Elements of an Effective Small Group

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January 6, 2024

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

You’ve seen how some small groups produce great growth in their members while other groups merely tolerate each other. Some small groups excel at reproducing leaders. Other groups seem to just go through the motions. What makes for an effective small group?

You could assume that the leader makes the difference. You might be on to something. But, what is it about that leader that makes for a good group? If you could figure that out, then you could multiply that enthusiasm across all of your groups. Let’s dig into what makes an effective small group.

What is an Effective Small Group?

The simplest definition is a group who fulfills their purpose. If the group’s goal is the three F’s: fun, food, and fellowship, then if the group is fat and happy, they are a success. Every group could be a little happier at least. But, there is a difference between the group’s purpose and God’s purpose for the group.

The mission of the church is to make disciples. You know Jesus’ works from Matthew 28:18-20: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Now, go back and read it again, and really read it this time. (No yada, yada, yada’s allowed). Effective groups make disciples.

How Do You Make a Disciple?

One common Western definition of a disciple is a student. Students study. The more a student knows and the better decisions the student makes, the more they become like Christ, right? The problem is that churches often produce a lot of over-educated members with poor character. If articulating biblical principles was the only factor to growing in Christlikeness, then the Sunday sermon would be all that is necessary. The problem is that sermons don’t make disciples. There are a lot of knowledgeable Christians whose lives don’t reflect much of Christ. After all, “knowledge puffs up while love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). It would be fair to ask whether your people’s behavior more closely resembles Galatians 5:19-21 or Galatians 5:22-23. Information alone doesn’t produce transformation. There are other elements to making disciples.

From the Great Commission and from my own experience, I see three key elements in making a disciple: the Holy Spirit, the “curriculum,” and the community. The Holy Spirit is the indwelling presence of God in the lives of believers. The “curriculum” might be a study guide, but let’s not limit curriculum to that. The community is equally important to the curriculum. Who you join with is highly important in character formation.

The Holy Spirit

While there are diverse opinions about the person and work of the Holy Spirit, you can agree that you cannot give what you do not have. Every believer has the Holy Spirit. As far as being an element of an effective group, at least one person in the group must be saved.

The Holy Spirit guides you (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit has revealed the truth of God’s Word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit illuminates your mind (John 16:15). The Holy Spirit gives words to say when you don’t know what to say (Mark 13:11). The Holy Spirit empowers you to serve others (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4). Attachment to the Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). While you must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to see this fruit, it is the Spirit’s work and not just your sweat.

The Holy Spirit is present in the group meeting through his presence, through prayer, through God’s Word, and in the interactions of the group members. The Holy Spirit saturates daily quiet times and spiritual practices. Without God’s presence, there is no power for transformation. While you can become well disciplined, you cannot transform yourself. It just takes more than you’ve got.

The “Curriculum”

In Western thought, which was heavily influenced by the Enlightenment, the church picked up the notion that if you knew what was right and made the right choices, then you could live a life that reflected Christ. The problem is that no matter how hard you work, eventually you run out of steam. That doesn’t mean that you’ve failed. It just means that all of that well-intentioned trying doesn’t achieve the goal of Christlike character. And, it’s not supposed to. After all, you cannot become godly without God or other believers. Study is part of the curriculum, but it’s not the only part.

Loneliness and the Digital Age

By

Brian Dodd

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January 6, 2024

Recent data shows that the Gen Z generation (people born roughly between 1997 to 2010) spends an average of seven hours a day on their phone, but 79% of Gen Z people say they struggle with loneliness. In a reality that’s become increasingly digital, there is still a strong need for physical community.

This week on Barna’s ChurchPulse Weekly, Ben Windle, Australian pastor and author, and Jay Kim, author of Analog Church, sat down with Carey Nieuwhof to discuss making physical space for community in a digital era.

If you haven’t listened to this episode, “Loneliness, Community, and Discipleship Online Versus In-Person,” you can listen here, and don’t forget to download the free discussion guide!

This week we continued the conversation about the unique value that physical space brings in a world where digital church content is easy to create and distribute. How do churches establish a sense of rootedness and define community in the digital age?

Ben Windle says that our pandemic foray into exclusively digital church “has amplified a deep need for real community and friendship.” He said that the Gen Z generation spends over seven hours a day on their devices, but they’re still lonely, which is to say, online communities aren’t meeting our deep relational needs.

I discovered Jay Kim earlier this year when I read his book Analog Church: Why We Need Real People, Places, and Things in the Digital Age. As a pastor of a large Silicon Valley church, I am so grateful for his nuanced perspective that digital is a great resource, but it still remains only a front door for the full Christian life.

One of the great benefits of digital is that it’s given the church a uniquely broad front door, but the reality is, the front door is an entry into more intimate and meaningful spaces. (Jay Kim)

I think this is a perfect metaphor for how churches should think about digital resources. I would never want a guest to hang out at my front door and never come inside my home. At least not one who meant something to me as a friend! I would want them to become comfortable enough to come in, to see my space and the chair where I decompress every night. I would want a close friend to sit down and have sense of belonging, eventually to participate in the preparation and clean-up of a meal. If we never get past the front door, we’ll never experience the fullness of community.

In the same vein, Ben Windle says in an upcoming white paper called Online, Together, and Lonely, “Casually attending an in-person church service does not necessarily provide all of [the necessary] elements of community . . . That’s why the conversation should not be, ‘is in-person better than online?’ Rather, it should be, ‘What is Biblical community, and how can we use every tool at our disposal to achieve it?’”

As we’ve slowly moved into the post-Christian era of American life over the past few decades where spending time at church no longer counts for much cultural currency, church leaders have been wondering how to get people to come more deeply inside the house of faith. We spend a lot of time with pastors creating lobbies and connecting spaces, where people can feel a bit more settled in and start to participate at their own pace. We program thing like a welcome booth where people can go to “get more information about our church.” But it takes so much more than just a lobby and a Next Steps Booth to create a sense of being at home in a church.

5 Ways To Measure Your Pastoral Progress

By

Full Strength Network

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January 5, 2024

As we stand on the cusp of a new year, it’s only natural to reflect on where the year has taken us. Growth is a perpetual companion on this path, and measuring it helps us stay aligned with our purpose. It’s also helpful to take a look back with gratitude for what God has done. It’s easy to forget as you ramp up into a new year. Let’s explore five practical ways to gauge your pastoral progress over the past year.

1. Spiritual Milestones and Reflections

Start by revisiting the spiritual milestones you’ve encountered in the past year. Consider the sermons that resonated deeply, the moments of personal revelation, and the testimonies of transformation within your congregation. Reflect on your own spiritual journey—have you deepened your connection with God? Use these reflections as markers of spiritual growth.

2. Impactful Ministry Moments

Think about the ministry moments that left a lasting impact on both you and your congregation. Were there events, outreach programs, or initiatives that brought the community closer to God? Measure your growth by the positive impact your ministry has had on the lives of those you shepherd. Celebrate the victories, no matter how small, as indicators of your effectiveness in spreading God’s love.

3. Feedback and Testimonials

Feedback is a powerful tool for growth. Look back at the feedback you received from your congregation, peers, and mentors. Were there common themes or recurring praise? Equally, consider constructive criticism as an opportunity for refinement. Testimonials and stories of transformation provide tangible evidence of the impact of your pastoral care. Let these narratives guide your understanding of your ministry’s influence.

4. Personal and Professional Development

Pastoral growth extends beyond the spiritual realm to encompass personal and professional development. Evaluate the skills you’ve acquired or honed over the past year. Have you attended workshops, sought mentorship, or engaged in continuous learning? Recognize that personal and professional growth contributes significantly to your effectiveness as a shepherd.

5. Congregational Connection and Engagement

The strength of a pastor lies not just in the pulpit but in the connections forged within the congregation. Measure your growth by the depth of these connections. Have you fostered a sense of community? Have you engaged with your congregation on a personal level, beyond the formalities of church services? The relationships you’ve built are a testament to the growth of a vibrant, connected community.

As you reflect on this past year, remember that growth is often subtle, and its impact may not always be immediately apparent. Embrace both the successes and the challenges as opportunities for refinement and improvement. The journey of a pastor is a continuous cycle of growth and learning, and each year brings new insights and experiences.

May the lessons of the past year fuel your passion for the ministry, and may you continue to grow in grace and wisdom in the year ahead.

This article originally appeared here.

Sadie Robertson Huff: Has God’s Word ‘Been Lost on Us?’

By

Jessica Lea

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January 5, 2024

Former “Duck Dynasty” star Sadie Robertson Huff challenged the attendees of Passion 2024 not to let God’s Word be “lost” on them. On Wednesday, Jan. 3, Huff shared how she herself had minimized the Bible, comparing her actions to the Old Testament account of when King Josiah found the lost Book of the Law.

“I just wonder, although we have the Word—it’s not technically lost,” said Huff, “has it been lost on us? Has the value, has the power, has the gravity of this story been lost on us?…Has it been lost on me?”

Sadie Robertson Huff: ‘This Story Has Changed Me’

In addition to starring in the hit reality series, “Duck Dynasty,” Sadie Robertson Huff is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who hosts the “WHOA That’s Good” podcast.

The Passion Conference is a three-day event for college-aged students that was founded by Pastor Louie Giglio and his wife, Shelley, in 1997. Passion 2024 takes place Jan. 3-5 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Huff opened the first session of the conference with a letter she received from a stranger that had a significant impact on her. The letter said, “Dear Sadie Robertson Huff, how do you know God is real? Practical answers only please.”

Huff said she pondered the letter for about a year without being able to come up with a satisfactory answer. She wanted to offer more than a response based on her own feelings and experiences. Finally, she got the chance to ask Louie what he thought the answer was, and he simply said, “Because the Bible.”

Huff was astounded that she had not thought of that herself. “Why did I not think about the Bible?” she wondered.

She explained that 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34 recount a time when God’s people were caught up in idolatry. King Josiah began to reign in Judah at age eight and was one of the few righteous kings reigning in the Divided Kingdom who determined to follow God.

When Josiah was 26, he instructed workers to repair God’s temple, and as they did so, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law. When the book was read to him, Josiah tore his clothes in lament because he realized how much the people of Judah had sinned against God. He then gathered all the people of Judah to listen to God’s Word together.

NFL Chaplain Johnny Shelton: ‘We’re Here To Love’ All the Players

By

Stephanie Martin

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January 5, 2024

As more NFL players talk openly about their spiritual beliefs, football and faith are no longer an unlikely pairing. Aiding that connection are 32 team chaplains, who often keep a low profile.

Last month, “TODAY” show correspondent Savannah Sellers interviewed Baltimore Ravens chaplain Johnny Shelton, one of the few full-time in-house NFL chaplains. A former pro player himself, Shelton now focuses on the spiritual development of players, coaches, and staff members.

The Work of Ravens Chaplain Johnny Shelton

Johnny Shelton admitted it’s a good thing chaplains aren’t famous “because you stay out of the way.” But although he isn’t well known, Shelton is always present. He’s on the sidelines during practices and games, available for players and team personnel who need prayers and words of wisdom.

Just before athletes take the field on game days, Shelton leads team prayer. “I pray for the safety [of players’] minds and [for] their hearts to be clear, to be able to focus on the task at hand,” he said. NFL chaplains also lead post-game prayer at midfield, a gathering known as Meet Me at the 50.

As the Ravens chaplain, Shelton also organizes Bible studies for players, coaches, and even their families. He also keeps an open door policy for counseling. Players seek Shelton’s wisdom about “football pressure, family pressure, relationship issues,” he said. “Life is hard enough. And at the flip side of that, football is hard enough. So when you put those two together…it’s crazy.”

Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey told NBC’s Sellers that during chats with the chaplain, “Football comes up occasionally, but it’s mainly just life…Even sometimes when it’s football, it’s more so just how could you have more of a leadership role.”

Anthony Weaver, a former Ravens player who’s now an assistant coach for the team, said NFL players tend to “assume we’re alphas [who] can solve and figure out everything.” So “it’s not natural to turn to somebody for help and for guidance.” Shelton, however, “makes that easy,” according to Weaver.

NFL Chaplain Seeks To Honor Jesus

When Sellers asked Shelton if his door is open to players of any faith, he said, “Oh, absolutely. I’m here to love all.” He acknowledged, “We’re not going to disciple everybody. We’re here to love them.”

Shelton said he values the bond he has with fellow league chaplains, who meet monthly on Zoom. “Those are my guys,” he said. “We’re able to lean on” each other.

On his website bio, Shelton describes having a rough upbringing, without a father in the picture. Two consistent factors in his life, however, were sports and church. By his junior year at Southeast Missouri State University, Shelton made Jesus the Lord of his life, rather than merely “living on his mother’s salvation.”

Church Planted by Matt Chandler’s The Village Church Leaves Acts 29

By

Dale Chamberlain

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January 5, 2024

CityView Church Acts 29 Matt Chandler — Pictured: CityView Church pastor Rick White delivering a sermon (screengrab via YouTube / @CityView Church)

CityView Church in Fort Worth, Texas, has publicly disassociated itself from the Acts 29 church planting network. Notably, CityView Church was planted by The Village Church, which is pastored by Matt Chandler, who also serves as executive chairman of Acts 29’s board.

Chandler was also formerly the president of Acts 29, a role now filled by Brian Howard.

Rick White, who serves as pastor of CityView Church, posted an announcement of the church’s departure from Acts 29 to X (formerly Twitter).

“Our church has resigned our membership from the Acts 29 network,” wrote White. “It saddens me that it had to come to this.”

White went on to say that while he hadn’t originally planned to make public remarks about the decision, he felt owed an explanation to the pastors and churches he had recruited to Acts 29 and had previously encouraged to remain in the network despite their misgivings.

“Additionally, because I have defended Acts 29, even while it was becoming indefensible, I feel culpable,” White added.

White expressed that he had attempted to address his concerns with Acts 29 privately but to no avail. He also alleged that the network’s leadership gives greater deference to larger churches and that “the mostly small and medium-sized churches that comprise Acts 29” are not “given a voice.”

White went on to summarize the specific issues that led to CityView Church’s departure from Acts 29, attaching an abbreviated version of a letter he sent to Acts 29 informing the network of his church’s decision.

In the letter, White provided three reasons for CityView Church’s departure from Acts 29.

“First and foremost, it is our conviction that the current Acts 29 organizational structure is flawed and susceptible to corruption and compromise,” wrote White. He went on to point out that Acts 29 employs two of Howard’s family members, one of whom serves as Director of Human Resources.

IHOPU’s President Resigns Less Than 2 Weeks After IHOPKC Permanently Cuts Ties With Mike Bickle

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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January 5, 2024

Earlier this week (Jan. 3), International House of Prayer of Kansas City (IHOPKC) spokesperson Eric Volz announced that International House of Prayer University (IHOPU) president David Sliker has stepped down after a seven-year tenure.

Sliker is also stepping down from his role on IHOPKC’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Volz characterized the move as “a mutual decision made in the best interest of the IHOPKC community and David’s family.”

“We honor David’s service and dedication,” Volz added. “He is loved by the IHOPKC community and he remains in good standing with this spiritual family.”

Volz shared that Matt Candler has been appointed IHOPU’s president. According to IHOPU, Candler has been a senior leader at the IHOP Missions Base for nearly 20 years and serves with his wife, Dana, on IHOPU’s Executive Management Team as a Prayer Director. Candler helped start IHOPKC in 1999.

The statement concluded by thanking IHOPKC followers for their “continued prayers in this season.”

One person commented, “Dave’s teachings were life changing for me. Thank you for your service and the tremendous love you poured into this community. God is working everything out for your good. Praying for the Sliker family!”

Dear IHOPKC community:

After seven years of faithful service, our dear brother in Christ, David Sliker, has decided to step down as President of IHOPU.

David is also stepping down from the IHOPKC’s Executive Leadership Team, effective immediately.

This was a mutual decision…

— Eric Volz (@EricVolz) January 4, 2024

Another wrote, “Praying for David and family and the New team lead by Matt. May the Lords blessings and favor be your portion.”

Sliker’s resignation comes nearly two months after IHOPKC announced that its founder, Mike Bickle, was indefinitely stepping away from all ministry activities and social media after being accused of sexual and spiritual abuse and less than two weeks after IHOPKC announced it was permanently cutting ties with Bickle after receiving new information that confirmed a “level of inappropriate behavior.”

IHOPKC’s Executive Director Stuart Greaves has also resigned.

IHOPKC is currently being investigated by Rosalee McNamara of Lathrop GPM, a third-party law firm located in Kansas City.

Pandemic Boosted Resilience, Hurt Financial Health of Black Churches, Says Report

By

Adelle M Banks

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January 5, 2024

Black churches — Multimedia technician Joseph Stoute, 21, uses a disinfectant wipe to clean the audio equipment at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he directed a livestream online broadcast for home-bound congregants due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the COVID-19 outbreak, March 22, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

(RNS) — Black majority congregations, known for their high levels of community outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, have remained the most stable in combined attendance — in person and online — compared with multiracial and white majority congregations.

But they are also facing the greatest monetary struggles, with 34% reporting their financial health is worse in 2023 than in 2018, compared with 29% of majority white congregations and 28% of multiracial congregations.

A new report highlights the challenges faced by Black and multiracial congregations, as well as their resilience, in the wake of a pandemic that prompted significant changes in worship and community service.

“As far as opening up as vaccine sites, to actually put in place mitigation measures — so whether that’s shutting down, encouraging masks — majority Black congregations and multiracial congregations led those efforts,” said B. Clarvon Watts, author of “Understanding the Pandemic Impact on Black and Multiracial Congregations.”

"Financial Health Comparison 2018 v 2023" (Graphic courtesy HIRR)

“Financial Health Comparison 2018 v 2023” (Graphic courtesy of HIRR)

Watts is a sociologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, which released the report on Thursday (Jan. 4).

Black congregations — affiliated with mainline, evangelical and historically Black denominations — often were significantly more involved in some responses to COVID-19.

Nearly all those surveyed — 99% — encouraged vaccinations, compared with 53% of majority white congregations and 49% of multiracial congregations, defined in the report as those where no one racial group comprises more than 80% of the congregation.

B. Clarvon Watts. (Submitted photo)

Watts said many congregations featuring nonwhites embraced hybrid services as they adapted to the pandemic. While majority white congregations were the most likely to offer a virtual worship opportunity at least once a week (82%), Black majority congregations were the most likely to offer multiple online worship opportunities throughout the week (27%), compared with 23% of multiracial congregations and 15% of white majority congregations.

The community involvement during the pandemic was an extension of the “octopus legs” of Black churches, explained Watts. Historically, these congregations often operated as hubs for providing education, legal and health opportunities for African Americans, who were often unable to access those resources elsewhere due to discrimination and segregation.

“You’re trying to meet multiple, multiple needs,” she said of the pandemic-influenced hybridity, “trying to provide in person and virtual worship, virtual programming, whether that’s education or it’s gathering to pray or gathering to do Communion.”

Likewise, multiracial congregations often sought to use the hybrid model for the range of families in their congregations, from working parents to immunocompromised congregants, she said.

Judge Dismisses Muslim Couple’s Lawsuit Against School Where Daughter Converted to Christianity

By

Bob Smietana

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January 5, 2024

Christianity — Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Ill. (Image courtesy of Google Maps)

(RNS) — A federal judge in Illinois ruled that a state school district is not responsible for the actions of a teacher who allegedly proselytized students in a public school classroom, leading a Muslim student to convert to Christianity.

Judge Iain D. Johnston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, ruled that officials of Community Unit School District 300 were not responsible for the teacher’s actions, as he was disciplined and later resigned after being confronted by those public school officials.

The ruling is the latest twist in a long-running legal dispute over religion at Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Illinois — a northwest suburb of Chicago — and, in particular, the conversion of a teenage Muslim student.

Yosuf Chaudhry and Amena Alvi, who are Muslim, sued Community Unit School District 300 in 2020 after learning their then-teenage daughter converted to Christianity as a student at Jacobs. While at the school, their daughter, referred to in a complaint as “B.D.,” allegedly met with a teacher named Pierre Thorsen, who taught world history and world religions and also sponsored a student Christian group called Uprising.

Thorsen, a popular teacher who was named Educator of the Year for Kane County, Illinois in 2015, was also named in the complaint.

According to the complaint, Thorsen, who taught classes in apologetics at local churches, allegedly promoted Christianity during Uprising meetings and criticized other religions.

“Thorsen would repeatedly engage in conversations with students before, during, and after school where he would advocate for his faith and cast doubt, belittle, or discount other faiths,” the complaint alleged.

After the couple’s daughter converted, Thorsen allegedly also introduced her to members of his church who offered to take her in if her family disowned her because of her change in religion. She also received a Bible from her teacher, according to a revised version of the couple’s complaint, filed in 2023.

The couple alleged the district should have been aware that Thorsen had promoted Christianity for years and used his classroom to allegedly proselytize students.

In his answer to the lawsuit filed by Chaudhry and Alvi, Thorsen acknowledged giving lectures in churches but denied using his role as a teacher to try to convert students. He also denied that he criticized non-Christian faiths but did acknowledge giving the couple’s daughter a Bible after she requested one. He also said she had used a borrowed Bible during Uprising meetings. He acknowledged putting the daughter in touch with people outside the school who could help her if her parents were angered by the conversion.

“The goal was reconciliation and not legal emancipation,” according to an answer to the parents’ complaint. “The Bible and contact information were provided after B.D. already professed conversion to Christianity, and after B.D. read the Bible on her cell phone provided by her parents.”

The Best Is Still Yet To Be

By

Randy Alcorn

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January 5, 2024

Emmanuel Ndikumana was nineteen years old when he heard that a group of young men in Burundi planned to murder him in two weeks. He chose to stay where he was and survived the attempted murder through God’s amazing providence. When telling me his story, Emmanuel made this comment: “You Americans have a strange attitude toward death; you act as if it’s the end.”

The truth is, we’ll be far happier in this life if we understand it isn’t our only chance for happiness…and neither is it our best chance. I’ve read books on happiness stressing that we must be happy right here and now, living in the moment, because this is all we have. But the Christian worldview is that God’s people will have an eternity of present-tense happiness. This assurance of never-ending happiness is capable of front-loading joy into our lives today.

Jonathan Edwards said of God’s people, “They are not only invited to go with Christ, and to dwell with him, but to inherit a kingdom with him; to sit down with him on his throne, and to receive the honour and happiness of a heavenly kingdom…God made heaven on purpose for them, and fitted it for their delight and happiness.”

In the ages to come, we’ll remember past happiness and its cause (God) and look forward to future happiness and its cause (God). So if you’re not happy today, or if your happiness isn’t as deep as you wish, relax. Take a deep breath. You’re not missing your only opportunity to be happy! The time is coming when there will be nothing you can do except be happy. And that time will never end! Still, the Bible makes clear that God doesn’t want you to wait until then to be happy in Christ.

All who know Jesus will live together in that resurrected world, with the Lord we love and the friends we cherish. We’ll embark together on the ultimate adventure in a spectacular new universe awaiting our exploration and dominion.

Jesus will be the center of everything. Happiness will be the lifeblood of our resurrected lives. And just when we think, It doesn’t get any better than this—it will!

If we come to understand the biblical doctrine of the resurrection and the New Earth, we’ll find exactly what we all wish for. So let’s be sure we understand it! How kind of God to provide for us exactly what he wired us to most desire—to be in His presence forever, delighting in Him and each other and enjoying our lives together.

Father Boudreaux wrote in Happiness of Heaven, “Never can there come a day when He will frown upon us, and make us feel that His love for us has grown cold…Never will there come a day when His divine beauty will fade away, or when He will lose his power of making us happy.”

Think of it: millions of years from now, in the presence of the happy God who will never tire of us, we’ll still be young. We’ll be able to say every day, “I will never be separated from my endlessly loving and creative God and Savior, the source of all happiness. Every day has been better than the one before…and the best is still yet to be!”

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

How to Deal With People Who Don’t Like You

By

C. E. Stowers

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January 5, 2024

Rejection is powerful. How do you deal with it?

When I counsel people, sometimes I hear them say, “I don’t care if people like me, as long as they respect me.” When they say that, it’s an “emotional wall they use to block the hurt of rejection,” according to psychologist Marcia Reynolds.

God created us to be social, and if we’re honest, all of us care if people like us. “The feeling of love, affection and belonging is necessary before we can reach the highest levels of consciousness and wisdom,” according to psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow is saying we all need people to survive. So, how do you keep from withdrawing when dealing with someone who doesn’t like you?

Fortunately, you’re not the only one who’s had to deal with this problem. After Nathan had anointed David as the future King of Israel, Saul became his bitter enemy. Like David, all of us, at one time or another, deal with people we don’t like and who don’t like us. Perhaps you have people who want to do you harm and see you fail. This is where David found himself in 1 Samuel Chapter 24.

His enemy, Saul, wanted to see him dead, and he spent a considerable amount of time chasing David to kill him. Then one day Saul made a mistake. He walked right into the place where David and his men were without realizing David was there.

Imagine how you might have felt if your worst enemy (or hater) was in front of you and didn’t know you were there. Would you attack that person? Most of us would not think twice about getting revenge on that person, especially since doing so would mean we would no longer have to run and hide from them.

However, David was different. Even though David wanted to stop running and hiding, he wanted to honor God more. Saul was a King that God anointed, and David knew that he could not just kill him. Understanding this, he denied his initial thought to kill Saul.

As believers, you, too, will have opportunities to choose what you want to do and what is right. Devoted followers decide to honor God in every situation and at all times, no matter what. David didn’t kill Saul when he had the chance and God counted it as an honor. Later in David’s life God honored him.

How can you go on with life without letting enemies, critics or haters get you down?

8 Tried and True Practices to Lead up Well

By

Dan Reiland

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January 5, 2024

Leading from the middle of the pack is an art form of its own, especially when you need to lead up. It requires maturity, security, trust, and competence.

Whether you are in your first job or have been leading for years, you never arrive when it comes to leading up.

Curiously, leading up is one of the most needed and least discussed skills. Perhaps because it can sound presumptuous, maybe even arrogant or manipulative in nature to “lead your boss.”

Leading up, however, is not the same as leading your boss.

Part of this issue is that so often, when the subject of leading up surfaces, it’s about what is perceived as an insecure, disconnected, or difficult boss.

These situations exist and often require experienced coaching, but candidly, they are not the common experience. So, let’s leave those situations for another time.

This post assumes a healthy and productive working relationship; not a perfect one, but a good one.

Specifically, your leader cares about you, develops you, listens to you, and is honest with you. Of course, they are not perfect. All leaders have weaknesses, idiosyncrasies, and flaws, but in a good working relationship, your boss is clearly for you and has your best interest at heart.

In this context, what is the purpose of learning to lead up well?

To serve both your boss and the church to the best of your ability.

What are the results?

You are trusted more, empowered at a greater level, able to make a significant contribution, you enjoy your job, and rise in responsibility.

8 Tried And True Practices To Lead Up Well

1. Earn your voice.

You have a leadership voice. Your team, especially your boss, wants to hear what you think. But it’s wise to earn your voice in the process.

When it comes to your leadership voice, here is a good sequence to follow.

Find your voice
Earn your voice
Use your voice wisely for the good of the people and the church.

I’ve coached leaders who have a strong and valuable leadership voice but hesitate to use it and leaders who haven’t earned their voice and use it too often.

This is an important skill to learn, and in many ways, the remaining seven practices help you earn your voice and lead up effectively.

2. Manage yourself, so you don’t need to be managed.

It’s often been said, “If you don’t manage yourself, someone else will.”

That’s a lose-lose situation. You lose the trust and freedom you desire, and your leader loses time tending to things you could have handled on your own.

“Lead yourself well” is the more popular phrase, but it’s essentially the same idea.

Leading yourself well does not exclude needing a coach, mentor, or some help. We all need good advice and support along the way.

10 Hard Lessons About Leading God’s Church – Joe McKeever

By

Joe McKeever

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January 5, 2024

Anyone who begins to pastor a church should recognize two big things: There are lessons to be learned if you are ever to do this well, and most of them are learned the hard way. When it comes to leading God’s Church, your scars will attest to your education.

Most of this is counter-intuitive; that is, not what one might expect.

10 Hard Lessons About Leading God’s Church

One. Bigness is overrated.

“It doesn’t matter to the Lord whether He saves by the few or the many” (I Samuel 14:6). Most pastors, it would appear, want to lead big churches, want to grow their church to be huge, or wish to move to a large church. Their motives may be pure; judging motives is outside my skill set. But pastoring a big church can be the hardest thing you will ever try, and far less satisfying than one would ever think.

Small bodies can be healthy too; behold the hummingbird or the honeybee.

A friend says, “At judgement, a lot of pastors are going to wish they’d led smaller congregations.”

Two. The pastor’s lack of formal education is no excuse.

The pastor of the small church will often have less formal training and education than he would like. Not surprisingly, he sometimes feels inferior to his colleagues with their seminary degrees. I have two thoughts on that:

–It’s a mistake. He can be as learned as they are and more if he applies himself. Let the Lord’s preachers not be overly impressed by certificates on the wall or titles before their name. Better the preacher who’s got it on the ball than one who’s got it on the wall!

–He can get more formal education if he decides it’s God’s will and if he is willing. Seminaries and Bible colleges have online programs that make advanced education practical and affordable.

My dad, a coal miner and the oldest of a dozen children, had to leave school after the 7th grade and entered the mines at age 14. But he never quit learning. He took correspondence courses and read constantly. When God took him to Heaven at almost 96 years of age, Mom had to cancel four or five magazine subscriptions he was still taking and reading.

Some of the finest preachers of God’s word have led God’s church little formal theological education.

5 Ways Resilient Leaders Learn to Bounce Back

By

Charles Stone

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January 5, 2024

In a previous post I suggested 5 indicators that point to leaders who quickly bounce back from adversity, setbacks, and disappointment. I used the phrase resilient leaders to describe them. Since every leader will face difficulty, what can we do to become more resilient? Consider these practical steps you can apply in your life and leadership to ‘bounce back’ more quickly, and join the ranks of resilient leaders.

5 Ways Resilient Leaders Learn to Bounce Back

1. Setbacks Happen

Accept that fact that you will face setbacks. While not constantly looking over your shoulder, remind yourself that with leadership comes challenge and hardship. So when difficulties do come, you won’t be blindsided by them. Welcome them as a teacher to help you learn more about yourself.

2. Learn Metacognition

Develop the discipline of ‘metacognition.’ Metacognition is a fancy term for, ‘thinking about what you are thinking about.’ Often when faced with a difficulty we get caught up in our negative self-talk, the thought stream in our minds that all is gloom and doom. However, by monitoring our thoughts we can catch this negativity before it overwhelms our thinking and emotions. Read more here about the Monday morning blues and metacognition.

The Decline of Excellence in The Age of “Nice”

By

Phil Cooke

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January 5, 2024

Here is an extreme example of the decline of excellence. Sophie Rebecca is a 6ft 3 trans woman who has decided to become a female ballerina. Long shot, right? He looks to be a pretty substantial guy physically, but he was actually accepted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance in 2017. Thousands of very talented biological women apply for the academy every year, and, well, Sophie got it. You can take a look here and see if you can tell which dancer is Sophie:

I’m not being critical of poor Sophie, but when it comes to men who become women and start competing against biological women and obsessive diversity initiatives that push unqualified people based on ethnicity, gender, or whatever, it just seems like all this being nice and respectful has come with a price.

The Decline of Excellence

The pursuit of excellence often involves pushing boundaries, demanding high standards, and offering candid feedback – regardless of how the team “feels” about it. However, in today’s increasingly interconnected, socially conscious, and “woke” world, there’s a growing inclination to prioritize being ‘nice’ or avoiding conflict over achieving and maintaining high standards of excellence. In my opinion, this shift has led to a decline in the unyielding pursuit of excellence, often at the cost of progress and quality. For instance, here are some reasons for the decline of excellence:

The Fear of Offending:

In a culture that values being politically correct and avoiding offense, there’s a hesitancy to give critical feedback or point out flaws. Constructive criticism or holding individuals to high standards might be perceived as harsh or confrontational, leading to a reluctance to push for excellence.

Mediocrity in the Name of Kindness:

The desire to be ‘nice’ often translates to accepting mediocrity rather than demanding excellence. Settling for average or ‘good enough’ becomes the norm to avoid potentially hurting someone’s feelings or causing discomfort.

Embracing the Average:

The fear of being labeled as ‘mean’ or ‘unpleasant’ often leads to a culture that rewards mediocrity. Embracing and celebrating average performance over striving for excellence sets a standard that’s lower than what is truly achievable.

New Year New You: Rebuild Your Approach to Youth Ministry

By

Youth Ministrycom

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January 4, 2024

New year new you. That slogan also can apply to your youth ministry strategy. Read on for three fresh approaches to take in your ministry work with teens.

The promise of a new year is also, always, the promise of a “new you.” In my life, that promise translates to a deep desire to be a better youth worker. I look out on the sea of perfectionistic, entrepreneurial, social-media-tethered teenagers and ask: How can I help them boldly live for Jesus?

Something is different about this generation. The old tricks of the trade don’t work the way they always have. A new year, with the promise of a new ministry-you, leads us to deconstruct our ministry back down to its foundation. Then we can rebuild it in a fresh way.

New Year New You — and New Youth Ministry Goals

1. Become a better student of young people.

The conventional wisdom is that today’s teens are technoholics with the attention span of goldfish. Research may undergird this view, but we often draw the wrong conclusions from it. How do we know what goldfish are paying attention to, anyway? Instead of labeling my students, I want to study them better.

So I started the year by asking every teen in my ministry to write down the top three things they’re struggling with. And I’ve started a Mind Meld challenge that attempts to uncover the truth behind the headlines about teenagers. As they walk into our gathering every week, I’ve posted a question for them to answer on a sticky note. It might be “What’s one misconception adults have about teenagers?” or “Is fast food so yesterday, and why?”

A volunteer stands up front, and as kids stick their answers on our whiteboard, they get a raffle ticket for a small prize. The following week we talk through their answers to the question.

Also, I’ve asked my small-group leaders to check in weekly with their response to this question. “What’s one new thing you learned about your group this week?” Their answers can be silly (“They all hate Taco Bell”) or serious (“I found out none of my students has ever memorized Scripture before”).

So for a new year new you, take a fresh new look at the kids in your church and community.

2. Raise up more student leaders.

In my early years in ministry, I bucked against allowing youth group members to lead in significant ways. I treated them as mere participants in the ministry, not instigators of it. Of course, I saw the error of this mindset. But the responsibilities I allowed them to take on were marginal and “safe.” They passed out papers and help with setup.

Soon I realized that if I was going to genuinely empower kids, I had to train them to lead. If I lowered the bar for them, they kept it low. When I raised it, they wanted it higher. Slowly but surely I moved my ministry into a youth-led approach.

Now I recruit carefully, and I set clear boundaries around student leadership. But teens help brainstorm our ministry themes, prepare and deliver talks, lead worship, run our sound system, plan ministry activities, and find games we can play together. They also recruit teams of people to help them lead their peers.

It’s messy, a load of work for me, and entirely worth it. This year, I’ll cut back more on my presence in front of the room and let youth take that place. As adults, we partner with our kids to ensure they stay on track, are held accountable, and can get answers to their hard questions.

So for a new year new you, commit to growing new young leaders.

Future Filled With Hope: A KidMin Activity for MLK Jr. Day

By

ChildrensMinistry.com

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January 4, 2024

Do your students know that God has filled their future with hope? Use this meaningful kidmin activity with elementary and preteen kids ahead of the MLK Jr. holiday.

During the month of January, celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech” with children. For this activity, kids will create a classroom mural that portrays their hopes for future days and years. The project is based on Jeremiah 29:11, a Bible verse about the good plans that God has in store for his people.

Supplies you’ll need:

a roll of butcher paper
markers
a Bible

Future Filled With Hope

Talk with kids about the main points of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. If you have time, we highly recommend having children watch Dr. King’s entire speech. You can view this speech in its entirety here.

Read aloud Jeremiah 29:11. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

‘Transformers’ Star Shia LaBeouf Confirmed Into Catholic Church, Wants To Become a Deacon

By

Jesse T. Jackson

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January 4, 2024

Once an agnostic, Hollywood movie star Shia LaBeouf has “fully entered” the Catholic Church, according to a Capuchin Franciscans – Western America Province Facebook post on Tuesday (Jan. 2).

The 37-year-old actor, who has starred in the blockbuster films “Transformers,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” told Interview Magazine in 2014 that he “found God” during the filming of “Fury.”

That movie is about a “grizzled tank commander,” played by Brad Pitt, who has to make hard decisions while leading his tank soldiers across Germany in 1945. LaBeouf plays Boyd “Bible” Swan, a member of Pitts’ crew who quotes Bible verses throughout the film.

“I became a Christian man, and not in a f**king bulls**t way—in a very real way,” LaBeouf told Interview Magazine. Pitt “was really instrumental in guiding my head through this,” LaBeouf said.

Throughout his career, LaBeouf has weathered his share of controversies, including being arrested for disorderly conduct, harassment, criminal trespassing, and public intoxication. In 2020, LaBeouf was a accused of sexual battery and physical and verbal abuse by actress FKA Twigs, a former girlfriend he met on the set of “Honey Boy.”

LaBeouf has admitted that he isn’t proud of some of the things he’s done in his life and has said that he’s “hurt a lot of people, and I’m fully aware of that. And I’m going to owe for the rest of my life,” adding that there is a “long list of people that I need to make amends to.”

But last year, during an interview with Bishop Barron, the actor shared that he had fallen in love with the Catholic faith while preparing for his role as a Franciscan friar in the 2022 film “Padre Pio.”

“We are thrilled to share that our dear friend Shia LaBeouf has fully entered the Church this past weekend through the sacrament of confirmation!” Capuchin Franciscans’ post said. “The Capuchin Franciscan friars are overjoyed to welcome him into the fold and witness his deep commitment to his faith journey.”

The post continued by recognizing LaBeouf as “incredible talent and passion in the entertainment industry.” It then added that he has embarked on a “profound spiritual journey that has led him to embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church” and called his decision to “fully enter the Church” a “testament to his sincere desire to grow in his relationship with God and live out the Gospel values.”

Pat Robertson’s Daughter-in-Law, Lisa Robertson, Passes Away at Age 69

By

Jessica Lea

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January 4, 2024

Lisa Robertson, daughter-in-law of religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, died Dec. 30 at the age of 69. Lisa was married to Pat’s son, Tim Robertson. In addition to the many ways she served her community and the body of Christ, Lisa is remembered as a beloved wife, mother and grandmother.

“Lisa Nelson Robertson of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died peacefully in her home surrounded by her beloved husband and family on December 30, 2023,” says an obituary for Lisa. “She passed away knowing that her hope is in Jesus Christ and she will be with Him for eternity.”

Lisa Robertson’s Legacy

Lisa Robertson was born in Colorado on March 9, 1954, to David and Barbara Nelson. In her youth, she attended school in Denver and later graduated from Sweet Briar College, a private liberal arts college in Sweet Briar, Virginia. Lisa founded and led a religious conference at the university and met Tim Robertson after she invited Pat to be the conference’s keynote speaker. Tim and Lisa married in 1977 and were blessed with 46 years of marriage before her passing.

Lisa at times appeared on “The 700 Club,” which was co-hosted by her father-in-law, most notably offering insights into Advent. She wrote the book, “The Path of Life: Walking in the Loving Presence of God,” and was active in her church, Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach.

There, Lisa started a women’s Bible study that has lasted nearly 40 years. She also started the outreach ministry Changing Seasons and served on the boards of the Museum of the Bible and Lysa TerKeurst’s Proverbs 31 Ministries. Lisa was a supporter of Alpha, an outreach ministry pioneered by Nicky Gumbel, and was a founding board member of Alpha’s North American branch.

However, states her obituary, “Lisa’s favorite roles were as a wife, mother, and grandmother, and she always considered her greatest accomplishment to be her family, whom she loved and cherished so dearly.”

“I would describe motherhood as one of the great opportunities God gives women,” Lisa said in an interview with her daughter, Abby. “It is a job, it is a ministry, it is so much fun, and it’s a way we partner with the Lord to see His work.”

10-Day Bethel Music Conference To Feature Jackie Hill Perry, Natalie Grant

By

Dale Chamberlain

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January 4, 2024

Bethel Music has announced the sale of tickets to its 2024 Bethel Music Worship School, a 10-day event aimed at training worship leaders and Christian creatives.

Featured speakers include Christian author and hip hop artist Jackie Hill Perry, Christian Contemporary Music artist Natalie Grant, and former Delirious? Frontman Martin Smith.

“Bethel Music Worship School is for Worship Leaders, Songwriters, Musicians, and Creatives who want to grow in heart and skill as they serve the local and global church,” Bethel Music’s website says. “Grow your skills while you learn what it means to be fully alive in Christ and grow in a deeper understanding of who you are in Him.”

Bethel Music, which is an extension of the worship ministry of Bethel Church in Redding, California, is internationally known for its popular worship songs, which are sung by thousands of churches every Sunday.

Bethel Church has also been the center of some controversy within the evangelical movement, in part because of its association with Seven Mountains Dominionism, a movement of Charismatic Christians that sees itself as mandated to dominate the “seven spheres” of society: family, religion, education, media, entertainment, business, and government.

Adherents to the movement believe that dominating these seven spheres of society will hasten the end times and return of Jesus Christ.

Bethel Church’s School of Supernatural Ministry has also come under scrutiny, as the program aims to train students to perform supernatural miracles, such as faith healings.

Bethel Church gained national attention in 2019 after calling upon Christians to pray for the physical resurrection of Olive Heiligenthal, the 2-year-old daughter of Bethel worship leader Kalley Heiligenthal, who had tragically died in her sleep. The calls for prayer lasted for roughly a week before Bethel announced that it had reached the conclusion that Olive would not be raised.

The church came under public criticism again in 2020, when it was reported that the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry had become the epicenter of a COVID-19 outbreak, with the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency connecting 123 cases to the school over a period of two weeks.

What is an Effective Small Group?

How Do You Make a Disciple?

The Holy Spirit

The “Curriculum”

1. Spiritual Milestones and Reflections

2. Impactful Ministry Moments

3. Feedback and Testimonials

4. Personal and Professional Development

5. Congregational Connection and Engagement

Sadie Robertson Huff: ‘This Story Has Changed Me’

The Work of Ravens Chaplain Johnny Shelton

NFL Chaplain Seeks To Honor Jesus

8 Tried And True Practices To Lead Up Well

1. Earn your voice.

2. Manage yourself, so you don’t need to be managed.

10 Hard Lessons About Leading God’s Church

One. Bigness is overrated.

Two. The pastor’s lack of formal education is no excuse.

5 Ways Resilient Leaders Learn to Bounce Back

1. Setbacks Happen

2. Learn Metacognition

The Decline of Excellence

New Year New You — and New Youth Ministry Goals

1. Become a better student of young people.

2. Raise up more student leaders.

Supplies you’ll need:

Future Filled With Hope

Lisa Robertson’s Legacy

New Articles

New Podcasts