Church Life | Christian Ministry Training Blog

3 Ways to Navigate Tumultuous Times for the Church

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

How to Be the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth in Tumultuous Times
We live in difficult days for the Church. Immorality runs rampant, making for some tough decisions. Standing for truth tends to get pegged as intolerance. Yet, the Church is to be the pillar and foundation of truth.

How is the Church supposed to navigate through these difficult times?

1) Emphasize what really matters.

How easy it can be for the Church to focus in on that which is not the most important. That often translates into the world’s opinion that we are against everything and for very little. Putting the spotlight on what really matters could help us from falling into legalism and also help us avoid wasting both time and resources in that which yields little spiritual fruit. Let’s remember Jesus’ words to Martha in Luke 10:41-42 — “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

To Read:

2) Be real.

Authenticity communicates far more than words alone. When people experience a first hand, authentic demonstration of the love and power of Christ, it makes a difference. Hypocrisy has the opposite effect, turning people off to the wonderful message we have to proclaim. Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:5 — “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

To Read:

3) Focus on both truth and grace.

To be the light and salt God calls us to be in this world (Matt. 5:13-16) and to function as the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim. 3:15), the Church must not only stand for truth but also communicate it in a way that will be heard. In representing Christ in this world, we must remember that He came full of both grace and truth (Jn. 1:14). Grace without truth leads to a licentious church. Truth without grace leads to a heartless and rigid church unable to effectively reach the world for Him.

To Read:

As the Church, we have the answer for the sin-ridden world in which we live. Navigating through the tumult will not be easy but when we apply the above three suggestions, we will have greater potential of gaining entrance into people’s lives so we can at least share God’s solution with them.

Teaching Prayer by Example Requires Availability

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

(Click image to enlarge in Pinterest & repin.)

When the disciple asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He was ready to instruct them in this teachable moment.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say . . .” (Lk. 11:1-4)

How Jesus Made Himself Available to Teach His Disciples about Prayer

Jesus obviously was approachable. The disciple felt the freedom to ask Jesus to mentor them in prayer. Jesus was available in the past to answer their questions or concerns, sometimes even before they asked.

Notice the words “when he finished.” There was a direct correlation between Jesus praying and their request. They saw Him praying. They were ready to learn. He responded immediately. A timely response is so important in using these kinds of teachable moments. Jesus did not put them off to a more convenient time for Him. He knew verbal instruction would best be received when they were ready.

Because they were ready to receive instruction, Jesus then went into applicational mode — “WHEN you pray, say …” He expected that they would indeed pray.

For Personal Reflection: Do you make yourself available to these kinds of teachable moments or do you put people off until you are ready?

Resource: Discipling Students to Pray Worksheet

More: Prayer Resources

Teaching Prayer by Example Requires Consistency

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 4 Comments ↓

The disciples observed Jesus preach, teach, and heal but we do not read in Scripture where they asked Him to teach them to preach, teach, or heal. They did, however, ask Him to teach them how to pray.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say . . .” (Lk. 11:1-4)

Could it be that Jesus made it so obvious that prayer was central to all else they might do that they saw this as their greatest need? His consistency undoubtedly taught them the necessity of praying to tap into the power source for any and all kinds of ministry.

Jesus’ Consistency in Praying Got Their Attention.

Though Jesus verbally taught about praying (Matt. 5:43-45; 6:7-14; Luke 10:2; 11:5-13; 18:9-14), He really got the disciples’ attention by how He prayed, helping them see their need to also make prayer a priority.

The day referenced in Luke 11 when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray was not the first time the disciples saw Jesus praying. Notice some of the examples recorded in Luke leading up to that day.

Jesus prayed when he was baptized (Lk. 3:21).
Jesus spent the night praying prior to choosing the twelve disciples (Lk. 6:12).
Jesus “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Lk. 5:16).
Jesus offered prayers of thanksgiving when feeding the 5000 (Lk. 9:16).
Jesus would pray in private when His disciples were with him (Lk. 9:18).
Jesus prayed when He was transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John (Lk. 9:29).
He prayed spontaneously after the disciples returned from their missions trip (Lk. 10:21).

Jesus’ Consistency in Praying Reinforced What He Taught Them.

The day referenced in Luke 11 when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray was not the last time the disciples would see Jesus praying. Having seen Him praying up to that point led to a teachable moment of readiness to learn more about praying. The instruction they received that day would be further reinforced by what they would yet see, especially in Jesus’ darkest hour. Here are some examples:

Jesus gave thanks for the bread during their Passover celebration which He said represented His body which would be broken for them (Lk. 22:19).
Jesus told Peter that He prayed for him that his faith would not fail in light of how he would betray Jesus (Lk. 22:32).
Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane with some of the disciples close by him (Lk. 22:40-46).
Jesus prayed for the people crucifying Him that the Father would forgive them (Lk. 23:34).
Jesus called out to the Father as He hung on the cross dying (Lk. 23:46).
Jesus gave thanks when breaking bread with His disciples after His resurrection (Lk. 24:30).
Jesus lifted up His hands to bless the disciples right before He ascended to heaven (Lk. 24:50-51).

Imagine the lessons the disciples learned about the importance of prayer as they watched their Messiah praying even in death. What they saw before in the good and busy days of ministry and what they heard Him say when they asked Him to teach them to pray, was reinforced exponentially as He remained consistent in prayer to the very end.

For Personal Reflection: Do you tend to let circumstances affect your prayer life or are you consistent in praying regardless of how busy or stressed you might be?

For More: Prayer Resources

Teaching Prayer by Example Requires Authenticity

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Teach Us to Pray — (Click image to enlarge in Pinterest & repin.)

Who best to show us the potential of teaching prayer by example than Jesus!

From Jesus we learn at least two factors involved in teaching prayer by example.

You need to be consistent in praying for others to take notice that you pray.
You need to be available to mentor or disciple people at teachable moments.

Learn more about the above factors by clicking on the links. Before delving into those aspects of Jesus’ practice, however, we need to first make sense out of praying for others to see us. Jesus Himself warned against that kind of praying.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt. 6:5-6)

Yet, how will people know that you’re a person of prayer if they don’t see you praying? If they don’t see you consistently praying, how will your prayer life generate teachable moments?

Pay close attention to Jesus’ words in Matthew 6. Notice how He focused in on a person’s motivation. Jesus referred to those who love to pray in order to be seen by others … those who pray for show. If He called them hypocritical, then they obviously did something that lacked authenticity.

The Key to Teaching Prayer by Example: Authenticity

Modeling prayer isn’t something you purposefully do to set yourself up as an example. Rather, it happens because of true devotion to prayer (Col. 4:2), because you really do pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), because you actually are fervent or passionate about praying (James 5:16). This kind of teaching can’t be contrived. An example in praying, prays to be heard by God, not to be an example in praying.

Others will take notice of an authentic prayer life, not because you try for them to see but because they can’t help but see. The disciples saw that Jesus made prayer a priority. He set apart special times of communing with the Father. Jesus would also pray spontaneously. He raised prayers of praise and thanksgiving and He also interceded and petitioned God. We don’t read of Jesus saying “Look at me” yet the disciples did look. Prayer was so much a part of Jesus’ life that they noticed.

If you want to teach prayer by example, don’t focus on yourself. When we focus on being an example, we open the door for pride, hypocrisy, and faulty motivations. Pray because you want to commune with your heavenly Father. Do it because you want to work in cooperation with God. Pray because you want to trust the Lord to work in all situations. Go to God in prayer because you want to let Him know that you view Him as worthy of all honor and praise.

Pray because you want God to hear you, not to impress others. Being noticed by others for your prayer life is a byproduct that happens when you are authentic, leading to teachable moments as others observe your example.

For Personal Reflection: Do you love to pray or do you love to be seen praying?

For More: Prayer Resources

5 Things That Matter More

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 4 Comments ↓

We have many strategies and objectives for ministry but some things matter more than others.

In God’s Book, These 5 Things Matter More Than Other Things

Let’s look to God for what matters most in ministry. According to His Word, these five things should matter more to us than other things.

1) WHO we present matters more than how we present Him.

When HE is the main attraction we tend to use methodology that glorifies God and draws attention to Him more than to ourselves. We view technology and methodology as merely tools for connecting people with the Lord.

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col. 1:18)

These (religious festivals, the Sabbath, etc.) are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Col. 2:17)

2) Being matters more than doing.

When we are who we should be, we will tend to do what we should do. If the heart is what it should be, proper actions will follow.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Prov. 4:23)

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. (Prov. 27:19)

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Lk. 6:45)

3) Heart transformation matters more than mere obedience.

When we change from the inside out, we see obedience as more of a delight than a duty. People can outwardly conform and look the part but their motivations can be all wrong which does not please the Lord.

A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart. (Prov. 21:2)

The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7)

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 Jn. 5:3-4)

4) People matter more than programs.

When we make people a priority we tend to be more flexible and accommodating with our programs but when programming matters more, we tend to be less adapting to the needs of people. When we fail to meet needs, our programs are no longer ministering.

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ (Matt. 9:13)

‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ … And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt. 22:36-40)

5) Purposeful participation matters more than mere attendance.

When we care about more than numbers, we want people to go away changed which does not happen through passivity or meaningless activity. The more we structure for purposeful participation, the more likely people will be to apply what they learn.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24)

Helping Unmotivated People Get Motivated

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 4 Comments ↓

God exhorts us to “consider how we may SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON toward love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24). So, how do we help busy, stressed out, disillusioned, or spiritually immature people to engage in true fellowship, attend training opportunities, get involved in ministry, etc.? How can we help unmotivated people get motivated?

Hebrews 10:24 suggests it may take some time and effort to carefully think through how we may spur others on. If motivating unmotivated people was an easy process, we wouldn’t find a command to fix our minds on how to do it.

Start by Being an Example If You Want to Spur People On

In considering how to spur others on, think of Jesus’ example. He lived out what it meant to be in a relationship with God. “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray …'” (Lk. 11:1). This undoubtedly wasn’t the first time they saw Him praying. His example motivated them to want to pray.

If we model not only the proper actions but also the right attitudes to go along with what we do, we just might find unmotivated people become motivated. Zeal tends to be caught more than taught. So, let’s ask what our lives teach. Are we able to say “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1)?

Other Means of Helping Unmotivated People Become Motivated

In addition to being an example, the following will help to motivate people. Click on the links to read more:

Most importantly, let’s remember that it’s the Spirit’s job to convict and convince people. We’re simply conduits He may use in the process. As we “consider how we may spur one another one”, let’s embed all we do in prayer and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25).