As pastors, we have a tendency to burden our people with excessive expectations. The average Joe church member can't possibly do everything you say they should do. Don't believe me? See if this list defines some of your expectations of the Christians who attend your church...
- Attend church service weekly.
- Volunteer during another service
- Attend Bible study or Sunday school or midweek service (whatever brand your church offers).
- Serve in a ministry that helps the poor and needy.
- If you are a leader (and we know who you are), then we'll have a few more meetings to attend, contacts to make, events to organize and teams to rally.
- Attend periodic special events hosted by the church.
- Be a great husband or wife and invest time in your marriage.
- Oh, and make sure you are involved in mens' or womens' ministry.
- Get in a small group and meet regularly.
- If you are a man, you must be in a mens' small group for accountability. Otherwise we know you look at porn.
- If you are married, you probably should also be in a couples group if you care about your spouse.
- Read your Bible every day. Anything less than 30 minutes is probably not enough.
- Be a good citizen. Vote and get involved in your community.
- Give ten percent of every penny that you make. And give to the special offerings. And give to the kids going on the missions trip. And give to the building fund.
- Go on a missions trip. Been on a local trip? Overseas is your next step.
- Invest in relationships in your neighborhood and at your workplace.
- Invite people to church. Every week. The purpose of that, of course, is so you can get them to church so they can do #1 through #16 above.
This list wears me out just reading it...and I'm a pastor! Just think what it does to normal people in our church. They keep trying and trying, doing and attending, but then life catches up and they feel like they can't ever keep up with our expectations. They feel deflated.
Because on top of everything we expect, everyone else in their life also has expectations of them. They have sports events to attend and in-laws to keep happy and PTA events to organize. They have complicated family relationships to navigate, second jobs to find so they can put braces on the kids and keep food on the table. And many of them are involved in really good endeavors building into their communities or helping the under-resourced.
Sometimes I think we need to get a clue. We need a wake-up call. Some people are saying (or thinking), "Hey Church...we're just not that into you. You are teaching us some great things and we are growing in our love of Jesus. But we can't possibly do everything you are asking...give us a break!"
In a culture that is ever more complex and insanely busy, if we really want to help we will find ways to help them integrate a walk with Jesus in the context of their lives. We will ease up on our expectation of attendance and activity--and instead focus on spiritual outcomes. WARNING: This is VERY difficult to do because it is so hard to measure--and church leaders LOVE to measure stuff (me included!).
If you know of a church hitting a homerun in this area, I'd love to hear about it!
Used by permision from Tim Stevens, Executive Pastor at Granger Community Church
Published on Monday, July 13, 2009 @ 9:42 PM CDT
This was passed onto me by my pastor, Charles Green (83 years young!) I liked it so much that I decided to pass it on to you. This is very pertinent with graduations happening around this season.
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would NOT pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.
All 92 students, every single one of them suddenly, SNEEZED!!!!
The student at the podium on stage.. Simply looked at the audience and said, 'GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!'
And he walked off stage....
The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
Isn't this a wonderful story? Isn't it sad that in order for God's blessing to be pronounced upon the graduates someone had to "sneeze!"
I guess the motto would be, "What ever it takes!"
Pass it on to all your friends.........and GOD BLESS YOU!!!
This is reported to me as a true story; happening at the University of Maryland .
Oh, how I wish THIS would take wings and fly too fill the whole Country!!!
Published on Thursday, June 4, 2009 @ 10:54 AM CDT
somebody gave this to me. I thought I use it for my blog today. Tommy Tenney
The *7-Ups*
1-Wake Up !!
Decide to have a good day.
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118.24
2-Dress Up !!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
The LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Sam 16.7
3-Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking.
He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. Prov 13.3
4-Stand Up!! . . . for what you believe in
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Gal 6.9-10
5-Look Up !! . . . to the Lord
It is God Himself who gives you strength.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philipp 4.13
Reach Up !! . . . for something higher
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Prov 3.5-6
7-Lift Up !! . . . your Prayers
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philipp 4.6-7
Published on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 @ 6:07 PM CDT
The service today here in Bogota Colombia went well. Simply amazing what God has done here. The church in Bogota alone is legitimately over 200,000 people. This conference has over 50,000 registered from 50 nations.
I can't believe how many Americans, Europeans, etc are here in one of the most dangerous countries in the world. It tells me that people will go anywhere and listen to anybody that has done "it" and will teach them how to do "it"! Security tightened up considerably at the conference today (it was already very tight, I am being driven around in only armored & bullet proof cars, never taking the same route twice!)
The Colombian president will be at the service tonight. He has survived 14 assassination attempts. The local Pastor here has had many also (still has bullets in his body, we know very little of "laying it all on the line"). His wife is now a senator. I do feel safe, but we are being cautious. Great grace has been on my ministry time here.
They have asked me to stay over for weekend services (which I had to politely decline) where they will combine all 250,000 to 300,000 people for one service. They do this 4 times a year. Pray for our continued safety and grace in ministry.
Tommy
Published on Thursday, January 25, 2007 @ 8:51 AM CDT
