14-16. Gal.4:4-7. 1John 3:1-2). No matter what our natural family situation may have been God wants to be a perfect spiritual parent to his children. As we reflect on the character and behaviour of God, we can learn much about parenting.

The Art of Parenting

1. Love Unconditionally

Our Father God is a God of love (1 John 4:7-10, 16-18). Genuine love is not merely an emotion but a choice to act in the best interests of another person. God’s love toward us is his desire for our ultimate good. “Unconditional love” is not a term used specifically in the Bible, but it is a biblical concept. What’s amazing about God’s love for us is that it is not based on our performance or any specific conditions we have to meet. In fact, he chooses to love us despite our sin and our weakness. When God’s first children, Adam and Eve, disobeyed his clear command, God the Father was obviously very disappointed with them and he had to discipline them. But he did not destroy them or disown them. He still acted in a loving manner towards them. He moved towards them to restore the relationship. God the Father does the same to us (see Rom.5:8-11). He is quick to forgive us when we humbly confess our sins. He is patient, long-suffering and slow to anger. Amazingly, his forgiveness is unlimited, based on our confession and repentance (Ps.103:1-5, 9-14. 1 Jn.1:9). We can be secure in his love because nothing can separate us from his it (Rom.8:35). His love will never fail (1 Cor.13:8). He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

As parents we need to take a loving stance towards our children no matter what they do. Our love for them is based on the fact that they are ours. We must beware of creating a performance-based environment that causes our children to be uncertain of our love and as a result always seeking our approval. Let’s ask God to fill us with his kind of love – a love that reaches out towards people, no matter what. Love means giving people our acceptance, as well as our time and our attention.

2. Affirm Frequently

God the Father expresses his love in a variety of ways, one of which is affirmation or encouragement. Notice his encouragement of Jesus during his time on earth (Matt.3:16-17; 17:5). On a daily basis, Jesus knew and experienced his Father’s love and affirmation. He was always speaking about his Father and was able to stand against strong opposition and criticism because he knew he was doing his Father’s will.

Affirm and encourage your children as people – not just for what they can or can’t do. Our words are very powerful (Prov.18:21. Eph.4:29-32). Authority figures carry great power and influence. God calls us as parents to use that for good – for building up rather than tearing down. To put in qualities such as hope, courage, confidence and faith – not fear, timidity and doubt. Affirmation takes time, good listening and attention. We all thrive under encouragement, affirmation and praise. Praise becomes a motivator for proper behaviour.

3. Instruct Clearly

Father God does not leave us to figure out life by ourselves. He gives us clear instructions about every area of life and explains why his way is full of wisdom. Notice his approach to Adam and Eve (Gen.2:15-17) as well as to his people, Israel (Deut.30:11-19).  Jesus did the same for his followers and we have the written word of God for our instruction (2 Tim.3:16-17).

As parents, we are to instruct our children in God’s way of living. We are to make our expectations clear as well as consequences. Then we need to be consistent in following through (see Eph.6:4). Frustration for children often comes from unclear expectations and/or inconsistent follow through. We are to show our children how to live successfully and why. We don’t just want rote obedience when we’re around but we want to build values and morals into our children that will guide them to make right choices even when we’re not around. A good parent teaches about what is important in life. Train your child in the way they should go (Prov.22:6). This involves modelling values and character to your children (see Deut.6:1-9). Children do not respond to rules alone. They respond to relationships. Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationships lead to rebellion.”

4. Discipline Lovingly 

Father God is not just a loving forgiving God who is so soft that never deals with our disobedience. Because he loves us he also disciplines us when we need it (Heb.12:4-12). Disobedience displeases the Father. It is a direct assault on his authority and leadership. Also, the consequences of disobedience destroy us. As parents, we have a responsibility to lovingly discipline our children (Prov.29:17). Unless there are painful consequences for disobedience, obedience will never be learned. How we do that is very important. God does not want us to abuse or harshly punish our children in a way that damages them. We must be especially careful not to discipline in anger.

5. Empower Fully

God is not a controlling Father. He is a releasing Father who wants his children to grow up and take responsibility for their lives. He desires to empower us to full maturity and to join him in his work on planet earth. We see this with Adam and Eve. He gave them a free will – the ability to choose. 

As children grow and become teenagers and then young adults we as parents must empower them more and more - to make their own decisions and to be responsible for their lives. The degree of empowerment is determined by the maturity. We are responsible “to” raise our children and teach them God’s ways but as they grow and come of age they are responsible “for” their own choices and we have to release them to that responsibility (Rom.14:12). This doesn’t mean we don’t care, or pray or seek to influence, but we have to gradually let them go. This also means that we should not take inappropriate guilt upon ourselves as parents if our children make unwise choices. There are a lot of parents who feel that they are failures because their children are not serving God or have made unwise choices in their lives. If that’s true then God the Father is a failure because his first kids blew it badly! As parents we must empower our children fully – then pray, trust God and believe that the seeds you have planted will bear good fruit in due time.

Sample Reflection Questions

1. What were your natural parents like and how has that influenced your view of God?

2. Reflect on the concept of “unconditional love”.

3. Think about some of the unique joys and challenges of the different stages of a child’s life (baby, toddler, primary school age, teenager, young adult, etc) and how it relates to parenting.

4. What are some of the changes that need to take place in a parent’s approach as a child moves into the teenage then young adult years?

5. What are some keys to helping children find their own relationship with God?

6. Consider the concept of “personal responsibility” as outlined in Ezekiel 18:20 and Romans 14:12. How does this relate to the role God requires of parents and leaders?

7. How can we provide more support for single parents, foster parents and blended families?

Happy Mother's Day!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, a day to honour mothers all around the world. Mother's are special people who we owe so much to - in addition to our very existence!

Mother's are faithful, loyal, hard working (where do mother's go when they want to resign?), loving and caring. We honour and applaud them at this time.

My mother, Joyce Conner, was an amazing person who had a huge impact on my life, before she passed away very suddenly back in 1990. We miss her very much but her life lives on through her influence. Anything God does through me during my lifetime, I see as her reward - for all the seeds she planted in my heart and life.

Nicole's mother, affectionately called 'Oma,' passed away quite suddenly too in December 2007. She was such an amazing woman (the best mother-in-law you could ever have!) and we miss her so much. She touched so many lives through her smile, her love and her selfless approach to life. 

If at all possible, be sure to lavish lots of love and appreciation on your mother today ... and every day.  After all, as I found out, we must love them while we can, because they won't always be around.

Here are a few thoughts about how we see our mother ...

THE IMAGES OF MOTHER

At 4 years old we say: "My Mummy can do anything!"
At 8 years old: "My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!"
At 12 years old: "My Mother doesn't really know quite everything."
At 14 years old: "Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either."
At 16 years old: "Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned."
At 18 years old: "That old woman? She's way out of date!"
At 25 years old: "Well, she might know a little bit about it."
At 35 years old: "Before we decide, let's get Mum's opinion."
At 45 years old: "Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?"
At 65 years old: "I wish I could talk it over with Mum."

[Author Unknown]

The Power of Encouragement

"So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing (1 Th. 5:11).” 

We all thrive on praise and encouragement. It motivates us and brings out the best in us. Encouragement is like oxygen to the soul. We tend to become what the most important people in their lives think we can become. Encouragement can be given in various forms – listening (Jas.1:19), empathy (Rom.12:15), comfort (2 Cor.1:3-4) and words of appreciation.

Jesus – the Great Encourager

EXAMPLE 1: Paul had been ministering in Corinth with good results but also with much opposition. Jesus appears to Paul at night through a dream to encourage him.

Acts 18:9-10. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."  NIV

"Keep it up and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city." [The Message Bible]

Result? Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months and established a flourishing church and reached out to the surrounding regions of Achacia (2 Cor.1:1).

EXAMPLE 2: Paul has been arrested in Jerusalem because of his witness about the Lord Jesus. There is much opposition and antagonism directed at him by the religious leaders and the Jewish people. Jesus appears again to Paul at night to encourage him.

Acts 23:11. The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." NIV

"It's going to be all right. Everything is going to turn out for the best. You've been a good witness for me here in Jerusalem. Now you're going to be my witness in Rome!" [The Message Bible] 

Result? Paul went on to preach the gospel in Rome. God preserved him from a death plot, shipwreck, imprisonment and many other difficulties. He finished his course well.

EXAMPLE 3: Paul had finally made it to Jerusalem, barely escaping losing his life and was now on the way to Rome as a prisoner on board a ship (Acts 27). Just to make things worse, they encountered very bad weather and lost a lot of time. Despite Paul's warning of further disaster, they kept sailing and were hit by a terrible storm, which caused the ship to lose control. Luke records that "it had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. Wind and waves were battering us unmercifully and we lost all hope of rescue."

Acts 27:23-24. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, `Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' NIV 

"Don't give up Paul. You're going to stand before Caesar yet - and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it." [The Message Bible]

As a result, Paul was able to encourage the other 276 passengers and bring them all to safety after 14 nights in the deep. Once on land, Paul was bitten by a snake but miraculously, was not harmed! The father of the main leader on the island, Publius, was sick and Paul prayed for him and he was healed. This resulted in everyone on the island who was sick coming to Paul and being healed as well as hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Lessons:

1. Life and Ministry can be both fulfilling and challenging (frustrating)!

This is a FACT! There will be times of pressure. There will be storms, obstacles and opposition. God is building His church and it involves a spiritual battle (Mt.16:18-19; 11:12). Expect it and don't let it surprise you or stop you. Get used to it but don't be afraid. Don't allow other people, opposition or difficult circumstances to intimidate you or cause you to be quiet.

Matt 16:18-20. Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven." NLT 

Matt 11:12-13. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. NIV

2. Perseverance is essential.

Jesus tells Paul to keep it up. Speak and do not be silent. Don't stop. Never quit. You're doing the right thing. Keep at it. Just keep going, doing what God has told you to do. Don't give up. Don't quit. Don't throw in the towel. God is with you, so keep on going. You will make it if you just hold on.

Some things need to be continually done – over and over again. 

Gal 6:9-10. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. NIV

1 Cor 15:58. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. NIV 

3. God is in control.

God wants us to have an assurance that everything will be all right! He wants us to take courage – to not fear or doubt. Though everything around you seems to be falling apart, remember, God is in control. Nothing happens to you without God being aware of it and permitting it to happen. He is working out all things for an ultimate purpose. His promises are faithful and true.

Rom 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. NIV 

No matter what happens, God is with you. He will never leave you. He is working with you, in you and through you. We are co-workers (partners) with God as we build the church. We can be assured of victory because He is with us. He will not let us fail or fall. He will uphold and strengthen us.

God promises that you WILL get to Rome. You will reach the destiny He has for you. His word to you will come to pass. He will protect you. The storm won't stop you. You will make it through. God is in control. Your life is in His hands. You'll make it - you won't fail or fall. God is working all things together for your ultimate good that His purpose might be achieved. 

4. God is pleased with faithful obedience.

If you’re doing what God asked you to do with the best of your ability, know that He is pleased with you and your efforts. You've done a good job. God is proud of you. You're learning, growing and applying yourself. You're doing great! Don't minimise what you've done or how well you're doing. God is pleased with you.

Matt 25:21. "His master replied, 'Well done , good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' NIV

Heb 6:10. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. NIV

5. The best is yet to come!

Live with a sense of anticipation. You’ll do a better job yet. God’s purpose for you will be fulfilled. You'll reach your destination. It'll happen because God has planned it and ordained it. There is more yet to be done. You haven't arrived. God has greater things for you to do. There’s more, much more.

Keep a positive optimistic attitude about the future. There are many good things ahead. Your work is not in vain, but will bring a great harvest. There will be a reward for your work. There are "many people" in the city that will come to me. Everything will turn out for the best. Have a positive attitude of faith and hope about the future.

Jer. 29:11. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. NIV

Melinda Tankard Reist speaking at CityLife Church

Melinda Tankard Reist is an author, speaker, media commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls. She is author/editor of four books including Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls (Spinifex Press, 2009) now in its fourth printing and (co-edited with Dr Abigail) Big Porn Inc: Exposing the harms of the global pornography industry (Spinifex Press, 2011).

Melinda is co-founder of the grassroots campaigning movement, Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation, exposing corporations, advertisers and marketers who objectify women and sexualise girls to sell products and services. 

Melinda is a regular guest on Channel 7’s Morning Show, and has also appeared on ABC Q&A and The Gruen Sessions as well as a variety of other TV and radio programs, along with contributions to on-line opinion sites.  Melinda is named in the Who’s Who of Australian Women and the World Who’s Who of Women. 

Melinda will be speaking on the sexualisation of society at all Celebration meetings the weekend of May 25-26th as part of our Modern Family series. 

P.S. Melinda spoke on the sexualisation of women at the CityLife Women’s Event on the 10^th of October  2012. The accolades and positive responses since the night have been overwhelming, stirring a quiet revolution in the women who were there. Her presentation was illuminating, comprehensive and life-changing. 

Web Sites: www.melindatankardreist.com and www.collectiveshout.org

Marriage Matters

Last weekend we launched our Modern Family teaching series with a message on marriage. A full summary of the message is available in a previous BLOG post.

Here are some other BLOG posts related to marriage that may be of interest:

* Building a Great Marriage (6 posts).

* Marriage God's Way (3 posts).

* Some Thoughts on Marriage.

* Some Thoughts on Divorce and Remarriage.

 

 

Tax Blues on the Increase in Australia

Is Australia becoming a nation of whiners? The third survey of opinions on tax - for 2012 by Per Capita shows more of us believe we pay too much tax in a system that is less fair. Per Capita says Australia has the fifth lowest tax burden of the 34 OECD countries, only higher than South Korea, Chile, the US and Mexico, and yet 50% of us believe we are 'over-taxed', up from 44% in 2010. And the proportion of people who think they pay too much tax increases as income increases.

[Source: Money Magazine, May 2013 - Issue 156]

 

Modern Family (Pt.1): Marriage

God invented marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman (Gen.2:18-25). Marriage is one of the most intimate of human relationships, as a husband and wife join every aspect of their lives together for life. Getting married is easy but building a strong marriage takes time and effort. A great wedding doesn’t make a great marriage. The key to any great marriage is LOVE – a commitment to put the best interests of the other person before our own. Let’s look at four important steps we can take to build a great marriage.

1. Lay a Good Foundation

If you want to build something to last, you need to start with a strong foundation, and a marriage is no different (Prov.24:3-4). Some good questions to ask are: Why did you get married? What is the purpose of your marriage? What holds you together? Ingredients of a strong foundation include: faith in God, friendship, commitment and an understanding of partnership.   

See your marriage as a friendship, not merely a functional relationship. The reason that God created Eve was as a friend and partner for Adam (Gen.2:18). Up until that time, Adam was alone and needed relationship with someone compatible to him. Like any friendship, marriage requires ongoing time and effort in order to keep growing closer together rather than drifting apart.

Include commitment in the foundation of your marriage. True love is a commitment not just a feeling. Feelings come and go; commitment stays the same. Character is the ability to carry out a decision long after the emotion in which that decision was made is gone. Strong and long-lasting marriages are not necessarily problem free, but they're committed to make it last. Make commitment, not feelings, the foundation of your family.

See your relationship as a partnership. Adam and Eve were both made in the image of God and before sin they ruled together (Gen.1:27-28). After sin, gender wars entered as did division and dominance (Gen.3:16-19). Jesus and Paul, despite living in a highly patriarchal society, made strong efforts to move us back to the beginning where men and women are seen as equals before God (Gal.3:26-28). All followers of Christ are to submit to one another in loving service (Eph.5:21). Even when referring to the man as the “head“ of the home (one of the most abused Scriptures in the Bible), Paul used the sacrificial servant leadership of Jesus as our example (Eph.5:22-33). Healthy marriages are not hierarchical and there is no room for suppression, abuse or domination. Like the love modelled by the Trinity, the husband and wife are to model genuine love for the other, always acting in the best interests of one another and the family (including in decision-making).   

Our relationship with God is vital as it is the source of the love that we need to deal with the sinful selfishness we are all prone to and to put the other person first in sacrificial love. Lack of a vital spiritual life is at the root of most relational problems. Praying and serving God’s purposes together can add great strength to a marriage. After all, a 3-fold cord is not easily broken (Ecc.4:12).

2. Offer Love Meaningfully

Genuine love is essential to any healthy relationship. It is the glue that holds people together over time. Learning to express and communicate our love is a skill to be developed. It’s easy to say “I love you” but do our lives say the same thing and are we sharing that love in a way that is meaningful to our spouse?

There are different ways of expressing love and each of them can be seen as a language. Five common “love languages” are: (1) encouraging words (Prov.18:21. Eph.4:29), (2) serving (Mark 10:45. Gal.5:13. Phil.2:3-7), (3) giving gifts (John 3:16. Acts 20:35), (4) spending time together (Eph.5:15-17), and (5) appropriate physical touch (Mark 10:16). Discover the primary love language of your spouse and make an intentional effort to communicate love to them in a way that is meaningful to them on a regular basis.

3. Value the Art of Conversation

Someone once said, “Marriage is one long conversation, with an occasional disagreement along the way.” All relationships are built, maintained and developed through communication. When communication breaks down, so do relationships. Communication involves listening and speaking. James gives us some good advice about this: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19. NIV).” Learn the art of asking good questions and then of listening attentively. Seek first to understand then to be understood. Communication is the key to understanding and understanding is the key to intimacy. Value and appreciate the differences. Talk about everything (God, friendship, family, sex, career, church, etc). Be open and honest with each other. Share your deepest feelings – hopes and fears. Make regular time for uninterrupted conversation.

4. Endure the Rough Patches

No marriage is problem-free. It is inevitable that challenges, problems, conflicts and disagreements will occur along the journey of life for any husband and wife. How we navigate these times determines the health and strength of the marriage. Marriages with the biggest problems don't necessarily break up. It's the way we respond that is most important. Challenges can make us stronger and even bring us closer together, if they are handled well.

Learn to deal with conflict in a constructive manner. Anger gets us in trouble but it is pride that keeps us there. Be humble, apologise for wrongs you have done and choose to forgive (Eph.4:26-32). Attack the problem, not the person. Learn to reconnect emotionally after a conflict. The prime destroyer of marriage is hard heartedness. If you get stuck, then don't be embarrassed to ask for help. Attend a marriage enrichment seminar or see a pastor, a counsellor or a mature Christian.

[For more BLOG posts on this important topic, see Marriage Matters]

Sample Reflection Questions

1. If you are married, reflect on your marriage. How did you meet? What first attracted you to your spouse? What are some of the joys of marriage? What are some of the challenges? What keeps you together?

2. What part does a relationship with God play in a Christian marriage?

3. Reflect on the the concept of “partnership” as it relates to marriage.

4. The Bible says nothing specific about the “role” of a husband or wife, especially when it relates to certain tasks. Consider some of the inherited traditions and cultural stereotypes that exist today.

5. Think about the five “love languages” – encouraging words, serving, giving gifts, spending time together, and physical tough. What is your primary love language as well as that of your partner? How can this awareness help enrich your marriage relationship?

6. What are some ways to add freshness and excitement into a marriage, when things may have become a bit stale or routine due to familiarity?

7. What are some keys to resolving a conflict effectively?

8. How can we deal with anger in a more constructive manner within marriage?

9. What are some steps we can take to “affair-proof” a marriage relationship?

10. Take some time to pray for your spouse and your marriage relationship. 

Modern Family

A Changing Culture

Just mention the word “family” in society today and you’ll get a variety of opinion and perspectives on what it is and what it should be. Changes to the family are reflected in the typical TV family. We've come a long way from Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, The Cosby Show and The Brady Bunch (anyone remember The Munsters or The Adams' Family?) through shows like Friends (a bunch of friends living together in a pseudo-family), The Simpsons and now Modern Family.

The traditional “nuclear family” (a dad and mum and a few kids) is becoming less common (some sociologists would say “extinct”). Of course, in many Asian cultures, the “extended family” (including grandparents and other relatives) is still the norm. In the West, more and more people are living alone, single parent families are becoming more common, as are de facto marriages (including children - in 2009, 35% of births were outside of marriage) and blended or step families (as of 1997, 1 in 3 marriages in Australia is now a remarriage).

[For statistical purposes, the Australian Bureau of Statistics now defines families as: Two or more persons, one of whom is at least 15 years of age, who are related by blood, marriage (registered or de facto), adoption, step or fostering; and who are usually resident in the same household. That is, members of families who live in different households are not treated as part of the same family unit]

Currently, here in Australia 43% of first marriages end in divorce; 50% of second marriages end in divorce; and 70% of subsequent marriages break up.

All of this has huge ramifications for society.

• More and more kids are growing up in fragile homes (the number of children who do not reach the age of 15 in an intact family with both of their biological parents has almost doubled within a generation).

• Family conflict and parental separation has adverse effects on children

• There is an increase in child abuse and neglect.

• More children are in out-of-home care.

• Issues for teenagers are on the rise, including binge drinking, self harming, risky sexual behaviour (at younger ages and with more people), mental disorders, and juvenile offences.

• More kids are growing up with out a dad around … an increasingly fatherless generation.

During the month of May, we will be sharing a series of messages at CityLife on "Modern Family" - practical wisdom for singles, married couples and parents.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be in the world (doing life within the culture we find ourselves in, not isolated or removed from it) but not of the world (having a different ethic and value – that of love or self-giving sacrifice). We want all of our relationships to reflect the God we worship – a God who has revealed himself as love. That doesn’t just happen and it’s not easy. It requires the help of God’s Spirit and our commitment to be the kind of people who help to create healthy families and relationships, so that they are places of love, laugher and life … not of hatred, pain and damage. 

Part 1 - Marriage

Part 2 - Parenting

What Americans think of Islam

Barna Report: In the aftermath of the Boston marathon bombings, the attention of the media and the American public quickly turned toward the faith and political background of Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Reporters honed in on Tamerlan’s apparently deep Muslim faith, especially analyzing if that faith had become radicalized in the last few years. Fair or not, pundits, experts, and the American public wondered—did the faith of the two alleged bombers have anything to do with the atrocity that occurred? If so, what did that mean?

It was yet another instance of American ideals and radical Islam clashing with one another. Since September 11, 2001, American attitudes toward the religion of Islam have been under increased investigation. Controversies surrounding al Qaeda action around the world (such as the recent attempt in Canada), the Ground Zero Mosque, the protests over the film The Innocence of Muslims, Pastor Terry Jones threatening to burn a Quran, or any number of proposed laws (like the one in Oklahoma) to ban Sharia Law in the United States, have all entered into the collective American consciousness. So what does America think about Islam?

A recent Barna study suggests one-third of Americans (33%) have a favorable perception of Islam, while slightly more (36%) say they have an unfavorable perception of the religion. Add to that the 31% who don’t know what they think about Islam, and you have a nation decidedly divided on how to deal with a religion that includes 1.57 billion followers worldwide.

Perceptions of Islam
Americans of all ages are fairly split on how they perceive Islam, though the general trend reveals older Americans have a less positive impression of the faith of Muslims. Only 5% of Elders—adults who are 67 or older—say they have a “very favorable” perception of Islam, compared to 14% of Mosaics—ages 18 to 28—who say the same. About one in five Elders also say they have a “very unfavorable” perception of Islam (21%), while less than one in eight Mosaics feel that way (13%).

There is also a political divide that defines people’s perception of Islam. In Barna’s research, the only group with a lower response of “very favorable” than Elders were people who identify as Republican. Half of political conservatives (50%) say they have at least a somewhat unfavorable perception of Islam, while only about in five (22%) political liberals say the same.

Religious ideology and affiliation also affects one’s perception of Islam. Evangelical Christians have the most unfavorable perception of Islam, with two-thirds of evangelicals saying they have an unfavorable impression (62%), and with four in ten evangelicals holding a very unfavorable perception (39%). Only one-fifth of evangelicals say they maintain a favorable view of Islam (22%). Conversely, only 7% of agnostics and people who identify with no faith say they have a very unfavorable view of Islam, and 17% say they have a very favorable view of the religion. In between these groups, about one-fifth of non-evangelical born again Christians say they have a very unfavorable view of Islam (20%)

Clergy Views of Islam
If religiously active Americans perceive Islam negatively, skepticism toward the Islamic faith is even deeper among Protestant faith leaders. In a separate Barna survey of pastors, almost three-quarters of Protestant clergy (72%) expressed critical views of Islam—saying they have somewhat or very unfavorable perceptions of the religion. According to the survey, pastors of mainline denominations tend to have a more favorable perception of Islam compared to other Christian leaders, with 68% reporting either a somewhat or very favorable perception of the Muslim faith. Non-mainline and Southern Baptist pastors have the most negative perceptions of Islam, with 85% and 92%, respectively, telling Barna Group they have either somewhat or very unfavorable perceptions of Islam.

Violence and Islam
Much of Americans’ concern over Islam has been a perception of violence. While more than half of American adults (53%) believe Islam is essentially a peaceful religion, a substantial minority—more than one in four of all Americans (26%)—associate Islam with violence, saying “Islam is essentially a violent religion.” Another one-fifth of respondents say they are not sure how to answer this question, which underscores that even while most Americans have come to a point of view on Islam, the jury is still out for millions of others

Among religious groups, the perception differs from group to group. While less than half of Protestant pastors (45%) agree with the statement “Islam is essentially a violent religion,” more than half of evangelicals (52%) say they agree with that statement. That percentage drops down to less than one-in-three (30%) when surveying non-evangelical born again Christians, and 26% of Catholics agree with the statement linking Islam and violence. An even smaller percentage of people (20%) who claim no faith (or are agnostic) say they agree with the same statement.

Only a little more than one in four evangelicals (27%) agree with the inverse statement, “Islam is essentially a peaceful religion,” while 62% of people with no faith or who are agnostic agree with that statement. Nearly half of non-evangelical born again Christians (47%) say they agree with the link between peace and Islam, and more than half of Catholics (59%) say the same. Of all Protestant pastors, well over half (62%) disagree that Islam is essentially a peaceful religion.

Politically, conservatives generally seem to believe Islam to be a more violent religion than do liberals. Nearly half of political conservatives (45%) agree with the statement “Islam is essentially a violent religion,” compared to 19% of moderates and 15% of liberals. Over three-quarters of people (79%) who identify as political liberals say they believe “Islam is essentially a peaceful religion,” compared with the 40% of conservatives who say the same.

There is also a steady uptick in agreement with the statement “Islam is essentially a violent religion” as responders get older—Elders are the most likely to agree with the statement (31% of these respondents agreed) while Mosaics are the least likely (20% agreed).

Is Peace Possible?
Three-quarters of all Americans (75%) believe “peace between Christianity and Islam is possible,” and that optimism plays out among the various demographic breakdowns as well. Even though nearly three-quarters of evangelicals (74%) believe that Islam is “anti-Christian,” Barna researchers found that seven in ten evangelical Christians believe peace between Christians and Muslims is possible. A full 85% of Mosaics believe peace between Christians and Muslims is conceivable, though only 63% of Elders say the same. That divide is echoed in the political realm, where 85% of liberals believe there is the possibility of peace between Christians and Muslims, compared to only 64% of conservatives who agree

Peoples’ view of Islam and hope for peace may be colored by attacks like the Boston marathon and 9/11 and the global reaction to Innocence of Muslims, which many people are willing to attribute to extremists. Nearly seven in ten Americans (68%) agree that extremists have unfairly distorted people’s perceptions of Islam (only 15% of Americans disagree)—it’s a sentiment held by the majority of liberals (86%) and conservatives (61%).

With a Muslim population in the United States estimated by some sources to be as large as seven million people, and as events across the Muslim world continue to touch American lives, public perception of Islam in the U.S. is an increasingly important religious indicator. David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, commented on the findings. “The study raises questions for Christians in America. While Muslims remain a very small part of the entire U.S. population, the world is shrinking in many ways. Events like those in Boston focus the public’s attention on Islam. Increasing immigration of Muslims into the country changes population densities. The Internet and social media bring human beings of different faiths and contexts into closer digital proximity. And the implications of events in predominantly Muslim nations, including the Middle East, affect millions around the world. For example, how do U.S. Christians help support persecuted Christians who live in other countries, without demonizing Muslims at the same time?

“Christians don’t have to give up on their faith convictions, yet it is important to live and work compassionately and graciously with members of the second largest religion in the world. Some of the public’s response to the Boston attacks showed how easy it is to lump people into a group labeled as different and dangerous. Yet, it is important to see the human beings behind the Islamic label while discerning the fundamental differences between following Christ and Mohammed.”

[Source] 

ANZAC Day

Tommorrw is ANZAC Day here in Australia. ANZAC Day is commemorated in Australia and New Zealand on April 25th every year to remember members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who landed at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.

ANZAC Day is one of the most important days on the Australian calendar as we take time as a nation to honour those who courageously gave their lives for the freedom of others.

As Christians, ANZAC Day reminds us of Jesus Christ, who left the comforts of heaven to come to earth and give his life for the freedom of all.

For more information on ANZAC Day see the following web sites:

• Australian Government information on ANZAC Day
• Australian War Memorial web site

Why not consider attending a dawn service in your local area?

Australia's Population Reaches 23 Million People

The 23 millionth Australian, due to arrive this week, could be a baby called Jack or even a young Pom.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the nation's population is set to hit 23 million people on April 23 at 9.57pm (AEST), but there's only a 40 per cent chance he or she will be home grown.

Migrants make up 60 per cent of Australia's population growth and the UK accounts for one in five arrivals.

If number 23,000,000 is born locally, there's a slightly better chance of it being a boy, with 105 males born for every 100 females, and Jack their most popular name.

Australia's population is increasing by 1048 people per day, or by 1.7 per cent a year, which equates to one new Canberra or three new Darwins per year.

The ABS now forecasts the population will exceed 40 million in the late 2050s.

Australia's median age has increased nearly five years from 32.7 to 37.5.

Western Australia is the fastest growing state, while Tasmania's population growth rate is contracting.

Tasmania's population increased by just 500 people last year, while WA is now growing by more than 1500 people per week.

More people are moving interstate to Queensland, while NSW had the highest departures to other states, with 1900 people leaving each week.

[Source]

30 Ways to be Missional in your Workplace

Many times it’s difficult to find practical ways to be a blessing in your workplace. Rapid pace, mounting deadlines, or co-worker conflict can often derail even the best of intentions to say and show the love of Jesus at work. Yet, it is important for us to know what it looks like to bring gospel intentionality to our jobs. 

Recently, Josh Reeves posted some very practical ideas for blessing others in the workplace. Hopefully this will help spark a few ideas for connecting with and blessing your coworkers. 

1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story.

2. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead.

3. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.

4. Bring extra snacks when you make your lunch to give away to others.

5. Bring breakfast once a month for everyone in your department.

6. Organize a running/walking group in the before or after work.

7. Have your missional community/small group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.

8. Create a regular time to invite co-workers over or out for drinks.

9. Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthday.

10. Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.

11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.

12. Find others that live near you and create a car pool.

13. Offer to throw a party for a co-worker who is having a baby.

14. Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs time off for something.

15. Start a regular lunch out with co-workers (don’t be selective on the invites).

16. Organize a weekly/monthly BBQ to make lunch a bit more exciting.

17. Ask someone who others typically ignore if you can grab them a coffee/drink while you’re out.

18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.

19. Make every effort to know the names of co-workers and clients along with their families.

20. Visit co-workers when they are in the hospital.

21. Bring appropriate drinks to work to keep in your break room for co-workers to enjoy. Know what your co-workers like.

22. Go out of your way to talk to your cleaning people who most people overlook.

23. Find out your co-workers favorite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if suitable for work).

24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved in.

25. Start/join a city sports team with your co-workers.

26. Organize a weekly co-working group for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop.

27. Start a small business that will bless your community and create space for mission.

28. Work hard to reconcile co-workers who are fighting with one another.

29. Keep small snacks around to offer to others during a long day.

30. Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.

Why not pick one of these ideas and act on it this week! 

[Source]

St Patrick's Prayer

I love this prayer from St. Patrick:

 

Christ be with me, Christ within me, 

Christ behind me, Christ before me, 

Christ beside me, Christ to win me, 

Christ to comfort and restore me. 

Christ beneath me, Christ above me, 

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, 

Christ in hearts of all that love me, 

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. 

 

I bind unto myself the Name, 

The strong Name of the Trinity; 

By invocation of the same. 

The Three in One, and One in Three, 

Of Whom all nature hath creation, 

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: 

Praise to the Lord of my salvation, 

Salvation is of Christ the Lord. 

Is BIGGER always Better? Beware the Relentless Pursuit of MORE

I love the story about the Harvard MBA who was in Mexico for his company. He saw a small Mexican fishing boat pulling up the dock and one solitary fisherman got out and held four huge fish on a stringer. The Harvard guy was amazed at the quality of the fish. He asked the fisherman, “How long did it take you to catch those?” He said, “About three hours.” “What are you going to do with them?” The fisherman said, “They’re going to feed my family.” The Harvard guy was intrigued and said, “What do you do with the rest of your time?” The fisherman said, “I sleep late. I play with my children, I have a siesta with my wife. I fish for a while then I go to bed.” The business side of this Harvard grad kicked into high gear. He said, “You could work nine hours a day and catch three times the number of fish! Then you could buy a second boat. Teach someone else to catch those quality of fish. You could buy a whole fleet of fishing boats. You could ship your fish to restaurants all over the world. You could move to New York, put your fish catching business on the stock market.” Before he even realized what he was saying the Harvard guy said, “If you work hard enough, long enough you can eventually retire by the coast, sleep late every morning, play with your children.” Hmmm ...

[Source: Sermon by Brad Johnson from Saddleback on When Your Work Doesn't Work (May 2000)]

Are You a Workaholic?

Workaholism is probably the only addiction that is rewarded, affirmed & admired. It can be so easily masked as 'diligence'. Yet, without doubt, overwork leads to spiritual dryness and often to eventual relational breakdown. Being a workaholic is not just about working hard, which is a good thing. It's about working with a powerful underlying drive for approval and/or success.

Are you a workaholic?

 1. Are you always in a hurry?

2. Does your ‘to do’ list always have more on it than you could possibly accomplish in a single day?

3. Does doing nothing drive you up the wall?

4. Do you find it difficult to say 'No' to opportunities?

5. Do you feel guilty when you relax?

6. Do you frequently find it difficult to turn your mind off at night when you go to bed?

7. Do people around you tell you, you ought to slow down?

8. Do you procrastinate about taking holidays?

9. Do you have to get sick to slow down?

10. Do you ever take work business related reading material into the toilet? If you do, you are a confirmed and certified workaholic!

IF you answered NO to all of these questions, don't worry - you're okay! However, IF you answered YES to any of these questions, then you definitely need to evaluate the place that work has in your life.

Not convinced? Here is another list for your honest reflection. 

Signs of a Workaholic

1. Usually takes on more responsibility than he or she can comfortably handle.

2. Schedule is chronically overloaded.

3. Unable to relax.

4. Never satisfied with his/her attempts; always feeling they should have done better.

5. Always frustrated and burdened by the guilt of being imperfect.

6. Often haunted by low self esteem – though appears strong, decisive and positive.

7. Deep inside, may be highly insecure and yearning to be respected and valued.

8. Wants to be recognised as an important, successful individual.

9. Thrives on awards of excellence.

10. This person is driven.

11. May appear to others to be the epitome of stability, dedication and commitment.  However, his or her efforts are directed by a need to cover feelings of inferiority.

12. Those closest recognise the signs but usually the workaholic will not see it.

If you felt an 'ouch' when reading this (like I did!), then it's time to talk about it - with a close friend, a family member or a counsellor. Unattended, workaholism can do great damage to your life and those closest to you. In Old Testament times, they killed people who didn't keep the Sabbath. Today, we kill ourselves.

[Read about Your Work, God's Work]

Your Work, God's Work (Pt.2)

In a previous post, we talked about God as a worker and the sacredness of work, as well as God’s purpose for our work or business. Today we want to share a few reflections on the integration of our work and our faith as followers of Christ.

How You Work Matters

It's one thing to have a job and know God’s purpose for our work. It’s another thing to consider how we go about our work. God desires that we work with diligence, honesty and an excellent attitude. This attracts God’s favour and makes the Gospel attractive to a watching world. We are to serve people with love, as to the Lord.

1. Be diligent. Whatever your job is, develop your skill and be excellent at what you do. Then go about your work with all your heart, doing your very best, as to the Lord (Col.3:23). Diligence outworks itself in practical ways such as: showing up in time, respecting your boss or supervisor, exceeding expectations, doing your best, taking responsibility for mistakes, sharing the credit, being a good team player, resolving conflicts quickly, improving yourself, and volunteering for extra assignments. Diligence attracts the blessing of God and the favour of people (Prov.12:24; 13:4). You gain credibility by adding value to your workplace, resulting in growing personal influence.

2. Be a person of integrity. Integrity means there is integration between who we say we are and who we really are. Honesty pleases God and can be a powerful witness to others (Prov.20:23). Be wise in your relationships. Work hard, and not just when the boss is looking (Eph.6:5-9. Col.3:22-25). Employers, do what is just and fair when dealing with your employees (Col.4:1).

3. Be loving. God calls us to serve others in love (Gal.5:13). Love, or how we serve and treat people, is to be our priority as followers of Christ (John 13:34-35. 1 Cor.13), and this includes our workplace. Daniel Goleman’s landmark studies about people who are successful in the workplace reveal that “emotional intelligence” (our ability to control our own moods and to get along with a wide range of people) is twice as important as IQ (intelligence) and technical skill.

4. Be a witness for Jesus Christ. Our work provides us with an opportunity to mix with those who are not yet believers. Live in a way that is attractive to them, then look for opportunities to share a meal, to share your story, to share your faith, and to share about the good news of Jesus Christ (Col.4:5-6. 1Pet.3:15). 

There's More to Life than Work

As important as our work is, there is more to life than work. First of all, you are not your job. It is interesting to note that when we meet other people, one of our first questions (especially for men) often is, “What do you do for a living?” It is easy to become what we do. In contrast, God desires our identity to be in who we are not what we do. What we do is to be an expression of who we are. God does not want our work to become an “idol” that becomes the primary source of our identity, security and significance, leading to greed and workaholism. It is helpful to reflect on why we do what we do and to inject some fresh meaning and purpose into our work, beyond just making a living, climbing the corporate ladder, and/or being “successful.” God is far more interested in who we are becoming than what we are doing for Him.

Secondly, you need to rest. The Sabbath principle is as important today as it was when it was first given and it was made for our benefit (Mark 2:23-28). On the seventh day, God “rested” from his work of creation and declared the day “blessed” and “holy” (Gen.2:1-3). This principle was then reinforced as the fourth commandment (Ex.20:8-11) which forbids being “lazy” (you must work if you are able) or becoming a “workaholic” (someone who never stops or slows down). Both work and rest are ordained and blessed by God. 

Sabbath was a day of rest for the Israelites and violating it was a serious offence (Ex.31:14. Num.15:32-36). It was a joyous holy day, a day of spiritual refreshment, community worship, prayer, contemplation and community worship. Today we no longer need to keep the literal Sabbath Day as Israel did (Rom. 14:5; Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16). However, we can glean some very important lessons from the principle of the Sabbath Day for our lives. We can and should reclaim Jesus’ liberating view of the Sabbath as a “gift from God” for our benefit and a time for “doing good”. This includes making church gatherings a priority in our schedule (Acts 2:42-47. Heb.10:24-25), spending time reading and meditating on God’s Word (Jos.1:8. Ps.1:1-2. 2Tim.3:16-17), creating special times for family and friends, ensuring we get adequate time for rest and relaxation, and taking time for reflection and contemplation (Lk.5:15-16. Mk.1:32-39; 6:45-46). Rested workers are the most productive. Managing our energy as well as our time is a key to effectiveness. This requires creating an appropriate rhythm between work and rest, and between activity and recovery.

[Quick Check: "Are you a Workaholic?"]

Finally, you need to balance work with the others aspects of your life. Work takes a significant portion of our time and can fill as much of our life as we allow it too. Family, friends and our church are also vital aspects of our life. In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul spoke about the importance of managing time (Eph.5:15-16), then went on to speak about the priority of family life, calling husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Eph.5:21 – 6:4). Andy Stanley, in his book When Work and Family Collide, notes that there is more work to do than we have time, so someone will be “cheated”. Don't allow work to cause you to cheat God and your family. Create boundaries. Draw lines. Determine when enough is enough. There is great power in being content with the current level of provision God has given us and then living within our means, rather than continually striving for more (Phil.4:10-13. 1Tim.6:6-10).

Reflection Questions

1. If you were (or are) an employer, what qualities would you look for in hiring an employee?

2. What are the affects of a Christian employee who under-performs in the workplace?

3. The Bible tells us that Daniel was ten times better than all the other advisors to the king in Babylon (Dan.1:17-21; 6:3). What are some steps to developing excellence in our work?

4. Reflect on some workplace challenges, such as dishonesty, gossip and sexual temptation.

5. What are some key principles for sharing our faith in the workplace?

6. How can we avoid work becoming an “idol” (the source of identity, security and significance)?

7. Think about the impact of the pace of life in a mega-city such as Melbourne, with seven day a week trading, continually accessibility due to technology, and continual entertainment access.

8. What are the consequences of neglecting the Sabbath principle?

9. What specific practices can help us to embrace the Sabbath principle?

10.  How much work is too much? What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that work doesn’t lead to us “cheating” God or our family?

11.  You are offered a higher profile job with significantly more money in another city. What other important factors should you consider before deciding whether to take the offer or not?

12.  Consider the quality of contentment and how it relates to our work (read Phil.4:10-13 and 1Tim.6:6-10).

You Raise Me Up

One of my favourite songs is You Raise Me Up as sung by Josh Groban.

Here are the lyrics.

YOU RAISE ME UP

Vs.1

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

Chorus 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

Vs.2 

There is no life - no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

Kind of reminds me of the Spirit-inspired words of Scripture:

Isaiah 40:28-31. Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. NLT

May God raise you up today! 

Jesus' and the Routine of Daily Work Life

For the first 30 years of his life, Jesus was boring.

He was an unknown carpenter who wasn’t doing “big” things for God.

He worked alongside his dad, using his hands to shape, shave and tack together pieces of wood. He quietly studied the scriptures, and grew in stature with God and men.

He didn’t have a public ministry.

He didn’t write any books, go on a conference tour, adopt an orphan, give away 75 percent of his income, or go on multiple missions trips. He loved the Lord with all his heart, honored his mother and father, and quietly went about his work.

Was Jesus wasting his life? Absolutely not.

He was doing exactly what God had called him to do. As his hands ran over rough planks of wood, he was quietly earning our salvation. Jesus, the lowly carpenter, the furniture maker, was as radical as they come.

And for 30 years he was quiet.

You don’t have to leave home to be crazy on fire for the Lord.

Jesus spent his first 30 years simply working and obeying. This tells me that it’s possible to be radical while changing diapers, or creating spreadsheets, or plowing snow, or doing whatever mundane task you are called to.

For the Christian, there is no such thing as insignificant work.

Being radical for Jesus means obeying Jesus, loving Jesus and proclaiming Jesus wherever we are, whether that’s in the mission fields of Cambodia or behind the counter at a coffee shop.

[Source]

For more about work, check out Your Work, God's Work.

Work Trivia + Some Unusual Jobs in Demand

This week we've been talking about Your Work, God's Work.

Did you know that the average person today has 5-7 complete career changes in their life time? That's an average of 10 different jobs with an average of 4.1 years at each workplace. 

I sure help the average, having worked as a builder's renovator, a book binder, a printer, a music director, a youth pastor, a church administrator and now as a pastor for the last 18 years.

Maybe you've had lots of changes in career too or maybe you're one of those people who stick at something for a long time.

Just for a bit of fun, here are some unusual though highly paid jobs in demand here in Australia:

1. Senior Submarine Cook. When the Royal Australian Navy advertised that it was willing to pay up to $200,000 for senior submarine cooks, it attracted worldwide media attention. It seems that there aren’t too many individuals with the cooking skills and organisational ability to produce morale-boosting food in a cramped galley.

2. Shark Tagger. Those tags that allow marine biologists to track the movements of great white sharks don’t magically attach themselves. If you’re willing to haul a shark onto a boat and help with the surgical implantation of a tracking device before throwing it back in the water, you probably won’t find yourself competing for jobs with too many others.

3. Island Caretaker. Love the ocean, and want to live a permanent holiday life? This job requires one to explore islands, and discover areas for exploitation. One will require some basic skills, like carpentry, plumbing, communication skills etc, in-order to help the Island achieve its recreational potential.

4. Crime Scene Cleaner. Ever wondered what happens after all the dirty work has been done at a crime scene and who cleans up the mess? Crime scene cleaners do it, though they need the stomach for it, due to the emotionally challenging nature of the job.

5. Fortune Cookie Writer. If you have a creative mind and imagination, you can earn good money with this job too.

Anyway, it doesn't hurt to daydream occasionally. Maybe you need a new job OR maybe you need to go to your current job as a new person ... with a new perspective. Any plain old job or task can become a calling or a vocation IF we see ourselves as sent on a mission by Someone important. Your Work, God's Work - you're on a mission from God. Go to it! 

Inspirational Messages from CityLife Church

Every weekend we have inspirational and practical teaching at CityLife Church, from our local teaching team and various guest speakers. You can watch these messages via video or listen to them via audio through our web site or podcast. All for free.

We also have a new church phone app for iPhone/iPad or Android. Messages can be viewed right on your phone and there is also access to our church calendar, my BLOG and other activities, including giving.   

A special thanks to our Media and IT teams for their work on making this available each week.

Spread the news.

God bless you.

Mark Conner

Rick Warren's Son, 27, Commits Suicide

The following news report details the recent death of Pastor Rick Warren's son, Matthew. May our prayers go out to the entire family for God's grace and comfort to be there during this time of tragedy and grief. Mark Conner

CNN NEWS

The weekend's sermon at Saddleback Church was "Surviving Tough Times," a theme Pastor Rick Warren planned before his youngest son killed himself with a gun Friday.

Matthew Warren, 27, committed suicide "in a momentary wave of despair" at the end of a lifetime struggle "with mental illness, dark holes of depression and even suicidal thoughts," the pastor wrote to the staff of his Southern California megachurch.

"Matthew was an incredibly kind, gentle and compassionate young man whose sweet spirit was encouragement and comfort to many," a statement from the church said. "Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled, and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life."

Friend Mike Constantz told CNN he had a "playful spirit."

"There are the days where he was just this bubbly, outgoing, effervescent, reaching out to people," Constantz said. "And there were the days where he just didn't want to be around people. Just the pain, the excruciating pain, was just too much."

A prophetic message?

Worship services continued as scheduled Saturday and Sunday with Warren's brother-in-law Tom Holladay -- an assistant pastor for the Orange County, California, congregation -- filling in for Warren. Warren asked Holladay to take over when he became ill with pneumonia after a busy Easter weekend schedule, before his son's sudden death, spokeswoman Anne Krumm said.

"Bad days make good ones better," Warren's invitation to Saturday's service said on the church's Facebook page

"It's a message on what to do on the worst day of your life," Holladay said in Saturday's sermon. "So even before Rick knew what they would be facing at the end of the week, he was thinking this is what we need to hear. And it is what we need to hear."

Matthew, the youngest of Warren's children, worked at the Saddleback Resources Warehouse, which distributes books and DVDs and was "an important part of the church but played a quiet role," Krumm said.

"After a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life," Pastor Warren wrote in an e-mail to his staff Saturday.

He was found dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Mission Viejo, California, late Friday afternoon, Orange County Coroner's Deputy Daniel Aikin said. He put the estimated time of death at around 10 a.m. that day. An autopsy will be conducted early next week, Aikin told CNN on Saturday.

As a pioneer of the megachurch movement, Rick Warren looked to translate traditional evangelical messages to a wider audience.

Warren, who founded Saddleback with his wife 33 years ago, gave the invocation at President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration and penned "The Purpose-Driven Life," a Christian self-help guide that became a mainstream best-seller.

Rick Warren's e-mail

Subject: Needing your prayers

To my dear staff,

Over the past 33 years we've been together through every kind of crisis. Kay and I've been privileged to hold your hands as you faced a crisis or loss, stand with you at gravesides, and prayed for you when ill. Today, we need your prayer for us.

No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now. Our youngest son, Matthew, age 27, and a lifelong member of Saddleback, died today.

You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man. He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them.

But only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America's best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided. Today, after a fun evening together with Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life.

Kay and I often marveled at his courage to keep moving in spite of relentless pain. I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said " Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?" but he kept going for another decade.

Thank you for your love and prayers. We love you back.

Pastor Rick

[Source]

Your Work, God's Work (Pt.1)

Did you know that the average person spends about a third of their life working, a third of their life sleeping, and the other third with family or friends (when they are not working or sleeping … or on the internet!). That mean’s that over half of our waking hours are spent in the workplace. Have you ever asked yourself what God's purpose for your work is? And how we can find more meaning and fulfillment in our work? These are some of the questions we’ll be discussing in this series.

God as Worker

In the beginning, God worked. Genesis shows us that the creation of the world is God’s “work” (Gen.2:1-3), undertaken within a regular workweek of seven days. Not only does God work, he finds delight and joy in his work. God then commissioned humans to carry on his work in paradise (Gen.1:26-28; 2:15). God works for us and we work for him, and he works through us (Ps.127:1).

In his book Every Good Endeavour, Tim Keller says, “Work did not come in after a golden age of leisure. It was part of God’s perfect design for human life, because we are made in God’s image, and part of his glory and happiness is that he works, as does the Son of God, who said, ‘My Father is always at work to this very day, and I too am working’ (John 5:17).” He does on to say, “Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer and sexuality … without meaningful work we sense significant inner loss and emptiness ... we need work to thrive.”

Of course, sin has dramatically affected our world and our work. The curse of “thorns and thistles” (Gen.3:17-19) translates into relational problems as well as regular experiences of frustration, fruitlessness, lack of fulfilment and even meaninglessness. Work is not itself a curse, but it has been affected by the curse of sin.

Work as Sacred

God is interested in our work life. Unfortunately, many people have created a division between the “sacred” and the “secular”. This dualism is a product of Greek philosophy that has so influenced our Western worldview. Life is often seen as a series of boxes – one for family, one for work, one for friends, one for recreation, and one for religion (God or our “spiritual life”). As long as we prioritise correctly and make appropriate contributions to each box, life will work out for us. This results in compartmental thinking. In contrast, in the Hebrew mind, and from a Christian perspective, life should be viewed as one large circle with God in the centre. Everything else is to find its meaning and perspective from that centre. God wants to be involved in every area of our life – not just our spiritual life. All of life is sacred and God is interested in every dimension of our lives.

Brother Lawrence is well known for writing a little booklet that has touched millions of people’s lives. It’s called Practising the Presence of God. It’s about living with a greater realisation each moment of every day that God is with us and interested in doing life (including work) together with us. The apostle Paul put it this way: “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col.3:17).” Doing something in Jesus’ name means to do it in his character. It means doing it as Jesus himself would do it if he were in your place. Paul is saying that our entire lives – from the moment we wake up until the time we lay down to sleep – are to be lived out ‘in the name of Jesus’. That is what discipleship is all about.

[Read about Jesus and the routine of daily work]

The Purpose of Work 

1. To Glorify God

For us as followers of Christ, the entire purpose of our life is to bring glory to God – to display his nature and character to the world (1Cor.10:31). We are God’s representatives in every sector of our world and we need to represent him in such as way that we bring him praise and honour (Deut.4:5-8). The way we live, as well as the way we work and do business should attract people to God and give us opportunities to point people to Him. Who we are, how we work should please God and bring glory to him (Matt.5:13-16). There are many ways to do this, including (from Micah 6:8) acting justly (doing what is right, fair and equitable), loving mercy (being kind in the way we treat people) and walking humbly (avoiding pride and arrogance). Everything about us is part of God’s message through us to the world. How we treat others – our customers, our competitors and our community – speaks volumes to people (Col.4:5-6).

2. To Serve People

Every business, and therefore every job, exists to add value to people – to provide a service or a product that enhances people’s quality of life. The business or the industry you work in does not exist just as a way to make a living but as part of God’s plan for meeting the needs of people and making the world a better place. Your organisation exists for its customers not just its owners or shareholders. Great service creates not just customers, but raving fans who are so excited about the way they were treated that they brag about the organisation and its service. Think about Jesus who attracted crowds of people without all of our modern day marketing methods because he knew and met real needs and people kept spreading the word until he had more customers than he could handle (Matt.20:28). God wants us to do the same (Gal.5:13). When we make a delicious meal, clean a house, construct a building or create something of artistic beauty, we are doing kingdom business.

3. To Provide an Opportunity for Meaningful Contribution

God created us with the need for meaningful work. Part of our sense of significance comes from our ability to make a contribution to our world. It is part of God’s purpose for our lives. Your work has the potential to enhance your sense of dignity and contribution (2Thess.3:6-13), as well as providing an outlet for your skills and creative energies.

4. To Generate Wealth

In exchange for service or a product we receive payment of some sort. This is the principle of “fair exchange”. It’s okay to make a profit. Making a profit simply enables you to do business for another day. With the profit we make we can reward our ourselves, providing for our own family’s needs, as well as having resources to contribute towards God’s work in the earth (Deut.8:18).

[Read Part 2]

Reflection Questions

1. Think about your work – what do you enjoy about your job and what is frustrating about it?

2. What does the fact that God is a worker tell us about his nature and character?

3. Although, God gives dignity and purpose to our work, we know that sin has affected everything. Reflect on the challenges and potential frustrations of work in a fallen and broken world (read Gen.3:16-19 and Ecc.2:17-20).

4. Consider the common divide between “sacred” and “secular.” What are some practical ways we can include, and be more aware of, God in the daily routines of our lives?

5. What does it look like to do our daily work “in Jesus’ name?”

6. How can our work bring glory to God (read and reflect on Deut.4:5-8. Matt.5:13-16. Micah 6:8. 1Cor.10:31 and Col.4:5-6 for some ideas)?

7. What are some criteria to consider when contemplating a potential job or career choice?

8. How can retirees continue to make a contribution - without retiring from life?

Recommended Reading

Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Plan for the World by Timothy Keller

God the Worker: Journeys into the Mind, Heart and Imagination of God by Robert Banks

Business through the Eyes of Faith by Richard C. Chewning

Redeeming the Routines: Bringing Theology to Life by Robert Banks

[Read Part 2]

3 Great Questions to Start the Day

I like to start each day with some time alone ... with God. I read and reflect on the Scriptures (check out the CityLife Bible reading schedule for 2013) as a means of connecting with God. I also like to write my thoughts out in a journal. Sometimes I'll just record what has been happening and what's coming up in the day ahead. I also like to make use of questions. Here are my favourite three:

1. How do I feel?

We often live at such a fast pace that we are not even aware of what is happening inside of us. This question forces me to slow down ... to look beyond what I am doing or even what I am thinking to see what I am feeling. What emotions are swirling around inside of me? Give them voice and then reflect on them. Don't try to evaluate them or fix them. Just feel them fully. Emotions are indicators (like a dashboard) of what's happening deep inside our heart. Give them attention. The Old Testament Psalms are a vivid example of this.

2. What do I want to say to God?

Tell God what you feel. Pour out your heart to him. Be open and honest. Share your concerns and worries. Share your joys and triumphs. Share your defeats and failures. He knows it all but there is something powerful in expressing it to Him. Prayer is simply conversation with God. Write your thoughts out, speak them out in your mind, or give voice to them. Once again, the Psalms demonstrate this profoundly.

3. What does God want to say to me?

God's Spirit lives within us and he knows the thoughts and mind of God (see 1 Corinthians 2). Ask God to speak to you. His words usually come like a steady flow of thoughts that are not premeditated. Just write or type what you feel or sense. Then you can evaluate it. The enemy always come to steal, kill and destroy but God comes to gives us life (John 10:10). The enemy always condemns - a general feeling of never being good enough - while the Spirit always convicts - a very specific thing with a required response. Remember, God has revealed himself to us as a Trinity - One God existing in three persons: our Father, Jesus as our Saviour, and the Spirit as our Helper. Join in the fellowship and partnership of God today. God's Words are Spirit and life. See them as your daily bread, bringing nourishment to your soul.

Questions are powerful. Ask them and then see what God does.

Have a terrific day!

He's Risen! (Easter Sunday Reflections)

Matthew tells us the story like this:

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. Dont be afraid! he said. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isnt here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you. [Matthew 28:1-7. NLT]

The Christian story is founded on an empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If the tomb was not empty, then the Christian movement would have been snuffed out just by someone going and getting the body of Jesus.

There are four main theories to explain how the tomb became empty.

1. Firstly, maybe the Jewish or Roman authorities stole Jesus’ body, and the disciples mistakenly assumed he had been raised, inventing stories of appearances afterwards. The reason that this is so clearly wrong is that the authorities were trying to stop the Christian movement from growing, and if they had stolen his body they would simply have produced it.

2. Secondly, maybe Jesus did not really die, but fell into some sort of unconscious state, then revived in the tomb, and moved the stone himself. This is even more ridiculous, if you know anything about Roman crucifixion. Soldiers executed hundreds of people a year, they knew exactly what they were doing, and one could survive it, far less roll away a two-ton stone and then take out two guards.

3. Thirdly, maybe the disciples stole the body and then imagined or pretended they had seen him alive afterwards. But consider the high improbability of multiple near-identical hallucinations that would have been needed and the fact that many of the witnesses were tortured and killed for their proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection, which you would be unlikely to undergo if you had made it up.

4. This only leaves option four – that God really did raise Jesus from the dead.

From the earliest days until now, the resurrection has been central to Christian belief and practice. In fact, it is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and its strongest evidence (1 Cor.15:14).

Let's worship the risen Christ today - Jesus, Lord of all and soon coming King.

P.S. For some excellent detailed evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, I recommend these two books:

* The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright

* The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel

Why Did Jesus Die? (Good Friday Reflections)

Christmas is barely over and now it’s time to talk about Easter. No wonder little children get confused. Did you hear about the little boy who said to his mother, “Jesus has just been born and now you’re telling me He’s died!"

Over this Easter weekend, millions of Christians will reflect on what Jesus Christ accomplished through his death and resurrection over 2,000 years ago. These are believed to be 3 days that changed the world.

Good Friday – a day reflecting on the cruel death Jesus went through.

Resurrection Sunday – a day of joy and hope because Jesus is alive.

Saturday – a day between the suffering and the joy … waiting.

Different Christian traditions and individual Christians tend to lean towards one of these days. Yet, ALL three of these days are part of the Christian story … and of the journey that is our lives.

Today let’s reflect on the death of Jesus and look at the important question: “Why did Jesus die?” The death of Jesus Christ (“Christ crucified”) is part of the eternal purposes of God. It is central to our faith. No cross - no Christianity. We will never exhaust the many ways of articulating its meaning for our salvation.

The Power and Limits of a Metaphor

In answering a question or describing something or someone, we often use metaphors (or images or example). We say, “It’s like …” or “He is like …” I have been married to Nicole now for 28 years this coming June. What is she like? How would I describe her? I would say she is fun (never a dull moment in our family), an animal lover (any animal), and a very authentic person (she can be refreshingly or disarmingly honest!). Each of these illustrations is true, but none of them are adequate and even all of them together don’t tell the full story of who Nicole really is. There is so much more. Also, each of them can be pushed too far and become a distortion. She is fun but can also be serious. She is authentic, but more so when she is in an environment where she feels safe.

In a similar way, there are many models and metaphors for answering the important question, "Why did Jesus die?" Some scholars list as many as 10 different images and metaphors – all sharing a way in which humans beings can experience the saving power of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. No interpretation of the atonement is the only authentic one because no one metaphor can exhaust the significance of Jesus’ crucifixion. Even the New Testament presents multiple images to explain its meaning. As we are going to see, there was a lot going on the day Jesus died on that cross. It was much more than a physical death. Things of eternal consequence were taking place. There is a depth and richness to the meaning of Jesus’ death.

Let’s look at a number of ways Christians throughout the centuries answered this question.

1. Sacrifice. Jesus described his own pending death as a "sacrifice" (Mark 14:22-25). We have all sinned and disobeyed God's law. The penalty of sin is death and as a holy God, He must uphold justice. Yet God is also loving and so sends His Son to pay our debt. Jesus took our place as our substitute. His death was the final sacrifice for sin and now God offers us forgiveness, righteousness, and reconciliation as a free gift (see Rom.5:6-10; 8:32. Eph.5:2).

2. Ransom. Jesus also described the giving of his life as a "ransom" (Mark 10:45). Through sin, Adam and Eve turned the dominion of this world over to Satan and his forces of darkness. Jesus' death was the price paid to redeem the world from the enemy's power, from captivity to sin, and from the kingdom of darkness. Jesus is the victor over sin, death and the devil (see also Col.2:14-15. Heb.2:14-15. 1 John 3:8). His kingdom is now being established on earth. [C.S. Lewis built his Chronicles of Narnia story around this concept with Aslan's death being a ransom given in order to defeat the wicked witch and her spell over Narnia]

3. Example. Jesus' called his followers to "take up your cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34-35). His death was also an example of self-sacrificing love, showing us how to live. Jesus did not respond to violence with violence but chose not to retaliate. It was a non-violent protest against evil. His way of living is an inspiration to us and an example for us to follow (see Phil.2:3-11).

These are three of the many available "atonement theories" (atonement being a 12th century Middle English word meaning to bring at one that which was separated). Pushing the Example metaphor (sometimes called the Moral Influence theory) too far fails to deal seriously with sin and can lead to salvation through self-effort. Pushing the Ransom metaphor (sometimes called the Christus Victor theory) too far can result in glorifying Satan and giving him too much power, as one who God needs to appease. Pushing the Sacrifice metaphor (often called the Penal Substitution Theory) too far can result in a barbaric view of God as a cosmic child abuser - an angry Father being appeased by a loving Son. The truth is that God is both holy and loving, and the Son was God in human form willing offering his life for us. 

An adjective or a metaphor is not the thing. It is just an image, a window or a lens to help us look at the thing. It takes us there but it is not there. No atonement theory can ever exhaust the depths and richness of what God was doing the day Jesus died. 

Our Response

Most importantly, how will we respond? Many people saw Jesus die that day - the disciples, the crowds, the religious leaders and the Roman officials. One unnamed man, a Roman centurion, was right there. Mark tells us this: "When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, This man truly was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39)

As a centurion, he would have seen many people die, having possibly put to death dozens, maybe hundreds, of people himself. These officials were known to be hard and brutal. He had seen others die - maybe cursing or screaming, or pouring out venom. Then he saw Jesus die. Something was different here. This was no ordinary man. He became the first person after the death of Jesus to declare, "This man (not Caesar!) truly was the Son of God!" Remarkable!

How will you respond? As you see Jesus as a sacrifice for sin, may you respond by declaring Him your Saviour. As you see Jesus as a ransom and victor over all, may you respond by declaring Him as your Lord. As you see Jesus as our example, may He become the Teacher who you follow. Jesus' death is God reaching out to us. May you reach back to him in faith and trust today.

Resources

To read more about various atonement theories, check out:

* The Nature of Atonement: Four Views. Edited by James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy

* A Community Called Atonement by Scot McKnight

* Stricken by God? Nonviolent Identification and the Victory of Christ. Edited by Brad Jersak and Michael Hardin

 

Doing Life With God

Another day begins. What's in store? What could God be up to? What would it look like if we did life together with Him?

The apostle Paul once wrote …

Col.3:17. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. NIV

What does it mean to do something ‘in the name of Jesus’? Generally speaking, in the Bible a person’s name means to do it in his character. So doing something in Jesus’ name means to do it in his character. It means doing it as Jesus himself would do it if he were in your place.

What is most striking is the comprehensive nature of what Paul says: “Whatever you do …” He then goes on to make it even clearer – “… in word or deed …” That about covers all of life! He then goes on to say, “… do it all …” Paul is saying that our entire lives – from the moment we wake up until the time we lay down to sleep – are to be lived out ‘in the name of Jesus’. That is what discipleship is all about.

Some good reflection questions (from Dallas Willard):

* How can we start the day with God? It may be taking a few moments to speak to God before you even get out of bed.

* How do we greet the people closest to us as we start our day? What words do we use and tone do we choose to set?

* How do we drive “in Jesus’ name”?

* How do we approach our work or school?

* How do we approach the people we encounter during our day?

* How do we shop?

* How do we eat?

* How do we approach our entertainment choices?

* How do we finish the day? With gratitude and celebration. Review the day and learn from it.

* How do we do life in Jesus’ name?

* How can we make each moment an opportunity to learn from Jesus how to live in the kingdom of God?

These are all very important questions!

What a difference it would make if we could live every moment of every day aware that God is with us and then live our life in the presence of and with the help of Jesus Christ.

Insights from Gateway Church led by Pastor Robert Morris

Robert Morris is the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas. The church has grown to over 20,000 people in just 13 years. Their vision is "to see people saved, healed, set free, discipled, equipped, empowered and serving in ministry."

At Gateway, they seek to do five things really well:

1. Preaching and teaching. Robert spends 4 days a week in study and prayer (Wednesday through Saturday mornings) so he can feed the people well. 

2. The Presence of God - engaging worship time (not just good songs and music). Not exhibiting God, but experiencing God. It's not a performance. 

3. Relationships - small groups and equipping classes. Church has to be family.

4. Children and youth. Have fun ... and learn about God. If kids are not having fun, they are not learning about God. 

5. Outreach, evangelism and missions.

A few other insights gleaned from Gateway Church:

1. A Culture of Generosity. Robert's life message is about generosity, but not just in financial areas. God gave, we give our lives to him and life is about giving. He believes that the "give to get"message is one of the worst messages you can preach. It breeds selfishness and greed rather than removing it, like true giving does. People then despise God, when it doesn't work right away. God does not bless giving; he blesses giving with the right heart. Give and don't expect anything back ... and when you give this way, it will be given to you. Gateway has twice the highest giving of any other church in the USA yet they never pass the offering plate. Tithes and offerings are given via boxes at the door (worship while you go). Over 60% of their financial giving is through the internet.

2. A Culture of Rest. Gateway hires staff to work no more than 50 hours a week or with more than 3 nights out. They monitor how much people work so that they help to steward people's time and energy. Same thing with volunteers (7,500 right now) ... they serve every other week. The Sabbath command is one of the top 10. There is a blessing in keeping it. We believe the other 9 commands. We wouldn't commit adultery or steal, but why break the sabbath?

For more information, see Robert's two books The Blessed Life and The Blessed Church.

Inspiring Stories from Churches around the Globe

Here are a handful of inspiring stories of what God is doing around the globe …

1. Gary and Marilyn Skinner, leaders of Watoto Church in Kampala, Uganda, now care for over 2,000 orphans, in addition to leading their multi-site church of 17,000 people.

2. The Every Nation churches in Manila, Philippines, of which Joey Bonifacio is one of the pastors, now hold 106 weekend church services in 17 locations with 64,000 people attending. They are learning to communicate the gospel in the language of culture (e.g. movies and music) in order to reach young people (70% of people are below 30 years old in the Phillipines). They have 240 full time campus missionaries reaching the 15,000 students who are part of their church. 

“Perhaps the greatest single weakness of the contemporary Christian Church is that millions of supposed members are not really involved at all and, what is worse, do not think it strange that they are not. As soon as we recognize Christ’s intention to make His Church a militant company we understand at once that the conventional arrangement cannot suffice. There is no real chance of victory in a campaign if ninety per cent of the soldiers are untrained and uninvolved, but that is exactly where we stand now.” Elton Trueblood

3. Larry Stockstill, founding pastor of from Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, USA, pioneered the Surge Project. Over the last 10 years, they have created 12 zones around the world, established relationships with a key apostolic leader in each nation within each zone, and then resourced church planters that they have selected and coached. As a result, 20,000 churches have been plantered. Their focus is on making disciples and then planting churches. They plant small significant churches through seminary graduates who they support for one year.

4. Aluizio and Marcia Silva, pastors of The Vine Church in Brazil, have an amazing children's ministry with 12,000 children involved in 1,280 Cell Groups. Their attitude is: "When you see a child, see a leader!"

5. Approximately 2 million people in Indonesia leave Islam for Christianity every year. The Muslims have a plan. It's called Save Maryam. 

6. A church member from First Baptist Church of Sao Jose Dos Campos, led by Pastor Carlito Machado Paes, produced a video about Jesus as "Immanuel" and posted it online. It had 1 million hits in 2 months!

Leadership Succession (Edmund Chan)

Edmund Chan from Covenant Evangelical Free Church in Singapore also shared on the topic of "leadership succession." Here are his notes, posted with his kind permission.

Succession: A Neglected Responsibility

I often ask leaders, “What happens to your organization if something happens to you?”  The answers often reveal a lack of intentional succession planning. Developing human capital - and intentionally mentoring them for leadership succession - is one of the defining tasks of great leadership. 

In leading my church staff, I have articulated three leadership fundamentals expected of them:    

1. Championing the vision while personifying the values.

2. Expanding the ministry while enlarging the soul.

3. Managing the success while mentoring the successor.

All three are important. We should not just be championing our vision but failing to live out our values. Or expanding our ministry but running dry spiritually. Or managing to keep our success but failing to mentor our successors.

Nonetheless, while all three are important, I have found that mentoring leaders for leadership succession is most often neglected.

Many organizations struggle with leadership succession. From top business leaders to senior pastors, leadership succession is a prevailing challenge. Intentional leadership succession is in fact counter-intuitive.

According to the Korn-Ferry Executive Survey of global companies in December 2010, ninety-eight per cent of these companies regard CEO succession planning as an important part of corporate governance. However, only thirty-five per cent of these have a succession plan in place and are prepared for either a planned or unplanned departure of their CEOs.

A common problem is the good-and-available dilemma: “the good is not available and the available is not good”. Obviously, there is no easy answers. 

My Succession Pilgrimage

As of 1 January 2012, I lost my job of senior pastor - and my friends congratulated me! It was a planned leadership succession. 

In 2008, at a Church Board Retreat, I articulated my conviction that the test of leadership is found in the third generation. We deliberated (and agreed!) on a thirty-year succession planning -unto the third generation of senior pastors - for Covenant EFC. This third-generation thinking is crucial to solid leadership succession.

The true test of leadership is found in the third generation.

Often, we are too short-sighted. We must learn to think the longer term. The test of leadership is NOT found in the immediate second generation leaders. Though difficult, it is nonetheless possible to find capable second echelon leaders to succeed us.

The challenge is in the third generation.

To commit ourselves to think long-term is vital. To mentor the second-echelon of senior pastors, and to groom a third-generation of senior pastors – in a long term, intentional succession planning over a thirty-year time line - is almost unheard of. 

I am only 54 years old. But this succession plan to the second-generation of senior pastors (in their forties) is crucial in the light of grooming the third generation. The longer I delay the transition, the shorter a runway they would have to successfully transit to the third generation!

Thus, having served the church for twenty-five years, I gratefully handled over my role to two younger pastors I have personally mentored for over two decades. Good men. Rev Tan Kay Kiong and Rev Tony Yeo love the church. And importantly, they are loved by the church.

Most significantly, they are respected by the entire staff team. When I returned from my last sabbatical in 2010, I did a staff 360-evaluation on their performance. They had led for six months each as the acting senior pastor. It was an anonymous evaluation of their leadership in my year-long absence.

As acting Senior Pastors, they are Oscar-award winners (pun intended)! I had told myself that if their evaluations fell below a seventy-five percentile, we are due for a re-look at their leadership. To my delight, their lowest score was in the high-eighty percentile in an anonymous staff evaluation! Both their majority scores were in the nineties percentile!

It was then that I decided that it IS time to hand over the senior pastor’s job. They are ready!

I’ve been asked, “why TWO senior pastors?”  It is NOT because we have two worship centers; for a senior pastor can surely lead in a multi-site church. It is also not because my job is so difficult (or so messed up!) that it takes two to succeed me. And it is certainly not because we have too much money and so we decided to pay for TWO senior pastors, instead of one!

In the simplest of terms, because we can and because we should.

We have two senior pastors because we can. It can only be possible if they are both a certain kind of disciples who would support each other and not compete with each other. To have two senior pastors like that models a certain kind of discipleship for the entire church!

We have two senior pastors because we should. I want to develop more senior pastors in and through Covenant EFC! Covenant EFC have the privilege of having four valedictorians who graduated top in their cohort at the Singapore Bible College serving in the same church. All four have national leadership roles; the youngest of the four is serving as the chairman of our denomination and the deputy senior pastor!

Leadership succession is about mentoring developing these good men for top-level leadership. Unto the third generation! In order for the third generation to be strong, at least three things must happen. 

Three Critical Tasks

First, leadership succession does not just happen.

There must thus be an intentional leadership succession plan. A forward looking organization would actively pursue an intentional policy of developing the future generation of leaders.

Second, no one is indispensable.

Finding and grooming leaders for succession is one of the chief tasks of leadership. There is no success without a successor. Having a leadership grooming programme ensures that over time, someone will be ready to take on the more demanding leadership responsibilities that the key position requires.

Third, a mentoring culture best serves the succession agenda.

A huge part of smooth leadership transitions depends on the organization’s culture and philosophy of ministry. An organization that takes human capital development seriously would look into developing a mentoring culture within the organization.

The Succession Key: Learning From Moses

From Exodus 18:22 comes one of the most instructive texts for leadership succession: “And let them judge the people at all times...” (ESV). There are two major paradigm shifts here - 

“Let them judge.” Unthinkable.

“Let them judge at all times.” Did we hear that right? At all times?

In Singaporean jargon, “how can?!!”

Who can possibly replace the great Moses? The people gravitated towards him for the final say. They are even willing to stand in a queue “from morning to evening” just to get his attention and arbitration of their disputes (v.13-14). 

“From morning and evening” does not merely indicate how busy Moses was. Rather, it indicated a deeper problem. It surfaces for us two leadership fault-lines: the people’s learned helplessness and the leader’s perceived indispensability.

Furthermore, Jethro wisely warned Moses of the inevitable exhaustion: “You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people…” (v.17-18) as well as the eventual unsustainability:  “…for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.” (v.18)

No one is indispensable. This may bruise our ego a little but it is a fundamental principle.

Of course, leaders must not abdicate their responsibility: “…every great matter they shall bring to you” (v.22). But the leader must learn to focus and to delegate.

The prevailing leadership problem is that many leaders want to be in control and have real difficulty letting go. Some misguided leaders actually feel important and validated to have people stand around them “from morning till evening”. Their ego sets them up for failure here. 

Why Successions Fail

There are at least seven reasons why leadership succession fails.

1. Leaders are too busy. The ministry is too demanding and leaders are too busy to think about succession. They excuse themselves with the pseudo-pious cliche that God will provide a successor when the time comes. The logic is faulty. If a pastor says he is too busy to prepare his sermon but believes that God will empower him, I would gently tell him to re-examine his busyness and that God would empower him better when he prepares well. We must correct our presumptuousness.

2. Leaders are too insecure. Their security or identity is tied to their ministry. There is a fear of loss – be it a loss of income or a loss of a leadership position – that holds them back from working proactively towards leadership succession. 

3. Leaders are too successful. The thought of leaving their success or position appals them. No one can possibly do it as well as them. They are presumably indispensable.

4. Leaders fail to develop a strong but humble team. Succession fails when there is competiveness of team members with successor, or the team is not strong enough to complement the successor’s weakness(es).

5. Leaders have unrealistic expectations of their successor. They expect their successors to be similar to them. Often this is a confusion between leadership DNA with leadership styles. I want my successors to be of the same kind but they don’t have to lead with the same style!

6. Leaders fail to lead their people to support their successor. People do not take change and transitions easily. They inevitably tend to compare the successor with the predecessor. They need to be led to honour the successor and follow his leadership.  There is often a failure to profile their successor. 

7. Leaders often confuse intent with implementation. They intend to work towards leadership succession but they do not implement it with clear principles for succession. 

Eight Principles Of Leadership Succession

1. Establish conviction for succession. Think beyond one generation. Think beyond the second generation! The test of leadership is found in the third generation.

2. Cultivate realistic expectations.  Transitions are complex and difficult, especially leadership transitions. But we haven’t got it until we do it. We can’t wait for perfect conditions before we transit in leadership.

3. Learn from others. Learning from others would help us to transit better. Learn from other’s failures. Learn from other’s success. Learn what works and what didn’t.

4. Develop a succession plan and stick to it. The three basic questions to deliberate on (and come to a decision) are - When is the right time to step down? Who is the right person to call – from within or outside? Should the predecessor stay within the organization? I do not think there are right and wrong answers for these questions. The leadership team must come to decide what works for them!

5. Cultivate a mentoring culture. Mentor successors through developmental tasks. One of the tasks I gave my successors is to write a book each. I know that one does NOT have to write a book to be a good senior pastor. But it helps to crystallize their thoughts and it is one way to profile them for leadership. Also, I want leaders to read. And those who write appreciate other authors much more! 

6. Accept new roles. The predecessor must learn to let go leadership privileges and prestige. On the other hand, the successor must learn to take on leadership problems and pilgrimage. They must pay their dues as leaders.

7. Establish clear rules of engagement. The first rule is to promote a culture of mutual honouring. The successor honours the heritage left by the predecessor; and the predecessor honours the new initiatives of their successors and the legacy they will leave through them! Another example of a rule of engagement is the intention to celebrate the same leadership DNA while honouring the different  leadership styles.

8. Grow to be larger than the chair you occupy. Insecurity comes when the leadership chair we occupy is our core identity. We’ve got to understand servant-leadership and to understand that it is who you are, not where you are, that matters most! And when who you are is larger than where you are, it is easier to hand over! 

In the final analysis, leadership-succession planning is a matter of applied discipleship.  It involves a critical participation of spiritual formation and mentoring.

Such a leadership-succession planning is too important to ignore. To invest time and effort in developing leaders is strategic. It offers a high return on investment. Yet it is one of those leadership initiatives that many top-level leaders don't intentionally find the time to start. Until it's too late.

Only the eternally and indispensably almighty God does not warrant or need a successor!  For the rest of us in leadership, it is a learned and intentional journey. 

Mentor your successors. Have a blessed leadership succession ahead!

Edmund Chan

[Read more on "Leadership Succession" by Mark Conner]

Leadership Succession (Mark Conner)

The third morning was about "leadership succession." I was asked to speak and here is a summary of what I shared.

Out Story

CityLife Church (originally called Waverley Christian Fellowship) is a multi-site church based in Melbourne, Australia. It began in 1967 with a small group of people led by its founding pastor, Richard Holland. Richard led the church for 20 years and in that time it grew to a congregation of around 600 people. Because of some health challenges in 1986, Richard passed the baton of leadership to his associate, Kevin Conner. Kevin led the church for the next 8 years and it grew to around 1,500 people. In 1995, at the age of 68, Kevin passed the baton of leadership to his son, Mark Conner, age 33, who has led the church since that time. The church is now home to over 9,000 people from 105 nationalities.

During both of these leadership transitions, the church did not lose any people but rather continued to move
from strength to strength. Yes, there were changes and adjustments that had to be made due to the unique personality and spiritual gifting of each senior minister. No, not everyone found it easy to make these adjustments and before and after these transitions people did move on for various reasons, as in any church community. However, there was general unity around the need for change and the selection of the appropriate leader.

Richard stayed in the church until his passing away at age 89 in 2008. Kevin is now 86 years old and continues to be an active part of the church community.  I am now 51 years old and we are beginning a season where leadership development will be a higher priority ... and eventual succession.

Pass the Baton

There is no success without a successor and Christianity
is always one generation away from extinction. These two sobering facts highlight the urgent need for successful leadership transition in today’s churches and ministries. Unless we train up the next generation and pass the baton into their hands, God’s purposes could be delayed.

God chooses to reveal himself to individual people and then commissions them to carry out his plan and purpose. Part of their responsibility is to pass on his heart and purposes to their children and the next generation. Like
a long relay race, God’s purposes have been moving on throughout history right up to our time and they need to continue until Jesus returns again.

Yes, we should live with the preparedness that if Jesus came today we would be ready. However, we must also live with the wisdom and foresight that prepares for the future, in case Jesus does not return in our lifetime. To do anything otherwise would be nothing short of poor stewardship of our place in history.

The Bible has many examples of leaders who were effective in passing the baton – Abraham (Gen.18:19), Moses (Ex.33;11), David (1Chron.28-29), Elijah (1Kgs.19:15-21), Jesus (Mt.28:18-20) and Paul (2 Tim.2:1-2). It also includes stories of leaders who failed to do so – Joshua (Judges 2:7-15), Eli (1Sam.1-4), Solomon (1Kgs.12:1-17) and Elisha (2Kgs.5). In each of these cases we see either a leader who failed to select and train a successor OR a potential successor who failed to lay hold of God’s calling for their life. The tragic result was the dropping of the baton and many seemingly lost years.

Principles of Leadership Succesion

In any relay race, the passing of the baton is a crucial time that can make or break the team’s success. Letting go too soon or holding on too long can spell disaster. It takes a lot of skill and wisdom to pass the baton successfully in any race, including leadership succession. Here are some practical principles of successful leadership transition.

1. Choose your successor carefully. This important decision needs to be undertaken with much prayer and consideration of the character, competency and cultural compatibility of the potential future leader. Consider the benefits of choosing a successor from within the local church verses selecting someone from outside the church. You can never guarantee the future but you can make a decision that is characterized by wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

2. Ensure that the mission continues. God has a purpose for his church and he carries this out through the generations of the righteous. Wise church leaders build their churches to last well beyond their time. They create a sense of mission and values that will continue on even when they are gone. Yes, leadership style, ministry emphasis and church programs change along the way. However,
the foundations should remain, as well as the over-arching mission of the church.

3. Know the right timing. Knowing the right person to pass the baton on to is important but effectively making the actual transition at the right time is vital. Avoid seeking to pass the leadership baton on too soon. Otherwise you may not maximize your own contribution to the race and/or the next leader may not be up to speed yet. The result is lost momentum. On the other hand, avoid hanging on to the baton for too long. This will also result in a loss of momentum and can frustrate potential leaders who are ready to run but feel like they will never have an opportunity.

4. Establish a clear transition process. In a relay race there is a time when both runners are in the exchange zone and there are a few moments when both of them are holding the baton together before one lets go and the other takes off on their own. This is a crucial part of the race. Ideally, there should be a multi-year transition period that assists the incoming leader to gradually take on more responsibility and the congregation to adjust to their leadership style. It also enables the outgoing leader to gradually let go of their previous ministry role. Factors to consider include the age, effectiveness and energy level of the current leader, the age and ministry experience of the successor, as well as the congregation’s response to all of this.

5. Make a decision to let go. As the transition concludes, it is essential that the previous leader fully let go of the baton and allow the new leader appropriate freedom to fulfill their role. When the previous leader leaves the congregation and relocates to another church or ministry, this is somewhat easy. When the previous leader stays in the same congregation, this can be quite difficult. It is essential that they not seek to exercise remote control or in any way undermine the new leader. They must give the new leader their full support and backing. If this does not happen then the new leader will feel frustrated and hindered in their leadership role. Secure leaders realize that their value, worth and significance come from who they are, not from what they do or the position they hold. Therefore, they are willing to let go for the benefit of others and the church itself. When this happens, outgoing leaders only gain more credibility and honor.

6. Understand the importance of honor. For incoming leaders, it is essential to honor those who have gone before. We do not worship the past but we should honor it and recognize that we would not be where we are today without the sacrifices and contribution of earlier generations. We have received an inheritance and a heritage that others have worked hard for. 

For a variety of reasons, not every leadership transition is successful. Change does not always go as we intend it to. However, we should do everything that we can to see that transitions work out for the best – for the benefit of God’s people, for the continuation of God’s purposes and for the honor of God’s name.

[These notes have been summarized from Pass the Baton: Principles of Successful Leadership Transition by Mark Conner - available in paper and eBook format]

Reflection Questions

1. Outline the history of your own church or ministry. What clear chapters do you see? What patterns emerge? What lessons can you glean?

2. Most people groups or organizations have a life cycle of some sort, starting with birth and ending in death or closure. What can you do to ensure your church or ministry has as long a life as possible?

3. Do you have a leadership development pathway in your church? How are you apprenticing, coaching, and training a new generation of leadership for every level of ministry?

4. Reflect on some of the potential challenges of a previous senior minister staying in their church after passing the baton. How can these be navigated successfully?

5. What are the primary spiritual gifts to look for in a potential Senior Pastor? In addition to character, consider the importance of leadership and teaching.

6. Consider the impact of succession on the Senior Pastor’s spouse. Depending on who they are and what their role has been, they may have quite a bit of informal influence. Often they can be the most neglected person in the entire transition process.

7. Discuss the potential challenges of passing the baton to a family member. How can these be navigated? I believe that it is important to never push a person into any leadership or ministry role just because they are a family member. On the other hand, it is also important to not hold back someone from any leadership or ministry role, just because they are a family member, IF they have a clear call from God for that role, and the accompanying spiritul gifts. 

8. What are some of the financial considerations to make when planning a leadership transition? At CityLife, we salaried both Richard and Kevin for life, because of a lack of acrued superannuation and retirement benefits. This is the principle of honour.

9. What is an appropriate age to begin thinking about succession?

10. What are some key principles for the incoming leader to consider as they take the senior leadership role? How can they lead change effectively?

Mark Conner

[Read more on "Leadership Succession" by Edmund Chan]

Leadership Influence

The second morning we spent talking about "leadership influence."

Peter Wenz, pastor of  Gospel Forum in Germany, drew our attention to John the Baptist's comments, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven (John 3:27)." What you take that God has not given you always causes problems. Either God gives us the influence or we will never have it. God creates influence for us. We aren't to look for it.

Charles Price, pastor of The Peope's Church in Toronto Canada, noted that, "Spiritual leadership is getting people on to God's agenda" (a quote from author Henry Blackaby).

The prophet said to King Asa, "The Lord is with you when you are with him (2Chron.15:1-2)." Our job is to ask, "Lord, help us to be with you." He is the moving one and we are the ones that are to keep in step with him. Don't pray, "Lord, be with me." Don't get away from God and think you are taking him with you. It is better to pray: "Lord, help me today to be with you."

Jesus said, "Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me (John 12:26)."

Jesus said, "Follow me." No one said, "Where are you going?" The issue was not where they were going but who they were going with. Real disciples deal directly with Jesus. Get a vision from God. Find out from God what He wants you to do.

Ps.37:4. "Delight yourself in The Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

It does not say, "God will give you everything you want" ... but rather, "The desires of your heart will be God-given."

Leadership Wounds

The first morning of our gathering focused on "leadership wounds."

Restoring Wounded Soldiers

Pastor Abe Huber, who pastors a church of 60,000 people in Brazil, noted that the church is the only army that shoots its own wounded. How can we do better?

1. Don't forget the good that wounded or fallen soldiers have done.

2. Don't judge them for falling. Who are we to judge our neighbor? How easy it is to condemn and accuse. Remember, Satan is the accuser ... not us.

3. Don't ignore them ... like the priest and the Levite in Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, who walked by the man who had been beaten up.

4. Feel compassion (pity) for them, like the Good Samaritan did.

5. Go to them. Draw close to them, talk with them and hear their story.

6. Believe in their restoration. Stay and help; pour in oil and wine.

7. Go after the one. Be faithful.  Like Jesus, try not to lose any of those entrusted to you (John 17:12).

Mark Foreman from the USA and Peter Tan-Chi from the Philippines noted that ...

One third of all pastors have contemplated leaving the ministry. There is a 20% drop-out rate in the first five years. Many ministers consider themselves alone in their distress. There is a great stigma attached to leaving the ministry. Burnout is the #1 hindrance and primary cause of attrition.

Some unique issues for pastors, and predictors of burnout, are: personal vulnerability (over-emphasis on the "call" and over-involvement in the church to the exclusion of outside social support), role conflict (unrealistic expectations and difficulty in maintaining healthy role boundaries), social support (life in the "fish bowl" and on the "pedestal", no close friends, loneliness) and false dichotomies (ideal loving community yet broken sinners, meekness and equality vs leadership, church family vs pastor's family).

Common wounds include: broken trust, betrayal, false accusation, confused friendships, hurtful words or judgments, ambitious demands, abandonment and manipulation. Sooner or later, everyone will disappoint you ... by what you do or don't do, by what you say or don't say. This is reality.

We are to be "wounded healers" (a term crafted by Henri Nouwen). Some times we are surprised from the arrows coming from behind us. God is often difficult to understand ... and so are people. The church is called to be a loving community but the reality is that it is made up of wounded, dysfunctional sinners saved by grace. 

After a defeat at Ziklag, even David's own men plotted to kill him (1Sam.30:6). He had to learn to strengthen and encourage himself in the Lord.

See the sovereignty of God in situations behind human actions ( (2Sam.16:10-12, 14). This can lessen a lot of the infection. Learn to trust God. Know how to spend time with the Lord and refresh yourself.

How to Resolve Hurt

We all get hurt but with God's help we can deal with it. Learn to prevent a hurt from becoming a wound. 

1. Understand that people will disappoint us. No one is perfect.

2. We cannot control how people treat us, but we can control how we respond to them. Disappointment is inevitable but prolonged pain (a festering wound) is optional. 

3. Believe that God is sovereign.

4. Give thanks in everything. Trust that God IS doing what is best for you. He uses everything for his purpose. Brokenness is essential. When God takes away something, he usually has something better (not just in ministry).

5. Our life must be centered on God as the source of our self worth, security, and identity. Many knots untie themselves in prayer. In your pain, seek Jesus, allowing him to heal your brokenness.

6. Chose to be humble. Humility means we have nothing to prove but a lot to improve. If people criticize you, the options are: (a) it's the truth (so, change), (b) it's not true (so, thank them, and take it as a warning), or (c) it's partly true (so, praise God, take it as a warning). Thank them and embrace them.

7. Forgive and love people. God places "extra grace required" (EGR) people in all of our lives. Distinguish between trust and forgiveness. One is earned and other is free.

8. Sanctify your motive. 

9. Surround yourself with good supportive friends.

Learning from Leaders

Last week, I spent a few days in Dallas, USA with leaders of a number of significant churches from around the world (primarily the non-Western world). I love to be around leaders who have more capacity and experience than I do. It is a terrific opportunity to learn and grow. It stretches and challenges me.

Over the next few BLOG posts, I will share a summary of what I learned and some of the notes I took.

Here is a brief outline, with appropriate links:

1. Leadership Wounds.

2. Leadership Influence.

3. Leadership Succession.

4. Insights from Gateway Church led by Pastor Robert Morris.

5. Inspiring stories from churches around the world.

Enjoy!

River of Life Conference (Update)

Momentum and expectation is growing towards the upcoming River of Life Conference to be held in Melbourne on May 9-10th. This is an important gathering and we are excited about all that God will do as followers of Christ gather together to proclaim Jesus as Lord. No doubt, God delights when his children gather together in unity.  

The Thursday events are pretty much sold out already but there are still many places left for the Friday events. If you haven't done so, register now and spread the word. 

Conference videos and PowerPoint slides are downloadable from the web site. Please go to RESOURCES for the downloads at: www.riveroflifeconference.org 

Thank you so much. Let's continue to pray and work towards this gathering being a catalyst for God's Spirit to increase his work in and through the church to our city and beyond.

SHARE - Your Story

During the month of March we are focusing on the SHARE aspect of our DEVOTE 3 theme for the year. We want to be inspired and equipped afresh to SHARE – a meal, our story, our faith and the love of Christ with others. The foundation for sharing with others is a genuine love for people who don't yet know Christ. As we see people as Jesus does, we will go to them like he did.

Your Story

Everyone has a story - the unfolding narrative of God at work in his or her life. A story can be even more powerful than an argument. Being a good witness for Christ does not mean we have to know all the answers to people’s questions. If this is our mentality, we easily become fearful of a question that we don't know the answer for. True, engaging with people’s real questions is important (hence, the validity of apologetics – learning to give answers for the hope that we have), but never under-estimate the power of your story. As the blind man said to his critics, “All I know is that once I was blind, now I can see (John 9:25)!” Charles Swindoll says, “The sceptic may deny your beliefs or attack your church, but they cannot honestly ignore the fact that your life has been changed.”

Not only is your story hard to argue with, you will find that your friends are interested in your story. They often can relate to it well because of similar interests to you. Don’t discount your story if it doesn’t seem sensational or dramatic. If you spent most of your life as a “good” person, maybe even going to church and being “religious”, but without knowing Christ personally, then yours is a story that many people will be able to identify with. Don’t downplay it. God can use this kind of story powerfully for the many people with similar backgrounds who need to find Christ just as you did.

In Acts 26, Luke records Paul telling his personal story to King Agrippa. Although there are a lot of important details, there are essentially three sections. First, there is BC (Before Christ), where Paul tells about his life growing up. He was a Pharisee and he was convinced that he should do everything possible to oppose the teachings of Jesus, including putting Christians in prison and even condemning them to death (vs.4-11). Second, there is Paul’s Conversion where he relates how he came to Christ. He tells how he was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, when Christ appeared to him and appointed him to be His spokesperson (vs.12-18). Finally, there is AD (After Christ) where Paul describes his life since coming to Christ (vs.19-23). Paul then concluded with a question of response (vs.27-28).

Take some time to reflect on your own story. Where were you spiritually before receiving Christ and how did that affect you – your feelings, attitudes, actions and relationships? What caused you to begin considering God/Christ as a solution to your needs? What realisation did you come to that finally motivated you to receive Christ? Specifically, how did you receive Christ? How did your life begin to change after you trusted Christ? What other benefits have you experienced since becoming a Christian? If your conversion was part of a process that took place over a period of time, you may not be able to place an exact date on when you received Christ. That’s okay. Consider the content of what you realised and asked for as you began to open your life to Christ’s forgiveness and leadership. For those who became Christians as children, the emphasis can be on the benefits Christ has made in your life compared to what you think it might have been like without knowing him. You don’t need a “bad past” to have a great testimony! Praise God for His saving grace that reached out to people like Mary (a prostitute filled with 7 demons), the Samaritan woman (divorced 4 times and living with another man), and Zaccheus (a dishonest tax collector). Praise God also for those who were given grace to live for God from youth and who were saved from the negative consequences of a sinful lifestyle. Think of Joseph (who resisted temptation to sexual sin), Daniel (who refused to compromise his personal standards even when away from his parents) and Timothy (who knew the Scriptures since childhood and put his faith in God). A testimony of being saved from the world and sin is just as powerful as a testimony of being saved out of the world and sin. We all need a Savior whether we've been  or rebellious, like the prodigal son, or religious, like the elder brother (whose confidence was in his own goodness).

Reflection Questions

1. Write out your own story of coming to faith in Christ. Reflect on how this story can be shaped to connect meaningfully with other people.

2. It is very easy after being a Christian for a number of years to start to have mainly Christian friends and not as many friendships with those who don’t know Christ. How can we avoid this?

3. What are some keys to building good friendships with those who don’t yet know Christ?

4. Bill Hybels says that, “Acts of mercy and kindness open people’s hearts like nothing else can.” Reflect on some examples of this happening from your own experience.

5. How could you start a conversation about spiritual matters in a natural way?

6. What are some of the barriers to sharing your faith and how could you overcome them?

7. What should you consider when determining a person’s level of readiness or openness to spiritual matters?

8. How would you describe the “gospel” to a person or what it means to be a “Christian”?

9. We live in an increasingly pluralistic culture with many religious beliefs. How can we reach out to those of others faiths?

10. If someone told you they wanted to become a Christian, what would you do? How do you lead someone to Christ?

11. What would you do next? How could you follow them up with support and care?

12. Who have you invited to church before? How did this experience go? What did you learn?

13. How shoudl you continue to relate to someone who isn’t interested in Christ?

14. How do we strike an appropriate balance between thinking WE have to win everyone to Christ (lest they end up in hell) and understanding that GOD is the one who draws people to himself?

15. Reflect on the importance of prayer in sharing our faith with others. Pray for 3 people who you know who do not yet know Jesus Christ personally..

16. Read a book designed to equip us in growing in confidence in sharing our faith. Consider Becoming a Contagious Christian and Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels, The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel, and any books by Ravi Zacharias. 

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - #7 Pray

The more involved you become in church leadership and ministry, the greater the temptation is to lead by your own gifts and abilities rather than out of intimacy with Jesus Christ. A daily relationship with Jesus is the key to freshness in ministry and an ability to impart life to people, rather than just run programs or meetings. 

Let’s be honest, any ministry without the active presence and power of God has no hope of bringing change to people’s lives.

Ps 127:1. Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. NLT

John 15:1-8. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. NIV

Our skills, talents and excellence can never substitute for that evident anointing that comes from a life lived in intimacy with God. Also, there is no way we will withstand the onslaught of the enemy’s attack without a powerful prayer life (Eph.6:10-18). When ministries don’t make it over the long haul (burnout), it often has to do with an unbalanced lifestyle as well as a neglect of our relationship with God. A healthy prayer life helps you deal with the internal and external stresses of ministry life. 

God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask, think or imagine (Eph.3:20). Through prayer we position ourselves to receive his vision for our ministry. A quickened word from God creates faith for the future. Pray and believe for great things.

Putting Legs on It:

* Bathe everything you do and every area of your ministry in prayer. Pray for yourself, your team and the ministry.  

* See God as the leader of your ministry and yourself as his assistant. See yourself as a steward or manager of his ministry.

* Regularly take time aside and ask God what he thinks about the ministry – its strengths, weaknesses and future potential.

* Remember that faith pleases God. Faith comes from focusing on God while fear comes from focusing on our circumstances or ourselves.

* Ask God for great things – miracles and supernatural things beyond your own ability.

* Discover your abiding style (contemplative, intellectual, relational, serving and charismatic), lean in to it and balance it too.

A Quick Check Up:

Ask yourself these questions:

1. How good of a follower am I?

2. How well am I leading?

3. How well am I managing my ministry?

4. How well am I building my team?

5. Am I taking time to innovate?

6. How much am I growing?

7. What is the quality of my prayer life right now?

Leaders – we are the key!

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - #6 Grow

It is essential that ministry leaders keep growing and developing their God-given potential.

1 Tim 4:12-16. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

What do people see when they look at our life? Do they see a life of progress?

Jesus grew in wisdom (mental), stature (physical), favour with God (spiritual) and people (social).

If you stop growing, you put a ceiling on the ministry and the people you lead or the ministry begins to outgrow you. In contrast, when you are growing you lift the ministry and the people around you to a higher level and the ministry keeps growing with you.

Personal and ministry growth is your responsibility. It’s up to you to discipline yourself and do whatever it takes to keep enlarging, stretching and learning new things. Keep upgrading your ministry capacity.

Most leaders have too little input and too much output. This leads to staleness, sameness and a lack of spiritual and ministry vitality. 

You can tell when a leader’s capacity has been reached – there is a loss of passion, few new volunteers are being added to the ministry, few new people are being reached, strong or different people become frustrated, people are beginning to leave the ministry, there is a loss of creativity and freshness, there are constant feelings of being overloaded and there are no other significant leaders being raised up.

There are so many ways to keep growing today – on the job training, books, audio messages, conferences, mentors, etc. Great leaders continually keep themselves fresh by learning and processing new things. You are responsible to keep you passion and freshness. Don’t stop growing and learning or you will plateau.

Putting Legs on It:

* What are your strengths? Soar with them and build people around you who are strong in areas of your weakness.

* What are you doing on a consistent basis to grow?

* What time are you investing regularly for personal and ministry growth? Plan it.

* Who are your mentors - people more advanced in ministry than you?

* Develop a list of personal goals for the year. Review them regularly and hold yourself accountable to them.

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - #5 Innovate

It is so easy to become busy managing what currently exists, that we fail to take time to improve what we’re doing let alone consider doing things differently or doing new things. As leaders, we must work on tomorrow not just keep up with today. This is what innovation is all about. 

We serve a creative God who, though he never changes in his character, has designed a world full of variety and freshness (Gen.1:1). We are created in his image (Gen.1:26). It is important that we seek to make your ministry fresh and alive. Always ask, “Is there a better way?” Admit where things are no longer working and make appropriate changes (Mk.2:1-5).

One definition of “entertainment” is “to capture and keep people’s attention.” Jesus did this in his teaching through creative stories and examples. God is not boring and therefore we need to present the truth of the gospel and the Christian life as one of joy and positive expectation even in the midst of the routines of daily living. If we are not attracting a crowd, then we need to rethink how we are doing ministry. The message we have never changes, but the methods we use need to be constantly updated to be relevant to each generation and group of people we are endeavouring to reach.

Management expert Peter Drucker says that both management and entrepreneurship are essential in any organisation. Both are always needed at the same time and both have to be co-ordinated and work together. Not to innovate is the single largest reason for the decline of existing organisations. Not to know how to manage is the single largest reason for the failure of new ventures. We must not just manage the existing but innovate the new and the different. 

Change is the only certain in today’s fast paced environment. Accept that it will always be with us. Change is never over – it’s constant! See change as an opportunity not a threat. Talk about it in a positive way and help people to not be afraid of it. Great organisations continually preserve the core (the mission and core values) and stimulate progress.

Putting Legs on It:

* Set regular times for brainstorming sessions with your team. Think creatively.

* List some creative ways you can do some of the basics of your ministry with new freshness. 

* Think about different or new things you could do to reach more people for Christ.

* Create an atmosphere within your team that says, “Let’s find a better way” and that encourages thinking outside the box. Always be looking for a new idea that will improve or expand your ministry. Don’t get stuck with a mentality that says, “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” New, improved or improving creates fresh momentum.

* Regularly ask yourself, “What’s working well and why?” and “What’s not working and why?”

Prov.18:15. Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them. NLT

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - #4 Build Your Team

Much of your effectiveness as a leader will be directly related to your ability to build a team of people who are passionately committed to the ministry you lead. Team building is leadership the way God designed it (Mark 1:16-17. Eph.4:11-16). The “team building” process includes four important tasks:

1. Gather – recruit people to your team. As a leader, you must be a “people person” who is friendly, outgoing and always on the look out for new people and new leaders, so they can be gathered in and harnessed. Learn to relate to a wide variety of people and be inclusive in your relationships. Then build relationships with your people. Spend time with them and share experiences. Be around your people, love them, laugh with them, cry with them, work with them, and eat with them. We can't simply cheer people on and give them our best wishes. We have to make room for them in our lives.

Remember that the community aspect of your team is just as important as the productivity aspect. Jesus called his disciples to be “with him”. Teams that enjoy being together tend to be more effective. Make people feel needed, worthwhile, valuable and important. Use ample amounts of encouragement and express appreciation regularly. Take an interest in people’s personal lives, not just in what they can do for you or the ministry. Enjoy the journey together.

2. Motivate – inspire and influence people with vision and purpose. Seek to motivate (not manipulate) people for mutual advantage. Create an atmosphere conducive to motivation by creating a sense of expectancy, through being enthusiastic and optimistic, through meeting people’s need for a sense of belonging, as well as for opportunities for growth and recognition, through ample doses of appreciation (say “thank you” often) and encouragement, and through making ministry enjoyable.

All ministry is hard work and discouragement and apathy can easily set in. Your job as a leader is to ensure that each person on your team keeps motivated for the ministry. Your attitude, and especially your enthusiasm (Jn.2:17. Rom.12:11), is highly contagious. As a leader, you need to be the chief cheerleader of your ministry. Qualities such as passion, confidence and courage are extremely valuable and need to be guarded carefully as they are a prime target of the enemy (Gal.6:9-10).

3. Train – coach people to effectiveness. Make sure people know exactly what they are supposed to do and why, who they’re responsible to and then give them good training, direction and supervision, as well as the resources they need. Give them opportunity to ask questions, share how they are going and give you feedback. Then you give them honest feedback showing them areas they can grow in and how they can go about it. 

Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better. Give people time, opportunity and training to help them become the very best they can at what they do. Provide them with a variety of training opportunities – personal coaching, group training sessions, resources (books and or audio messages), mentors and appropriate seminars. 

4. Mobilise – empower people through delegating ministry. Take time to get to know people, their desires and their spiritual gifts. Then seek to place them in an area of ministry that matches their strengths. The art of delegation is one of the most powerful tools leaders have. It increases their individual productivity as well as the productivity of their ministry. Leaders who can't or won't delegate create a bottleneck to growth and development. The other benefit of delegation is that it increases the initiative of the people within the church because it gives them a chance to grow and succeed.

Delegation is "the process of identifying your work responsibilities and assigning portions of your work to others, so that the workers become fulfilled and the work is accomplished". When we delegate, we have a job that needs to get done and people who need caring for and development. Our primary motivation in delegation is not just getting rid of work we don't want to do - it is developing people! 

Leaders who fail to delegate do so because of insecurity, lack of faith in others, lack of ability to train others, personal enjoyment of the task, inability to find someone to do it, laziness, lack of time, reluctance caused by past failure or an "I do it best” mind-set.

Leadership development is the key issue for the ongoing health and growth of any ministry. Build a dream team – let other people carry the ball and star. It’s about winning the game not who gets the credit. Insecurity in leaders is a deadly disease. It results in the failure to raise up others, especially talented and strong people. There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you aren’t concerned with who gets the glory.

How do you respond when (1) others are applauded OR (2) others are more talented or experienced than you? Small people hold others down while BIG people make room for everyone.

Putting Legs on It:

* Keep an updated list of all the leaders and volunteers you are responsible for in appropriate groups. Make sure that each person receives plenty of encouragement and lots of good feedback. Include plenty of informality and fun along the way.

* Ask yourself: “What training is needed to this person to a new level of effectiveness?” “Where are assistants needed and how can I fill these gaps?” “Who has the greatest potential for development or future promotion?” “Whose morale is sagging?”

* Resolve relational issues quickly (within 24 hrs, if possible) and thoroughly. Untie those knots of anger and frustration. Nothing is more important.      

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - #3 Manage

In addition to leading your ministry, you must also manage it well (1 Tim.3:4-5, 12). “Leadership” can be defined as “doing right things” (effectiveness). “Management” is “doing things right” (efficiency). Both are important and necessary in ministry.

Managing involves a number of tasks:

1. Leading - management involves ensuring that everyone knows the specific purpose and mission of the ministry. Answer the questions, “Where are we going?” and “Why?” Mission drifts and vision leaks, so they need to be continually reinforced.

2. Planning - management then involves planning and strategy that helps the ministry achieve its mission. This answers the question, “How are we going to get there?” This mission needs to be translated into objectives that outline key activities that will be done. Ministry goals can help you be effective in your ministry and leadership. The year will be busy, but what with? Goals and objectives help us focus our efforts on what is most important. Successful ministry events, ministries and experience don’t just happen. They are the result of excellent preparation and planning. Planning is a Biblical concept (Ps.20:4. Prov.15:22; 16:3; 20:18; 21:5. Jer.29:11). God gave Joseph a plan to save Egypt (Gen.41), Moses a plan for the tabernacle (Ex.26) and David a detailed design for the temple (1 Chron.28). Think and prepare ahead!

3. Organising - management involves organising people and resources to accomplish the mission of the ministry. People have to be assigned to specific tasks and events or meetings have to be organised. This answers the questions, “Who will do this and when?”

4. Directing - finally, management involves continual monitoring and evaluation of how things are progressing then making appropriate responses, adjustments or changes. This answers the crucial question, “How are we doing?” There needs to be appropriate measurements so that you know how things are going. If you don’t know what the score is, then you can’t lead well. Make use of “vital signs”, to help measure a ministry’s health and growth.

Putting Legs on It:

* Create a one-page list of strategic Ministry Goals for the year. Involve others in the process, use your job description for ideas, list everything you’re doing and think about what needs to change or improve, think of new things you could start doing, and dream a little. Stretch a little! If you can’t articulate what you’re trying to accomplish, you either don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing OR you’re trying to do too much!

* Schedule all your important meetings and appointments for the year well ahead of time (like “big rocks” in the jar). Then don’t forget to be flexible along the way.

* Keep track of “vital signs” for your ministry, so you can monitor its health and growth. What should you measure? We count what we value.

* Be a great communicator. Make sure everyone knows what’s happening well in advance and who’s doing what.

* Schedule an “energy burst” to do an important task or brainstorm about a certain issue.

* Keep focused on the “big picture” by delegating as many management details to other competent people. Empower, delegate and get out of the way.

* See the big picture. Don’t get caught up in all the minutiae details. Surround yourself with great people and trust them to do their jobs. Turn people loose.

* Get rid of wasteful bureaucracy. Always seek to simplify, remove complexity and formality. Make the organisation more responsive and agile. Have a minimum of rules, approvals and forms. Streamline decision-making.

Unfortunately, many people lack an appreciation for management, thinking it is un-spiritual. However, we must remember that administration is a gift of the Holy Spirit, just as prophecy, healing and faith are (1 Cor.12). Thank God for those who serve faithfully with this important gift. 

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - #2 Lead

Although there is to be one mission and one direction for each church, there are many expressions or ways that these are outworked. Like a highway with many lanes, a growing church provides opportunity for many different and unique ministries to thrive and flourish within the context of its overall purpose, as long as there is integration and alignment between them.

When it comes to your ministry, you need to lead with excellence (Rom.12:6-8). Most ministries rise and fall on leadership. Overall direction and broad parameters will be given to you, but the vast majority of the details of what your ministry becomes is up to you. Our desire is to create an empowering culture where many strong leaders can find ministry fulfilment working together towards a common goal.

Leadership is not just occupying a position. It is about creating “movement” (Deut.1:6-8; 2:1-3). God is a God of movement and he calls us as leaders to be his “change agents” to bring about his purpose on earth. Leadership is not easy. There are many challenges to be faced and obstacles to be overcome. However, great leaders take full responsibility for themselves, their ministry and the people they lead. They don’t make excuses or blame others when things aren’t going well. They look at themselves and they make adjustments. They find a way even when there seems to be no way. 

First of all, leadership involves giving people an example or model to follow (2 Thess.3:7-9). People catch who you are – your spirit. It is more than programs and events or even ministry activities. It is about a spirit and an atmosphere of life, energy and joy that you impart to people.

Second, leadership also requires having a vision and giving people direction (see Prov.29:18. Hab.2:1-2. Zech.4:1-2. Acts 2:17-21. 1 Cor.14:8). A leader has to define reality (the way things really are) and then to paint a picture of a preferable future (the way things could really be). Only then can you begin to move people to where they need to be. See things as they truly are not as you wish they were. Don’t fool yourself into thinking things are better than they are or that they will get better on their own. Recognise the reality and then launch strategies and initiatives to help make things better.

You’re in charge and therefore responsible. Like a coach of a team, you need to know what is happening right now (this “play”), in the context of this quarter (the “score”), this game, this season (year) and the history and future of the team. This includes an understanding of the game, your players (new and old, strengths and weaknesses) and the opposition. These different perspectives assist you in making the right decisions and calls right now. 

Putting Legs on It:

* Avoid being a leader who is not following (overly independent) but also avoid being a follower who is not leading (overly dependent). You’re the leader!

* Spend time in prayer, contemplation and reflection on God’s Word, as well as observing other leaders and ministries. Evaluate the intensity, clarity and size of your vision.

* Get with your team and do a SWOT analysis of your ministry (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) and create an improvement plan from it.

* Articulate your vision then get others passionate about making it happen. Lead by energising others, not by an out-dated autocratic style of leadership (‘command and control’). Create internal motivation. Energise, excite and inspire.

* Live with a sense of urgency. Don’t waste time through indecision. “Pounce” every day and be willing to work hard to make the vision a reality. Leaders need great energy and an ability to spark excitement and achieve results. Don’t be satisfied with the status quo.

* Involve everyone and welcome ideas from everywhere. You don’t have a monopoly on leadership – or good ideas for that matter. The hero is the person with the good idea. If your ministry has to rely on you for all its good ideas, you’re finished. Get ideas from everyone, even the quietest people.

Leadership occurs 360 degrees around us. We give leadership downwards to those who are looking to us but we can also give leadership sideways to our peers and upwards to those we are responsible to. Each of us can lead or influence others positively from the middle of the pack.

[Habit #3 - Manage]

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - #1 Follow

Every leader needs to first of all be a good follower. In fact, your ability to lead well is directly influenced by your ability to follow well. The apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” (1 Cor.11:1). As church leaders, we too are to follow Christ by imitating him in character, who we are, and ministry, what we do (see Mk.4:19. Mt.16:24. Jn.10:27. Rom.15:5. 1 Pet.2:21. Rev.14:4). Shepherds are also sheep, disciplers are also disciples, and leaders are also followers.

Secondly, church leaders are to follow the overall direction of their senior leader and the church they belong to. Ultimately, there can only be one mission or vision in a local church. Division is simply “di-vision” or two competing ways of looking at things. A church should only have one vision and go in one direction (Phil.2:2. 1 Cor.1:10-13). 

Our church has a Mission Statement that explains why we exist as a church, twelve Core Values that describe who we are and what’s important to us, and a DEVOTE 3 theme that defines what we are focusing on during this season in the life of our church. Something powerful begins to happen when each leader embraces the mission strongly, models the core values clearly and pursues the prophetic theme passionately. As each leader does this, together we will achieve great things for God through the power of unity (Ps.133).

Putting Legs on It:

* Be attentive to what God is saying to your church, respond to it and use your influence to reinforce the message in the hearts of those you lead. Micro-vision casting is very important.

* Make sure you “own” and live out the mission, core values and vision of your church. Make them part of who you are so that others catch the sense that you’re totally “on board”.

* Ensure that your personal and ministry goals contribute to the overall direction of the church.

* Be open to feedback and adjustment about the direction and progress of your ministry.

* Be aware of the various policies and procedures that have been established to help the church run smoothly and work within them.

Before becoming the Senior Minister of our church, I spent 5 years as a volunteer leader then another 10 years serving specific ministries of the church, while making other senior leaders successful. I learnt a great deal about leading well from learning to follow well, even when my thoughts differed at times from those who were leading me. Effective leaders are first good followers.

[Habit #2 - Lead]

7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders

The Importance of Leadership

Church and ministry leaders have a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities. These may include preaching, teaching, pastoral care, training and coaching others. One of our main tasks is to lead and God wants us to do this with the very best of our ability.

Romans 12:6-8. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously (“govern diligently” - NIV). And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. NLT 

In many ways, everything rises and falls on leadership. When good things are happening you can always trace it back to a leader who is doing something right. When bad things continually occur you can usually trace it back to a leader who is doing something wrong.

We live in a world of increasing fear, anxiety and upheaval. This environment is very conducive for the cause of Jesus Christ as God shakes everything that can be shaken. In times like these there is a desperate need for strong godly leadership. People are looking for someone and something to follow. As leaders, let’s not settle on our past achievements, as wonderful as they are, but let’s focus on the opportunities in front of us.

Leadership in the church is a wonderful privilege that provides a person with the opportunity to build a successful ministry that will make real difference in the lives of people both now and for eternity. Leadership also carries with it a tremendous amount of responsibility as leaders face the challenge of reaching people for Christ in our contemporary culture and then helping them grow to become fervent followers of Jesus Christ. It also includes the responsibility of leading and managing the ministry itself (including the leadership team, volunteers and various ministries) so that it continues to be healthy and fruitful.

Leading a ministry requires the ability to do a wide variety of tasks. It is essential that these tasks be done with excellence in order for the ministry to continue growing in its impact. Over the next few days, we will reflect on 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders. These tasks need to be done well on a regular basis if a leader desires a maximum return for his or her efforts.

These habits are also relevant for leadership in any other environment or context. 

[Habit #1 - Follow]

Are you a duck out of water?

Once upon a time, right after creation, all the animals formed a school. They established a well-rounded curriculum of swimming, running, climbing and flying. All the animals were required to take all the courses.

The duck excelled at swimming. In fact, he was better than the instructor! But he only made passing grades in climbing and was very poor at running. He was so slow, he had to stay after school to practise running. This caused his webbed feet to become so badly worn he became only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so no one ever worried about it, except the duck.

The rabbit was top of her class at running. But after a while, she developed a twitch in her leg from all the time she spent in the water trying to improve her swimming.

The squirrel was a peak performer climbing, but was constantly frustrated in flying class. His body became so worn from all the hard landings he did not do too well in climbing, and ended up being pretty poor in running.

The eagle was a continual problem student. She was severely disciplined for being a nonconformist. In climbing class, she would always beat everyone else to the top of the tree, but insisted on using her own way to get there.

Each of the animals had a particular design. When they did what they were designed to do, they excelled. When they tried to operate outside their area of expertise, they were not nearly as effective.

Can ducks run? Sure they can! Is that what they do best? No! Given the limited time each of us has, doesn’t it make sense to serve where we are best equipped? Ducks can run and run hard. But they are slow and get tired quickly.

People in ministry can be like that. Like a duck out of water, we can serve outside our area of giftedness. We can do it, but it is not what we do best. That is why knowing your spiritual gift(s) is important. It enables you to do what you do best with enthusiasm and effectiveness.

Imagine a church led by leaders, taught by teachers, cared for by pastors, administered by administrators, with evangelists using their gifts, givers giving, mercy showers showing mercy, etc … That’s what every church should be like. This is the way God has organised the church and wants it to function.

Spiritual gifts are “special abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to every believer according to God’s design and grace for the common good of the body of Christ.” God calls us to understand our individual uniqueness and appreciate the differences of other people. His intention is that we work together in interdependent relationships. By ourselves, we can’t accomplish much, but networked with other believers, we can accomplish incredible things for God.

Each person is unique with different combinations and expressions of gifts through their personality. There are different levels of gifting based on the different calling and capacity of each person. God wants each one of us to discover, develop and deploy our gifts for the benefit of the church and its mission.

Jump in and SERVE!

Stop Procrastinating

[Guest post by Rick Warren]

The Bible gives us five actions we can take to stop procrastinating:

1. Stop making excuses.

“The lazy person claims, 'There's a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!'" (Prov. 22:13, NLT). What have you been saying you’re going to do “one of these days”? What do you make excuses about? The number one excuse I hear is, “When things settle down, then I’m going to ...” Things will never settle down. You must make a choice to prioritize what is important.

2. Start today.

Not next month, next week, or tomorrow. “Never boast about tomorrow. You don’t know what will happen between now and then” (Prov. 27:1, GNT). None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow.

3. Establish a planned schedule.

Proverbs 13:16 says, “Every wise person acts with good sense, but fools show how foolish they are” (Prov. 13:16, NCV). If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. You need to designate some specific time slots each week for the things you need to do. Whatever it is, put it on your calendar. And if it’s a big task, break it down into small pieces. Break it into bite-size pieces.

4. Face your fears.

We hate to admit we have fears, because we think they’re a sign of weakness. But fear is a sign of humanity. Only fools are not afraid. You’ve heard it said, “Courage is not the absence of fear; it’s moving ahead in spite of our fears.” The Bible says there is nothing you cannot master with the help of Christ who gives you strength.

5. Focus on what you gain, not the pain.

There are very few things in life that are easy. You must push through the frustration and look at the gain beyond the pain. Concentrate on how good you’re going to feel once you’ve finished the task. Galatians 6:9 says, "So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up" (NLT). Jesus never said life would be easy. There will be sacrifice and commitment. But there is tremendous reward when we do the things he calls us to do.

Talk About It

Don’t ask, “What do I feel like doing?” Instead ask, “What does God want me to do?”

Write down three things you know God wants you to do, one item each in these three areas: your family, your personal life, and your career. Choose one of those three, and start today. Even if you can only work on your goal 15 minutes a day, do it — you’ll feel so much better!

Jump in ... and SERVE!

This year our focus is DEVOTE 3. We want to DEVOTE ourselves to PRAY more passionately, SHARE more intentionally and SERVE more wholeheartedly.

When it comes to your call to SERVE ...

1. You were made for it.

God knew you before you were born (Jer.1:4), God planned you (Ps.139:16), God formed you (Ps.139:13-14), God thinks about you all the time (Psalm 139:17-18), God calls you (Jer.1:5), God saves you (Eph.2:8), God made you new (2Cor.5:17), God gifted you (1Pet.4:10. 1Cor. 12:7), God made adventures for you (Eph.2:10), and God loves you (Jn.3:16). Yes, each one of us have a plan and a purpose from God before we were born. God calls us into an adventure and he never leaves us alone. You were designed to SERVE. 

2. Do a Stocktake.

Acknowledging the good things God has placed within us is a key part of us being effective in life (see Paul's prayer for Philemon in 1:6). Do the stocktake and know what's been placed there by God. 

It is a myth to think that "You can be anything you want to be, if you just try enough." The truth is "You can be a lot more of who you already are."

One way to do this is to take a SHAPE survey or a spiritual gifts inventory. Another interesting reflection is to take something such as Gallop's Strengths Finder test or Marcus Buckingham's latest Stand Out assessment, which shows you the kind of role that best matches your strengths. 

"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" Benjamin Franklin

"Most people think they know what they are good at. They are usually wrong ... and yet a person can perform only from strength." Peter Drucker

3. Jump in! 

Eventually, we have to get moving. Do something. See where it takes you ... that's why it's called an adventure. You can't steer a parked car. Are you waiting ... for what? 

As we get started, we discover what our gifts are (and aren't!), we give ourselves the opportunity to receive confirmation from others, and to see the affect of our efforts. Serving is the adventure. Those who help and serve others are the happiest people in the world.  

Check out the some current volunteer examples at CityLife.

[BLOG outline based on Andrew Robinson's recent Jump In! message at CityLife]