Church Leadership Stuff

I spoke at a Men's Leadership Event on Saturday. Hope you find something in here useful.

Things This Pastor Wishes Every Man in His Church Believed and Practiced

1. No substitute exists for Christian character. It takes a lifetime to develop. It takes seconds to lose.
2. Prayer works. We can do more with God than we can do without God.
3. Reading the Bible gives you a Christian worldview. Read it daily.
4. Inviting a neighbor, friend, and / or co-worker to worship, men’s group, or a serving team is the simplest and most effective way to share your faith.
5. God wants to use you in ministry to somebody in your community and / or somebody in your church.
6. Laughter and fun is God’s idea. Embrace it.
7. Be a spiritual leader in your home.
8. Give a little bit if you can give a little bit. Give generously if you can give generously.
9. Invest in the next generation.
10. No substitute exists for Christian character. It takes a lifetime to develop. It takes seconds to lose.

• What on this list is easy for you? What comes naturally for you?
• What on this list is a challenge for you?
• Which of these items are you willing to commit to growing in the next 12 months?
• How are you going to commit to growing in this new practice?
• Who are you going to commit to growing with?

Things to Know About Younger Men

1. Most younger men enjoy playing and watching sports.
2. Most younger men are pretty busy.
3. Most younger men are interested in spiritual things, but not interested in taking the first step to do something about it.
4. Most younger men want to be good husbands.
5. Most younger men want to be good fathers.
6. Most younger men want to serve their community / church in some way, but they generally need to be asked.
7. Most younger men want to belong to something.
8. Most younger men want to become something.
9. Most younger men have a certain level of discontent in their lives.
10. All younger men long for the things that God gives: forgiveness from the past, power in the present, and hope for the future.

• Does this list change the way that you may look at Men’s Ministry in the future? If so, how does your outlook on men’s ministry change?
• Which of these needs is your current men’s ministry / church fulfilling?
• Which of these needs would be easy for your church, men’s ministry, or you personally to do something about to reach out to men in your church and your community?
• What is the next step you need to take to share your faith with a man in your community or invite a man in your church to grow or serve with you?

Ways to Make Sure You Fail in Small Group Ministry

1. Don’t engage God. Just talk about sports, the weather, politics, etc…
2. Don’t teach people how to pray. Don’t pray for and with each other. And definitely don’t pray for lost and hurting people.
3. Don’t meet people where they are. Expect perfection from others right away.
4. Get really discouraged when your group takes off slowly. And don’t be open to new people either. Your group doesn’t need any more diversity.
5. Don’t invite new people to come. Put a little advertisement in the church newsletter and threaten to leave the church if the pastor doesn’t announce your small group in worship.
6. Start your group with a study of something simple, like the Book of Revelation or the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism.
7. Don’t serve together.
8. Don’t do stuff like have lunch together or go to sporting events together. Keep church stuff separate from your everyday life.
9. Don’t share the leadership. Do it all yourself.
10. Don’t seek help from somebody who is a proven leader in small group ministry. You can do it all by yourself!

• Are you in a small group? How is it going for you?
• How have you benefited from being in a small group in the past?
• What is keeping you from starting a small group or rethinking your existing small group?
• What are the next steps you need to take start a small group or move your current small group to the next level?