It is our prayer that we are able to reach and teach men to be followers of Jesus. To be leaders in their homes. Then changing their communities. We are not going to be just a church we are going to be a movement!
“The secret is to work less as individuals and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven.” by Knute Rockne
This is a quote that I have had on my desk top for the last couple of weeks. I believe that this is a quote that I think that many church leaders really need to chew on for awhile. Unfortunately I believe that many people see the pastor of the church as the paid player in the game and that he is the one to get everything done. This is why I believe that so many churches are struggling to reach the people that are already attending their churches. So I think that we need to get back to some basics, we need to work together as a team we need to delegate off to capable leaders to work together so that people would be able to feel loved and cared for in the body of Christ, the church. We need to play the best players that God has provided to us as the church team.
Why do I say this? I say this because Moses experienced the same thing and was given some amazing advice from his father in-law.
Exodus 18:19-21 (NLT) Now let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. [20] You should tell them God’s decisions, teach them God’s laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. [21] But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.
The question that I have for you as a leader is: “What are you doing to prepare the men around you to shoulder the load for taking care of Gods people?” We need to be able to identify the leaders that we have and get them into the game to get them into the place where they can lead more people in a growing relationship with Jesus. How are you building the team?
One of the things that I love to be able to do is coach athletes. I love being involved with the teaching and training of individuals that are seeking to get better at the sport that they are involved in. There are so many things that are involved with making sure that an athlete is prepared to get in the game. There is the physical training an athlete must be conditioned to be able to sustain the activity in competition. There is the knowledge of the competition for instance wrestling you need to know as many different moves as possible in any given situation. Football athletes need to know what the opposing team is going to do either on offense or defense through film and through playing against a scout team. A coach needs to make sure that he takes care of his team in both of these areas.
As leaders in the church we are to be the coach of the teams that God has entrusted to us. So why is it that we sometimes do such a better job when it comes to getting people ready to play a sport then when it comes to getting into the game of life as a believer in Jesus Christ.
“Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God”. 1 Peter 5:2 (NLT)
So for the leaders of church teams there are a couple of things we should always keep in mind. Our main goal is to prepare the team to be ready to get in the game. It is the goal of parents, small group leaders, class teachers, and the staff of the church to work together to prepare the team for the game. We are to be the ones that coach with a willing heart for the benefit of the team not for our benefit. So the question that I have is; “What are you doing to prepare your team to do to get in the game?” How are you as the coach ensuring that your team is ready for the game?
So this last Friday we had Paul Wright and Rootdown play at our church for a very intimate concert. They were full of energy and they did a great job of making the students and families at the concert feel special. You would have never know how many people were in the building. Which I did as I watched ticket sales. But they were there to share the love of Christ with the people that were there and they made the night awesome. Why? How can I say that?
First as a Dad my kids love Paul and the guys they can not wait to hang around them. These guys make the people around them so comfortable and they are FUN. They don’t take themselves and what they do so serious that they can’t enjoy the people around them. That is something that I have to say I love about these guys.
Second as a Pastor to Students the kids of our church want to have these guys around. This last concert was a younger crowd and I have to say that it worked out great because the came back to church on Sunday with a new excitement for being a part of the student ministry. They saw that you can have fun in a worship sense and they were acting that way Sunday. Thanks to the guys for leading our students in this way.
Finally as a friend I am so encouraged to know that these guys are out their touring and sharing their gifts and talents. I am so proud of the men that they are and the way that they are serving Jesus in what they do. I pray that that everyone who gets to hear these guys or just hang out with these guys are able to to catch a glimpse of what it means to serve Jesus with all that you are and who you are. Thanks guys for a great night.
I love books and I have to say that I am a Barnes and Nobles junkie. I am an addict! Hi my name is Scott and it has been two weeks since I have bought my last book. But this summer I found an author that I would highly recommend. His name is Jon Gordon I have read three books of his that I feel are quite encouraging the titles of these books are “The Energy Bus,” “The No Complaining Rule,” and “Training Camp”. Jon Gordon has put together three books that should be read by parents, teachers, leader, and pastors. They are all in story form and they all teach about areas of life that we need to develop and improve not only our relationships but ourselves. Both my wife and daughter Danielle are reading or have read some of these books and have been greatly challenged by them.
I would like to really encourage people to share the book “Training Camp” with the men in their lives. It is a great story about a football player and his quest to become great at what he is doing in life. But during this quest he is challenged and eventually enters into a relationship with a much wiser and older man that mentors him. I believe that this story is one that will enable each man to become more then he is today and enable him to grow in areas of his life that will not just make him better but his wife, his kids, and those that are around him.
