I don't get asked how I spend my time as much as this guy but occasionally I am asked who I whittle away my week...
Monday - 1 Hour (excluding study)
Normally this is a day off, but currently is taken with study and then a Greek lecture for the second last subject of my Bachelor of Theology.
If I'm preaching on the Sunday, which I do fortnightly, I'll start looking at the passage.
One thing I have to do is the devotion for Tiny Bible Bits.
Tuesday - 4-6 Hours
This is the day I do some basic admin (emails/phone calls) and finishing touches for the week's primary school scripture lessons.
Create the week's to-do list.
If I'm preaching then I'll start the exegetical work this day.
Formally, the middle of this day was occupied with high school scripture lessons.
Occasionally I'll drop by the evening young adult small group/bible study.
Wednesday - 6-9 Hours
Kick off with two scripture lessons followed by a staff meeting.
Do basic admin and produce any promotional notes to be given out that week.
Organize the basic structure for the upcoming Friday, finding or reminding leaders what they will be responsible for.
Send electronic promotions for the youth group.
If not already done, write the talk for youth group and produce the small group questions.
Send small group questions to youth leaders.
If need, finish off the exegetical prep for Sunday.
Do the Tiny Bible Bit.
It won't be unusual to have a meeting (supervision, regional planning, peer support, church council) sometime this day/night.
Thursday - 6-9 Hours
Again, start with two scripture lessons.
Start to plan the scripture lessons for the following week.
Do basic admin including producing the run sheets and PowerPoint for the following day.
Write the Kid's Club talk for tomorrow.
Arrange Sunday morning helpers, activities and write "kid's talk."
By now, any impending sermon should have the outline set on stone and the manuscript drafted.
Friday - 10-13 Hours
Purchase the supper for the evening and anything needed for the day's activities.
Set up the church/hall for Kid's Club.
Do basic admin.
Lead Kid's Club, running an activity and giving the talk.
Set up for youth group.
Have Youth Group, usually giving the talk.
Do the Tiny Bible Bit.
Saturday - 0-2 Hours
Ideally, this is a day off but, depending how I feel about the sermon prep already done, I'll further work on the manuscript and PowerPoint.
Sunday - 10-13 Hours
Morning Church - Usually giving the kid's talk and running activities for the older kids.
Reconfigure the church for the evening service.
Reflect on Friday night, logging what happened and attendance.
Do the PowerPoint for the evening service.
Evening service, which I'll lead/preach.
I an ideal world, my week ranges from 37-53 hours per week.
This year, I've stretched from 29.5 (during school holidays) to 53.5 hours.
You may notice that I don't have any dedicated time set aside for long range projects. That was one thing I appreciated from the article I mentioned earlier. I just slot it in the to-do list and opportunistically see if I get around to it.
DISCLAIMER: ALL RAMBLINGS ARE MY OWN. THEY IN NO WAY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ANY CHURCH OR ORGANISATION THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR OR AM CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH...
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
When our powers combine...
When our powers combine we are... slightly more efficient!
At least that is the plan.
Yesterday I had a chat to another local youth minister about combining our planning for the last two terms of 2014.
Normally I take my youth group leaders away twice a year in order to plan the next six months. In short, they are awesome.
But they are also expensive.
Too expensive.
For example, at the start of the year, I brought my leaders dinner at the pub, ice-creams/snacks on the way to the afternoon activity and, all up, the weekend ended up costing me a few hundred dollars more than everyone else.
One problem's that my leadership team is now JUST shy of the number needed to break even financially.
So, in a few months I need to expand the warm bodies who'll be in attendance. In theory, this will solve the financial issues.
BUT, the bonus flows from this post about sharing resources and ideas. If two youth groups can hear one another planning talks and activities then they can spitball ideas and, if the other group has done a similar topic, share what did and didn't work previously.
At least that is the plan.
Yesterday I had a chat to another local youth minister about combining our planning for the last two terms of 2014.
Normally I take my youth group leaders away twice a year in order to plan the next six months. In short, they are awesome.
But they are also expensive.
Too expensive.
For example, at the start of the year, I brought my leaders dinner at the pub, ice-creams/snacks on the way to the afternoon activity and, all up, the weekend ended up costing me a few hundred dollars more than everyone else.
One problem's that my leadership team is now JUST shy of the number needed to break even financially.
So, in a few months I need to expand the warm bodies who'll be in attendance. In theory, this will solve the financial issues.
BUT, the bonus flows from this post about sharing resources and ideas. If two youth groups can hear one another planning talks and activities then they can spitball ideas and, if the other group has done a similar topic, share what did and didn't work previously.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Easter Tiny Bible Bits 2014
Based around the six statements of Easter, this is what I wrote over the last few weeks on Tiny Bible Bits.
Matthew 21:8-9 – A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
As we’ll see in a few days, the crowds quickly turn on Jesus.
One reason is that He wasn’t the kind of Messiah they were expecting.
Thankfully for them, and us, Jesus is the prefect saviour which we all need.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Surely we wouldn’t respond in a similar manner as those before Pilate. Surely.
Unless, if you’re anything like me, you dare to examine your thought life… Then, I suspect, that you put Jesus to death all too often.
Constant union.
Separation between you and God.
Mark 15:39 – And when the centurion, who stood
there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son
of God!”
Did you go to church Easter weekend?
When you encountered the Easter story, how do you respond?
How did you respond to the God who would lay down His life in order to bring unity with His creation?
Just as He said.
Jesus was raised…
Just as He said.
Come and see the faithfulness of God.
Come and see where He lay.
Matthew 21:8-9 – A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is
he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in
the highest heaven!”
The story of Easter can be summed up by a series of
statements which I’ll be looking at over the next week-and-a-half. The cries of
the crowd is the first one – Hosanna.
When Jesus
enters Jerusalem, he rides in as a humble king; not on a chariot, but a donkey.
The crowds,
in the capital for Passover, saw Jesus as a Messianic conqueror. In Jerusalem
to remember God’s saving hand in Egypt, saw Jesus as the answer to the dilemma
that was Caesar.
So they cry
out for God to once again save them.
And He
would.
He would
bring salvation through the cross, not the sword.
He would
bring peace between God and humanity, not the Jews and the authorities.
He would
bring a lasting deliverance to all those who would place their trust in Him.
As we’ll see in a few days, the crowds quickly turn on Jesus.
One reason is that He wasn’t the kind of Messiah they were expecting.
Thankfully for them, and us, Jesus is the prefect saviour which we all need.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Surely we wouldn’t respond in a similar manner as those before Pilate. Surely.
Unless, if you’re anything like me, you dare to examine your thought life… Then, I suspect, that you put Jesus to death all too often.
When the
Spirit of Christ convicts you of sin, you crucify its prompting.
When the
Spirit of Christ reminders you to be involved positively in the lives of
others, you ignore the suggestion.
In so many
ways we, like those in the first century, decide that we don’t want Jesus,
instead, desiring something else.
Matthew 27:46 – About three in the afternoon Jesus
cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God,
my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Constant union.
Since time
infinite this is what Jesus had, as a part of the Trinity, with The Father.
At Easter,
that union was broken so we could be united with our Heavenly Father.
This is the
good news of Good Friday.
Who are you
going to bring to church at Easter to hear about it?
John 19:30 – When he had received the drink, Jesus
said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
What is finished?
The mission of the Incarnate God.
Paying the wages of sin for humanity.Separation between you and God.
This is why we can call Good Friday good.
Did you go to church Easter weekend?
When you encountered the Easter story, how do you respond?
How did you
respond to the God who would break into human history in order to live a
perfect life and be unjustly put to death?
How did you respond to the God who would lay down His life in order to bring unity with His creation?
How did you
respond to the God who is intimately familiar with grief, suffering, pain and
sorrow?
Like the
centurion, you stood before the Easter story, how did you respond?
Matthew 28:6 – He is not here; he has risen, just
as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
The truth of
this verse should’ve been the core message of church on Easter Sunday.
The tomb was
empty…
Jesus was raised…Just as He said.
For some,
once the benediction was given, Easter was over for another year.
But the
gospel of the resurrected Jesus continues all year.
For this
Sunday, and every day, we should celebrate that…
The tomb was empty…Jesus was raised…
Just as He said.
Matthew 28:6 – He is not here; he has risen, just
as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
At the tomb
the angels told the women to come and see.
Come and see
the empty tomb. Come and see the faithfulness of God.
Come and see where He lay.
On Easter
Sunday many churches had a determined effort to invite others to church. On
Easter Sunday we especially want our family and friends to hear about the Lord
who conquered the grave.
This Sunday,
like every Sunday, billions of Christians will once again come together to
remember that Jesus is risen.
So this
Sunday, even though it’s not Easter Sunday, who are you going to invite to
“come and see?”
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Are we worth half a million bucks?
I'm extremely grateful that I work for a church, full time, in youth ministry.
I'm grateful that I get to do something which I enjoy and find meaning in and I'm grateful because my family like to eat.
I don't know what the average full-time youth minister/pastor is paid per year. For the sake of this article I'm going to say $40,000 (that is about on par with what I found here and here).
With longevity being important and youth ministry being cyclic (getting in a new generation of kids every six years), I wonder, after a dozen years, does a church get a HALF A MILLION dollars worth?
Now, twelve years is a long time...
And spiritual (not to mention physical, emotional, relational, social, mental) transformation and development is impossible to measure...
And this can as easily apply to any ministry worker (children's, family, small groups, pastoral care, admin, associate, teaching, lead/head/senior minister)...
BUT
If you went up to your average church and asked them to chip in $500,000 towards a ministry would they reconsider because the number is so substantially greater than 40K per year?
When weighed up against the way that large sum of money could be used, would they see it as a fair trade?
Additionally, if this money was viewed as a long-term investment not a rolling annual amount, would the evaluation of a ministries' effectiveness be different?
If nothing else, when such substantial numbers are thrown about, it should make those working in ministry sit back and consider the great, long-term, cost faithful people have made.
I'm grateful that I get to do something which I enjoy and find meaning in and I'm grateful because my family like to eat.
I don't know what the average full-time youth minister/pastor is paid per year. For the sake of this article I'm going to say $40,000 (that is about on par with what I found here and here).
With longevity being important and youth ministry being cyclic (getting in a new generation of kids every six years), I wonder, after a dozen years, does a church get a HALF A MILLION dollars worth?
Now, twelve years is a long time...
And spiritual (not to mention physical, emotional, relational, social, mental) transformation and development is impossible to measure...
And this can as easily apply to any ministry worker (children's, family, small groups, pastoral care, admin, associate, teaching, lead/head/senior minister)...
BUT
If you went up to your average church and asked them to chip in $500,000 towards a ministry would they reconsider because the number is so substantially greater than 40K per year?
When weighed up against the way that large sum of money could be used, would they see it as a fair trade?
Additionally, if this money was viewed as a long-term investment not a rolling annual amount, would the evaluation of a ministries' effectiveness be different?
If nothing else, when such substantial numbers are thrown about, it should make those working in ministry sit back and consider the great, long-term, cost faithful people have made.
Friday, April 18, 2014
REPOST: Why do we call Good Friday Good?
A day when a completely
good...
Absolutely innocent man...
It was the ultimate injustice.
Before His own mother...
The day the bread of life was broken and the blood of the Lamb split...
WHY DO WE CALL THIS DAY GOOD???
The only reason we dare label this day good is due to what it achieved. It tore down the division between God and humanity.
The result of Jesus' death and resurrection is the reason we celebrate Easter and can call Good Friday good.
Absolutely innocent man...
Was betrayed by one of
His closest friends...
Abandoned by
all...
Endured a fixed court
case...
With false
witnesses...
With no presumption of
innocence...
Held under the cover of
darkness...
Prosecuted by the wrong
person...
With no defense entered
or allowed...
Was
beaten...
Spat
on...
Whipped...
Tortured...
Overlooked for a
murderer...
Who heard those who
previously cheered for Him now cry out for His execution...
Who had to personally
transport His death implement...
Held to it by five inch
long nails...
Stripped
naked...
Mocked by those who
passed by...
Insulted by those
who orchestrated His murder and those who were being killed on either side of
Him...
Who endured an
excruciating ordeal...
Dying a death reserved
for the lowest of low...
The worst of the
worst...
A demise off limits to
those in power...
A fate, in the eyes of
the Jews, for those cursed by God...
Who, in His own words,
was FORSAKEN BY GOD...
It was the ultimate injustice.
Before His own mother...
A son...
A friend...
A teacher...
The King...
The Messiah...
The Son of God... was
killed.
The day the bread of life was broken and the blood of the Lamb split...
WHY DO WE CALL THIS DAY GOOD???
The only reason we dare label this day good is due to what it achieved. It tore down the division between God and humanity.
The result of Jesus' death and resurrection is the reason we celebrate Easter and can call Good Friday good.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Losing the church in the "divorce"
Year 6...
Year 7...
Baptism/Confirmation...
Year 9-10...
Year 12...
First year university...
Getting married...
Once you become a parent...
I've written about the drop out points in youth and young(ish) adult ministry before.
Lots.
Some drop out point are caused by life change...
Ending primary school.
Starting high school.
Starting higher education.
You "graduate" from a group.
Moving out.
Starting a family.
Others develop relationally...
Your friendship group changes.
You get married.
In this later category, another reason can emerge.
Breaking up.
Whenever a church-going couple break up, it's not unusual for one side of the pairing to "get" the church in the ''division of assets."
For some, it will be that they attended the church for the least amount of time, thus they feel relationally squeezed out.
For others, it will be that they are "at fault" for the break up and will feel uncomfortable, even judged, at church.
In some rare cases, in order to allow one member of the former-couple to stay connected, the other will volunteer to step aside and go somewhere else.
This is the risk when two people date, no matter how well they swear to "purposely uncouple."
Year 7...
Baptism/Confirmation...
Year 9-10...
Year 12...
First year university...
Getting married...
Once you become a parent...
I've written about the drop out points in youth and young(ish) adult ministry before.
Lots.
Some drop out point are caused by life change...
Ending primary school.
Starting high school.
Starting higher education.
You "graduate" from a group.
Moving out.
Starting a family.
Others develop relationally...
Your friendship group changes.
You get married.
In this later category, another reason can emerge.
Breaking up.
Whenever a church-going couple break up, it's not unusual for one side of the pairing to "get" the church in the ''division of assets."
For some, it will be that they attended the church for the least amount of time, thus they feel relationally squeezed out.
For others, it will be that they are "at fault" for the break up and will feel uncomfortable, even judged, at church.
In some rare cases, in order to allow one member of the former-couple to stay connected, the other will volunteer to step aside and go somewhere else.
This is the risk when two people date, no matter how well they swear to "purposely uncouple."
Sunday, April 13, 2014
The six statements of Easter
Just like the entire bible can be summed up by five meals, the story of Easter can be summed up by six statements.
Hosanna!
Crucify Him!
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
It is finished.
Surely this man was the Son of God!
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Over the next week-and-a-half I'll be reflecting on each of them at Tiny Bible Bits. You can check it out here.
Hosanna!
Crucify Him!
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
It is finished.
Surely this man was the Son of God!
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Over the next week-and-a-half I'll be reflecting on each of them at Tiny Bible Bits. You can check it out here.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Restored perspective
This week the I was scheduled to speak at three primary school Easter scripture services.
Yesterday it took me 2.5 hours to get to work.
Normally it takes 55 minutes.
As I was stuck in a massive traffic jam, eventually backtracking and AGAIN getting slammed by a plethora of cars, I started to stress.
As the minutes ticked away, the moments of the morning drifted past.
First, I was going to be late to setting up our church for the latter scripture service. Then I had to call my minister, who was helping me set up, and tell him that he would need to set up alone.
After this, I started to scramble for the number of someone who might need to kill a few minutes if I was "very on time" to the first service.
Finally, I had to admit defeat and arrange for someone else to fill in and speak at the service.
I was increasingly annoyed.
I promised the school and scripture teachers that I would speak...
Then I heard that the delay was caused by a fatal car accident.
My problems weren't that important.
I was only able to appear at two.
Yesterday it took me 2.5 hours to get to work.
Normally it takes 55 minutes.
As I was stuck in a massive traffic jam, eventually backtracking and AGAIN getting slammed by a plethora of cars, I started to stress.
As the minutes ticked away, the moments of the morning drifted past.
First, I was going to be late to setting up our church for the latter scripture service. Then I had to call my minister, who was helping me set up, and tell him that he would need to set up alone.
After this, I started to scramble for the number of someone who might need to kill a few minutes if I was "very on time" to the first service.
Finally, I had to admit defeat and arrange for someone else to fill in and speak at the service.
I was increasingly annoyed.
I promised the school and scripture teachers that I would speak...
I had a good talk planned...
It was a good opportunity at be "up front" at a school I'm on the fringe of...
I, potentially, put someone in a really difficult position by asking them to fill in at the last moment...
Then I heard that the delay was caused by a fatal car accident.
Someone died that morning.
Everything changed.
Everything changed.
My problems weren't that important.
Perspective was restored.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Ideas need microwaves and slow cookers
Some people have ideas. They see the vision before anyone else does. They are the innovators I spoke about here.
Others jump on board when they hear about the new idea.
They would be the early adopters.
Of theses, some are microwaves and some are slow cookers.
The microwaves will want action. Screw the procedures. They want to see tangible results. Immediately if possible.
The slow cookers will be just as committed as the microwaves, but will have the patience to see the entire project through.
Microwaves will often burn themselves out or get side-tracked when the next new initiative comes along.
For an idea to see the light of day, you need both microwaves and slow cookers.
Microwaves will provide the enthusiasm, energy and positivity to help sell the idea.
Slow cookers will be the ones who help the idea get past the difficult fall over moments.
The challenge is finding a healthy mix of both and managing their expectations.
Others jump on board when they hear about the new idea.
They would be the early adopters.
Of theses, some are microwaves and some are slow cookers.
The microwaves will want action. Screw the procedures. They want to see tangible results. Immediately if possible.
The slow cookers will be just as committed as the microwaves, but will have the patience to see the entire project through.
Microwaves will often burn themselves out or get side-tracked when the next new initiative comes along.
For an idea to see the light of day, you need both microwaves and slow cookers.
Microwaves will provide the enthusiasm, energy and positivity to help sell the idea.
Slow cookers will be the ones who help the idea get past the difficult fall over moments.
The challenge is finding a healthy mix of both and managing their expectations.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
The change equation
No matter if it is losing weight, learning a language, starting a new ministry or kicking a bad habit...
Identify + Desire + Envisage + Plan + Accountability = Change
See the need to change...
Want to change because it will take you to a better place...
See an anticipated destination...
Have a series of achievable steps towards change...
Be held responsible until you reach your goal...
When you have all these pieces then you have lasting change.
Identify + Desire + Envisage + Plan + Accountability = Change
See the need to change...
Want to change because it will take you to a better place...
See an anticipated destination...
Have a series of achievable steps towards change...
Be held responsible until you reach your goal...
When you have all these pieces then you have lasting change.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
The munchkin drop-off point
I've written about drop out points in youth/young adult ministry previously. Currently, my wife and I are in the middle of the oldest, and previously unmentioned, one.
Having a young child.
This drop out (or as it has happened with us - drop off) point arises in a lot of churches with differently-focused evening and morning services. In fact, young families will inevitably face this problem if the service in the morning and evening don't both cater to families with babies or toddlers.
Why?
It all has to do with toddlers needing routine. Break the routine and it can throw out the rhythm of the next two days. For us, our little one's bedtime is somewhere between 6:30-7:15pm. My churches evening service starts at 6:30.
Sense the problem?
I would suggest that most evening services, at least initially, are catered towards teens or actual young adults. Thus, they aren't set up for young kids.
But, as the years pass and the "clientele" advance in life stages towards parenthood, some will notice that "their" service no longer suits their needs.
So, in order to fit around their offspring's sleep patterns, they need to attend church in the morning.
But what happens if they don't feel like they fit into the morning service since they've never made a cross-congregation connection or the earlier service isn't appropriate because it's "classic" church with a "quite mature" average attender?
Fortunately, this isn't a problem in many churches since they have some form of "contemporary family service." But this isn't always the case, particularly if a successful youth ministry starts in evening service BECAUSE they wouldn't fit into what is provided in the morning.
Does a young family screw up their child's sleep pattern weekly?Do they "suffer" through a morning service which they don't connect with?
Does only one parent attend church, alternating, whilst the other looks after the munchkin?
Or, do they go to another, family friendlier, church?
Having a young child.
This drop out (or as it has happened with us - drop off) point arises in a lot of churches with differently-focused evening and morning services. In fact, young families will inevitably face this problem if the service in the morning and evening don't both cater to families with babies or toddlers.
Why?
It all has to do with toddlers needing routine. Break the routine and it can throw out the rhythm of the next two days. For us, our little one's bedtime is somewhere between 6:30-7:15pm. My churches evening service starts at 6:30.
Sense the problem?
I would suggest that most evening services, at least initially, are catered towards teens or actual young adults. Thus, they aren't set up for young kids.
But, as the years pass and the "clientele" advance in life stages towards parenthood, some will notice that "their" service no longer suits their needs.
So, in order to fit around their offspring's sleep patterns, they need to attend church in the morning.
But what happens if they don't feel like they fit into the morning service since they've never made a cross-congregation connection or the earlier service isn't appropriate because it's "classic" church with a "quite mature" average attender?
Fortunately, this isn't a problem in many churches since they have some form of "contemporary family service." But this isn't always the case, particularly if a successful youth ministry starts in evening service BECAUSE they wouldn't fit into what is provided in the morning.
Does a young family screw up their child's sleep pattern weekly?Do they "suffer" through a morning service which they don't connect with?
Does only one parent attend church, alternating, whilst the other looks after the munchkin?
Or, do they go to another, family friendlier, church?
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Share but don't return
Questions don't only make for good sermons but good church services. I start each service with a question and often throw one in the middle of the service somewhere. People, in a safe environment, usually have no problem sharing.
Normally, I'll prod people to talk to someone they don't share a surname or normally chat with (even if this involves moving!). In fact, a few people in church have set themselves a challenge to sit beside a different person each week at church.
One tricky thing I did in church a few weeks ago, as they were discussing with their neighbour, was to have the band immediately begin the next song.
The reason this was sneaky, tying into the sit-beside-a-different-person-challenge, was that it limited the opportunity for someone who moved to return to their original seat.
Who knows?
Sitting next to someone unfamiliar in church might be a good idea???
Normally, I'll prod people to talk to someone they don't share a surname or normally chat with (even if this involves moving!). In fact, a few people in church have set themselves a challenge to sit beside a different person each week at church.
One tricky thing I did in church a few weeks ago, as they were discussing with their neighbour, was to have the band immediately begin the next song.
The reason this was sneaky, tying into the sit-beside-a-different-person-challenge, was that it limited the opportunity for someone who moved to return to their original seat.
Who knows?
Sitting next to someone unfamiliar in church might be a good idea???
Sunday, March 23, 2014
God is not deaf
I'm fully aware that praying out loud isn't comfortable for everyone, and is a learned discipline, but it's important for community building and burden sharing.
So anytime I'm leading a time of open prayer I give everyone an important reminder about God.
Even though they aren't praying to me, I still wanna hear and be able to honestly say amen. Thus, anyone who prays will need to speak up so I can hear, not because God is hard of hearing.
So anytime I'm leading a time of open prayer I give everyone an important reminder about God.
Even though they aren't praying to me, I still wanna hear and be able to honestly say amen. Thus, anyone who prays will need to speak up so I can hear, not because God is hard of hearing.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Are they REALLY Young Adults?
Where do you draw the line?
20? 21? 25? 29? 35?!?
Very few churches have a solid idea about the top age of their "young" adults ministry.
Do you include everyone who is studying?
What if I'm still doing my masters, doctorate or specialising in medicine into my early thirties?
Do you include everyone who is single or lives at home?
What if I got married at 21?
Do you include everyone who goes to the evening service?
How will you ever has them link with the other congregations?
Do you include everyone who isn't catered for my the other groups?
Is this still okay then, if I'm 38, but "young at heart?"
If anything, I think we should draw the line YOUNGER, not older. Avoid the Peter Pan syndrome.
Say... 22.
By the time you've hit 23, you're no longer a young adult.
You're just an adult.
The world thinks so.
So should the church.
20? 21? 25? 29? 35?!?
Very few churches have a solid idea about the top age of their "young" adults ministry.
Do you include everyone who is studying?
What if I'm still doing my masters, doctorate or specialising in medicine into my early thirties?
Do you include everyone who is single or lives at home?
What if I got married at 21?
Do you include everyone who goes to the evening service?
How will you ever has them link with the other congregations?
Do you include everyone who isn't catered for my the other groups?
Is this still okay then, if I'm 38, but "young at heart?"
If anything, I think we should draw the line YOUNGER, not older. Avoid the Peter Pan syndrome.
Say... 22.
By the time you've hit 23, you're no longer a young adult.
You're just an adult.
The world thinks so.
So should the church.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Baptism & Confirmation: Selectng a sport & a side
One of my favourite sports is rugby league and my league side is the mighty Manly Sea Eagles. That is my sport and they are my team.
You follow your sport closer than any other and select one group to contribute towards and travel life-within-that-sport alongside.
The scenario reminds me, imperfectly, of baptism and confirmation.
Baptism is like announcing your favourite sport in that you stand up and pronounce that you're going to follow Jesus over all other options (including yourself) and confirmation is selecting your team in that you're deciding upon a group of people to take the journey of faith with.
You follow your sport closer than any other and select one group to contribute towards and travel life-within-that-sport alongside.
The scenario reminds me, imperfectly, of baptism and confirmation.
Baptism is like announcing your favourite sport in that you stand up and pronounce that you're going to follow Jesus over all other options (including yourself) and confirmation is selecting your team in that you're deciding upon a group of people to take the journey of faith with.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Get the leader & make a memory
Yesterday, at the Kid's Club of my church, I took one for the team in order to create memories.
Yesterday we played a game I dubbed "Firing Squad."
Yesterday I stood exposed and invited them to take their best shot.
When I wrote about making memories here I missed the one I used yesterday.
Getting the leader.
Yesterday afternoon, when we played wet games, I ended with each kid getting the chance to throw a water bomb at me whilst I stood still in the middle of the car park.
Most missed.
Except for the pot of water, tipped on me by surprise, by some of the leaders.
I'll never turn my back on them again...
Yesterday we played a game I dubbed "Firing Squad."
Yesterday I stood exposed and invited them to take their best shot.
When I wrote about making memories here I missed the one I used yesterday.
Getting the leader.
Yesterday afternoon, when we played wet games, I ended with each kid getting the chance to throw a water bomb at me whilst I stood still in the middle of the car park.
Most missed.
Except for the pot of water, tipped on me by surprise, by some of the leaders.
I'll never turn my back on them again...
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The 2 conditions of a reference
I pointed out here one of the hidden perks of my job - writing references. In fact, I did another one just last week.
But, previously, I didn't mention my two conditions.
In order for these conditions to make sense you need to know that when I do a reference, if I think it's accurate, I REALLY talk the person up. My favourite line starts with a favourable attribute followed by "this is the thing I admire most about him/her." It should bring a tear to the eye of any prospective employer.
My first condition, once it's written in black & white, is that the person seeks to live out what I've written.
My second, and I've never had to do this is even consider it seriously, is that I can request to get the reference back.
I'd hate for things to turn pear-shaped and I'm made out to be a liar.
But, previously, I didn't mention my two conditions.
In order for these conditions to make sense you need to know that when I do a reference, if I think it's accurate, I REALLY talk the person up. My favourite line starts with a favourable attribute followed by "this is the thing I admire most about him/her." It should bring a tear to the eye of any prospective employer.
My first condition, once it's written in black & white, is that the person seeks to live out what I've written.
My second, and I've never had to do this is even consider it seriously, is that I can request to get the reference back.
I'd hate for things to turn pear-shaped and I'm made out to be a liar.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
The final P's of a sermon
I'm going to be preaching in a few hours and, having typed up what I'm going to say yesterday, I emailed the transcript to myself with the three final P's as the subject.
Polish.
Practice.
PowerPoint.
Polish - Go ever everything with a clear mind and fresh eyes, tweaking what needs to be fixed.
Practice - At minimum, be able to nail your introduction, stories/illustrations, transitions and conclusion. I find this happens after three to five solid dry-runs.
PowerPoint - Only once you've decided the input and flow of the sermon do you look for pictures which communicate the same things in as few a words as possible.
Polish.
Practice.
PowerPoint.
Polish - Go ever everything with a clear mind and fresh eyes, tweaking what needs to be fixed.
Practice - At minimum, be able to nail your introduction, stories/illustrations, transitions and conclusion. I find this happens after three to five solid dry-runs.
PowerPoint - Only once you've decided the input and flow of the sermon do you look for pictures which communicate the same things in as few a words as possible.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
#HijackCHURCH
I'm a fan of professional wrestling. I'm nowhere near as tragic as I was growing up, but I keep track of what's going on and watch the odd show if I've some time to kill or something monumental happens.
Last week was meant to be noteworthy.
The primary show, Monday Night RAW, was meant to feel the brunt of a tsunami-like wave of fan discontentment.
The city with one of the most vocal fans, Chicago, was to unleash a disgruntled fury against the creative direction of the company.
To make the situation more volatile, the hometown boy - CM Punk - was rumored to make his big return after walking out on the company, and, as you can see below... his people love him...
The plan was dubbed #HijackRAW. It trended worldwide on Twitter and even had a manifesto outlining the way the crowd would take control.
I wonder... What would happen if a similar thing happened in church?
Could someone #HijackWORSHIP or #HijackSERMON?
If they tried, how would they do it?
What would the manifesto describe?
Who would be more annoyed, fellow congregation members or clergy?
How would a church leader appropriately respond?
Worse still, how many people would need to drastically change their actions to be a part of the anarchy?
Last week was meant to be noteworthy.
The primary show, Monday Night RAW, was meant to feel the brunt of a tsunami-like wave of fan discontentment.
The city with one of the most vocal fans, Chicago, was to unleash a disgruntled fury against the creative direction of the company.
To make the situation more volatile, the hometown boy - CM Punk - was rumored to make his big return after walking out on the company, and, as you can see below... his people love him...
The plan was dubbed #HijackRAW. It trended worldwide on Twitter and even had a manifesto outlining the way the crowd would take control.
I wonder... What would happen if a similar thing happened in church?
Could someone #HijackWORSHIP or #HijackSERMON?
If they tried, how would they do it?
What would the manifesto describe?
Who would be more annoyed, fellow congregation members or clergy?
How would a church leader appropriately respond?
Worse still, how many people would need to drastically change their actions to be a part of the anarchy?
Monday, March 3, 2014
Second year problems
I've mentioned before that longevity's a positive thing in ministry but, having been at my church for over a year now, it's starting to create a problem...
For I get ideas fairly quickly. When faced with a sermon or children's address, I'll have a thought pop into my mind without too much strain.
But I also have a poor memory.
Herein lies the problem.
I'll forget the stories, illustrations and objects I've used in the past, and one day, get caught using the same immediate-ideas to describe different, even opposing, things.
For I get ideas fairly quickly. When faced with a sermon or children's address, I'll have a thought pop into my mind without too much strain.
But I also have a poor memory.
Herein lies the problem.
I'll forget the stories, illustrations and objects I've used in the past, and one day, get caught using the same immediate-ideas to describe different, even opposing, things.
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