A name is something huge!! Whether it’s a child or an event, when you put a label/name on it, it begins to live up (or down) to its name. That’s the power of naming.
In my opinion, everything that is born of God deserves a good name. In giving a name to your youth ministry or event, it is important to think about what it says about who your are and how it will appeal to both churched and unchurched teenagers. Here are ten names* that have significant spiritual meaning, yet are not religious sounding, that I have come across over the years.
1) Revolution - God has called his church to revolt from sin and rally people to His cause.
2) Flood - Isaiah 44:3 says, God will pour water on him that is thirsty and floods on dry ground.
3) Ten-Ten (10/10) - John 10:10, hence “ten-ten” promises abundant life to those who serve Jesus.
4) Flo - An acronym for “Forever Live On” based on the John 11:26 promise of everlasting life.
5) Young World - Isn’t this what every youth group ought to be?
6) Everfree - whom the son sets free is free indeed.
7) Fish - Jesus said, “Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.”
8) Last Rain - Joel prophesied about the day of the latter rain, which we now are in.
9) Slam - “Students Living A Mission.”
10) Awake - The scripture tells us to awake from our slumber.
For example, our high school ministry name is “Force”. Our middle school ministry name is “Impact.” Our college ministry name is “explosion.” They all center under Matthew 11:12: “the kingdom of heavens suffers violence and the violent take it by force.” These are aggressive, action words to describe how we are going from our local church to reach the unreached.
*You may want to check out trademark and copyright protection on these names before using them.
Hope I helped,
pg
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
5 Stages Of Effective Vision Transference
If you are going to successfully pass on a new area of vision to your student ministry, you must walk through each of the stages one at a time and in this order:
1) The Personal Stage. This is the stage where the Lord puts the vision firmly in your heart through careful prayer, study and practical research. Long before you ever get it out of your mouth, it should marinate for a long time in your heart. “out of the “abundance” of the heart, the mouth speaks.” In other words, your heart, head, and hands should spend many many hours, days, weeks, and months allowing this new shift to get “in you” before it comes out of you.
2) The Pastoral Stage. This is where you submit your new area of vision to your Senior Pastor, seeking his support, input and refinement. Staying under authority is critical with vision casting from a secondary leadership position. “di”vision is not a God-thing. The word “di” actually means “2.” Your vision should always fit in your pastor’s vision. If it doesn’t, it’s probably not God’s vision for that House of Worship. If it does fit, then make sure you can show direct lines of connection between what your pastor is trying to get done, and your new vision approach. Rebellion is not an option.
3) The Leadership Stage. This is when you meet with your key staff and volunteer leaders, giving them the inside scoop on what you’re about to introduce. Everyone like to be “in the know.” There is nothing more demoralizing to key leaders then to hear a “new” shift with the “commoners.” It’s much harder to come off the mountain alone, then to have a entire leadership buy-in. Take the time to get it to your key influencers. They can be the “Paul Revere’s” of your student ministry.
4) The Student Stage. This is when you present your idea to your students in your weekly meeting. Approach your students with a “I believe this is where God is leading us” approach verses a “thus saith the Lord.” Trust me. After years of demanding change and nothing happening, the softer public approach is much more of a morale boost.
5) The Community Stage. This is where you create city-wide awareness for your vision by promoting it effectively with the schools, the media, and the business community. This is where most people blow it. How do you market this new vision in a way that people outside of your church can buy-in. Walking billboards are HUGE in advertising. Find a way to get it on a shirt, on stickers, on cars, on tattoos, whatever it takes to get this new vision out.
Hope I helped,
pg
1) The Personal Stage. This is the stage where the Lord puts the vision firmly in your heart through careful prayer, study and practical research. Long before you ever get it out of your mouth, it should marinate for a long time in your heart. “out of the “abundance” of the heart, the mouth speaks.” In other words, your heart, head, and hands should spend many many hours, days, weeks, and months allowing this new shift to get “in you” before it comes out of you.
2) The Pastoral Stage. This is where you submit your new area of vision to your Senior Pastor, seeking his support, input and refinement. Staying under authority is critical with vision casting from a secondary leadership position. “di”vision is not a God-thing. The word “di” actually means “2.” Your vision should always fit in your pastor’s vision. If it doesn’t, it’s probably not God’s vision for that House of Worship. If it does fit, then make sure you can show direct lines of connection between what your pastor is trying to get done, and your new vision approach. Rebellion is not an option.
3) The Leadership Stage. This is when you meet with your key staff and volunteer leaders, giving them the inside scoop on what you’re about to introduce. Everyone like to be “in the know.” There is nothing more demoralizing to key leaders then to hear a “new” shift with the “commoners.” It’s much harder to come off the mountain alone, then to have a entire leadership buy-in. Take the time to get it to your key influencers. They can be the “Paul Revere’s” of your student ministry.
4) The Student Stage. This is when you present your idea to your students in your weekly meeting. Approach your students with a “I believe this is where God is leading us” approach verses a “thus saith the Lord.” Trust me. After years of demanding change and nothing happening, the softer public approach is much more of a morale boost.
5) The Community Stage. This is where you create city-wide awareness for your vision by promoting it effectively with the schools, the media, and the business community. This is where most people blow it. How do you market this new vision in a way that people outside of your church can buy-in. Walking billboards are HUGE in advertising. Find a way to get it on a shirt, on stickers, on cars, on tattoos, whatever it takes to get this new vision out.
Hope I helped,
pg
Friday, August 20, 2010
8 SECULAR BOOKS EVERY LEADER SHOULD READ ASAP
Charles Tremendous Jones said, “You are the same as you are today five years from now, except for two things: The people with whom you associate and the books you read.” We should grow every day of our life by learning something new. Here are 8 books that will help you achieve your maximum potential. Don’t be alarmed that they are secular. If the principles they teach are working, it’s because they are based upon Biblical principles.
1)7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey will help prioritize your life around what is truly important.
2)“5” Where will you be five years from now by Dan Zadra will help you create a purpose that starts your mission that helps you get aligned for the next 5 years all based upon your personal values.
3)The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard will help you motivate your leaders in less time.
4)Lincoln on Leadership by Donald Phillips will give insight on the characteristics and principles of what it takes to become a great leader.
5)Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki will help you develop a plan for financial independence. It’s easier to focus on your leadership faith when you don’t have to focus continually on your finances.
6)All Business is Show Business by Scott McKain will help you understand that presentation and promotion is HUGE in every single thing you attach your leadership energy too.
7)The Purple Cow by Seth Godin will help you to become “remarkable” and distinctive in what you are doing verses very other student ministry around you is doing.
8)The Disney Way by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson takes you into the creative giant of Disney and empowers you to unlock your creative genius.
hope i helped,
pg
1)7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey will help prioritize your life around what is truly important.
2)“5” Where will you be five years from now by Dan Zadra will help you create a purpose that starts your mission that helps you get aligned for the next 5 years all based upon your personal values.
3)The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard will help you motivate your leaders in less time.
4)Lincoln on Leadership by Donald Phillips will give insight on the characteristics and principles of what it takes to become a great leader.
5)Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki will help you develop a plan for financial independence. It’s easier to focus on your leadership faith when you don’t have to focus continually on your finances.
6)All Business is Show Business by Scott McKain will help you understand that presentation and promotion is HUGE in every single thing you attach your leadership energy too.
7)The Purple Cow by Seth Godin will help you to become “remarkable” and distinctive in what you are doing verses very other student ministry around you is doing.
8)The Disney Way by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson takes you into the creative giant of Disney and empowers you to unlock your creative genius.
hope i helped,
pg
Friday, August 13, 2010
6 Things To Bring To Every Brainstorming Meeting
Brainstorming meetings have the potential to create brand new programs, outreaches and systems that can cause your ministry to explode. Make sure you show up with the following in order to see the results you want:
1) Bring your faith-filled, wide-open imagination.
If you are not open, well rested and excited, why would your team be??
2) Bring at least 3-5 of your key leaders or students with them same kind of imagination.
TRUST ME!! The last thing you want in a brainstorming session is a negative or unimaginitive person
3) Bring a large tablet and 3-4 colorful markers to record all your ideas without prejudice.
It's a "storm" no idea is bad.
4) Bring your most important ministry priorities for discussion and planning.
Creativity is a lot less spontaneous and random than we realize. Stay on task otherwise you'll be wasting hours on stuff that is irrelevant and probably irreverant, as well. Experience is talking.
5) Bring a $20.00 bill as reward to the person with the “best idea of the day” to provoke participation.
High expectations should be matched with high rewards!!
6) Bring a notebook for each person to record their assignments at the end of the session for follow-up research.
What's the point of the meeting if there is nothing to leave and do? What's the point of the people in the room to create something they can't go to work on, as well??
hope i helped,
pg
1) Bring your faith-filled, wide-open imagination.
If you are not open, well rested and excited, why would your team be??
2) Bring at least 3-5 of your key leaders or students with them same kind of imagination.
TRUST ME!! The last thing you want in a brainstorming session is a negative or unimaginitive person
3) Bring a large tablet and 3-4 colorful markers to record all your ideas without prejudice.
It's a "storm" no idea is bad.
4) Bring your most important ministry priorities for discussion and planning.
Creativity is a lot less spontaneous and random than we realize. Stay on task otherwise you'll be wasting hours on stuff that is irrelevant and probably irreverant, as well. Experience is talking.
5) Bring a $20.00 bill as reward to the person with the “best idea of the day” to provoke participation.
High expectations should be matched with high rewards!!
6) Bring a notebook for each person to record their assignments at the end of the session for follow-up research.
What's the point of the meeting if there is nothing to leave and do? What's the point of the people in the room to create something they can't go to work on, as well??
hope i helped,
pg
Thursday, May 20, 2010
"The Ghost" - A 2 Week Series Worth of My Notes
THE major distinction between us, as pentecostals, and other churches and denominations simply is found in the present-day Move of the Spirit. I just finished a 2-week series on foundational/scriptural truths about the "present" move of THE GHOST. A lot of the students I am priviledged to pastor are from diverse backgrounds. It was important for me to show them the Word through this distinction. Many of them has asked for my notes from the past two weeks for further study, so i thought i would just post them as my BLOG entry this week. Both weeks' notes are in this BLOG.
Hope this helps,
pg
GHOST—1
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
4 On one occasion, while (Jesus) was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…”8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:4-5, 8
Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18
12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into[c] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:12-17
1. What it is Not
i. NATURAL TALENTS.
ii. GIVEN TO THE ELITE FEW.
iii. SIGN OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
iv. SOMETHING TO FEAR.
2. What does it look like
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:6-8 NLT
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NLT
3. What does the spirit-filled life do or become?
dunamis (doo'-nam-is); a force; a miraculous power, the explosive power of God.
HOLY SPIRIT GIVES YOU THE POWER
1) TO SHARE CHRIST BOLDLY.
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
2) WHEN YOU ARE WEAK.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me... For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
3) TO HAVE HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
4) TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
------------------------------
THE GHOST—2
THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT “INITIALLY” WITH TONGUES
A. SPIRIT-FILLED & TONGUES
On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell upon the assembled believers and "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues" (Acts 2:4).
Later, as Peter was preaching at the house of Cornelius, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message" and they were "speaking in tongues and praising God" (Acts 10:44, 46).
Again, as the apostle Paul was ministering to the Ephesians, "the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied" (Acts 19:6).
It is evident also that Paul himself was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17) and spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18)
2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:2 NIV
B. WHY “TONGUES?”
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, 1 Corinthians 14:4a NIV
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 1 Corinthians 14:14-16 NIV
17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 17-21 NIV
- How I know the moment my wife transitioned from "Clay" to a "Walters" was when the minister used his TONGUE/MOUTH/LANGUAGE to declare, " I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU...."
C. HOW DO I RECEIVE??
Scriptures referring to the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and a prayer to receive...
13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:13 NLT
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts 1:8 NLT
2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2a NLT
D. WHAT IS “NOT” GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME?
1. God is NOT going to JUMP DOWN YOUR THROAT & make you “talk in tongues.”
2. God is NOT going to JUMP INSIDE OF YOU & make you fall, spin, run, or jump in a baptismal pool
These 2 are examples of POSSESSION. God doesn't do that. He's a gentleman
3. God is NOT going to PRETEND you are in tune with Him and give it to you, anyway
He doesn't just wink at your sin and throw you a bone, either.
4. God is NOT going to FORCE Himself on you.
That is called RAPE. Ghost WILL NOT force anything. Again, He is a gentleman. As long as it takes you to be "open" to Him.
E. OK. BUT WHAT DO “I DO” TO POSITION MYSELF TO RECEIVE?
1. You are in “relationship” with Jesus
2. Focus on God, not the godly (iow's Don't get focused on tongues or a song, be focused only on Him)
3. YOU HAVE TO SPEAK/PRAY?SING OUT LOUD
4. Listen for “crazy syllables” coming into your head
5. Speak those syllables by Faith OUT LOUD
6. Then let it flow
F. Is it necessary TO KEEP my prayer language after my “initial” filling?
YES! The result of a “FILLED” life is full of FRUIT and GIFTS that are to do GIVEN for the benefits of others.
The cup illustration with a hole in the bottom
Hope this helps,
pg
GHOST—1
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
4 On one occasion, while (Jesus) was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…”8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:4-5, 8
Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 5:18
12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into[c] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:12-17
1. What it is Not
i. NATURAL TALENTS.
ii. GIVEN TO THE ELITE FEW.
iii. SIGN OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
iv. SOMETHING TO FEAR.
2. What does it look like
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Romans 12:6-8 NLT
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NLT
3. What does the spirit-filled life do or become?
dunamis (doo'-nam-is); a force; a miraculous power, the explosive power of God.
HOLY SPIRIT GIVES YOU THE POWER
1) TO SHARE CHRIST BOLDLY.
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
2) WHEN YOU ARE WEAK.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me... For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
3) TO HAVE HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
4) TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
------------------------------
THE GHOST—2
THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT “INITIALLY” WITH TONGUES
A. SPIRIT-FILLED & TONGUES
On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell upon the assembled believers and "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues" (Acts 2:4).
Later, as Peter was preaching at the house of Cornelius, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message" and they were "speaking in tongues and praising God" (Acts 10:44, 46).
Again, as the apostle Paul was ministering to the Ephesians, "the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied" (Acts 19:6).
It is evident also that Paul himself was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17) and spoke in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:18)
2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:2 NIV
B. WHY “TONGUES?”
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, 1 Corinthians 14:4a NIV
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 1 Corinthians 14:14-16 NIV
17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 17-21 NIV
- How I know the moment my wife transitioned from "Clay" to a "Walters" was when the minister used his TONGUE/MOUTH/LANGUAGE to declare, " I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU...."
C. HOW DO I RECEIVE??
Scriptures referring to the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and a prayer to receive...
13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:13 NLT
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts 1:8 NLT
2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2a NLT
D. WHAT IS “NOT” GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME?
1. God is NOT going to JUMP DOWN YOUR THROAT & make you “talk in tongues.”
2. God is NOT going to JUMP INSIDE OF YOU & make you fall, spin, run, or jump in a baptismal pool
These 2 are examples of POSSESSION. God doesn't do that. He's a gentleman
3. God is NOT going to PRETEND you are in tune with Him and give it to you, anyway
He doesn't just wink at your sin and throw you a bone, either.
4. God is NOT going to FORCE Himself on you.
That is called RAPE. Ghost WILL NOT force anything. Again, He is a gentleman. As long as it takes you to be "open" to Him.
E. OK. BUT WHAT DO “I DO” TO POSITION MYSELF TO RECEIVE?
1. You are in “relationship” with Jesus
2. Focus on God, not the godly (iow's Don't get focused on tongues or a song, be focused only on Him)
3. YOU HAVE TO SPEAK/PRAY?SING OUT LOUD
4. Listen for “crazy syllables” coming into your head
5. Speak those syllables by Faith OUT LOUD
6. Then let it flow
F. Is it necessary TO KEEP my prayer language after my “initial” filling?
YES! The result of a “FILLED” life is full of FRUIT and GIFTS that are to do GIVEN for the benefits of others.
The cup illustration with a hole in the bottom
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Who am I? No, this is Who I am...
From a recent message.
I had kids go home an write these over the mirror in permsnent marker. That way they had to see who He says they are verses what they are looking at at that moment.
Hope it helps!!
pg
The Message (Matt. 10: 38-39)"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.
Who I Am In Christ
I AM GOD'S…
· possession Genesis 17:8/ 1Cor 6:20
· child John 1:12
· workmanship Ephesians 2:10
· friend James 2:23
· temple 1 Cor 3:16/ 6:16
· vessel 2 Timothy 2:2
· co-laborer 1 Timothy 5:18
· witness Acts 1:8
· soldier 2 Timothy 2:3
· ambassador 2 Cor 5:20
· building 1 Cor 3:9
· husbandry 1 Cor 3:9
· minister/instrument Acts 26:16 / 1 Tim 4:6
· chosen Ephesians 1:4
· beloved Romans 1:7/ 2 Thess 2:13
· precious jewel Malachi 3:17
· heritage 1 Peter 5:3
I HAVE BEEN…
· redeemed by the blood Rev 5:9
· set free from sin /condemnation Rom 8:1-2
· set free from Satan's control Col 1:13
· set free from Satan's kingdom Eph 2
· chosen before foundation of world Eph 1:4
· predestined to be like Jesus Ephesians 1:11
· forgiven of all my trespasses Col 2:13
· washed in the blood of the Lamb Rev 1:5
· given a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7
· given the Holy Spirit 2 Cor 1:22
· adopted into God's family Romans 8:15
· justified freely by his grace Romans 3:24
· given all things pertaining to life 2 Pet 1:3
· given great and precious promises 2 Pet 1:4
· given ministry of reconciliation 2 Cor 1:22
· authority over the power of enemy Lk 10:19
· access to God Ephesians 3:12
· been given wisdom Ephesians 1:8
I AM…
· complete in him Colossians 2:10
· free forever from sin's power Romans 6:14
· sanctified 1 Cor 6:11
· meet for the Master's use 2 Timothy 2:21
· loved eternally 1 Peter 1:5 /
· eternally kept in the palm of his hand Jn 10:29
· kept from falling Jude 1:24
· kept by the power of God 1 Peter 1:5
· not condemned Romans 8:1-2
· one with the Lord 1 Cor 6:17
· on my way to heaven John 14:6
· quickened by his mighty power Eph 2:1
· seated in heavenly places Eph 1:3
· the head and not the tail Deut 28:13
· light in the darkness Matthew 5:14
· candle in a dark place Matthew 5:15
· city set on a hill Matthew 5:14
· salt of the earth Matthew 5:13
· his sheep Ps 23 / Psalms 100:3/ John 10:14
· a citizen of heaven 1 Peter 2:11
· hidden with Christ in God Psalms 32:7
· protected from the evil one 1 John 5:18
· kept by the power of God 1 Peter 1:5
· secure in Christ Jn 10:28-29
· set on a Rock Psalms 40:2
· more-than-a-conqueror Romans 8:37
· born again 1 Peter 1:23
· a victor 1 John 5:4
· healed by his strips Is 53:6
· covered by blood of Jesus Rev 12:11, 1 Pet 1:19
· sheltered under his wing Psalms 91:4
· hidden in secret place of the Almighty Ps 91:1
I HAVE…
· access to the Father Romans 5:2
· a home in heaven waiting for me Jn 14:1-2
· all things in Christ 2 Cor 5:17
· a living hope 1 Peter 1:3
· an anchor to my soul Hebrews 6:19
· a hope that is sure and steadfast Heb 6:19
· authority to tread on serpents Luke 10:19
· power to witness Acts 1:8
· the tongue of the learned Isaiah 50:4
· the mind of Christ 1 Cor 2:16
· boldness and access Hebrews 10:19
· peace with God Romans 5:1
· faith as a grain of mustard seed Luke 17:6
I CAN…
· do all things through Christ Philp 4:13
· find mercy and grace to help Heb 4:16
· come boldly to the throne of grace Heb 4:16
· quench all the firey darts Eph 6:16
· tread on the serpent Luke 10:19
· declare liberty to captives Isaiah 61:1
· pray always and everywhere Luke 21:36
· chase a thousand Joshua 23:10
· defeat (overcome) the enemy Rev 12:11
· tread Satan under foot Rom 16:20
I CANNOT…
· be separated from God's love Rom 8:35-39
· be perish or be lost John 10:28, John 3:16
· be moved Psalms 16:8
· be taken out of my Father's hand John 10:29
· be charged or accused Romans 8:33
· be condemned 1 Cor 11:32
Romans 8 is emphatic when it says, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, rose again, and sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us."
Too often I believe the lies and accusations of the enemy. I either am ignorant of what God has said or I willingly disbelieve it based on my "feelings." I do not need to "feel" anything! God's truth is God's truth. "Let God be true and every man a liar." (Romans 3:4 )
I am learning who I am in Christ and I am confessing the same out loud.
I am what God says I am regardless of how I feel about myself. My feelings cannot change the absolute truth of God's word. I must see myself in the light of God's word.
Once I have heard and seen God's truth I am to RECKON it to be so.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." – Romans 6:11.
The word reckon is "logizomai" in Greek, which means to calculate, count it up, logically sum it up as so. I sum up what God says about me as truth and refuse to allow anything less than His words to get close enough to me to doubt who I truly am.
List all of your faults, failures, hurts, wounds, scars, etc and "reckon" them against eveything God says about you. God's point of view wins everytime!!
I had kids go home an write these over the mirror in permsnent marker. That way they had to see who He says they are verses what they are looking at at that moment.
Hope it helps!!
pg
The Message (Matt. 10: 38-39)"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me.
Who I Am In Christ
I AM GOD'S…
· possession Genesis 17:8/ 1Cor 6:20
· child John 1:12
· workmanship Ephesians 2:10
· friend James 2:23
· temple 1 Cor 3:16/ 6:16
· vessel 2 Timothy 2:2
· co-laborer 1 Timothy 5:18
· witness Acts 1:8
· soldier 2 Timothy 2:3
· ambassador 2 Cor 5:20
· building 1 Cor 3:9
· husbandry 1 Cor 3:9
· minister/instrument Acts 26:16 / 1 Tim 4:6
· chosen Ephesians 1:4
· beloved Romans 1:7/ 2 Thess 2:13
· precious jewel Malachi 3:17
· heritage 1 Peter 5:3
I HAVE BEEN…
· redeemed by the blood Rev 5:9
· set free from sin /condemnation Rom 8:1-2
· set free from Satan's control Col 1:13
· set free from Satan's kingdom Eph 2
· chosen before foundation of world Eph 1:4
· predestined to be like Jesus Ephesians 1:11
· forgiven of all my trespasses Col 2:13
· washed in the blood of the Lamb Rev 1:5
· given a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7
· given the Holy Spirit 2 Cor 1:22
· adopted into God's family Romans 8:15
· justified freely by his grace Romans 3:24
· given all things pertaining to life 2 Pet 1:3
· given great and precious promises 2 Pet 1:4
· given ministry of reconciliation 2 Cor 1:22
· authority over the power of enemy Lk 10:19
· access to God Ephesians 3:12
· been given wisdom Ephesians 1:8
I AM…
· complete in him Colossians 2:10
· free forever from sin's power Romans 6:14
· sanctified 1 Cor 6:11
· meet for the Master's use 2 Timothy 2:21
· loved eternally 1 Peter 1:5 /
· eternally kept in the palm of his hand Jn 10:29
· kept from falling Jude 1:24
· kept by the power of God 1 Peter 1:5
· not condemned Romans 8:1-2
· one with the Lord 1 Cor 6:17
· on my way to heaven John 14:6
· quickened by his mighty power Eph 2:1
· seated in heavenly places Eph 1:3
· the head and not the tail Deut 28:13
· light in the darkness Matthew 5:14
· candle in a dark place Matthew 5:15
· city set on a hill Matthew 5:14
· salt of the earth Matthew 5:13
· his sheep Ps 23 / Psalms 100:3/ John 10:14
· a citizen of heaven 1 Peter 2:11
· hidden with Christ in God Psalms 32:7
· protected from the evil one 1 John 5:18
· kept by the power of God 1 Peter 1:5
· secure in Christ Jn 10:28-29
· set on a Rock Psalms 40:2
· more-than-a-conqueror Romans 8:37
· born again 1 Peter 1:23
· a victor 1 John 5:4
· healed by his strips Is 53:6
· covered by blood of Jesus Rev 12:11, 1 Pet 1:19
· sheltered under his wing Psalms 91:4
· hidden in secret place of the Almighty Ps 91:1
I HAVE…
· access to the Father Romans 5:2
· a home in heaven waiting for me Jn 14:1-2
· all things in Christ 2 Cor 5:17
· a living hope 1 Peter 1:3
· an anchor to my soul Hebrews 6:19
· a hope that is sure and steadfast Heb 6:19
· authority to tread on serpents Luke 10:19
· power to witness Acts 1:8
· the tongue of the learned Isaiah 50:4
· the mind of Christ 1 Cor 2:16
· boldness and access Hebrews 10:19
· peace with God Romans 5:1
· faith as a grain of mustard seed Luke 17:6
I CAN…
· do all things through Christ Philp 4:13
· find mercy and grace to help Heb 4:16
· come boldly to the throne of grace Heb 4:16
· quench all the firey darts Eph 6:16
· tread on the serpent Luke 10:19
· declare liberty to captives Isaiah 61:1
· pray always and everywhere Luke 21:36
· chase a thousand Joshua 23:10
· defeat (overcome) the enemy Rev 12:11
· tread Satan under foot Rom 16:20
I CANNOT…
· be separated from God's love Rom 8:35-39
· be perish or be lost John 10:28, John 3:16
· be moved Psalms 16:8
· be taken out of my Father's hand John 10:29
· be charged or accused Romans 8:33
· be condemned 1 Cor 11:32
Romans 8 is emphatic when it says, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, rose again, and sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us."
Too often I believe the lies and accusations of the enemy. I either am ignorant of what God has said or I willingly disbelieve it based on my "feelings." I do not need to "feel" anything! God's truth is God's truth. "Let God be true and every man a liar." (Romans 3:4 )
I am learning who I am in Christ and I am confessing the same out loud.
I am what God says I am regardless of how I feel about myself. My feelings cannot change the absolute truth of God's word. I must see myself in the light of God's word.
Once I have heard and seen God's truth I am to RECKON it to be so.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." – Romans 6:11.
The word reckon is "logizomai" in Greek, which means to calculate, count it up, logically sum it up as so. I sum up what God says about me as truth and refuse to allow anything less than His words to get close enough to me to doubt who I truly am.
List all of your faults, failures, hurts, wounds, scars, etc and "reckon" them against eveything God says about you. God's point of view wins everytime!!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
IronLeader Challenge
Last month, I competed in my gym's annual ironman competition. Now before you call me a liar or get impressed, they give us a month to complete the ironman verses the insane people who can achieve it in 1 day or less. If you don't know what it takes to complete an ironman, here it goes.
112 miles biking
26.2 miles running (marathon)
2.5 miles swimming (180 lengths of an olymplic-sized pool)
Needless to say, I spent some major time in the gym exerting a ton of energy for the ultimate prize of a cookout, t-shirt, and the satisfaction of knowing i completed a goal I set for myself. Noone was standing over my shoulder. there's no one in the stands cheering me on. Day after day, i'd roll out of my cozy, king-sized bed and slide on some gym clothes and commence to sweating.
About halfway through, I realized noone was holding me accountable. The cookout, nor the t-shirt was appealing enough to keep me "excited" about this goal. To be frank, it sucked!! I felt myself begin to make excuses and try and justify taking shortcuts. But every time i would begin to feel that way, something would check me and remind me that the only way to feel true satisfaction in completing a goal is to COMPLETE THE GOAL!
As i saw the end of my goal coming to an end. I saw a tremendous leadership principle i would like to "Challenge" you with this next month. It's what i would like to call the "IronLeader Challenge." The challenge goes like this every workday for a month:
1. Warmup
2. 112 minutes of Biking = "cycling"
3. 2.62 hours of Running = "goal pursuit"
4. 180 minutes of Swimming = "resistance stroking"
5. Cool down
Warmup for 30-45 minutes
Everyday warmup with a leadership book of some sorts. It can be a few pages. For me, I like to read a chapter everyday. Reading is not a joy, it's a MUST for me. Why leadership and not the Bible? 1. The bible is not a job thing, it's a relationship. 2. A leadership book will get your brain thinking like a leader. Secular or sacred, it doesn't matter. Just let your mind grab leadership from a leader.
2. 112 minutes of "cycling"
A large portion of leadership is simply understanding and focusing on the cycle of ministry. Practices, meetings, planning, services, bible studies, discipleship, etc. Cycling is simply putting your butt on a seat and working the pedals. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. Every meeting, practice, event, class, or whatever requires 3 things to be effective. 1. Pre planning 2. The event itself 3. Debriefing
If your thing isn't worth getting ready for, don't have it in the first place. If your thing isn't productive enough for you to have to debrief and see what you are doing next, don't have that meeting again.
3. 2.62 hours of "goal pursuit"
"make the vision plain so those that are running can read it clear."
Have an agenda. Let it be a godly agenda. Propaganda is not a bad thing, if it's Gods agenda you are trying to peddle. Everyone like a goal. It's the only way to know whether u are winning or losing. Set what I call "WIGs" ( Wildly Important Goals) they are quantifiable and attainable with a little more effort. Set goals that will make you and your team push a little harder, but not so outrageous they can't be achieved. It's a demoralizing effect on a team when WIGs are unattainable. Especially when it is not from a lack effort. Decide what your WIGs are for you for this month and for 2.62 hours everyday, "run"
4. 180 minutes of resistance stroking
This is something that great leaders work on everyday. Find resistance points in your leadership and make it a point to address them everyday. Don't mistake what I am saying. I'm not saying to deal with problem people for 2 hours everyday. That should be a part of your week. What I am saying, is address those areas where you are weak and begin swimming against your natural tendencies to "go with the flow." 1. Poor communication is always an issue in any team. Return calls. Return emails. For the next month be the example of excellence. 2. What are the "gossip" issues your team is involved in? 3. What are unresolved issues that need resolution? 4. Who are the people in your team and in your congregation who are not sharing your common purpose? 5. Who are the people at church who currently aren't the biggest advocates of your ministry, but with a little attention could be who also carry a lot of weight in your church?
5. Cool down for an hour
Make your list of things not resolved today that must be addressed tomorrow. Empty your mind of every single thing you can think of that needs to be done and plug it into a time slot on your calendar for about 30 minutes. This will help you relax knowing that you no longer have to remember not to forget!!! Take the last 30 minutes and do something you enjoy, before you go home. Your family will notice a difference when you detox before you get home.
Try this for a month and see if you are an "IronLeader!!!!"
Hope I helped, gw
112 miles biking
26.2 miles running (marathon)
2.5 miles swimming (180 lengths of an olymplic-sized pool)
Needless to say, I spent some major time in the gym exerting a ton of energy for the ultimate prize of a cookout, t-shirt, and the satisfaction of knowing i completed a goal I set for myself. Noone was standing over my shoulder. there's no one in the stands cheering me on. Day after day, i'd roll out of my cozy, king-sized bed and slide on some gym clothes and commence to sweating.
About halfway through, I realized noone was holding me accountable. The cookout, nor the t-shirt was appealing enough to keep me "excited" about this goal. To be frank, it sucked!! I felt myself begin to make excuses and try and justify taking shortcuts. But every time i would begin to feel that way, something would check me and remind me that the only way to feel true satisfaction in completing a goal is to COMPLETE THE GOAL!
As i saw the end of my goal coming to an end. I saw a tremendous leadership principle i would like to "Challenge" you with this next month. It's what i would like to call the "IronLeader Challenge." The challenge goes like this every workday for a month:
1. Warmup
2. 112 minutes of Biking = "cycling"
3. 2.62 hours of Running = "goal pursuit"
4. 180 minutes of Swimming = "resistance stroking"
5. Cool down
Warmup for 30-45 minutes
Everyday warmup with a leadership book of some sorts. It can be a few pages. For me, I like to read a chapter everyday. Reading is not a joy, it's a MUST for me. Why leadership and not the Bible? 1. The bible is not a job thing, it's a relationship. 2. A leadership book will get your brain thinking like a leader. Secular or sacred, it doesn't matter. Just let your mind grab leadership from a leader.
2. 112 minutes of "cycling"
A large portion of leadership is simply understanding and focusing on the cycle of ministry. Practices, meetings, planning, services, bible studies, discipleship, etc. Cycling is simply putting your butt on a seat and working the pedals. If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. Every meeting, practice, event, class, or whatever requires 3 things to be effective. 1. Pre planning 2. The event itself 3. Debriefing
If your thing isn't worth getting ready for, don't have it in the first place. If your thing isn't productive enough for you to have to debrief and see what you are doing next, don't have that meeting again.
3. 2.62 hours of "goal pursuit"
"make the vision plain so those that are running can read it clear."
Have an agenda. Let it be a godly agenda. Propaganda is not a bad thing, if it's Gods agenda you are trying to peddle. Everyone like a goal. It's the only way to know whether u are winning or losing. Set what I call "WIGs" ( Wildly Important Goals) they are quantifiable and attainable with a little more effort. Set goals that will make you and your team push a little harder, but not so outrageous they can't be achieved. It's a demoralizing effect on a team when WIGs are unattainable. Especially when it is not from a lack effort. Decide what your WIGs are for you for this month and for 2.62 hours everyday, "run"
4. 180 minutes of resistance stroking
This is something that great leaders work on everyday. Find resistance points in your leadership and make it a point to address them everyday. Don't mistake what I am saying. I'm not saying to deal with problem people for 2 hours everyday. That should be a part of your week. What I am saying, is address those areas where you are weak and begin swimming against your natural tendencies to "go with the flow." 1. Poor communication is always an issue in any team. Return calls. Return emails. For the next month be the example of excellence. 2. What are the "gossip" issues your team is involved in? 3. What are unresolved issues that need resolution? 4. Who are the people in your team and in your congregation who are not sharing your common purpose? 5. Who are the people at church who currently aren't the biggest advocates of your ministry, but with a little attention could be who also carry a lot of weight in your church?
5. Cool down for an hour
Make your list of things not resolved today that must be addressed tomorrow. Empty your mind of every single thing you can think of that needs to be done and plug it into a time slot on your calendar for about 30 minutes. This will help you relax knowing that you no longer have to remember not to forget!!! Take the last 30 minutes and do something you enjoy, before you go home. Your family will notice a difference when you detox before you get home.
Try this for a month and see if you are an "IronLeader!!!!"
Hope I helped, gw
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Final sermon checklist before go time
Here are 8 questions I ask myself about each sermon I speak before I hit the pulpit. It helps me stay focused on the immediate and trajectory of where I am taking my kids for the year. This is the template discussed at the leadership session at shabbach.
Hope it helps!!
Pg
1. What is THE focus for the altar?
The Altar should Alter. Everything in this message should point
to THE ALTER.
2. How is my introduction going to "catch them?"
The beginning has to grab their attention.
3. What is the ONE thing I want them to go home with?
The thesis has to be singular in focus
4. How am I "showing" them what I am talking about?
a. Visual illustration
b. Illustration through everyday living
5. How does this ONE thing show up on Monday?
I must make sure it's applicable for the audience
6. Where am I giving them "hope through the Cross?"
7. What is the best spot in this message to communicate, "I love You?"
8. Where is the "theme" reinforced?
2 Timothy 1:12 - Persuaded
Hope it helps!!
Pg
1. What is THE focus for the altar?
The Altar should Alter. Everything in this message should point
to THE ALTER.
2. How is my introduction going to "catch them?"
The beginning has to grab their attention.
3. What is the ONE thing I want them to go home with?
The thesis has to be singular in focus
4. How am I "showing" them what I am talking about?
a. Visual illustration
b. Illustration through everyday living
5. How does this ONE thing show up on Monday?
I must make sure it's applicable for the audience
6. Where am I giving them "hope through the Cross?"
7. What is the best spot in this message to communicate, "I love You?"
8. Where is the "theme" reinforced?
2 Timothy 1:12 - Persuaded
Monday, March 29, 2010
7 Things To Do To Keep The BIG "MO" After Shabbach!!
Let's be real. The real reason we sell all those doughnuts, do all those carwashes, and boil all those hotdogs is for the MOMENTUM we get building up to, during, and after the conference weekend with your group! And to be honest, that's one big reason why I do what I do for the other groups that come. The tough part is, like a filled baloon, MOMENTUM deflates slowly. I believe that the conference weekend changes people on a personal level, but I also believe it has the ability, through the works of the Spirit, to be a time where God shifts an entire group into a new level of commitment to their collective cause in their place of ministry.
Here are 7 things I recommend you do (as the leader) to keep the balloon as full for as long as possible. Who knows, by the time they finally come off their high of the conference, you'll be loading them into the vans and buses for summer camps!!
Hope this helps!!
1. Record Video testimonies (or live testimonies) and use only 1-2 each week verses one BIG sunday night service or wednesday night. If you space them out, the students you will be using will be forced to hang on to their testimony much longer than a couple days. This will also remind those that went of what they witnessed.
2. Whatever "THE" worship song is that struck a chord with your youth group, take it home with you and begin to use for worship or pre-service time.
a. 5 Seconds by Canton Jones - we played this song in our pre-service music and I had dozens of kids and leaders come up and ask who that was. Use it to start your services out as well. It will remind them of the conference atmosphere.
b. Show Me the Way/I Call You Jesus - USE them in your worship time with your kids. Not every single week. But maybe for the 1st month after the conference and then rotate them in ocassionally.
3. Designate a once a month shabbach T-shirt DAY. Let them wear it to school that day and then to church that night. It will remind them of what God did the night they purchased that shirt for a while. email Cathy at productsales@shabbach.com and purchase extra shirts and gear to give out during each of those monthly services.
4. Display a HUGE group Pic and/or collages of the weekend at the entrance to your youth area. I would encourage you to let some of the pics be funny (for relationship building) and some to be of your kids worshipping and crying, etc (for a reminder of how they pursued their relationship with God.)
5. Have a few follow-up "Hotel room hangout" nights. Encourage your chaperones/staff to take a night once a month or so and have a sleepover or a couple hours to hang out and reestablish the fun they had in the hotel rooms. Who knows, this could be the birthing of your small group ministry!!
6. Encourage your group to target 5 kids in your group who did not go this year and force them to make plans now for next year. This will give them something to DO with the relationships they HAVE. It's the Great GO!Mission not the Great Suggestion.
7. Anytime a "Shabbach" speaker or minister is close enough to drive too, take your crew and SHOW up to what they are doing. This isn't about another church or "following" a preacher, it's about YOU making sure your kids don't LOSE what they got. Be selfish. If somone is bringing in one of the Shabbach people relatively close to your area, take full advantage of not having to pay for the opportunity. But hey, if you have the budget to play with and you KNOW your kids will value the experience, you pay the price (or join forces with a couple churches) and facilitate the opportunity for other groups close by to link up with. They'll thank you for it.
Do you have any other ideas your group uses taht could benefit other leaders with regards to keeping the BIG "MO"???
Comment them.
Here are 7 things I recommend you do (as the leader) to keep the balloon as full for as long as possible. Who knows, by the time they finally come off their high of the conference, you'll be loading them into the vans and buses for summer camps!!
Hope this helps!!
1. Record Video testimonies (or live testimonies) and use only 1-2 each week verses one BIG sunday night service or wednesday night. If you space them out, the students you will be using will be forced to hang on to their testimony much longer than a couple days. This will also remind those that went of what they witnessed.
2. Whatever "THE" worship song is that struck a chord with your youth group, take it home with you and begin to use for worship or pre-service time.
a. 5 Seconds by Canton Jones - we played this song in our pre-service music and I had dozens of kids and leaders come up and ask who that was. Use it to start your services out as well. It will remind them of the conference atmosphere.
b. Show Me the Way/I Call You Jesus - USE them in your worship time with your kids. Not every single week. But maybe for the 1st month after the conference and then rotate them in ocassionally.
3. Designate a once a month shabbach T-shirt DAY. Let them wear it to school that day and then to church that night. It will remind them of what God did the night they purchased that shirt for a while. email Cathy at productsales@shabbach.com and purchase extra shirts and gear to give out during each of those monthly services.
4. Display a HUGE group Pic and/or collages of the weekend at the entrance to your youth area. I would encourage you to let some of the pics be funny (for relationship building) and some to be of your kids worshipping and crying, etc (for a reminder of how they pursued their relationship with God.)
5. Have a few follow-up "Hotel room hangout" nights. Encourage your chaperones/staff to take a night once a month or so and have a sleepover or a couple hours to hang out and reestablish the fun they had in the hotel rooms. Who knows, this could be the birthing of your small group ministry!!
6. Encourage your group to target 5 kids in your group who did not go this year and force them to make plans now for next year. This will give them something to DO with the relationships they HAVE. It's the Great GO!Mission not the Great Suggestion.
7. Anytime a "Shabbach" speaker or minister is close enough to drive too, take your crew and SHOW up to what they are doing. This isn't about another church or "following" a preacher, it's about YOU making sure your kids don't LOSE what they got. Be selfish. If somone is bringing in one of the Shabbach people relatively close to your area, take full advantage of not having to pay for the opportunity. But hey, if you have the budget to play with and you KNOW your kids will value the experience, you pay the price (or join forces with a couple churches) and facilitate the opportunity for other groups close by to link up with. They'll thank you for it.
Do you have any other ideas your group uses taht could benefit other leaders with regards to keeping the BIG "MO"???
Comment them.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Trinity - 1 God, yet 3 distinct persons???
Last night, I did a message on wrapping your mind around the Trinity, as much as humanly possible. It is a very complex issue that can't be watered down to a single analogy. However, scriptures make it abundantly clear there is 1 God in 3 distinct persons. I broke this message down into what I call, "3 Trinity Truths." In order to "show" my students what I'm talking about, I used a simple, yet very effective illustration of the Trinity.
Illustration: The Father/The Son/The Holy Spirit
I brought 3 students, 1 stood in a "profile" stance, another in a "frontal face" stance and the last in a "bowed head" stance (to show the top of her head to the congregation.
1. The profile is representation of the Father.
the old testament only reveal "types" and "shadows" and profiles of who The Father really is. We can't seem completely. He does not make himself fully know to us. So we have know knowledge of His depth and see him for who He is.
2. The Frontal represents the Son
We see Jesus for who he is in the writings of the New testament. It is revealed in his deeds and sayings. So we can picture Him head on, but to view His depth is next to impossible. I used the illustration of Tom and Jerry and the road runner. After they've been smashed they come out looking normal in the front. It's only until they turn or bend, do you see how damaged they really are.
3. The top of the head represents the Holy Spirit.
This view reveals His depth. We see through the Holy Spirit just how this 1 God shows up in everyday living of His believers.
Another illustration I alluded too was the h2O analogy - Ice/Water/Steam - it's in different states, but it's all the same h2O
Another Illustration (came from Benny Hinn's Book) - The Light turns on/off
The Father gives the command to turn ON the light
You go.
Jesus is the switch that combines your effort, with His command, and the Holy Spirit's execution of that command.
The Holy Spirit is the POWER that brings the command into fulfillment
Below is scritpual references to validate each "Trinity Truth."
I have been asked repeatedly for my notes, so here you go!!
Hope I helped,
PG
Trinity Truth #1: There is only 1 God
Isaiah 44:6 Romans 1:30 Duet. 4:35 1 John 5:20
Jeremiah 10:10 Duet. 4:39; 32:39 John 5:44 2 Chronicles 15:3
2 Samuel 22:32 John 17:3 Isaiah 37:20; 43:10; 44:6-8; 45:5,14, 21-22; 46
Romans 16:27 Galatians 3:20 Ephesians 4:6 1 Thessalonians 1:9
1 Corinthians 8: 4-6 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:5 James 2:19
Trinity Truth #2: There is a Plurality to God
Iow’s – The Father is God. The Son is god. The Holy Spirit is God.
In Hebrew the word “Elohim” (God) Is plural -Leviticus 19:3
Genesis 1:26 – Let US make man in OUR image
Genesis 3:22 – God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us…”
a. The Father is God
2 Corinthians 1:3 Ephesians 1:3 Deut. 4:36,39 Psalm 100:3
Genesis 9:26; 24 Exodus 3:14-18; 4:5 2 Samuel 7:22, 25
John 17:3 1 Corinthians 8:6 1 Peter 1:3
b. The Son is God
John 1:1 John 20:28 2 Peter 1:1 Romans 10: 9, 13 Revelation 4:11 Acts 20:28 Zechariah 12:10
Philippians 2: 10-11 1 Peter 2:3 Isaiah 43:11 Revelation 1:7 Titus 2:13 Luke 2:11 John 4:42 Acts 13:23 Ephesians 2:23 Philemon 3:20 1 Timothy 1:1 2 Timothy 1:10 2 Peter 1: 1, 11; 2: 20; 3: 2, 18 Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6 1 John 4:14 Matthew 21: 1-11 Zechariah 9:9 John 1:3 1 Cor. 8:6 Colossians 1:16-17 Hebrews 1:2
John 16:30 Matt. 18:20; 28:20 Ephesians 1:23; 4:10 Colossians 3:11 Psalms 34:8
c. The Holy Spirit is God
Psalm 139:7; 104:30 Genesis 1:2 Luke 1:35 Acts 5:3-4
Matthew 1:18 Romans 8: 1-27 Hebrews 9:14 1 Cor. 2:10-11
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Trinity Truth #3: 3 Distinct Persons
Matthew 28:19
Jesus is not the Father
John 3:17, 35; 5:22-23, 31-32; 8:15-18
Romans 1:7
Jesus is not the Holy Spirit
John 15:26
Matthew 28:29
John 16:7 John 14:16
The Father is not the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26-27
Illustration: The Father/The Son/The Holy Spirit
I brought 3 students, 1 stood in a "profile" stance, another in a "frontal face" stance and the last in a "bowed head" stance (to show the top of her head to the congregation.
1. The profile is representation of the Father.
the old testament only reveal "types" and "shadows" and profiles of who The Father really is. We can't seem completely. He does not make himself fully know to us. So we have know knowledge of His depth and see him for who He is.
2. The Frontal represents the Son
We see Jesus for who he is in the writings of the New testament. It is revealed in his deeds and sayings. So we can picture Him head on, but to view His depth is next to impossible. I used the illustration of Tom and Jerry and the road runner. After they've been smashed they come out looking normal in the front. It's only until they turn or bend, do you see how damaged they really are.
3. The top of the head represents the Holy Spirit.
This view reveals His depth. We see through the Holy Spirit just how this 1 God shows up in everyday living of His believers.
Another illustration I alluded too was the h2O analogy - Ice/Water/Steam - it's in different states, but it's all the same h2O
Another Illustration (came from Benny Hinn's Book) - The Light turns on/off
The Father gives the command to turn ON the light
You go.
Jesus is the switch that combines your effort, with His command, and the Holy Spirit's execution of that command.
The Holy Spirit is the POWER that brings the command into fulfillment
Below is scritpual references to validate each "Trinity Truth."
I have been asked repeatedly for my notes, so here you go!!
Hope I helped,
PG
Trinity Truth #1: There is only 1 God
Isaiah 44:6 Romans 1:30 Duet. 4:35 1 John 5:20
Jeremiah 10:10 Duet. 4:39; 32:39 John 5:44 2 Chronicles 15:3
2 Samuel 22:32 John 17:3 Isaiah 37:20; 43:10; 44:6-8; 45:5,14, 21-22; 46
Romans 16:27 Galatians 3:20 Ephesians 4:6 1 Thessalonians 1:9
1 Corinthians 8: 4-6 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:5 James 2:19
Trinity Truth #2: There is a Plurality to God
Iow’s – The Father is God. The Son is god. The Holy Spirit is God.
In Hebrew the word “Elohim” (God) Is plural -Leviticus 19:3
Genesis 1:26 – Let US make man in OUR image
Genesis 3:22 – God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us…”
a. The Father is God
2 Corinthians 1:3 Ephesians 1:3 Deut. 4:36,39 Psalm 100:3
Genesis 9:26; 24 Exodus 3:14-18; 4:5 2 Samuel 7:22, 25
John 17:3 1 Corinthians 8:6 1 Peter 1:3
b. The Son is God
John 1:1 John 20:28 2 Peter 1:1 Romans 10: 9, 13 Revelation 4:11 Acts 20:28 Zechariah 12:10
Philippians 2: 10-11 1 Peter 2:3 Isaiah 43:11 Revelation 1:7 Titus 2:13 Luke 2:11 John 4:42 Acts 13:23 Ephesians 2:23 Philemon 3:20 1 Timothy 1:1 2 Timothy 1:10 2 Peter 1: 1, 11; 2: 20; 3: 2, 18 Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6 1 John 4:14 Matthew 21: 1-11 Zechariah 9:9 John 1:3 1 Cor. 8:6 Colossians 1:16-17 Hebrews 1:2
John 16:30 Matt. 18:20; 28:20 Ephesians 1:23; 4:10 Colossians 3:11 Psalms 34:8
c. The Holy Spirit is God
Psalm 139:7; 104:30 Genesis 1:2 Luke 1:35 Acts 5:3-4
Matthew 1:18 Romans 8: 1-27 Hebrews 9:14 1 Cor. 2:10-11
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Trinity Truth #3: 3 Distinct Persons
Matthew 28:19
Jesus is not the Father
John 3:17, 35; 5:22-23, 31-32; 8:15-18
Romans 1:7
Jesus is not the Holy Spirit
John 15:26
Matthew 28:29
John 16:7 John 14:16
The Father is not the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26-27
Friday, March 5, 2010
Organizing a Weekend for Your Kids/Staff to Enjoy & Your Parents to Appreciate
The old saying is: "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail." In other words, always have a plan. When it comes to weekend retreats, you cannot plan too much. The more you are organized, the more your staff, students, and parents will trust you to LEAD them out of town. You may be a "go with the flow" kind of leader. But when it comes to being out of town and away from the familiar, YOU MUST have an agenda!! My pastor reminds me often, that if you don't have a plan, someone else will. And the majority of the time, it will be a plan you won't like!!
Here is my agenda for my youth group last year when we went to Shabbach DC (6 hours from home):
Friday, March 27, 2009
6:30am Load luggage on buses
7:00am Group prayer in the Family Life Center
7:30am Leave for Washington, DC
11:30am Stop for lunch – fast food
12:45pm On the road again
3:00pm Check into Wytestone Suites, Woodbridge, VA and get ready for
service; chaperones come to Terri’s room to pick up snacks.
Wear FORCE Youth group shirts tonight
4:00pm Leave for Potomac Mills Mall
4:15pm Free time at the mall; eat dinner
6:45pm Load buses for Shabbach Youth Conference Worship Service
8:00pm Service begins
11:00pm Return to hotel
11:30pm In-room talk time
12:00am Lights out = STAY IN ROOMS!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
8:30am Rise and shine; hot breakfast in hotel lobby
9:15am Brief chaperone meeting while STUDENTS begin getting on buses
9:30am Buses depart for Washington, DC (approx. 40 minute ride)
10:15am Arrive in front of U.S. Capitol building; take group photo;
If time, walk around visitor center.
10:30am BE IN LINE OUTSIDE ORIENTATION THEATER for group check-in
11:10am Group tour of Capitol begins.
12:45pm Load buses; leave to get lunch. Eat at Potomac Mills Mall.
3:30pm Return to hotel for free time, dinner and to freshen up for Shabbach Service;
Wear Shabbach shirt if you have one.
6:00pm Load buses for Shabbach Youth Conference Worship Service
7:30pm Service begins
10:00pm Return to hotel
10:45pm In-room talk time
11:15pm Lights out = STAY IN ROOMS!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
7:00am Rise and shine; breakfast buffet opens in hotel lobby
8:30am Load buses and check out of hotel
8:45am Brief chaperone meeting while STUDENTS begin getting on buses
9:00am Leave for Shabbach Youth Conference
9:30am Service begins
12:30pm Buses depart for HOME
1:30pm Stop for lunch
Approx. 9:30pm Arrive at FMCOG
Emergency Contact Numbers:
Bus Company: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Hotel's Number: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Head Chaperone's Hotel Room Number: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Head Chaperone's mobile: xxx-xxx-xxxx
PG's Assistant Mobile: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Give your plan to every youth worker, every student, and every parent before you leave your church parking lot. Or even better, have a parent meeting 1 week before you guys leave after your mid-week service and give it to them then. This way no one is wondering where you are or what you'll be doing next. It is amazing how much confusion is cut away, simply by having a plan and sticking to it. It is amazing the peace you give parents when they know where their kid is and what he/she is doing at every moment. I say this every year in our MANDATORY Parent Meeting, "I want you to know where your child is every moment or every day you have intrusted them into my care. The only thing you won't know is when they are going to the bathroom or brushing their teeth." Today, more than 100 teens go on a trip that I am not directly leading. Why? Because I pay the price to plan and train, and now my parents, staff, and kids TRUST the plan to go as planned!!
One of my favorite says, "Sweat during the preparation, so you won't bleed in the battle!!"
Hope I Helped,
pg
Here is my agenda for my youth group last year when we went to Shabbach DC (6 hours from home):
Friday, March 27, 2009
6:30am Load luggage on buses
7:00am Group prayer in the Family Life Center
7:30am Leave for Washington, DC
11:30am Stop for lunch – fast food
12:45pm On the road again
3:00pm Check into Wytestone Suites, Woodbridge, VA and get ready for
service; chaperones come to Terri’s room to pick up snacks.
Wear FORCE Youth group shirts tonight
4:00pm Leave for Potomac Mills Mall
4:15pm Free time at the mall; eat dinner
6:45pm Load buses for Shabbach Youth Conference Worship Service
8:00pm Service begins
11:00pm Return to hotel
11:30pm In-room talk time
12:00am Lights out = STAY IN ROOMS!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
8:30am Rise and shine; hot breakfast in hotel lobby
9:15am Brief chaperone meeting while STUDENTS begin getting on buses
9:30am Buses depart for Washington, DC (approx. 40 minute ride)
10:15am Arrive in front of U.S. Capitol building; take group photo;
If time, walk around visitor center.
10:30am BE IN LINE OUTSIDE ORIENTATION THEATER for group check-in
11:10am Group tour of Capitol begins.
12:45pm Load buses; leave to get lunch. Eat at Potomac Mills Mall.
3:30pm Return to hotel for free time, dinner and to freshen up for Shabbach Service;
Wear Shabbach shirt if you have one.
6:00pm Load buses for Shabbach Youth Conference Worship Service
7:30pm Service begins
10:00pm Return to hotel
10:45pm In-room talk time
11:15pm Lights out = STAY IN ROOMS!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
7:00am Rise and shine; breakfast buffet opens in hotel lobby
8:30am Load buses and check out of hotel
8:45am Brief chaperone meeting while STUDENTS begin getting on buses
9:00am Leave for Shabbach Youth Conference
9:30am Service begins
12:30pm Buses depart for HOME
1:30pm Stop for lunch
Approx. 9:30pm Arrive at FMCOG
Emergency Contact Numbers:
Bus Company: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Hotel's Number: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Head Chaperone's Hotel Room Number: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Head Chaperone's mobile: xxx-xxx-xxxx
PG's Assistant Mobile: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Give your plan to every youth worker, every student, and every parent before you leave your church parking lot. Or even better, have a parent meeting 1 week before you guys leave after your mid-week service and give it to them then. This way no one is wondering where you are or what you'll be doing next. It is amazing how much confusion is cut away, simply by having a plan and sticking to it. It is amazing the peace you give parents when they know where their kid is and what he/she is doing at every moment. I say this every year in our MANDATORY Parent Meeting, "I want you to know where your child is every moment or every day you have intrusted them into my care. The only thing you won't know is when they are going to the bathroom or brushing their teeth." Today, more than 100 teens go on a trip that I am not directly leading. Why? Because I pay the price to plan and train, and now my parents, staff, and kids TRUST the plan to go as planned!!
One of my favorite says, "Sweat during the preparation, so you won't bleed in the battle!!"
Hope I Helped,
pg
Monday, February 22, 2010
Asking the Right "Budget" Questions
It may be time to reevaluate the current budget and make some changes. That means you need to articulate the philosophy of financial management for both the youth ministry and the larger organization. Your budget should reflect the philosophies, not drive them.
Allocation of ministry money is directly linked to your values and goals. When you develop the budget, you and your team determine where to allocate money by answering questions like the following.
Hope I help!!
gw
1. What does the church value?
• Where does the church invest its resources? (Find out by browsing the last few annual reports.)
• What is the church’s spending philosophy? Do they buy the best of a particular item knowing that it will last a long time, or do they get the cheapest possible item that will do the job because they don’t have a lot of cash on hand? Is youth ministry spending in line with the philosophy of the larger organization?
• Is youth ministry a critical part of the church or is it a small part? (Find out by examining the percent of the total budget dedicated to youth ministry. If it’s less than the funeral flower fund, you’re likely to be in for a struggle if you wish to increase your budget.)
• What has the financial committee approved in the past for youth ministry programs and equipment? You’ll get an idea of how flexible they are—how open to ideas new to the church.
2. What does the youth ministry value?
• Of all the good things on which we can spend ministry money, which things, programs, and people do we value most? How will our spending reflect those values?
• How important is "atmosphere" to your ministry? Do you need to appropriate funds to make your ministry area more student-friendly and inviting?
• How important is staff and staff development?
• Do you have experienced staff, or do they need a lot of training and development?
• Do your staff members need a lot of encouragement? A lot of resources?
3. What is the financial history of the youth ministry?
• What was the annual budget last year?
• Where does that money come from?
• Where has the majority of money gone (outreach events, small group materials, van rentals, retreats, fun times, fundraising)?
•What brought in the most money (fundraisers, mission trips, service or work projects)?
• Are there any annual events you need to finance—denominational gatherings, the annual junior high/senior citizen putt-putt golf tournament?
4. What are the mechanics of the financial process?
• Does your church tell you to get what you need when you need it, or does it require you to work the purchase into next year’s budget and to make do with what you have for this year?
• Are there predetermined vendors for curriculum, sound equipment, retreat sites? Or do you determine from whom to purchase?
• Do you get parental financial support, or are you solely dependent on money allocated from the church general budget? What role do your ministry fundraisers play?
• When do you need to turn in your budget proposal to the administration?
5. When is the budget decided, and are midyear changes allowed? If so, what’s the procedure?
• Can you raise additional funds if needed? Do you need approval for that?
6. What financial standards are in harmony with your community?
• In what socioeconomic area is the church located and in what way is that population reflected in your group? (If your church is primarily populated by upper middle-class members, you can probably request a bigger budget. If your congregation is financially strapped, you will have less available financing resources. Study how your church’s socioeconomic makeup affects your ministry finances.)
• Do you have transportation available to you for ministry outings, or do you have to rent vehicles?
7. What needs upgrading over the course of the next year for student safety?
• What do you need to make the ministry student-friendly?
• What items need to be purchased in order for you to continue the development of your ministry? List in order of priority and find out the approximate cost of each item.
Allocation of ministry money is directly linked to your values and goals. When you develop the budget, you and your team determine where to allocate money by answering questions like the following.
Hope I help!!
gw
1. What does the church value?
• Where does the church invest its resources? (Find out by browsing the last few annual reports.)
• What is the church’s spending philosophy? Do they buy the best of a particular item knowing that it will last a long time, or do they get the cheapest possible item that will do the job because they don’t have a lot of cash on hand? Is youth ministry spending in line with the philosophy of the larger organization?
• Is youth ministry a critical part of the church or is it a small part? (Find out by examining the percent of the total budget dedicated to youth ministry. If it’s less than the funeral flower fund, you’re likely to be in for a struggle if you wish to increase your budget.)
• What has the financial committee approved in the past for youth ministry programs and equipment? You’ll get an idea of how flexible they are—how open to ideas new to the church.
2. What does the youth ministry value?
• Of all the good things on which we can spend ministry money, which things, programs, and people do we value most? How will our spending reflect those values?
• How important is "atmosphere" to your ministry? Do you need to appropriate funds to make your ministry area more student-friendly and inviting?
• How important is staff and staff development?
• Do you have experienced staff, or do they need a lot of training and development?
• Do your staff members need a lot of encouragement? A lot of resources?
3. What is the financial history of the youth ministry?
• What was the annual budget last year?
• Where does that money come from?
• Where has the majority of money gone (outreach events, small group materials, van rentals, retreats, fun times, fundraising)?
•What brought in the most money (fundraisers, mission trips, service or work projects)?
• Are there any annual events you need to finance—denominational gatherings, the annual junior high/senior citizen putt-putt golf tournament?
4. What are the mechanics of the financial process?
• Does your church tell you to get what you need when you need it, or does it require you to work the purchase into next year’s budget and to make do with what you have for this year?
• Are there predetermined vendors for curriculum, sound equipment, retreat sites? Or do you determine from whom to purchase?
• Do you get parental financial support, or are you solely dependent on money allocated from the church general budget? What role do your ministry fundraisers play?
• When do you need to turn in your budget proposal to the administration?
5. When is the budget decided, and are midyear changes allowed? If so, what’s the procedure?
• Can you raise additional funds if needed? Do you need approval for that?
6. What financial standards are in harmony with your community?
• In what socioeconomic area is the church located and in what way is that population reflected in your group? (If your church is primarily populated by upper middle-class members, you can probably request a bigger budget. If your congregation is financially strapped, you will have less available financing resources. Study how your church’s socioeconomic makeup affects your ministry finances.)
• Do you have transportation available to you for ministry outings, or do you have to rent vehicles?
7. What needs upgrading over the course of the next year for student safety?
• What do you need to make the ministry student-friendly?
• What items need to be purchased in order for you to continue the development of your ministry? List in order of priority and find out the approximate cost of each item.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Symptoms of Disorganization
It’s easy to do, and it’s hard to get back in control of. The nature of demands you have on your life can so paralyze you that you literally do not know where to begin. Unfortunately, when you don’t know where to begin, it’s a challenge to start. I believe the key is not “getting” organized, but rather, STAYING organized. We all get off on the wrong tract from time to time, but that is no excuse for taking a different course or worse, hitting the “kill switch” on your leadership and coasting for a while. You have people counting on you knowing where THEY are supposed to be going. So, I believe your best bet is to cut away disorganization when you detect symptoms.
Here are 8 Symptoms; I see when I am getting disorganized
1- Cluttered desk
a. Say that you know where everything is if you want. But you know and I know when our work area is chaos, it usually means so are we.
2- Dirty Car – inside and out
a. If we don’t have time to clean, it usually means something of little importance is zapping our time. A car is your “mode of transportation.” When what’s taking you somewhere isn’t getting your attention then I wonder how important your destination is.
3- Insecurity – you worry about someone finding out who you truly are on the inside
a. The lack of confidence in who we are is a tremendous indicator we are are not comfortable with what we are doing.
4- Series of forgotten appointments or deadlines – we become liars to save face
a. You can’t remember every appointment detail. This is why you have to make sure to pre-plan for the meeting, have the meeting, and then debrief yourself of the meeting. Once those are done, you will know how to proceed. BTW, if a meeting is not worth planning for or debriefing after, I recommend not having that meeting ever again. It’s a waste of time and there is no value for your organization. In other words, it’s called fellowship!!
5- Invest a lot more time and energy into unimportant tasks
a. If Facebook is your vice, if you are a master solitaire player, or an incredible golfer, you may not be the BEST leader you can be. Do an inventory of how you spend your day. We all have “down moments” to catch our breath. But your day should be filled with exciting visioneering where you know you are creating your student ministry’s future!!
6- Feel poor about the tasks you are completing
a. If you don’t have Godly Pride in what you’re about to do, you haven’t completely prepared.
7- Rarely enjoy intimacy with God
a. Don’t be so busy doing the “work of the Lord” that you neglect the Lord working in you!!
8- Quality of my personal relationships reveal weaknesses
a. Frustration spills over to close relationships. I have a “fussing bush” in my yard. I go there and get out everything; I refuse to take in my home. If you come in and “Veg” more than you contribute to the family relationships you have, you are all out of wack.
If you find yourself trending towards one or more of these often, I recommend you stop, drop, and roll!!
1. STOP – take an inventory of what it is that’s throwing you off track
2. DROP – eliminate time wasters and remove the “busy work” that’s killing your drive.
3. ROLL – get back on track and create a future that generations will love you for!!
Hope I helped!!
pg
Here are 8 Symptoms; I see when I am getting disorganized
1- Cluttered desk
a. Say that you know where everything is if you want. But you know and I know when our work area is chaos, it usually means so are we.
2- Dirty Car – inside and out
a. If we don’t have time to clean, it usually means something of little importance is zapping our time. A car is your “mode of transportation.” When what’s taking you somewhere isn’t getting your attention then I wonder how important your destination is.
3- Insecurity – you worry about someone finding out who you truly are on the inside
a. The lack of confidence in who we are is a tremendous indicator we are are not comfortable with what we are doing.
4- Series of forgotten appointments or deadlines – we become liars to save face
a. You can’t remember every appointment detail. This is why you have to make sure to pre-plan for the meeting, have the meeting, and then debrief yourself of the meeting. Once those are done, you will know how to proceed. BTW, if a meeting is not worth planning for or debriefing after, I recommend not having that meeting ever again. It’s a waste of time and there is no value for your organization. In other words, it’s called fellowship!!
5- Invest a lot more time and energy into unimportant tasks
a. If Facebook is your vice, if you are a master solitaire player, or an incredible golfer, you may not be the BEST leader you can be. Do an inventory of how you spend your day. We all have “down moments” to catch our breath. But your day should be filled with exciting visioneering where you know you are creating your student ministry’s future!!
6- Feel poor about the tasks you are completing
a. If you don’t have Godly Pride in what you’re about to do, you haven’t completely prepared.
7- Rarely enjoy intimacy with God
a. Don’t be so busy doing the “work of the Lord” that you neglect the Lord working in you!!
8- Quality of my personal relationships reveal weaknesses
a. Frustration spills over to close relationships. I have a “fussing bush” in my yard. I go there and get out everything; I refuse to take in my home. If you come in and “Veg” more than you contribute to the family relationships you have, you are all out of wack.
If you find yourself trending towards one or more of these often, I recommend you stop, drop, and roll!!
1. STOP – take an inventory of what it is that’s throwing you off track
2. DROP – eliminate time wasters and remove the “busy work” that’s killing your drive.
3. ROLL – get back on track and create a future that generations will love you for!!
Hope I helped!!
pg
Monday, February 1, 2010
Leaders MUST BE "Led"
How many times have you wondered how effective you are as a leader? There may be no "I" in TEAM, but there are 2 "I"s in WINNING!! Below are my notes from a recent leadership workshop i did. Enjoy.
Hope this helps!! gw
------------------------------
Leaders must be “Led”
The Principle: To continually experience the ecstasy of effective leadership you must experience consistently the stabilizing of selfless servant hood.
Keys to Effective Leadership
Key #1: Growth Is Demanded
Personal Motto: “If you do not “grow”, you will not “go.”
Illustration: Baby stages of development
Application: Develop a Personal Growth Discipline that challenges who you are and where you are verses who and where you want to be.
Key #2: Be a “Timothy” and a “Paul”
Timothy
Poor Leaders are people who are not “poured” into.
“Always sit at the feet of great men.” DLK
Applications:
1. Find someone who is where you want to be.
2. To be an effective leader, you must be a constant reader
Paul
Adequate leaders are people who do not add to others what they’ve learned, themselves.
Let others learn from the price you paid for your education.
Key #3: The Two I’s
“There may not be an I in TEAM, but there are 2 I’s in WINNING.” gw
A. I = Initiative
The secret to success: to tend unflinchingly towards a goal.
Notice I did not say unfailingly!
“To fail is not to lose, but rather, its research for your next win” Chris Hill
“Before I found the 1 way to create the light bulb, I first found one million ways not too.” Thomas Edison
Trust me: You will always pay for your education, but you will never learn from that teaching moment without a passion/drive to do so.
Crucial Point:
You can be taught how to “take” initiative.
You can not be taught how to “have” initiative.
As a leader with initiative, you must initiate.
Defined: To begin or originate.
To introduce a new field, skill, activity, or interest.
Iows: “if it is to be, it’s up to me.”
Applications for the “Leader”:
#1: You have to decide what it is God wants you to want.
#2: You have to live moving towards it.
#3: You have to see it and define what it looks like.
#4: You have to a cast vision so compelling that others want it with you and for you.
A Favorite quote of mine:
“Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we’re moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it- But sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
B. I = Instinct - Initiative cannot be utilized without instinct to do so.
Defined: An inner pattern of behavior that is not leaned.
A powerful motivation or impulse.
A natural capability or aptitude
You are always searching for what can work better, even in the moment.
“You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away……” the gambler
A Great Leader’s plan is always negotiable in the moment.
“You have to make room to adlib, because some ideas sound good but are just stupid.”
Hope this helps!! gw
------------------------------
Leaders must be “Led”
The Principle: To continually experience the ecstasy of effective leadership you must experience consistently the stabilizing of selfless servant hood.
Keys to Effective Leadership
Key #1: Growth Is Demanded
Personal Motto: “If you do not “grow”, you will not “go.”
Illustration: Baby stages of development
Application: Develop a Personal Growth Discipline that challenges who you are and where you are verses who and where you want to be.
Key #2: Be a “Timothy” and a “Paul”
Timothy
Poor Leaders are people who are not “poured” into.
“Always sit at the feet of great men.” DLK
Applications:
1. Find someone who is where you want to be.
2. To be an effective leader, you must be a constant reader
Paul
Adequate leaders are people who do not add to others what they’ve learned, themselves.
Let others learn from the price you paid for your education.
Key #3: The Two I’s
“There may not be an I in TEAM, but there are 2 I’s in WINNING.” gw
A. I = Initiative
The secret to success: to tend unflinchingly towards a goal.
Notice I did not say unfailingly!
“To fail is not to lose, but rather, its research for your next win” Chris Hill
“Before I found the 1 way to create the light bulb, I first found one million ways not too.” Thomas Edison
Trust me: You will always pay for your education, but you will never learn from that teaching moment without a passion/drive to do so.
Crucial Point:
You can be taught how to “take” initiative.
You can not be taught how to “have” initiative.
As a leader with initiative, you must initiate.
Defined: To begin or originate.
To introduce a new field, skill, activity, or interest.
Iows: “if it is to be, it’s up to me.”
Applications for the “Leader”:
#1: You have to decide what it is God wants you to want.
#2: You have to live moving towards it.
#3: You have to see it and define what it looks like.
#4: You have to a cast vision so compelling that others want it with you and for you.
A Favorite quote of mine:
“Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we’re moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it- But sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” Oliver Wendell Holmes
B. I = Instinct - Initiative cannot be utilized without instinct to do so.
Defined: An inner pattern of behavior that is not leaned.
A powerful motivation or impulse.
A natural capability or aptitude
You are always searching for what can work better, even in the moment.
“You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away……” the gambler
A Great Leader’s plan is always negotiable in the moment.
“You have to make room to adlib, because some ideas sound good but are just stupid.”
Thursday, January 28, 2010
10 Desires for A Volunteer Staff Member on My TEAM
There are some things that I desire from all staff members in my student ministry. Here are ten principles I desire (not necessarily in any order) for every staff member (volunteer or paid) to live by as they serve in our student ministry.
My desire is for you to:
1. Love God. I want a person who authentically loves God every day. There is not a need for an extremely gifted person who seems to only live a life of religious routine. This may sound harsh, but I want you to truly know and love God and love working with the teens, God has entrusted us with.
2. Live a life of faith. I want you, as you are working with our students, to model walking with the Lord in true faith, by stepping out in ways that don’t always make sense to our human minds.
3. Be a true spiritual leader. In the church, we call ourselves “spiritual leaders,” so I want you to actually lead in spiritual things. Teens don’t need police officers to watch them and making sure they behave correctly. They and I need you to be spiritually focused and spirit led in interacting with them.
4. Know and love Scripture. I want you to be in Scripture regularly, interacting with it, and seeking to know it better. Our entire Christian faith stems from the truths of Scripture, and youth staff should seek to know it for themselves and for the teens you are leading spiritually.
5. Avoid behavior management. I desire you to be more concerned about the spiritual condition of our kids than them having proper or improper behavior. I want you to witness, regularly, when their heart’s right, the behavioral aspects come naturally.
6. Hang with kids. Relationships are started at youth group, but built outside of that time. I desire you to spend as much time with kids outside of weekly gatherings as possible, without compromising your family or personal time often.
7. Know the big picture. I want you, regardless of the age-stage you are working with, to realize that your branch in this ministry, as vital as it may be, is just a part of a life-long discipleship process of the individuals you are leading. Our ministry isn’t the end, but simply a means to a much greater end (Philippians 1:6) for every student we lead.
8. Integrate into families. Having relationships with kids is great, but getting to know and love their families is far better. We are assistant coaches. I want you to find ways we can positively reinforce what mom and dad is trying to instill at home.
9. Force thought. I desire you to force our kids to think, not just give them the answers. Far too many high school grads have been spoon-fed their entire lives, never being forced to think through their faith on their own. This is detrimental, and a major cause of grads detaching from church. Encourage them to challenge the process and base their answer off the truth that is the Word of God.
10. Be teachable. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to teach someone who is unteachable. I define a teacher as a constant student who has learned a lesson worth passing on. I need you to understand that this is the means by which the Lord brings us all to maturity (1 Peter 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Hope I helped!!
pg
My desire is for you to:
1. Love God. I want a person who authentically loves God every day. There is not a need for an extremely gifted person who seems to only live a life of religious routine. This may sound harsh, but I want you to truly know and love God and love working with the teens, God has entrusted us with.
2. Live a life of faith. I want you, as you are working with our students, to model walking with the Lord in true faith, by stepping out in ways that don’t always make sense to our human minds.
3. Be a true spiritual leader. In the church, we call ourselves “spiritual leaders,” so I want you to actually lead in spiritual things. Teens don’t need police officers to watch them and making sure they behave correctly. They and I need you to be spiritually focused and spirit led in interacting with them.
4. Know and love Scripture. I want you to be in Scripture regularly, interacting with it, and seeking to know it better. Our entire Christian faith stems from the truths of Scripture, and youth staff should seek to know it for themselves and for the teens you are leading spiritually.
5. Avoid behavior management. I desire you to be more concerned about the spiritual condition of our kids than them having proper or improper behavior. I want you to witness, regularly, when their heart’s right, the behavioral aspects come naturally.
6. Hang with kids. Relationships are started at youth group, but built outside of that time. I desire you to spend as much time with kids outside of weekly gatherings as possible, without compromising your family or personal time often.
7. Know the big picture. I want you, regardless of the age-stage you are working with, to realize that your branch in this ministry, as vital as it may be, is just a part of a life-long discipleship process of the individuals you are leading. Our ministry isn’t the end, but simply a means to a much greater end (Philippians 1:6) for every student we lead.
8. Integrate into families. Having relationships with kids is great, but getting to know and love their families is far better. We are assistant coaches. I want you to find ways we can positively reinforce what mom and dad is trying to instill at home.
9. Force thought. I desire you to force our kids to think, not just give them the answers. Far too many high school grads have been spoon-fed their entire lives, never being forced to think through their faith on their own. This is detrimental, and a major cause of grads detaching from church. Encourage them to challenge the process and base their answer off the truth that is the Word of God.
10. Be teachable. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to teach someone who is unteachable. I define a teacher as a constant student who has learned a lesson worth passing on. I need you to understand that this is the means by which the Lord brings us all to maturity (1 Peter 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Hope I helped!!
pg
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
6 Mistakes A Youth Leader Must Never Make
Let's face it. Youth Leaders can make some pretty dumb decisions. Dumb decisions, in a lot of ways, is precisely why most senior pastors see the youth pastor/leader role as a liability verses an asset. The way I am percieved after 12 years at the same church is much different than the way I was looked at in the 1st 5 years. Why? Simply because I stopped making mistakes that could potentially undermine the entire organization. Some mistakes are fairly easy to forgive and excuse, while others can absolutely turn your ministry up-side down. The following are mistakes to stay away from, forever!!
1) Never counsel the opposite sex privately. It could be your word against theirs. Pick a place that is wide open, so you can easily be interupted.
2) Never lie to protect your ministry or reputation. The truth finds a way out. It's better to do something dumb and "man up" then to do something even more dumb by lying about it or blame shifting.
3) Never cause division in your church, even if you think you’re right. This is a biggie! Your opinion matters to a lot of people. That's why you are in leadership. However, be very aware of the fact that people will warp your words to fit their agenda when they communicate it to others. It's human nature.
4) Never challenge or rebuke your Pastor publicly or privately. Maintain a humble and teachable heart. It's okay to challenge the process. But NEVER challenge the LEADER. You won't last long. Oh, and by the way, consider that he/she may actually know a little more than you do. Just because you don't agree, doesn't mean you're right!!
5) Never make money your primary factor in decision making. It will cost you your character and your future. Money follows ministry, not the other way around.
6) Never compromise your standards and qualifications for your leadership team. It will come back and bite you soon enough. I've heard it said, "It's better to have some body than nobody." That's just stupid!! Coming from experience, It's better to count on noone than to have someone you can't count on. People like being a part of something that's making a difference. Most of the time, the difference making positions are ones you have to get hired on to and could be fired from!! Have high expectations. It brings the best up to the challenge.
Hope i helped!!
pg
1) Never counsel the opposite sex privately. It could be your word against theirs. Pick a place that is wide open, so you can easily be interupted.
2) Never lie to protect your ministry or reputation. The truth finds a way out. It's better to do something dumb and "man up" then to do something even more dumb by lying about it or blame shifting.
3) Never cause division in your church, even if you think you’re right. This is a biggie! Your opinion matters to a lot of people. That's why you are in leadership. However, be very aware of the fact that people will warp your words to fit their agenda when they communicate it to others. It's human nature.
4) Never challenge or rebuke your Pastor publicly or privately. Maintain a humble and teachable heart. It's okay to challenge the process. But NEVER challenge the LEADER. You won't last long. Oh, and by the way, consider that he/she may actually know a little more than you do. Just because you don't agree, doesn't mean you're right!!
5) Never make money your primary factor in decision making. It will cost you your character and your future. Money follows ministry, not the other way around.
6) Never compromise your standards and qualifications for your leadership team. It will come back and bite you soon enough. I've heard it said, "It's better to have some body than nobody." That's just stupid!! Coming from experience, It's better to count on noone than to have someone you can't count on. People like being a part of something that's making a difference. Most of the time, the difference making positions are ones you have to get hired on to and could be fired from!! Have high expectations. It brings the best up to the challenge.
Hope i helped!!
pg
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