Tag: Church (page 7 of 8)

Aiming for 2nd place

March 31, 2011 / / 16 Comments

At a family dinner last week, I overheard one cousin ask another one this, about her recent dance competition:

Was it one of those competitions where you competed? Like for 1st or 2nd place?

The conversation then proceeded as normal.  She just wondered whether it was a competition with prizes or one where “everyone wins” or one where there are rankings when you’re done.  I get that.  But in the moment, I was struck by two words: 2nd place.

Nobody competes for 2nd place, do they?

If that’s your goal, any good coach would tell you you’ve sold yourself short.  Even if you’re not that good, you always start out competing for the grand prize.  No NFL team says, “We hope to lose the Super Bowl game this year.”  Coaches are honored and revered because they won the Super Bowl, not because they lost it.  Pitchers are remembered because they won the World Series.

Nobody dreams about ‘winning’ second place.

So why in our churches do we think it’s ok to aim for second place in areas like

  • leadership
  • church events
  • Sunday’s music
  • Sunday’s announcements
  • the resources we produce
  • the small groups we lead
  • the trainings we offer
  • the meetings we plan
  • the blogs we write
  • the conversations we have
  • our sermon series
  • our outreach initiatives
  • community impact

Does the Gospel make it ok for us to shoot for second? Because the message is so powerful, are we then given the freedom to not give our best effort to all areas of our life and ministry?  It’s tough to see how God is honored when we put forth half-hearted efforts.  Ever.

So let me be your coach today.  Don’t compete for 2nd place!  Give it all you’ve got!

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. – Philippians 3:14

 

I hate…

March 13, 2011 / / 10 Comments

I hate…

…when I fart, thinking I’m all alone, then someone walks up to talk with me. (ok, come on…you know you do it)

…when I can’t find something I know is right beside me

…when I’m dead tired, but have to stay awake

…working inside on beautiful days

…”Say Yes to the Dress”

…sparkling water

…being late

…lima beans

…sitting still

A little heavier

I hate…

…that “church people” are often the reason that the unchurched don’t attend.

…to see fathers not engaged with their children.

…to see husbands not treating their wife like their princess

…to see people who are paralyzed by their fears.

…when people won’t accept grace, but live in guilt and shame.

…that some moms have to raise their children alone.

…injustice.

…that the Church isn’t a healthier community.

…to see people making bad choices after bad choices.

What do you hate?

 

Build. Tear down. Build again.

March 3, 2011 / / 9 Comments

In Genesis 1: 28, God tells Adam and Eve to

Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

The charge “Be fruitful and increase in number” refers directly (and obviously) to having children, but I don’t think that it’s limited to childbearing.  Why?

  1. Because the passage immediately moves to ruling over the animals and the earth.  Why we enjoy progress.  And growth.  And building.
  2. Because I see this passage as being related to our creation in the image of God.  And since everybody can’t bear children, the passage must have applications beyond that.

This passage gives an explanation to something I’ve had stirring in my heart since I was born.  Something I see playing out in my life every day.  And something I see in my 2 year old son.

The desire to build.

One of my son’s favorite toys is his LEGOs.  He loves to get them out of the bucket and connect them together, building his tower higher and higher, wider and wider.  And then, as if that was the whole point in building it…he knocks it down, squeals with joy, and starts over again.  And he always wants me on the ground playing with him, feeding him more blocks, and connecting them to make his “building” bigger and better.

And I’m convinced that this is part of his being created in the image of God.  Building things from “scratch.”  Repairing broken things.  Making things taller, wider, and stronger.

And you know what…I have that same desire.

Not to spend my days playing with LEGOs.  But in creating a higher, deeper, and more sound structure for our church and small groups.  I want “every living creature that moves on the ground” to experience the width and length and height and depth of the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18).

I want to add more volunteers.  Add more curriculum.  Make our trainings more effective.  Produce more disciples.  Make our connection events easier to navigate.

Then knock down the portions that aren’t working as effectively so that we can build the structure even better.

And I’m convinced that this is part of being created in the image of God.

Our desire to build structures, systems, ourselves and others is connected with our being created to “fill the earth and subdue it.”

And this helps us to know why we’re frustrated by a lack of progress.  And why, when we’re not meeting our goals, that gets on our nerves.  And when a project takes longer than normal to complete, why we want to change things up to continue progressing.

Ever talked with someone who has no idea where they’re headed in life?  They’re unnerved by that, aren’t they?

Because we were created to build, and grow, and create, and refine, and progress.

It’s part of who we are as God’s creatures.

Ever been frustrated by a lack of growth?


Ever found yourself just wanting to knock things down so you can build something stronger?


Do you play with LEGOs?

 

An open letter to older leaders

February 14, 2011 / / 4 Comments

I’m a young leader.  I’ve not been at this game very long.

I’m still trying to figure out the ropes.  Understand how my giftings fit on a team.  Making mistakes.  Growing.  Changing.  Stumbling.  And figuring out how to do it all better the next time around.

Working with leaders who are older, more established, and wiser can be incredibly difficult.  Thankfully, the leaders who are older than me on staff at Grace Community Church make things incredibly easy.* And it’s from their leadership of me that I’ve seen some principles emerge that could be helpful to other older leaders who have young folks on their staff.

Older leaders,

Thanks for paving the way for us.  You’ve worked incredibly hard.  You’ve poured your heart into this organization, and you’ve helped to establish a healthy, vibrant, growing system.  And thanks for hiring us, the younger leaders!  But if you want to lead us well, you’ve got to work on a few things:

  1. Believe in us. You did hire us, right?  Then continue to believe that we can do our job well!  Believe that God is going to continue to mold us and grow us and, some day, make us into better leaders.  Believe that we have something valuable to contribute.  Believe that we really are a vital part of the organization…and not just a hired, expendable hand.
  2. Encourage us. We may seem completely self-confident…but we need encouragement from someone like you.  We don’t just need you to blow smoke at us.  If we do a poor job, tell us!  But when we do something right, when our gut-decision is the right one, when our project takes off, when we speak up in staff meeting with a new idea and it’s right on point, when you feel like we’re moving in the right direction…encourage us!  We trust you, because you’ve been doing for many, many years (or even decades) what we’ve been doing for much less time.  And if you tell us that we’re pointing in the right direction, it carries a lot of weight.
  3. Give us ample freedom within your structure. We understand that we can’t just come in and wreck everything.  But if you want us to grow and develop, you’ve got to give us freedom to experiment, dream, do things differently, and be discontent with the status quo.  We’re more than willing to do exceptional work…but we’ve got to have the freedom to think outside of your box.  And giving us freedom may mean you’ve got to release some of your control on the system.  If that scares you, then maybe you have too tight a grip.

With much respect,

Younger leaders

Younger leaders, did I leave anything out that I should’ve included?

Older leaders, how does this sit with you?

* These principles are not a reaction to poor leadership at Grace Community Church, but are drawn from the amazing ways that Ron, Chad, and the rest of the team have shepherded me and the other younger leaders.

 

Movers and shakers

February 8, 2011 / / 9 Comments

Every church has ‘movers and shakers.’  You know who I’m talking about.

They’re restless.  Never content with the status quo.  Always have a good idea.  Ready to move, grow, and change.  They want things shaken up.

They tend to frustrate people…at least the people who are comfortable and content with the way things are.  They’ve been called unruly and out of line.  Disrespectful and clueless.  They’re the ones who ‘just can’t be content with anything.’  They challenge the effectiveness of programs, methods, and the well-worn path.

Church leaders have to do something with these folks.  Because they don’t just slowly and quietly disappear if you ignore them.

What to do with Movers and Shakers

1. Ignore them. This will end up going badly for everybody.  Church leaders will be frustrated because these folks just keep stirring the pot.  The movers will be frustrated because nobody is moving with them.  Nobody will be happy.  Trust me.

2. Shut them down. This way, you maintain the status quo, get fewer feathers ruffled, and squeeze out the mover.  You stifle change, and avoid risk.

3. Listen to their ideas. Give them a voice, and hear how God is stirring their hearts.  Work to see how their thoughts fit within the culture of your people.  And be willing to adapt your methods if these ideas can help further the Kingdom.

I’m convinced that God stirs discontentment in people’s hearts for a reason.  It’s no accident.  And if you believe that God is sovereign, you’ve got to affirm the same.

God loves His Church and wants to see her prosper.  And, yes, God doesn’t change.  But He’s perfect…we’re not.  We should be continually evaluating our systems and methods to help more and more people come to a saving faith in Christ. Because if what we’re doing isn’t increasingly leading those who are far from Christ to take steps of faith towards him…then let’s change some things and reverse that trend.  And if the ideas that are brought to the table by the movers and shakers doesn’t seem to fit who you are and what God’s calling you as a local church to do and be…then consider sending them out as church planters to do what God’s calling them to do.  Not sending them out as heretics…but as people on mission.

Continue to tweak.  Improve.  Move and shake.

Have you ever been a part of a church that pushes ‘movers and shakers’ away?

Are you a ‘mover and shaker’?  How has the Church served you well?

 

Customer Service Matters

December 13, 2010 / / 5 Comments

I was out Christmas shopping the other day, and the experiences I had at two different stores was polarizing.

I started off going to store (which will remain nameless) where you ship packages.  When I pulled up, I quickly realized it was going to be “one of those” visits.  The line was out to the second, outer door, and wrapping back deeper and deeper in the store, and I could tell the customers were frustrated.  I had to get some stuff dropped off, so I didn’t have the option of turning around and coming back later.  I began waiting.

As I got a little closer to the register, I realized that there was only one worker, and he was burned out.  The only other worker in the store was running around taking care of other things.  I heard him announce, “We’re locking up!  If anybody comes to the door and tries to get in, please tell them that we’re closed.  If they don’t believe you, please call me and I’ll take care of it.”  I didn’t feel valued as a customer in the least.

Next, I went to our local mall, to one of the clothing stores there (which will also remain nameless).  As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a smiling worker who offered me a shopping bag.  As I went throughout, the workers were pleasant, and looking to serve me.  When I walked to the front to checkout, the line had begun to back up.  At that moment, another worker announced, “If you are able to pay by credit card, we can take care of you right now!”  There were multiple “cashiers” setup with iPod touches that could scan your card and process your payment right there on the spot, without you having to wait in the long lines.  

I felt like each worker, and thus the whole company itself, truly cared that I was there.  That wanted me to have the most pleasant experience possible from the moment I walked in to the moment I left.  Every detail mattered.  And in the process, they’ve created a raving fan out of me.

Don’t doubt that customer service matters.  It will create raving fans who will tell others about your organization.  Bad customer service creates raving fans as quickly as good customer service does.  Especially in our churches.

People talk about your church after they visit.  I guarantee it.

What do you think they’re saying?

Did they feel warm, welcomed, and valued?  Or did they feel like you didn’t care for them?

You know that there are plenty of theological, philosophical, practical, and past hurts that keep people from experiencing God’s love, grace, and forgiveness.  Let’s not let their rejection be based on poor customer service.  How easy is it to offer a warm smile?  A hearty handshake?  A good cup of coffee?  An umbrella on a rainy day?

Have you had a customer service experience you’ve talked with someone else about lately?

Does your church focus on customer service issues?  Should you help start the focus?

 

Good small groups…

December 4, 2010 / / 1 Comment

I haven’t run into many people who say, “I want my small group to tank.  I want to lead my folks off of a spiritual cliff so that they’re further from God than they were before they even met me.”

Quite the contrary.

Most people want their group to succeed.  They want to grow spiritually, and help others grow as well.  They want to have vibrant meetings that challenge people’s faith and encourage them to love God and others more.  They want to help foster healthy marriages and strong, God-honoring parenting.  They don’t want the group meeting to be a drag on anyone.  Rather, they long for everyone in the group to look forward to the meeting because they’re building healthy relationships with those in the group.

These people are willing to do what it takes to craft a successful group…they’re just not always sure what they should be doing to make that happen.

This week on Twitter and Facebook, I’ve been talking about what good small groups (and good small group leaders) should be in the business of doing.  Here are my thoughts.

Good small groups

  • Communicate with each other more than once/week
  • Are filled with admittedly broken people
  • Embrace those far from Christ
  • Don’t just talk about the Gospel.  They apply it.
  • Serve their community as much as they serve one another.
  • Don’t avoid difficult relational issues. They work through them.
  • Looks a lot like a healthy church.

Good small group leaders

  • Embrace the messiness of relationships
  • Are quick to offer grace because they’ve been given so much [grace]
  • Ask for help
  • Look a lot like good pastors.
  • Are patient with group members who are difficult to love.

What else do you think good small groups should be doing?

What else do you think good small group leaders should be doing?

 

What do you wear to church on Sundays?

November 4, 2010 / / 17 Comments

(photo by Gail Mooney)

What do you wear to Sunday morning worship?

a) My “Sunday best.” Suit and tie for the guys, dressy dress for the ladies.

b) Business casual. Looking nice, but not necessarily a tie or a dress.  Probably khakis and a button-down for the guys…slacks or a skirt for the ladies.  It’s all got to be ironed.

c) Casual. T-shirt and jeans for the guys.  Maybe even slipping in some flip-flops occasionally.  Jeans and a nice shirt for the ladies.  Ironed…most of the time.

d) Less-than-casual. Hawaiian shirts and cut-off shorts for the guys.  Shorts and a t-shirt for the ladies.

e) WYSIWYG. What You See Is What You Get.  Roll out of bed, find something clean.  If you can’t find anything clean, then the closest thing on the floor will do.  Ironing is out of the question.  The only way it seems ironed is because it’s laid at the bottom of the pile of clothes on the floor.

Does the way you dress on Sunday mornings even matter?

Should we be concerned in the least with Sunday morning attire?

 

The Linchpin

November 4, 2010 / / 7 Comments

My pastor, Ron Edmondson, often says that we as a church staff need to be at the point where, if any of our staff members disappeared tomorrow, we could carry on without missing a beat.  I’ve heard him say that a lot, and I almost saw it put into practice in my own life just a few months ago.

I was stuck in London because of a volcano.

I was stuck in London because of a volcano.

I put that sentence in there twice so you would know it wasn’t a typo.  I mentioned it in my post HERE, and you can read the Guardian’s article HERE.  Welcome to my life.

Based on my original flight schedule, I was planning on being back ~a week earlier than our upcoming small group launch, but this volcano was threatening my on-time arrival.  Needless to say, I was a little concerned.  About as concerned as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (as we say in the South).

I was talking back and forth with our staff, updating them on our lack of progress, and beginning to think about the possibility of pushing back our small groups launch.  Then Ron dropped this bomb in my lap via email:

I hate that you can’t be there, but we have to be prepared enough that we don’t revolve around one of us being there or not being there.  Something could always happen like this and the ministry must go on… There are some things just out of our control.

Basically, what I heard was, “You’re dispensable.”  Mark my words: our staff could’ve pulled this event off, and it would’ve been awesome.  I have no doubt.  But hearing that was difficult.  Why?

Not because I want to be important, or need to feel powerful.  Or because I’m narcissistic and think that the ministry has to revolve around me, and I have to be in the spotlight.  Honestly, I’m not a spotlight guy…I’m content spending my hours in the background.  But here’s why it bothered me:

I want to be a linchpin.

A linchpin* is a fastener that secures the add-on at the business end of a tractor.  It’s a small piece, but without it, you can’t do much with your tractor, and your tools will continually fall off.  It’s an irreplaceable piece of equipment that allows more work to be done more efficiently.

And that’s what I’m working to do in my current position at Grace Community Church.

I want to be doing meaningful, Kingdom-building work in a way that fits my gifting…with all of my might.  I want to innovate, create, encourage, and train in such a way that, if I disappeared tomorrow, it would be noticed.  And I say that with every ounce of humility I can muster.  I want to become indispensable.

I feel that if I’m not working to become indispensable, I’m not serving the Church well.  I’m just doing a job, punching the clock, and doing mediocre work.  My good friend Matt Harmer rightly warns that

Being average is contagious.

I just can’t see how God is pleased with mediocre, half-hearted work.

And I’m convinced that if you’re not working to become a linchpin, you need to start working differently.  Or find a new job.

Ever been caught in the trap of mediocre work?

Is God ever pleased with half-hearted mediocrity?

*I read Seth Godin’s Linchpin when it was released earlier this year, so I don’t claim creative rights to this idea…though the story is most definitely mine.

 

We’re going multi-site

October 4, 2010 / / 1 Comment

Just this past Sunday, we at Grace Community Church announced that we will be a mult-site church in January, 2011.  The response was overwhelmingly positive, with so many people saying how eager they are to pray with us, and some already committing to being a part of the launch team.

We will be expanding to Kenwood High School, which is about 10 miles north of the high school where we currently meet.

If you’re currently worshipping in a permanent facility that you own, this move may make little sense to you.  You may wonder why we didn’t just move forward with building a permanent facility on the land that we own.  Why would we even consider starting another campus in a high school, knowing how difficult it will be to continue setting up and tearing down every week?

There are many, many reasons that we considered as we sought God’s plan, and we’re convinced that this is what He’s calling us as a church to do…and not build right now.

In the book The MultiSite Church Revolution: Being One Church in Many Locations by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird, they take a look at Community Christian Church in Chicago.  Pastor Dave Ferguson lists eight advantages, each of which solves a problem in its own way:

  • Grow larger and grow smaller
  • Brand-new and trusted brand
  • Staff with generalists and specialists
  • Less cost and greater impact
  • New-church vibe and big-church punch
  • Move there and stay here
  • More need and more support
  • More outreach and more maturity

I love the reasons given there for going multi-site.  Though not all of the reasons are specific for us, they do make great sense for us in our context.

Are you doing multi-site in your church?  Help us learn from you!

What have you learned?  What worked?  What didn’t?

If you were in our shoes right now, what would you be reading?  Doing?  Who would you be talking with?

    Tomorrow, I’ll tell you why I feel like multi-site makes great sense from a small groups perspective.  In the meantime, though, I’d love to hear from you and your story with multi-sites!

     
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