Ministry Focus & Equipping | Christian Ministry Training Blog

A Church Leader’s Wish List

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

While each church leader’s wish for the church might differ, here are a few points that could make the list.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if ministry workers consistently exhibited the joy of the Lord?
Wouldn’t it be helpful if everyone served according to their best fit in ministry?
Wouldn’t it be life-changing if people focused on who they are as much as what they do?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people spent time in God’s Word because they want to grow?
Wouldn’t it be great if people with hurting or afflicted hearts found the comfort and healing they need?
Wouldn’t it be impacting if we communicated with those we serve and live among in a Christ-like manner?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we all wholeheartedly and unashamedly lived for the sake of His name?

Notice the descriptive words in the above questions: amazing, helpful, life-changing, wonderful, great, impacting, awesome

When the above realities regularly happen in our churches, we can’t help but get excited.

Power Church Leaders Need to Accomplish a Wish List of Eternal Merit

Perhaps this is your experience. Then Praise God for His Power at work within your Body! Maybe you can only say, “I wish.”

I could possibly point you to articles on each of the above to help but the bottom line is that we need to pull on the Power of the Almighty God as individuals and as a Church to not only do what we should do but also to be the kind of people who make a difference, to have the kind of Church where people want to both attend and serve. — “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Pet. 1:3)

Church leaders, let me encourage you to work your way through this section on the TrainChurchLeaders.com site: God’s Power for the Church

The section is under Leadership Basics, because it is something church leaders need to keep coming back to over and over. God’s power is both foundational and an on-going need for us to grab hold of if the above wish list is to become a reality.

We need God’s power in every aspect of church life:

the more administrative areas (budgeting & finances, committees/boards/teams, decision-making, facilities, job descriptions, policy making, records & reporting, safety, scheduling, staff evaluations)

the more pastoral and leadership aspects (change, discipline, church growth/health)

And so, in the Train Church Leaders Practicum, we’ve begun to look at the practical outworking of God’s power in these areas for leaders. As you work your way through the section on God’s power, be sure to look for related posts in the practicum.

Environment Conducive to Spiritual Growth

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 3 Comments ↓

As a Church we might be tempted to think we can merely provide some biblical content and maybe some “how-to” tips and people should grow spiritually as a result. But, more goes into helping people grow than providing knowledge. We also need an environment that is conducive to spiritual growth.

Qualities that Tend to be in an Environment that is Conducive to Spiritual Growth:

Environment Conducive to Spiritual Growth — (Click to enlarge & repin in Pinterest.)

Grace-saturated

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11-12)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pet. 3:18)

Relationally supported

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:16)

Ongoing pursuit

In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world – just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. (Col. 1:6)

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. (2 Thess. 1:3)

Well-rounded objective

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:15)

Truth-based

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10)

Holy Spirit empowered

Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? [ (Gal. 3:3)

keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (Eph. 1:17)

Think about your church, or perhaps your small groups, in light of these qualities. Are you seeing spiritual growth in people’s lives?

Resource: The Teacher’s Role in Discipling Students Toward Spiritual Growth

The Best Book on Spiritual Gifts

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Recently I noticed that someone found this site using the title of this post as keywords – the best book on spiritual gifts. It got me to thinking. Humanly speaking, I could respond with bias — a book by Ministry Tools Resource Center, Everybody Has a Part: Getting a Grip on Spiritual Gifts. There are, however, many other good books out there on spiritual gifting. Each book undoubtedly comes at it from a slightly different slant so what a person hopes to glean might determine the response as to which book is best.

The Bible is the Best Book on Spiritual Gifts Yet, without meaning to sound trite, I truly would have to point people on this kind of search to the Bible as the best book on spiritual gifts. And, I would have to say that the value of any other book on the subject is only in accordance with how it lines up with Scripture.

Key Truths About Spiritual Gifts We Can Learn from the Bible, the Best Book

The best book on spiritual gifts, God’s Word, provides what we need to know about gifting.

1) the basis on which spiritual gifts are given

Check out: Romans 12:3-6; 1 Corinthians 12:11, 18; 1 Peter 4:10-11

2) the power source behind spiritual gifts

Check out: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Peter 4:11

3) why God gives believers spiritual gifts

Check out: 1 Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 4:12, 1 Peter 4:10

You’ll find a recap at: The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

4) what the different spiritual gifts are

Check out: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, Ephesians 4:11-12

You’ll find lists of the gifts in these passages at: Spiritual Gifts List & Definitions

5) how spiritual gifts are to be used

Check out: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:15-14:40; 1 Peter 4:10-11

These are truths about spiritual gifts clearly provided in Scripture that in reality tell us all we need to know. While other books might try to answer questions about gifting not specifically provided in Scripture, we must remember that their conclusions are mere extrapolation or interpretation that may or may not be true. If God felt it essential for us to know more in order to serve Him, certainly He would have told us in His Word.

Rendering about Ministry and God’s Enduring Love

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Twenty-six times in twenty-six verses, Psalm 136 repeats the phrase “His love endures forever.” I trust after reading the previous posts about this psalm that you have taken time to reflect on God’s enduring love and responded to His good, kind, faithful, merciful and gracious love with thanksgiving and praise. Now let’s personalize it, seeing ministry and God’s enduring love fit together and make a real difference in how we serve.

Read through Psalm 136 and you will notice that the psalmist kept it about God, beginning every verse with what God did. Look at your ministry from that perspective and you will be able to join the refrain — His love endures forever.

A Rendition About Ministry and God’s Enduring Love

Here’s a ministry worker’s rendition, not near as poetic as the psalm and containing only ten of the refrains of “His love endures forever” but you will get the idea of how ministry and God’s enduring love tie together.

Give thanks to the Lord of the harvest.
His love endures forever.

Whose wisdom provides a design for staffing to accomplish His purposes.
His love endures forever.

Whose guiding hand maps out the way to best meet the needs of people entrusted to our care.
His love endures forever.

And who humbles my soul so I feel free to delegate responsibilities to others.
His love endures forever.

To Him who helps me adapt when things aren’t going as planned.
His love endures forever.

Who gives grace to deal with petty issues.
His love endures forever.

To Him who answers prayers, often in powerful ways.
His love endures forever.

Whose Truth parts the waters in our hearts, drawing people into a relationship with Himself.
His love endures forever.

And who comforts our soul so we can encourage others.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of hope and peace regardless of whatever comes our way.
His love endures forever.

Think through the specifics of what God is doing in your ministry and remember the role of His enduring love.

Prepared Ministry Workers

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

We usually equate preparing people for ministry with training them to effectively accomplish the tasks involved in their area of service. While that is good and necessary, they should also be prepared for what they will face. If they go into ministry with unrealistic expectations, they’ll become disillusioned, discouraged, or disgruntled. They may even want to quit. Prepared ministry workers, on the other hand, tend to rise above and find serving worthwhile regardless of what they face.

The Truth About Ministry

Ministry will not always be easy or pleasant. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (Jn. 16:33). Nowhere do we read of ministry being the exception.

But, prepared ministry workers acknowledge other truths that make ministry, no matter how difficult or trying it may be, so worthwhile and possible to accomplish with peace and joy in our hearts. We have a Power Source to enable us to not only survive but thrive no matter what we face.

Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 16:33 begin with, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” Let’s follow the example of the Master Disciple-Maker. He prepared His ministry workers by informing them of the harsh realities of serving. He also informed them of what they needed to remember in order to not lose heart in ministry — “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Kinds of Trouble Ministry Workers Should Be Prepared to Face:

If serving long enough, ministry workers will undoubtedly face some kind of problem or issue. If we at least prepare them for this reality, they may not let it pull them down. Let people know that they will face …

obstacles

conflict

temptation

(Click on the above links for input on being prepared for each of the above-mentioned troubles.)

We don’t always know what we will face in ministry so we need to prepare in ways we can. Prepared ministry workers know that no matter what happens, we have a God who is with us to guide, motivate, empower, and use us to make a difference. And, that makes it so worthwhile!

3 Ways for Church Leaders to Be Prepared

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 1 Comment ↓

We’ve previously noted how these are tumultuous days for the Church. The best way for pastors and other ministry leaders to help the Church navigate these times is for themselves to be prepared in ways that matter.

Church Leaders Prepared to Navigate These Times

While this post could go in many directions, we will focus in on three ways to be prepared that form a definite starting point for navigating the times in which we live.

Prepared by gaining a thorough understanding of leadership basics. They need to have a good grasp of the real essence of the Church in order to help us be the Church in these difficult days. More than trying to develop some kind of complex or elaborate plan to function as the Church, we need to get back to the basics of God’s intent. People today do not need another institution that requires high maintenance to keep it running. They need a living organism with the Lord Jesus as the Head who transforms lives and makes all things new.

Check out: Church Leadership Basics

Prepared by focusing on being the kind of person God is pleased to use. A leader whose heart is right with God will take the Church much further in turbulent times than someone highly skilled and trained to lead on the cutting edge but whose heart is not in tune with God’s. It takes the right kind of attitudes and qualities to be a leader who truly makes an eternal difference. This person will be characterized as an example, guide, servant, and shepherd who understands that it is all about God and not oneself.

Check out: Church Leadership Qualities

Prepared by honing leadership skills in ways that line up with God and His ways. Let’s not equate reaching the world with becoming like the world. Leaders must function with godly wisdom and divine power. The Word of God must be the grid through which a church leader operates. God’s character as defined in Scripture must be the standard. In God’s economy, the end does not justify the means. Process matters.

Check out: Church Leadership Skills

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Pet. 5:7-8)

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. (Eph. 5:15-17)