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Seral Succession
By: Dr. Fred Childs
All it takes to start a fire is a little fuel, the right atmospheric conditions, and a source of ignition, perhaps as small as a tiny spark. If circumstances are right, a single blade of grass once ignited can build into an inferno that burns and ravages countless acres of prime forest. Humble beginnings can transmute into raging fire storms, exploding trees, molten sand, and death. The aftermath of such devastation causes one to wince in regret at the horrible and blackened scars left behind where beauty once stood. As unnatural as it may appear it is but another witness of the beauty of the healing and creative powers of God. Most pristine forests have at one time or another been destroyed by fire, but eventually they grow back stronger and more beautiful than ever. It is a cycle that must be understood.
Seral Succession is an ecological principle in which, over time, the natural biological systems become so developed that they begin to atrophy and bog themselves down. A strong forest becomes weakened and diseased because of the vines, weeds and assorted parasitical vegetations that erode its strength. New growth is repressed and beauty lies dormant because the system prohibits it. Extreme cases may require a controlled burn - an act of destruction - before beauty, order and strength can return. The temporary and painful state of charred ugliness is quickly forgotten once the beauty of a healthy forest burst though.
The same principle applies to agriculture. It is not uncommon for farmers to burn certain fields in anticipation of planting a future crop. Soon afterward the tractor tills the soil and much of the ugliness disappears. As horrible as the blackened field may have first appeared, its memory will be completely erased as spring bursts forth in a display of brilliant colors and verdant growth where once only charcoal and ash had been.
In effect, the fire’s devastation produces healing by burning away the undergrowth that prevents fresh, new vegetation. The ash becomes a natural fertilizer.
The Origin of Organization
Most movements begin with one or a small group of people who devotedly pursue a noble and meaningful vision, purpose or ideal. Success attracts and produces adherents and followers. Eventually people and systems are put in place to support the momentum and gains of success. As success creates even greater demands for support, and finances arrive that enable the addition of people, property, equipment, procedures and such, an organization evolves. Human tendency is to take pride in the growth and accomplishment of the organization. Eventually a successful organization can become an institution. Institutional status creates the capacity for people to reverence the institution more than its initial mission or purpose.
The reverence of an institution is subtle, so much so that it may not be recognizable to those who view it only from within. More and more people, programs and procedures are put in place to safeguard and strengthen the institution. The rally cry for justifying institutional growth always spotlights its mission and purpose, even if its daily actions and resources are devoted away from the same. Systems increase in complexity. Emphasis shifts to ways of tightening control, re-phrasing procedures, and managing programs designed to raise funds to finance the bureaucracy institution.
This is where the paradox occurs, because eventually more effort, finances and attention are devoted to maintaining the complex and cumbersome institution than to fulfilling its original mission and purpose. At this point the mission and purpose become compromised. They may remain the rallying point for acquiring funds and support, but the funds and support are absorbed by the institution before they are allowed to significantly impact its true mission and purpose. Significant amounts of capital, time and energy is required to maintain the cumbersome positions, travel, perks, programs and structure of any large organization or institution.
Up until now in this article I have been referring exclusively to business organizations. Studies have proven that the downward spiral of thousands of once great businesses and governments occurred when the costs of doing business demanded more attention and effort than managing the direction, effectiveness, and purpose of the business. Thousands of case studies endorse that those businesses who reached this dangerous cycle were saved only by stringent organizational seral succession. Chrysler, Harley Davidson, Ford Motor Company, and many others survive today mainly because somebody made the right decision to cut expenses, reduce waste, and create a higher quality product at a lower cost to the customer. Otherwise they would have died the premature organizational death, sacrificed to the lean business methods of the Toyotas and Hondas and other global competitors.
Seral succession occurs in spiritual leadership and ministry organizations as well. Programs and infrastructures spring up to support and protect a burgeoning ministry’s success. As deadening organizational undergrowth and complexity develops, it effectively chokes anything new and different that is attempting to break through. What begins as a dynamic expression of the kingdom of God mires in the trappings of human institutionalism. Slowly, inexorably, the focus shifts to refining policy, drawing membership boundaries, delegating authority, entrenching control, and preserving the status quo.
It is at this juncture that life or death of the institution occurs. In order for it to survive and remain relevant, it must be scrutinized for effectiveness and efficiency. Every position, program, procedure, and process must be constantly challenged and critiqued for relevancy and effectiveness. No system, program or position can be allowed to calcify into a sacred shrine or holy cow. Everything must be examined in order to assure that the emphasis remains on the mission and purpose, not on the organization. At the point that more resources are devoted to sustaining an organization than toward fulfilling its purpose the institution is in the process of dying. Its life and strength is being choked from it by the cumbersome undergrowth of non-essential organizational waste and bureaucracy.
Programs that are not self-funding and operating in the black should be either eliminated or re-engineered. Fiscal, spiritual, and performance accountability should be expected from every layer of leadership, regardless of where it exists in the hierarchy or organizational structure. New programs and institutions should be planned in advance to assure that they can be funded and sustained without having to overburden the already burdened constituents. The Bible says in Luke 14:28-32:
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
When leaders are not held accountable for their decisions it becomes easy for them to lead by opinion and emotion, knowing they will not be questioned or challenged for their actions. In such cases it is not uncommon for them to begin initiatives they really can’t afford, and then expect their constituents to finance them out of their dilemma. This is a practice that has long been perfected in the Federal Government, where accountability is easily camouflaged by complexity and deficits.
It is essential that everyone understand the purpose and reason for an organization’s very existence. There are advantages to being a part of a collective whole, and one advantage is that it makes it easier to do more through the collaborative efforts of many. The key for leaders is to remember that there must be a balance, and never should the constituents be taken for granted or advantage of.
The fundamental truth is that any organizational structure is merely a tool to be used to accomplish a worthy purpose, mission, or vision. It must never become a holy thing lest organizational idolatry occur. If an organizational structure is working efficiently and attaining its goals then keep it and improve it. If it is not reaching the vision or goals then change it, improve, or scrap it if necessary.
Everything about an organization must be subject to seral succession. Difficult questions need to be asked before a blank check for additional spending is awarded simply because it is asked for. Is travel always necessary? Do we really need those expensive mass mail outs? Do we always have to do what we have always done? Do we have to pay for so many travel expenses? Do we really have to spend so much on awards, recognition, dinners, and such at the constituent’s expense? Does that department need to even exist anymore? Why do we need such a cumbersome and slow moving infrastructure? How many expensive and non-essential layers, positions, and committees can we eliminate? Why don’t we identify and eliminate every redundant and wasteful procedure?
If organizational survival is the pre-eminent focus, then increase the cost of maintaining it and overtax the constituency to finance it. If the survival of the mission and purpose is pre-eminent, then focus attention on eliminating wastes, curbing non-essential costs, and streamlining processes in order to maximize organizational efficiency so it can attain a worthwhile mission and purpose. Historically in government, business, and religion, it is proven that the less the bureaucracy the better.
For a number of years I managed the Value Analysis/Value Engineering and the Continuous Improvement Divisions of a large global manufacturing giant. The people who worked for me were responsible for using engineering and team techniques to eliminate all organizational wastes and non-essential expenses. I had people in sixty-three manufacturing locations on multiple continents. Our purpose was to provide to the customer the best product and the lowest competitive price. Our concept was to free up people, equipment, machinery and floor space to make room for new business. What was the result? By streamlining and minimizing the cost of the organization, and eliminating hundreds of millions of dollars from being wasted, we were able to triple the amount of business and customers.
As an organization wrestles with certain increases in operating costs, the solution is similar. Seral Succession must occur in order for the health of the organization to be restored. Any increases in costs should demand justification, not just partial data to influence the uninformed. It is possible that the absolute worst thing that could happen would be to increase revenue at this time without first eliminating organizational waste and inefficiency. Every non-value adding process, procedure, program and position should be eliminated. What remains should be to achieve one purpose - to facilitate global evangelism. The need is not to increase revenue, but to streamline the organization. Once this is done revenue then becomes more effective.
In his profound book titled Upside Down, author Stacy T. Rinehart writes, “
“As we look back over church history we see that in the beginning of any true spiritual movement, the Holy Spirit is released as men and women exercise faith and courage. God honors the simple, stumbling efforts of His children as they step out in faith. As people move into uncharted territory toward a vision He’s given them, God meets them there.
Yet, when their efforts meet with a measure of success and renewal breaks out, an insidious, counteractive process begins. The underbrush of institutionalism begins to take root. The human tendency is to build an organization around this living, dynamic thing called ministry. Then the surrounding structure becomes a heavy, cumbersome weight that cuts off the spiritual light and nutrients necessary for growth. In this process of institutionalization, people come to rely on human figures at the helm. God’s Spirit is quenched; freedom and innovation decline.
As leaders grow more entrenched, they invest more power and authority in their position. The priesthood of the elite increases and the priesthood of believers decline. An invisible caste system develops, making a subtle distinction between laity and clergy. Laity learns to step back out of the picture, find a comfortable place to sit, and watch the “professionals” at work.
As any ministry takes on an organizational focus, something to protect arises. Assets, property, history, and tradition must be preserved. Eventually the light and life that produced them lie dormant, and it seems that tradition and structure are all that remain. Thus, as institutionalism takes over, reformers of almost any kind meet with resistance and suspicion. They appear to be challenging the unchallengeable.
Suppose we see our role as servant charged with the responsibility and privilege of helping others come into the fruitful expression of God’s vision for their part in the kingdom. Then we may avoid the temptation to build our own kingdoms to which we recruit others with their time and talents.
Of course, if we continue to focus people’s eyes on Christ, we will not be the “Maypole” around which everything revolves. And that may be painful. Yet, in this way, the ministry itself will not calcify into an organizational structure that requires loyalty and protection as it moves further from the Holy Spirit’s leading.”
The opportunity for making the needed improvements to secure a bold and dynamic future have never been greater than today. If we are bold, and our elected officials are provided with a clear voice from the constituents, the impact upon the harvest of tomorrow can be immeasurable.
All it takes to start a fire is a little fuel, the right atmospheric conditions, and a source of ignition, perhaps as small as a tiny spark. As ministers we must be accountable to God and the folks in the pews who faithfully give to support His work. We must be wise stewards. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing.
BIO
Dr. Fred Childs holds a MBA in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Leadership Administration. He is a pastor, author, leading church and business consultant, and leadership authority.
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How Much is Your Belt Worth?
Jeremiah 13:1-7
1Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
2So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
3And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,
4Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
5So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
6And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
7Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
In the passage above, we find the Lord telling Jeremiah to go and get a belt and wear it. He then tells him to take his belt and go to the Euphrates River and bury it among the rocks. The Lord comes back to Jeremiah sometime later and tells him to go and dig out the belt. Whenever Jeremiah does this, he finds the belt is now marred and useless.
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How Much is Your Belt Worth?
Jeremiah 13:1-7
1Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
2So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
3And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,
4Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
5So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
6And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
7Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
In the passage above, we find the Lord telling Jeremiah to go and get a belt and wear it. He then tells him to take his belt and go to the Euphrates River and bury it among the rocks. The Lord comes back to Jeremiah sometime later and tells him to go and dig out the belt. Whenever Jeremiah does this, he finds the belt is now marred and useless.
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Because a Little Bug went “Ka-Choo!”
The title of my article is borrowed from a book of great truth. Some books, although not biblical in origin, bear great truth nonetheless. Had I read this book several weeks ago, I may have saved myself a great deal of labor.
Because a Little Bug went Ka-Choo, is more than a child’s book of the Dr. Seuss series. It is in my opinion a manuscript of sacred truth often unrealized in the life of a leader.
Let me explain, in Because a Little Bug went Ka- Choo, Rosetta Stone describes the extreme chain of events that unfold as a result of a little bug sneezing. At first a seed is dropped. Of which a worm gets hit, who then gets mad and kicks a tree. Because he kicks the tree a coconut drops causing the turtle to get bopped… And so on until the final scene describes the entire town turned into utter chaos as fire trucks and town parades collide into a frenzied explosion of pandemonium.
A friend gave me this book the other night after I finished the complete renovation of her kitchen. The inscription she wrote inside the first page of the book says, “Jim, let this book be a reminder the next time someone calls you to help them install just a stove."
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Because a Little Bug went “Ka-Choo!”
The title of my article is borrowed from a book of great truth. Some books, although not biblical in origin, bear great truth nonetheless. Had I read this book several weeks ago, I may have saved myself a great deal of labor.
Because a Little Bug went Ka-Choo, is more than a child’s book of the Dr. Seuss series. It is in my opinion a manuscript of sacred truth often unrealized in the life of a leader.
Let me explain, in Because a Little Bug went Ka- Choo, Rosetta Stone describes the extreme chain of events that unfold as a result of a little bug sneezing. At first a seed is dropped. Of which a worm gets hit, who then gets mad and kicks a tree. Because he kicks the tree a coconut drops causing the turtle to get bopped… And so on until the final scene describes the entire town turned into utter chaos as fire trucks and town parades collide into a frenzied explosion of pandemonium.
A friend gave me this book the other night after I finished the complete renovation of her kitchen. The inscription she wrote inside the first page of the book says, “Jim, let this book be a reminder the next time someone calls you to help them install just a stove."
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Tired Of The Results You Are Seeing?
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If you are not pleased with the results you are seeing in a given ministry or program, make a change.
Positive change requires vision. Vision is always needed to begin a new ministry or program, but it is also needed to continue it. We too often allow vision to guide us to begin something, but then leave vision out of the picture when growth or decrease begin to happen. It will take constant vision casting to cause a given ministry to continue to have growth.
Change it up! It is in our nature to try to find a norm or comfort zone. However, when people find these, they begin to relax. Once they relax, it is very hard if possible at all to re-motivate them. One pastor told me he will throw a hammer through a wall before he allows people to think that change is not happening in the church. Constant change is exciting!
Change only what needs changing. Don’t get in the way of progress. Allow those areas and people who are having success to continue without interference. There are always areas of the church that need help. Only make changes there. If modifications are to be made in an area of the church that is doing well, make sure they are small modifications that will not offend those who are causing progress.
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Tired Of The Results You Are Seeing?
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If you are not pleased with the results you are seeing in a given ministry or program, make a change.
Positive change requires vision. Vision is always needed to begin a new ministry or program, but it is also needed to continue it. We too often allow vision to guide us to begin something, but then leave vision out of the picture when growth or decrease begin to happen. It will take constant vision casting to cause a given ministry to continue to have growth.
Change it up! It is in our nature to try to find a norm or comfort zone. However, when people find these, they begin to relax. Once they relax, it is very hard if possible at all to re-motivate them. One pastor told me he will throw a hammer through a wall before he allows people to think that change is not happening in the church. Constant change is exciting!
Change only what needs changing. Don’t get in the way of progress. Allow those areas and people who are having success to continue without interference. There are always areas of the church that need help. Only make changes there. If modifications are to be made in an area of the church that is doing well, make sure they are small modifications that will not offend those who are causing progress.
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The Top Ten Leadership Principles of Jesus
1. Learn that leadership is servanthood. Servanthood begins with security. Jesus knew His position and was willing to not flaunt it. Jesus knew His calling and was willing to be faithful to it. Jesus knew His future and was willing to submit to it.
2. Let your purpose prioritize your life. Because Jesus developed priorities based upon His purpose:
- He successfully dealt with distractions.
- He wisely responded to personal rejection.
- He willingly suffered pain.
3. Live the life before you lead others. Jesus never begged anyone to believe in Him. He knew that integrity cannot be proven; it must be discerned. He never wasted time with critics. He kept His attention on His goal. He stayed focused.
4. Walk slowly through the crowd. Leadership impact is drawn not from official position, but from authentic relationships. (John 4:5-30, 8:1-11) "You will never possess what you are unwilling to pursue." Jesus knew this.
5. Replenish yourself. Life is demanding. People are demanding. The more you succeed, the more you lead, the more people will demand of you. Replenishing yourself requires your attention. Faith walks out when fatigue walks in.
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The Top Ten Leadership Principles of Jesus
1. Learn that leadership is servanthood. Servanthood begins with security. Jesus knew His position and was willing to not flaunt it. Jesus knew His calling and was willing to be faithful to it. Jesus knew His future and was willing to submit to it.
2. Let your purpose prioritize your life. Because Jesus developed priorities based upon His purpose:
- He successfully dealt with distractions.
- He wisely responded to personal rejection.
- He willingly suffered pain.
3. Live the life before you lead others. Jesus never begged anyone to believe in Him. He knew that integrity cannot be proven; it must be discerned. He never wasted time with critics. He kept His attention on His goal. He stayed focused.
4. Walk slowly through the crowd. Leadership impact is drawn not from official position, but from authentic relationships. (John 4:5-30, 8:1-11) "You will never possess what you are unwilling to pursue." Jesus knew this.
5. Replenish yourself. Life is demanding. People are demanding. The more you succeed, the more you lead, the more people will demand of you. Replenishing yourself requires your attention. Faith walks out when fatigue walks in.
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Not Too Far From Home
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)
We are in this world but we are not of this world. God has a place prepared for us. John said he saw a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1). There is coming a day when the trumpet shall sound and time will be no more and we will be caught up to be with Him.
We've all preached about Heaven. We've heard songs sung about Heaven and saw dramas depicting what Heaven is going to be like. It's going to be a wonderful place where we will be with the One who saved us! That great and marvelous day is soon approaching. We are closer now than we have ever been. Prophecy in Scripture is coming to pass and things are being fulfilled that let us know that we are definitely living in the End time. The song says "I can almost hear the trumpet!"
As pastors and spiritual leaders we have many things on our plates. We have schedules, deadlines and appointments to fulfill. Our calendars are filled up with church meetings and conferences before we even get a chance to plan a family vacation. We run out of room to write in our daily planners. We are busy with Kingdom work. We are constantly about our Father's business. It would be all too easy to just quit and justify our quitting with being "burnt out." However, if we could see with our spiritual eyes just how close we are to reaching our final destination. If we could know exactly how close we are to the coming of the Lord, we would work faster and harder than we have ever worked before. We would load up on Bible studies and go teach our whole neighborhood the Word of God. If we could only see!
In 1952, young Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off of Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She'd already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. The weather was foggy and chilly; she could hardly see the boats accompanying her. Still, she swam for fifteen hours. When she begged to be taken out of the water along the way, her mother, in a boat alongside, told her she was close and that she could make it. Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and was pulled out. It wasn't until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference the next day she said, "All I could see was the fog... I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it."
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Not Too Far From Home
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19)
We are in this world but we are not of this world. God has a place prepared for us. John said he saw a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1). There is coming a day when the trumpet shall sound and time will be no more and we will be caught up to be with Him.
We've all preached about Heaven. We've heard songs sung about Heaven and saw dramas depicting what Heaven is going to be like. It's going to be a wonderful place where we will be with the One who saved us! That great and marvelous day is soon approaching. We are closer now than we have ever been. Prophecy in Scripture is coming to pass and things are being fulfilled that let us know that we are definitely living in the End time. The song says "I can almost hear the trumpet!"
As pastors and spiritual leaders we have many things on our plates. We have schedules, deadlines and appointments to fulfill. Our calendars are filled up with church meetings and conferences before we even get a chance to plan a family vacation. We run out of room to write in our daily planners. We are busy with Kingdom work. We are constantly about our Father's business. It would be all too easy to just quit and justify our quitting with being "burnt out." However, if we could see with our spiritual eyes just how close we are to reaching our final destination. If we could know exactly how close we are to the coming of the Lord, we would work faster and harder than we have ever worked before. We would load up on Bible studies and go teach our whole neighborhood the Word of God. If we could only see!
In 1952, young Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off of Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She'd already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. The weather was foggy and chilly; she could hardly see the boats accompanying her. Still, she swam for fifteen hours. When she begged to be taken out of the water along the way, her mother, in a boat alongside, told her she was close and that she could make it. Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and was pulled out. It wasn't until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference the next day she said, "All I could see was the fog... I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it."
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What is Momentum?
Momentum is defined as “mass in motion.” All objects have mass; therefore, if an object of mass is moving, then it has momentum.
The amount of momentum an object has depends on two things:
1. The weight of the object that is moving.
2. The speed of the object that is moving.
In terms of an equation, the momentum of an object is equal to the mass of the object times the speed or velocity of the object.
Momentum can also be measured by its direction. This is called linear momentum because now it has direction as well as magnitude.
Momentum occurs when a force that is greater than the resistance to the object is applied.
Momentum is a conserved quantity, meaning that the total momentum of any closed system (one not affected by outside forces) cannot change. Here on Earth, gravity is the outside force that comes to mind for most of us. Gravity is the force that gives weight to objects and mass on Earth. The Earth's mass creates a gravitational pull on all objects near its surface. Anything on or near the surface of the Earth such as planes, trains, and automobiles, must use a force that is greater than gravity for them to begin to move, and to keep moving. Once they are moving, they have created their own momentum. In order to sustain this momentum, the forces that started that momentum must continue to operate, or momentum will decrease and eventually stop.
Momentum is a force more powerful than we realize and it greatly affects our lives. Yet, it’s not something that we consciously ponder or try to figure out.
As we address momentum in ministry, remember that it always takes an outside force for momentum to start, maintain, and to stop!
In these lessons, we will address and discuss the outside forces that constantly threaten the continuance of momentum in the Church.
The Force of Momentum
Momentum is a powerful force. Just as momentum works in the natural world, momentum works in our ministries and spiritual lives.
Yet, it is rarely talked about.
· The loss of momentum takes place in churches daily all around the world.
· This loss causes untold disappointment and frustration.
· A minister with great passion and vision will experience only so many disappointments and frustrations before they give in to discouragement, even doubting themselves and their calling.
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What is Momentum?
Momentum is defined as “mass in motion.” All objects have mass; therefore, if an object of mass is moving, then it has momentum.
The amount of momentum an object has depends on two things:
1. The weight of the object that is moving.
2. The speed of the object that is moving.
In terms of an equation, the momentum of an object is equal to the mass of the object times the speed or velocity of the object.
Momentum can also be measured by its direction. This is called linear momentum because now it has direction as well as magnitude.
Momentum occurs when a force that is greater than the resistance to the object is applied.
Momentum is a conserved quantity, meaning that the total momentum of any closed system (one not affected by outside forces) cannot change. Here on Earth, gravity is the outside force that comes to mind for most of us. Gravity is the force that gives weight to objects and mass on Earth. The Earth's mass creates a gravitational pull on all objects near its surface. Anything on or near the surface of the Earth such as planes, trains, and automobiles, must use a force that is greater than gravity for them to begin to move, and to keep moving. Once they are moving, they have created their own momentum. In order to sustain this momentum, the forces that started that momentum must continue to operate, or momentum will decrease and eventually stop.
Momentum is a force more powerful than we realize and it greatly affects our lives. Yet, it’s not something that we consciously ponder or try to figure out.
As we address momentum in ministry, remember that it always takes an outside force for momentum to start, maintain, and to stop!
In these lessons, we will address and discuss the outside forces that constantly threaten the continuance of momentum in the Church.
The Force of Momentum
Momentum is a powerful force. Just as momentum works in the natural world, momentum works in our ministries and spiritual lives.
Yet, it is rarely talked about.
· The loss of momentum takes place in churches daily all around the world.
· This loss causes untold disappointment and frustration.
· A minister with great passion and vision will experience only so many disappointments and frustrations before they give in to discouragement, even doubting themselves and their calling.
[ read more...]
Making Dry Church Services Come To Life
Why is it that in some churches, meeting with the creator of the universe is often a boring showcase for bad music, inept preaching and poor taste? Listed are 9 perspectives that can enhance the effectiveness of your services.
- Put yourself in the congregation’s shoes. Pastor, how long has it been since you just sat in the congregation? How often do you really try to identify with the needs, hopes and dreams of those in your congregation?
- Tell stories. Storytelling was Jesus’ primary method of teaching. He put the most profound concepts into simple and compelling stores that captivated people and changed their lives. Never telling a story is a prescription for putting people to sleep.
- Question everything. Why do you take up the offering the same way each week? Why do you always sing the same hymn of invitation?
- Find some fresh jokes-or don’t use any. How many of you would rather be here in church than in the finest hospital in town? Please discard your moth-eaten jokes. Otherwise your congregation will start laughing out of pity, not humor.
- Go beyond your trusty old sermons of the past. Yes it’s nice to have some standby messages you can rely on. But the danger is that the more you preach the same sermon, the more difficult it is to present it with conviction, originality and excitement.
Making Dry Church Services Come To Life
Why is it that in some churches, meeting with the creator of the universe is often a boring showcase for bad music, inept preaching and poor taste? Listed are 9 perspectives that can enhance the effectiveness of your services.
- Put yourself in the congregation’s shoes. Pastor, how long has it been since you just sat in the congregation? How often do you really try to identify with the needs, hopes and dreams of those in your congregation?
- Tell stories. Storytelling was Jesus’ primary method of teaching. He put the most profound concepts into simple and compelling stores that captivated people and changed their lives. Never telling a story is a prescription for putting people to sleep.
- Question everything. Why do you take up the offering the same way each week? Why do you always sing the same hymn of invitation?
- Find some fresh jokes-or don’t use any. How many of you would rather be here in church than in the finest hospital in town? Please discard your moth-eaten jokes. Otherwise your congregation will start laughing out of pity, not humor.
- Go beyond your trusty old sermons of the past. Yes it’s nice to have some standby messages you can rely on. But the danger is that the more you preach the same sermon, the more difficult it is to present it with conviction, originality and excitement.
The Path to Freedom
Despise not the day of small things.
How do you build a church?
First you build a man. – Thou are Peter and upon this rock will I build my church. If Peter did not mature, the church would not grow.
· God has chosen to build his church upon people.
· He has chosen to use your life to build His church in the village you are from.
· If you do not grow, your church will not grow.
· This is why it’s important for you to study God’s Word.
· If you do not pray your church will not pray.
· If you do not have a genuine love for God, then your church will not have a genuine love for God.
· If you do not have compassion on the lost, your church will not have compassion on the lost.
· Your church will become a reflection of you.
Don’t be so quick to blame your people if they are not bringing someone to church with them.
· Don’t be so hard on them if they are not reaching out to their neighbors.
· Realize that a church most often, does what they see their pastor do.
· If you want your church to grow, be a soul winner yourself.
· If you want your church to reach out to others, be someone who reaches out to others.
· By your example, teach them to reach others.
· By your example teach them to win the lost.
Then you begin laying a foundation.
· You invest in some people to stand beside you.
· This time of building is not glorious.
· This time of laying a foundation is not one that gets the attention from everyone around you.
· Other Pastors are not going to stand up and take notice when you are building the Church’s foundation.
· But understand a building can be no larger than the foundation,
· And you cannot build upon something that is not there.
You will not have a strong stable church that is growing if you do not have a strong stable foundation to support it.
· So you begin to invest yourself in some good people whose love for God us unquestionable.
· Some people who will stand beside you, no matter what comes against the church.
· Some people who know your vision for the church and are willing to allow their lives to be built upon.
· You build that foundation. You build that foundation strong.
[ read more...]
The Path to Freedom
Despise not the day of small things.
How do you build a church?
First you build a man. – Thou are Peter and upon this rock will I build my church. If Peter did not mature, the church would not grow.
· God has chosen to build his church upon people.
· He has chosen to use your life to build His church in the village you are from.
· If you do not grow, your church will not grow.
· This is why it’s important for you to study God’s Word.
· If you do not pray your church will not pray.
· If you do not have a genuine love for God, then your church will not have a genuine love for God.
· If you do not have compassion on the lost, your church will not have compassion on the lost.
· Your church will become a reflection of you.
Don’t be so quick to blame your people if they are not bringing someone to church with them.
· Don’t be so hard on them if they are not reaching out to their neighbors.
· Realize that a church most often, does what they see their pastor do.
· If you want your church to grow, be a soul winner yourself.
· If you want your church to reach out to others, be someone who reaches out to others.
· By your example, teach them to reach others.
· By your example teach them to win the lost.
Then you begin laying a foundation.
· You invest in some people to stand beside you.
· This time of building is not glorious.
· This time of laying a foundation is not one that gets the attention from everyone around you.
· Other Pastors are not going to stand up and take notice when you are building the Church’s foundation.
· But understand a building can be no larger than the foundation,
· And you cannot build upon something that is not there.
You will not have a strong stable church that is growing if you do not have a strong stable foundation to support it.
· So you begin to invest yourself in some good people whose love for God us unquestionable.
· Some people who will stand beside you, no matter what comes against the church.
· Some people who know your vision for the church and are willing to allow their lives to be built upon.
· You build that foundation. You build that foundation strong.
[ read more...]
The Power Of Expository Preaching
There are a number of great ways to preach the Word of God, but one of the most effective is expository preaching.
Stephen Olford defines expository preaching this way;
"Expository preaching is the Spirit-empowered explanation and proclamation of the text of God's Word with due regard to the historical, contextual, grammatical and doctrinal significance of the given message or given passage, with the specific object of invoking a Christ transforming response."
That is a pretty heavy definition, let me simplify; "The text does the talking, the preaching, the teaching and the transforming." The message is already there, you just have to open it up and discover it for yourself. Expository preaching forces the man of God to open his own heart first and allow the scripture to change him before it ever changes his audience.
An expository sermon comes from a portion of text that is usually at least one paragraph in length, and where at least a good portion of the story is told in its context. For an expository sermon to have impact, the story of the text must be opened up to your audience. A casual reading and retelling of the scripture is not quite what it is about. Nor is it a step by step outline of each verse. There is a message in the story of the text that must be shared in a meaningful way.
There is a pressure in our culture today for preachers to be 'relevant' to their audience. In doing so, expository preaching has become less and less popular. Many insist that it is no longer effective. Most of today's mainline preachers have adopted the 'topical' style of preaching in their attempt to become relevant. In this style of preaching they choose a topic and then go to the Word to see what the scripture says about it. The danger in this is that they become so topical in their preaching that there is very little of the Word of God left. The one or two scriptures they do use are often taken out of context and used in ways that alter their intended meaning. I would like to say that there is nothing more relevant for our culture today than the Word of God. The Word of God transcends time, tradition and culture. The writer of Hebrews declares that the Word of God is quick enough, sharp enough and has enough power to pierce into the thoughts and hearts of every person.
[ read more...]
The Power Of Expository Preaching
There are a number of great ways to preach the Word of God, but one of the most effective is expository preaching.
Stephen Olford defines expository preaching this way;
"Expository preaching is the Spirit-empowered explanation and proclamation of the text of God's Word with due regard to the historical, contextual, grammatical and doctrinal significance of the given message or given passage, with the specific object of invoking a Christ transforming response."
That is a pretty heavy definition, let me simplify; "The text does the talking, the preaching, the teaching and the transforming." The message is already there, you just have to open it up and discover it for yourself. Expository preaching forces the man of God to open his own heart first and allow the scripture to change him before it ever changes his audience.
An expository sermon comes from a portion of text that is usually at least one paragraph in length, and where at least a good portion of the story is told in its context. For an expository sermon to have impact, the story of the text must be opened up to your audience. A casual reading and retelling of the scripture is not quite what it is about. Nor is it a step by step outline of each verse. There is a message in the story of the text that must be shared in a meaningful way.
There is a pressure in our culture today for preachers to be 'relevant' to their audience. In doing so, expository preaching has become less and less popular. Many insist that it is no longer effective. Most of today's mainline preachers have adopted the 'topical' style of preaching in their attempt to become relevant. In this style of preaching they choose a topic and then go to the Word to see what the scripture says about it. The danger in this is that they become so topical in their preaching that there is very little of the Word of God left. The one or two scriptures they do use are often taken out of context and used in ways that alter their intended meaning. I would like to say that there is nothing more relevant for our culture today than the Word of God. The Word of God transcends time, tradition and culture. The writer of Hebrews declares that the Word of God is quick enough, sharp enough and has enough power to pierce into the thoughts and hearts of every person.
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