Ministry Tools Resource Center | Christian Ministry Training Blog

Not Just Knowing About God

Posted on June 29, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Taste and See, Not Just Knowing About God
A previous post listed 26 attributes of God from A to Z, certainly not a complete list of all the traits we find in the Bible about our great God. While it’s good to know how to describe God, it’s also important we think through the implications of these attributes. The psalmist encourages us to “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8). That’s experiential knowledge, not just knowing about God.

Start by Knowing About God

Experiential knowledge of God must be built on a biblical foundation of who God is and what He does. That’s the starting point.

Check out the Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool Download for a better understanding of the attributes of God. This resource provides five different alphabetical listing to help us know who God is. Since knowing God’s attributes is just the beginning, the resource also encourages you to respond.

Also Reflect on the Implications of Who God Is to Your Life

Who God is affects our lives. As head knowledge sinks into our hearts and we “taste and see” who the Lord is, we realize that He is enough, even when we don’t understand.

Think about the attributes of God. Take time to praise Him for who He is. Then think about the implications of His various traits. Perhaps you could say something like, “I praise You, God, for being … because …” Here are a few examples but seek to get even more personal in how it relates to your particular life right now:

I praise You, God, for being eternal,

because reality isn’t defined by my limited, time-based perspective, but by the One who, having always existed, sees the beginning from the end.

I praise You, God, for being faithful

because no matter what I’m going through, I can always rely on you, because having been dependable in the past, I can count on you now.

I praise You, God, for being holy

because you are an absolute standard to whom I can align so I will not conform to this world but rather yield to you to transform my mind so I “will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:1-2).

I praise You, God, for being sovereign

because I can cease striving, or be still, knowing that you are God (Ps. 46:10), the God of gods and Lord of lords (Ps. 136:2-3), worthy of giving full reign of my life to You.

I praise You, God, for being wise

because you’re a Counselor like none other since Your understanding knows no limits (Rom. 11:33-34), making you the first One I should turn to in all situations.

A Place for Near All Spiritual Gifts in VBS

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Vacation Bible School requires a lot of detailed preparation in the months leading up to it. Then, at the last minute, comes a flurry of activity to set up and decorate. During the VBS program, people enjoy a Bible lesson, games, snacks, crafts and perhaps a general assembly time which all require time to prepare. Afterward comes clean-up and follow-up. With so much to do, certainly there’s a place for near all spiritual gifts in VBS.

An Effective VBS Takes a Lot of Organization and Coordination

Think of all that needs to be done: recruiting, delegating responsibilities, choosing curriculum, promoting, scheduling, planning the most effective use of the facilities and church grounds, working with the budget, etc. — Someone with the spiritual gift of administration can provide the organization needed for this ministry event.

As director of VBS, this person would do well to co-direct with someone having the gift of leadership to help him/her think outside of the box, to see all Vacation Bible School could be. People with the gift of administration could also be ones to coordinate specific aspects like crafts, games, snacks, etc.

A Variety of Spiritual Gifts are Needed to Accomplish All the Details

All Gifted for Effectual Ministry but Some Lack Evidence of Spiritual GIfting One person, or even a handful of people, cannot do it alone if we want to experience an effective Vacation Bible School. Since spiritual gifts are God’s power for serving, it only makes sense that the more we pull on people’s gifting, the more effective VBS will be. Delegating to a broad base of people according to their spiritual gifting, should increase the potential impact of VBS.

The Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use, includes a page that suggests the spiritual gifts that may best fit the various tasks that need to be accomplished in VBS. The handbook is a helpful tool for determining who to recruit in other ministry areas as well, fulfilling different ministry needs.

The Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual describes some of the staffing needs for an effective VBS along with some tips for recruiting and training these volunteers. The resource also helps with praying for VBS, planning, curriculum, and follow-up.

Foundation for Family Life Ministry

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 4 Comments ↓

We have three holidays in the U.S. within about a month’s time that center around families — Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and National Children’s Day. The Church can use these holidays to acknowledge, appreciate, and admonish people to live up to their God-given responsibilities in these different roles. We must also consider our responsibility as a Church for families year-round based on the biblical foundation for family life ministry. They need more than a once a year shot in the arm.

The Foundation for Family Life Ministry Starts with the Responsibility God Places on Family Members

Foundation for Family Life Ministry
God places responsibility on both children and parents so we must instruct those in both roles to heed God’s Word.

Of Children:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother. (Eph. 6:1-3)

Are we helping children understand that obeying their parents isn’t just about doing what their parents want, but more importantly following God’s desires?
Are we encouraging children to honor parents even when they don’t feel like it?

Of Parents:

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4)

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:5-9)

Are we stressing the discipleship role of parents in nurturing their children in the ways of the Lord more than a mere caretaking role? (For Help: Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp)
Are we encouraging consistency between what parents say and do, emphasizing how it begins in their own hearts?

The Church’s Responsibility to Families

Rather than usurping the responsibility of parents for instructing children in the ways of the Lord, the Church should come alongside of them, training them and holding them accountable to do their God-given part. We should also challenge children to do their part, hence encouraging healthy parent-child relationships.

Family life ministry, built on the foundation God laid in His Word for families, can sometimes seem like a daunting task.

Many Christian parents find themselves so consumed in the busyness and stresses of life that they neglect this important responsibility, especially difficult if a single parent. Some parents merely send their children to church assuming we will provide all the spiritual input kids need. And, not all parents know the Lord.

Children have few role models of what it means to submit to, respect, and honor others. And, they’re receiving confusing, mixed messages about what it means to be a family today with the world saying one thing and the church another.

No matter how complex family life might seem, we do have a responsibility to both parents and children to help them understand their God-given roles and to provide encouragement and tools.

Biblical Parenting Resources
Family Life Ministry Resources

Benevolence God’s Way

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

We find so many needs in the lives of those in our Church Body, albeit around the world. As individual believers, a church, or ministry, we certainly can’t meet all of those needs. That, however, shouldn’t discourage us from doing our part in helping those we can. Whether helping one individual or many, lets make sure we do benevolence God’s way.

Four Points to Remember If We’re Going to Do Benevolence God’s Way

Scripture teaches us much about helping people in need. These four objectives just scratch the surface but are good points to remember.

Get beyond merely applying quick fixes to assistance that helps people learn how to do better.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. (Prov. 3:13-14)

Address more than people’s felt needs. Help them with core issues.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” (Matt. 9:1-5)

Provide resources but also remember Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:19-20)

Guard against doing benevolence merely out of duty. Make it about sharing God’s love with those we help.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:3)

You’ll find these four points listed in the Church Purpose Ministry Manual with benevolence as one of the ways we show love for God that spills over into loving people.

Effectively Prepare for VBS Through Prayer

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Vacation Bible School can consume a lot of time and energy that can yield minimal eternal good if we don’t effectively prepare for VBS. Effectiveness doesn’t come through picking a great theme, a lot of fun activities, enthusiastic teachers and workers, etc. but rather by the power of the Lord at work in and through it. Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing of eternal value (Jn. 15:5). Because He is the Vine and we are the branches, we find our sustenance and strength in Him to bear fruit. He must therefore be a critical part of our preparation if we want VBS to truly be effective.

4 Critical Steps to Effectively Prepare for VBS Through Prayer

When we truly believe what Jesus said, that apart from Him we can do nothing, then we will take steps to make sure seeking after Him in prayer becomes a part of all we do. Consequently, these four steps will be the most critical steps you can take in preparing for Vacation Bible School.

STEP 1: Envision what VBS can be through prayer.

STEP 2: Envelop the whole process in prayer.

Step 3: Enlist the prayer support of others right from the start.

Step 4: Engage the entire congregation in praying for VBS.

Wherever you are in the planning process for this year’s VBS, it isn’t too late to implement these critical steps.

Get Help Planning Your Vacation Bible School

Check out the Vacation Bible School Ministry Manual for some specific points under each of the above steps. This resource will help you have a more impacting VBS with prayer as a core need. It also give six other suggestions to maximize the time and effort put into this program.

Lining Up with God: How to Come into Alignment with God

Posted on May 18, 2022 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

In a previous post we looked at what Proverbs 3:5-8 teaches us about what lining up with God means and why it matters. We need help to maintain such a dependence on Him that we wholeheartedly yield to His ways instead of relying on our own thoughts and pursuing our own agendas.

3 Resources We Have for Learning How to Come into Alignment with God

God isn’t going to command us to trust Him with our whole heart and fail to show us how. Here are three resources He provides for us.

1) Congruence with the Word of God

We have a written, authoritative, reliable Textbook.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isa. 55:9-11)

Since God knows more than we do and since His ways are best, it only makes sense to line up with what He says. In addition, lining up with God by adhering to His Word comes with PROMISED RESULTS.

The precepts and principles in the Bible provide a grid through which all else must be filtered because of whose Word it is and the life-changing potential it brings.

Lining up with God by living congruent with His Word makes it all worthwhile because we know He will use it in some way.

2) Consistency with the Character of God

We have a living Example to follow who is our sure foundation.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. (Is. 26:3-4)

We can’t always find a specific verse that addresses every situation in life or every decision we must make. Sometimes we must look at principles in His Word. Sometimes we must look at God Himself … His attributes. God will never ask us to do anything inconsistent with His character. When we keep focused on God, we are PROMISED PEACE.

When we make decisions or respond in ways consistent with the character of God, we are standing on a solid foundation (Ps. 40:2-3).

Lining up with a God who is all we need, and not simply submitting to a set of commands, provides a confidence that takes us to a higher level.

3) Controlled by the Spirit of God

We have a Helper within us to teach us and guide us.

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:15-18)

Where are we going to get the wisdom we need to make the most of every opportunity? The Holy Spirit came to live within us as our Counselor (Jn. 14:16, 26). Where are we going to get the power we need to do what we know we should do? The Holy Spirit came to live within us as our Power source (Acts 1:8; Eph. 3:16; Gal. 5:16).

As wine can take over and control a person, so we need to be filled with the Spirit of God (Eph. 5:18). Our part is to walk with, or live by, the Spirit, to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16, 25). When we do, we get what we need — PROMISED PERSPECTIVE AND POWER.

Lining up with God seems possible because we know we are not on our own.

So, “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him …” (Prov. 3:5-6). He makes lining up with Him not only worthwhile but also possible. He promises to give us what we need to do so.