Leadership Thought: The Importance of Small Groups in Making Disciples

Dear Friends

If you have seen the movie, “A Few Good Men,” you probably remember the striking three-word question shouted by Colonel Jessup as he sought to defend himself against the charges of malfeasance: "Are we clear?”

Likewise, as a church we need to be asking ourselves the same question. Are we clear when it comes to communicating what we believe should be the goals and direction of our church? Church members deserve to know those goals and the process by which we seek to achieve them.  For example, if one of our goals is to ‘make disciples,’ and I hope we all can concur with this goal, then the question becomes how will we achieve this goal?  If we know the “what”-making disciples- then what is the “how-”-the process for making disciples?

To use a baseball analogy, just putting the ball in play is never enough. We need to figure out how we can insure our players cross home plate. If the team is not clear on the “how to” of accomplishing the goal, we may wind up with each player using his own strategy to accomplish the goal, rather than working together in a coordinated effort to achieve that goal.

One of the most effective ways of achieving the goal of making disciples is through the formation of small groups. To that end leadership must be unified in their commitment to help form and foster the development of  small group ministries.

A lot of discipleship strategies include the dispensing of information-what disciples need to know- which is largely communicated in the large group context of worship. And yes, knowing what to believe is an important part of the disciple making process. But also, of critical importance is teaching followers the importance of belonging and pointing them to those they “need to be with.” You may need to take a moment to reread this last sentence, or you may miss its significance. Often the most effective venue for disciple making is found amid a loving and supportive small group environment comprised of people who are committed to love and care for each other. Following Christ involves believing, but it also means belonging, and these two aspects must never be separated.

As much as I enjoy gathering together for worship in a large community setting like worship, I recognize that some of the deepest spiritual truths I have learned have come within a small group setting where I was challenged, exhorted, encouraged, and yes even rebuked in the interest of disciple making.

In closing, I remind you that while Christ intended for our relationship with Him to be personal, He never intended for it to be private. 

We really do need each other and churches that invest in the development of small group ministries will see lasting growth and transformation in both its members and the church.

Yours in faith and fellowship,

Pastor Tom

Leadership Thought: Please Say Yes to Small Groups.

Dear Friends,

I was recently visiting a friend’s house when I saw the title of an interesting book that caught my attention. The title is Creating Stories That Connect.

Interestingly enough it was written by Dr. Bruce Seymour, one of the pastors who preceded me at the church where I had recently pastored.

As I thumbed through the book, I came across a story told by Bill Hybels who was then the pastor Willow Creek Fellowship, a Mega Church outside of Chicago, Illinois where I had once attended for a weekend church leadership conference

Having been a strong proponent of small group life and having been involved in small groups in all the churches I have pastored, I was moved by Bill’s account which I share in his words.

I just finished presenting my weekend message at Willow Creek, and I was standing in the bullpen, talking to people. A young married couple approached me, placed a blanketed bundle in my arms, and asked me to pray for their baby. 

As I asked what the baby‘s name was, the mother pulled back the blanket that had covered the infant's face. I felt my knees begin to buckle. I thought I was going to faint. Had the father not steadied me, I may well have keeled over. In my arms was the most horribly deformed baby I had ever seen. The whole center of her tiny face was caved in. How she kept breathing, I will never know.

All I could say was, "Oh my God, ..."Oh my God"...."Oh my God."

"Her name is Emily," said the mother. "We’ve been told she has about six weeks to live," added the father. "We would like you to pray that before she dies, she will know and feel our love."

Barely able to mouth the words, I whispered, "Let’s pray together.” We prayed for Emily. Oh, did we pray. As I handed her back to her parents, I asked, "Is there anything we can do for you? Is there any way that we as a church can serve you during this time?"

The father responded with words that still amaze me. He said, "Bill, we’re OK. Really we are. We’ve been in a loving small group for years. Our group members knew that the pregnancy had complications. They were at our house the night, we learned the news, and they were at the hospital when Emily was delivered. They helped us absorb the reality of the whole thing. They even cleaned our house and fixed our meals when we bought her home. They pray for us constantly and call us several times every day. They’re even helping us plan Emily‘s funeral." 

Just then three other couples stepped forward and surrounded Emily and her parents. We always attend church together as a group," said one of the group members.

It was a picture I will carry to my grave, a tight knit huddle of loving brothers and sisters, doing their best to soften one of the cruel blows life can throw. After a group prayer, they all walked up the side aisle toward our lobby."

As I thought about this story, I wondered how that couple could have gotten through this tragically difficult time had it not been for a tight knit group of friends who loved and cared for them.

Small group life is an indispensable ministry in the church, and I’m grateful to be a part of a church where almost 2/3’s of our members are involved in one of our many small groups.

The Bible reminds us: “You are members of God's very own family... And you belong in God's household with every other Christian.”  (Ephesians 2:19. TLB).

It has been said that small groups are not a “ministry of the church, small groups are not a program of the church, small groups are not an outreach of the church, small groups are not even an event of the church, small groups are the church.” From Small Group Network.com.

If you are involved in a group, I hope you will seriously consider joining one. If you do, you might discover a wonderful source of help in time of need just as Emily’s parents did

Yours in faith and friendship, 

Tom

Leadership Thought: Heading for a Breakfast of Encouragement. Will You Join Me?

Dear Friends,

For many years, I have met with a close friend for breakfast. Every Wednesday morning at 7:00, we check in with one another and learn how each of us is doing.  The meeting has now grown to three, and sometimes even four, but the goal has always remained the same-encourage and lift each other up and strive to make each other better.

It is a wonderful thing when people recognize and commit to a plan of mutual encouragement, with the goal of building each other up.

I have often seen the benefits of this kind of mutual encouragement on the athletic fields, and especially in the weight room. Lifters work in pairs, aiding and supporting one another as each lifts the bar and struggles to achieve a certain weight or a number of repetitions. As one lifts, the other is shouting out words of encouragement- "Yes, you can do it," "just one more," "great job". Each individual wants the best for the other, and encouragement is one way to foster the end.

Mutual encouragement can forge unbreakable friendships that produce remarkable blessings and benefits to those involved. 

C.S. Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia series and J.R.Tolkien, who wrote The Hobbit series, were both professors at Oxford University. They maintained a close friendship throughout their careers. Every Thursday, they joined with other writers who would meet together to have a drink, talk about their fiction writing endeavors, and read passages of their yet unpublished works. 

It was Tolkien who challenged and encouraged Lewis, an avowed atheist, to explore Christianity, leading to his ultimate conversion. And it was Lewis who encouraged Tolkien to continue writing fiction and to seek publication. Was it not for their friendship and mutual encouragement, the world might not have known some of the finest writing and apologetics in the 20th century or enjoyed the finest fantasy work ever written Both encouraged each other, and in doing so, the world was blessed?

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are "to encourage one another and build others up, just as you are doing (1 Thess. 5:11).  Paul knew that everyone needs encouragement. It is oxygen to the soul. It keeps us alive and growing, and we can't live very long without it. As one person said, it is biodegradable- it has a short shelf life- so we need frequent doses of it.

If you don't have a close mutual friendship with another brother or sister, let me encourage you to work on building one. I promise you that you both will be blessed, and who knows the impact you might have on the world around you.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Adapted from a previous Leadership Thought

Posted by Pastor Tom at 9:03 AM No comments: 

Leadership Thought: What Might Happen If Everyone Cared Enough to Wash One Another’s Feet?

Dear Friends,

Have you ever participated in a foot washing service?

While some churches will celebrate communion on Maundy Thursday (the day before Good Friday), they may also offer a foot washing service commemorating the time when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples before going to the cross.

A foot  washing service provides a powerful reminder of what Christians are called to be-humble servants of the our Lord and Savior who did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped but instead emptied himself by assuming the form of a slave, and taking on the likeness of men,  He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death- even to death on a cross.  (Philippians 2:5-8)

Years ago, I remember leading a foot washing service for our elders in a church I pastored. We gathered in the sanctuary for a time of prayer and then proceeded to washing one another's feet.  I clearly felt the Holy Spirit directing me to lead this service, but  I confess I was a bit uncomfortable because it was foreign to our church's worship tradition, and I knew some participating would be uncomfortable and might even be critical of my actions.

As I look back on that time together, I remember it as being one of the most meaningful acts of worship in which I had ever participated, and I know that many of those elders felt the same way too.

In John 13:1-17 we read about this same service that took place in the upper room during the Last Supper of our Lord.

This was the last night Jesus spent with his disciples before going to the cross. During that time when He washed the feet of His disciples, He provided a powerful visual reminder of the humility and servant spirt He wanted His disciples to exhibit. 

During that time, Jesus addressed the prideful behavior of some of those disciples by reminding them that He came to earth not as a King and Conqueror but as a suffering servant who said, "I am among you as one who serves."

His attitude contrasted with the attitude of some of those disciples who had been pridefully arguing about who among them was the greatest disciple. (Luke 22:24)

As I reflect on this example, while also observing our divided nation and the hatred and hostility being expressed by many of our political leaders, I think it might be just the time for a good old congressional foot washing service. 

Can you imagine what positive changes might result if those on both sides of the aisle would humble themselves and begin washing one another’s feet?

I know how preposterous the thought is of anything like this ever happening, but one can always hope for such a spirit to capture the hearts of our nation's leaders.

Regardless of our own political persuasion, we as believers must not parrot the behavior of some of our leaders who seem far more interested in criticizing one another and tearing one another down than lifting one another up. 

You and I are not innocent of this behavior. Unfortunately, we may bear some of the responsibility for the political warfare that has fractured and divided our nation. 

There should be no place in our lives for selfish and prideful behavior and for nasty and demeaning rhetoric. Such actions are despicable and threaten the very fabric of our faith and friendships.

When Jesus finished washing the feet of those disciples, He told them, and us as well ,that 'I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15)

How refreshing it would be if we all bowed down and willingly began washing one another’s feet, while at the same time asking the Holy Spirit to scrub our hearts of any hatred or animosity that we might harbor toward those who would oppose us.

You and I as Christ's followers, those who are saved and sanctified by His precious blood, need to eradicate  any prideful behavior that might separates us from one another, grab a towel and basin, and humbly begin to do some of our own foot washing.

Only God knows what might happen if we did this, but one thing I do know that is certain is that God would be pleased, and that’s enough for me.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: The Story of a Catholic Pig Pen Follower of Christ.

Dear Friends, 

I recently read a story about two Roman Catholic leaders living in the 13th century. One was a beggar, and one was a pope, and surprisingly, as it may seem, the beggar was by far the most influential leader of people, and the one who would leave behind the greatest legacy of leadership.

One leader, Innocent the 3rd, was a powerful and haughty pope. The other leader was Francis, a humble and compassionate follower of Christ, whose mission in life was to beg for funds to repair church buildings that had fallen into disrepair.

Pastor James Garlow tells the story about a chance encounter between these two contrasting men. It seems that Francis, wanting official recognition of his ministry to secure funds for church restorations had traveled to the Vatican to seek a meeting with pope Innocent.

Quite by accident, they encountered each other in a hallway. Garlow writes, "It was a moment of drama. Francis, surprised to see the world's most powerful person, inarticulately blurted out his request. There was a moment of silence as the all-powerful Innocent looked at the lowly Francis. Finally, the stunned and angry pope told the strange, appearing man from  Assisi 'to go roll in the mud with the pigs.'  And how did Francis respond? Did he retaliate for Innocence's thoughtless command? No, Francis, obedient as he was, sought out a nearby pig pen and did exactly as he had been ordered. He rolled in the mud with the pigs. 

Had Bishop Guido, who was also from the same hometown as Francis, not been in Rome at that time, our story might have ended with Francis in the pig pen. But it doesn't end there. Bishop Guido persuaded Francis to leave the hogs behind and meet with a well-placed Cardinal who would be able to arrange a more appropriate, informal meeting with the pope.

At the second meeting, pope Innocent was quite intrigued with Francis, particularly the fact that Francis had taken his words literally (which Innocent likely never meant) and had rolled around in the mud with the pigs. 

The world's most powerful person was charmed by Francis's life and zeal, and the pope granted him and his followers official recognition. Francis and his followers became known as the preachers of Penance, the title, which was later changed to Franciscans." The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Tested by Time, James L. Garlow, Thomas Nelson, P. 3O.

You probably know this man better by the name of Francis of Assisi, the world's most favored saint.

Two men, one haughty and one humble, one a powerful potentate and one a passionate wandering preacher, and a pauper at that, were religious leaders, and yet few know much about Innocent the 3rd and yet almost everyone knows something of Saint Francis of Assisi.

You see humility left its mark, and humility will always leave its mark when practiced with true sincerity.

Warren Wiersbe writes, "The proud man has a mirror in which he sees himself. The humble man has a window through which he sees others.”

It is true that pride builds walls, and humility builds bridges. Francis learned the lesson well. Innocent failed to learn the lesson at all, and because of it, when we think of leaders who have left a spiritual legacy, we think of the humble Francis and not the haughty, pope Innocent.

Francis learned the lesson of Philippians 2 that reminds us that we are to "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than ourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God, something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross.” Philippians 2: 3-8

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

P.S. "Humility is a divine veil that covers our good deeds and hides them from our eyes." Climacus Saint John

Leadership Thought: Are We Trying to Make Faith Too Complicated?

Dear Friends,

Are we trying to make faith too complicated?

Writer Dave Burchette thinks so, and he writes about it in the following devotional I share with you today.

Sports fans might have heard TV analysts noting that a young athlete is struggling on the football field because the game is too fast and furious for them to react correctly. They say that when the game “slows down” that player will be much more effective. That means the athlete will learn what matters, what to react to, how not to get faked out, and how to respond properly in each situation.

I think that is what is happening for me after all of these years. My once frenetic efforts to be a “good Christian” are slowing down. I think I am learning more about what matters, what to react to, how not to get faked out by Satan, and how to respond in grace.

A great way to get some less than grace filled responses is to quote an R-rated movie. So here goes.

“Nook” LaLoosh (from Bull Durham): “A good friend of mine used to say, “This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains. Think about that for a while.”

Yeah! Think about that for a while!

In many ways Christianity is a very simple faith that we have made incredibly legalistic and difficult. To paraphrase the line above. “You love the Lord your God. You love your neighbor. Sometimes it is easy. Sometimes it is hard. Sometimes life rains on you.”

Why do I want to make it so maddeningly complex? A classic song by Chris Tomlin has one of the secrets that helped the game “slow down” for me. The lyrics from “I Will Follow” help make this journey a little more simple.

All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Higher than my side
High above my life
I will trust in you alone

Where you go, I’ll go
Where you stay, I’ll stay
When you move, I’ll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I’ll love
How you serve I’ll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you

I will follow you

Hmmmm. Maybe if I give up my need to figure everything out and sound smart, I will actually be more effective. Maybe if I just follow Him, I will learn to naturally do all the things I have been struggling so hard to do. There seems to be some precedent for this concept of simply following Jesus. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19, NIV

• But Jesus told him, “Follow me“….   Matthew 8:22, NIV
• “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9, NIV
• “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  Matthew 16:24, NIV
• “Then come, follow me.”   Matthew 19:21, NIV
• Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”   John 1:43, NIV
• “Whoever serves me must follow me;”   John 12:26, NIV
• Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”   John 21:22, NIV

In the immortal words of Forrest Gump…”I’m not a smart man”. But like Forrest I have a keen sense of the obvious. I have surmised (brilliantly) that Jesus wants me to follow Him. The rest of it we will figure out together.

Leadership Thought: Did You Ever See a Turtle on a Fence Post?

Dear Friend

I heard about a pastor who was voted the most humble pastor in America. And the congregation gave him a medal that said, “To the humblest pastor in America.” Then they took it away from him on Sunday because he wore it.

Humility is an important quality in the development of our Christian faith. It’s a characteristic that can strengthen our faith, deepen our relationship with God and impact the lives of those around us. It helps us recognize our limitations and reminds us of our need for grace.

D. L Moody was right when he reminded believers to, "Be humble or you'll stumble.”  A lack of humility can get you in a lot of trouble.

I wish I could say that I have learned that lesson, but I can't. Unfortunately, there have been more times in my life than I would like to admit, when I failed the class on humility.

I still remember the game which took place  20 years ago. It was definitely one of the most embarrassing moments  in my life. For many years I have umpired high school baseball and one year while in South Florida I chose to accept a few college games involving teams making  their spring trips from the north to get out of the cold weather. I felt like I had done reasonably well in the previous few games I had been assigned, and there was a dangerous sense of pride developing in my heart. “This isn't that difficult,” I thought. “Play is a little faster than high school, but I can handle it.” Overconfidence had set in. Then it happened. 

It was the Rutgers versus Kansas State game. I knew some of the players on Rutgers as they had played on a high school travel team on which my son had played.  I also knew their parents who had traveled south to watch them play and there was a part of my prideful nature that wanted them to see how this pastor they knew from New Jersey had progressed as an umpire. I became overly concerned about impressing them with my ability, and suddenly it happened.  I lost my focus, not a good thing to do in any game, but especially in a closely contested one run game when the tensions and emotions were high.

I called a pitch a strike that was obviously far out of the strike zone, and the third base coach erupted in anger and started yelling at me. I knew the moment I made the call that I had badly missed it. The next inning the same thing happened, only thank goodness my equally poor call was on the other team, and by now both coaches were angry and yelling at me. At this point, I couldn’t wait for the game to be finished so I could walk off the field, get into my car and drive away. When the game finished, I apologized to my partner for my performance, quickly sped off for home, never again to do another college game.

Pride and over-confidence had caught up with me, and yes. I stumbled and yes, I was humbled. and I know it will happen again whenever I take my eyes off God and begin trusting in my own strength, ability, and experience.

I contrast my experience with that of William Carey, who is known as the father of the modern-day mission movement. For much of his life, he was a humble cobbler until God called him to the mission field in India. His mission work became well known throughout the world. He became one of the finest linguists  the church has ever known, translating the Bible into 24 Indian languages. 

But not everyone appreciated him. Some disdained his lack of education and were quick to ridicule his rudimentary educational background. One evening at a dinner, a rather distinguished man, in an effort to embarrass Carey, said in a loud enough voice for all to hear: "Carey, I hear that you were a shoemaker before you became a missionary."

Carey looked up and humbly responded, "No sir that is not true. I was a cobbler. who only mended shoes, not a shoemaker who makes shoes."

Carey recognized his value to the Kingdom was not based upon anything but his moment-by-moment dependence upon the Lord. You see when we humble ourselves before the Lord, a vacuum is formed, and when it does, God always steps in to fill that vacuum. 

Jesus in referring to himself said: "I am meek and humble of heart." What accounted for that humility?

Jesus' humility came from his dependence on the Father. He could have used his own power, and his own position to secure whatever he desired, but instead, he depended completely on the Father to provide whatever he might need.  And when we depend completely on the Father, we too will find that we don’t need to depend upon personality, performance, power, or position to secure whatever we might need.  Our faith in Him will free us from pride, and we will discover in the process that "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18. Yes, God will always bring down the proud and exalt the humble.

Alex Haley, the writer of Roots, the classic piece on the development of slavery, has a huge picture in his office. And it’s the picture of a turtle on a fence post. He said it was there to remind him of a valuable lesson he once learned: "If you ever see a turtle on a fence post, you know, he had some help."

May God help each one of us to learn this lesson.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom