There are wonderful things about working with small congregations, but just as with any church, there are potential pit-falls to be aware of from the perspective of a coach.
Do you coach the leader of a small church? There are so many aspects to consider as a coach, when beginning to work with a pastor of a church; denomination, location, culture, the responses of the staff and congregation … but size of the church is maybe one of the most definitive factors.
Where Small Churches Excel
Like house churches, small churches grow through newcomers’ attraction to the relationships in the congregation. However, in the small church it can also be a personal relationship to the pastor that is the primary attraction for a new person. The pastor can begin two or three new ministries, classes, or groups, as long as he has secured the backing or participation of one key informal leader. Together they can begin a new activity that will bring many new people into the church. – Tim Keller
A small church could have anywhere between 70 to 200 people.The majority of churches in the United States are in the 40-200 range. Three reasons this is so:
“Span of Care”
The solo pastor can comfortably lead and manage 40-200 people. Pastor’s who aren’t comfortable or knowledgable directing a staff tend to hit a growth barrier that keeps their church to a size they can shepherd on their own.
To break through the 70-120-200 growth barriers there are some changes in the way the leader operates that must be executed with intention and determination. Breaking through one growth barrer to the next requires a significant shift for the senior leader. Namely, instead of being the prime focus for all pastoral care, solo pastors learn to adapt and shift their behaviors to become a leader of leaders.
Coaching the Small Church Pastor
“Span of Care”
There exists varying views on the gift and role of a pastor. One end of the continuum is the “healer of the soul”… a doctor to care for the soul of people. On the other end of the continuum is the “leader of leaders” charged to win-build-send workers into the harvest. This profile might be a CEO or movement leader. Helping your client discern the type of leader they are, is one of the gifts you provide. Following are some questions to clarify their vision for the congregation they serve.
Key questions to ask a small church pastor about their vision:
What is your vision for growth and reproduction?
What are you doing well as a church?
What can you prune to maximize what you are doing well?
What do you need to change?
How do you need to adapt?
What are the most important things that you can do now that will have the greatest impact?
What will you actually do?
Facilities
Help your client to capture a realistic picture of the resources the Lord has entrusted in their care. Facilities embody a myriad of messages to the community the church sends, consciously and subconsciously. Location is an obvious one. Imagine a church in the inner city vs. the suburbs vs. a space in a strip mall. What does this tell you about the church’s vision? Size, style, condition, etc. convey messages that people receive about the vision of the leader and congregation.
Key questions to ask a small church pastor about their facility:
How well does your facility connect with the people you want to reach?
What message does your building communicate?
How can you accentuate the positive message?
What can you change about the negative message your building communicates?
How does the location of your facility help or hinder growth?
Growth Barriers
Epheshians 4:11-12 highlight the five giftings in the church: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers (APEST). Apostles, prophets and evangelists tend to be strong on establishing churches vs. shepherds and teachers shine in their pastoral care and teaching roles, more more established works All five are necessary for health.
As leaders mobilize others in their APEST gifting it is important for the leader to adopt a coach approach so that they are able to multiply themselves to do the work of ministry. Releasing control by empowering others through coaching is key. As the leader does this, other leaders will adopt the same methodology as the pastor and will need to be trained in the essentials of coaching. This will ultimately create a culture of empowerment, expanding their circle of influence.
Key questions to ask a small church pastor about expanding their circle of influence
What gifts are currently represented in your core leadership team?
Which gifs are lacking or missing?
Who is the Lord identifying that has these gifts?
Who could you invite into your circle?
How can you mobilize others in their gifting?
Breaking through the Small Church Barrier
To break through each barrier the leader must have a determined, intentional, pioneering outlook otherwise, the leadership will lose focus.
Birth pains will accompany each barrier as the congregation leans into a new way of being. There are negative connotations and challenges innate to the growth process. Here are some questions members might begin to ask:
Does the pastor care?
Is it all about growth?
What about the good old days?
For some this is a natural and necessary transition. For others, it is not as natural and is more complicated. And still, others will have a more difficult time making the shift – and that is why you are so necessary to the small church pastor you coach.
Check-out these coaching guides and storyboards to coach leaders through the following growth barriers:
Do you want to take your team on the disciple-making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits in which you are excelling and the growth points on which you need to focus. Then invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
House Churches are becoming more common. Are you ready to coach their leadership toward effective ministry?
The pandemic turned somewhat fledgling house church networks into burgeoning movements. Frustrated with growing disunity in the church but longing for fellowship, flocks of people banded together in small groups to worship and grow. Leaders of House Churches are looking for coaches to come alongside them as they scale their church for growth. If you are a coach to house church pastors or are serving a congregation in that capacity; you will find this blog helpful.
Where House Churches Excel
Simplicity rules!
A house church is under 40 people in size. This is a manageable size for a leader to create community. Healthy house churches measure fruitfulness in three areas: love for God, love your neighbor and make disciples.
Multiplication is a compelling, strategic option.
Functionally, when a house church approaches capacity the option to reproduce is clear. Cramped space is not THE reason to multiply house churches; but is a realistic option. A higher calling is to follow Jesus and reach more people with the gospel.
Low overhead costs for doing ministry.
Most house church leaders are co-vocational. This eliminates one very large budget item – salary for full-time pastoral staff. And a second budget item – facility costs.
Highly relational
Tim Keller said it well in his article, Leadership and Church Size Dynamics: “House churches grow in the most organic possible way—through attraction to their warmth, relationships, and people. New people are simply invited and continue to come because they are befriended. There is no “program” of outreach.”
There are subtle and not so subtle nuances that will make a difference when coaching a house church leader. Consider the following 5 challenges every house church faces and how you might come alongside them in each.
5 Challenges Every House Church Faces
Inward focus
One of the currents that leaders of house churches need to be aware of and combat is the consumer mentality of Jesus followers who transfer from an established church to a house church. Just like small groups found in larger churches, house churches can become overly focused on the fellowship of believers, forgetting essential obedience to the Great Commandment. Without the building, the staff, or the worship team, house church gatherings leave nowhere to hide as they focus on the spiritual growth of members AND work together to accomplish church goals. You, as the leader’s coach, can help them adapt and change to engage with each. The primary focus though is to reach pre-Christians with the Gospel who are seeking something that is relationally based and part of their daily lives.
Coaching Tip:
Provide a safe place for the house church leader to process their vision. Allow them the space to envision a movement that goes beyond a single house church. Help them unpack the values of their house church and let them hear themselves defend those and ask questions to challenge their assumptions.
Time limitations
Most house church leaders are self-funding. They either raise their own salary or they work a full-time job that frees-up time for them to serve in the house church. Reality is the time they have available to serve the house church they lead is limited and done in the margins of their lives. This is their reality. Your job is to help them maximize what time they have at their disposal.
Coaching Tip:
Does the leader have an effective project management system that works? A simple
Scrum Board can help them visualize what the top priorities are to move things forward. Break a large surface such as a white board into three columns and label them from left to right: “To Do”, “Doing” and “Done”. Use post-it notes to identify the tasks that need to get done and move them to the next column as they progress. This helps the house church leader stay ahead of the more important projects.
Accountability
Common among church planters is the desire to be different. This can be a positive motivator but the church needs the help of an outside voice such as a network or denominational leader. If the house church leader is not connected to a network, accountability might be a foreign concept or at least more challenging. It is important to help them establish those relationships, otherwise they may find themselves in an unhealthy situation that is to their detriment. For instance, what should a leader of a house church do when a strong leader challenges their philosophy of ministry? It can be helpful to access outside resources that can help them navigate conflict.
Coaching Tip:
Listen to the motivations a house church leader was that led to plant or pastor a house church. Everyone wins when the leader desires the Interdependent relationships a network provides. The house church leader wins when they discover like-minded people to stay connected. The network wins because they have another voice to speak into their culture. The house church wins when they feel part of something bigger than themselves.
Mission drift
Because of the amount of time required for a person far from God to enter into a house church and follow Jesus, evangelistic fruit will take time – perhaps more than the leader anticipated. During this lag time it is easy to get impatient, lose focus and get off track. All leaders need a nudge and again to be reminded “why” they are doing house church.
Coaching Tip:
You can serve a great purpose simply by showing-up for a coaching appointment. You are a reminder of the mission of house church leaders: love for God, love your neighbor and make disciples. Beyond showing-up, ask leaders to reflect on the things that can move their house church forward to achieve its mission. Listen carefully, ask powerful questions and be fully present to help them discern the things the Holy Spirit wants to bring to their attention.
Specialization
Care for children, youth and singles among other groupings is the holy grail of house church. Some do it better than others but the challenge is always present. Because every house church will have its own philosophy, for instance, children remain in the larger group vs. going to an age-appropriate activity in a separate space.
Coaching Tip:
The role you play as the coach is to help the leader apply the best strategy to address the issues. Remain curious. Ask questions. Allow the client to arrive at the approach that will work best for them.
Key Questions to Ask a House Church Leader:
What is your vision to grow and reproduce house churches?
What are you doing well as a house church in the three core behaviors of a disciple: love for God, love your neighbor and make disciples?
What can you prune to maximize what you are doing well?
Do you want to take your team on the disciple-making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits in which you are excelling and the growth points on which you need to focus. Then invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
This past Sunday was Pentecost–the day the Holy Spirit came in power and baptized the disciples. Before we get into the woods, I want to invite you to pause and enter into a time of contemplation and self-reflection as we explore the profound significance of this day.
In the Book of Acts, we find the disciples gathered together in prayer, eagerly awaiting the promise of the Holy Spirit. Little did they know that this day would mark a pivotal moment in their lives and the birth of the Church. Today, we can still draw inspiration from their experiences and embrace the transformative power of Pentecost in our own lives.
In Acts chapter 1, Jesus instructs His disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, assuring them that they will receive power when the Spirit comes upon them. The disciples, driven by their love and devotion to their Master, obediently gather in prayer, opening their hearts to the divine intervention that is about to take place. How often do we pause in the busyness of our lives, surrendering our own plans and expectations to invite the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us?
The disciples’ unity and their shared anticipation create a sacred space for the Holy Spirit to come. This unity is essential in the life of the Church and within our own spiritual communities. As we gather together, opening our hearts and minds to one another, we create an environment where the Spirit can move freely and work through us. It is through our shared faith and love that the transformative power of Pentecost becomes a reality in our lives.
Pentecost reminds us of the personal transformation that occurs when we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. The disciples, once fearful and uncertain, are filled with boldness and empowered to proclaim the message of Christ fearlessly. In our own lives, the Holy Spirit brings renewal, healing, and empowerment. It is through the indwelling of the Spirit that we can bear witness to God’s love, grace, and truth.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is an invitation to embrace the divine mission and participate in the transformative work of God in the world.” Indeed, the journey of faith is not solely an individual one but an ever-evolving, outward-mobilizing one. Pentecost serves as a powerful reminder of our ongoing transformation, of God’s transformation in the world, and of His future coming. As we continually yield ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we look to the hope that is and is to come!
As you lead in the weeks to come, here are some questions for you to ponder:
When was the last time you experienced the power of Pentecost in your own life?
When was the last time those around you experienced the power of Pentecost?
Where in your life do you need to wait for God?
How can you cultivate a spirit of waiting for God among those you lead?
As we embrace the holy day of Pentecost, may we cultivate unity, both within our communities and within ourselves, allowing the Spirit to work through us to bring renewal and empowerment. Let us remember that our journey of faith is one of continuous transformation, and even the simplest acts can become vehicles for the Spirit’s transformative touch to our own lives and the lives of others. May this Pentecost be a time of profound self-reflection, renewal, and a deeper surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Do you want to take your team on the disciple-making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits in which you are excelling and the growth points on which you need to focus. Then invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
This past Sunday was Ascension Sunday, or the day Jesus ascended into heaven.
In the days and weeks before he left the disciples, Jesus instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the gift the Father had promised–the Holy Spirit.
It’s easy to skip over that part – the gift of the Spirit. Often, at least in the faith tradition I grew up in, we would skip to the part about what the Spirit does through us–signs and wonders, evangelism, teaching, proclaiming, growing in the fruits of the Spirit. We sometimes get lost in what the gift produces. But today we’re going to focus on this–the gift that is the Holy Spirit.
And it’s a gift we desperately need.
Because of the gift of the Spirit, we can hear from God at any time. While the Old Testament is full of prophets and ordinary believers responding in faith to God’s direction, it was actually an extremely rare occurrence to hear from God, and often happened only through a messenger sent from God to deliver a message. The gift of the Holy Spirit is God’s voice speaking directly to us by His Spirit. We are encouraged, comforted, reminded, guided, and accompanied by the Spirit of God in our faith, in our daily lives.
Because of the gift of the Spirit, we have the ability to endure suffering as Christ endured. We are strengthened by the same power that strengthened Christ. And what’s more, we are not left alone to endure our suffering – indeed, the Spirit of God endures with us.
Because of the Spirit of God, we can truly and intimately abide in Christ–all the time, everywhere we are. The Spirit is with us, within us, and around us at all times. It’s not only through our times of prayer and devotion that we are abiding. It’s while we work, as we run our errands and cart our children from place to place, as we pull weeds from our gardens and mend broken appliances in our homes, and as we gather with friends and family for dinner. The Spirit is with us, and through the Spirit we abide in Christ.
Brother Lawrence, a 17th century French monk, once said, “The time of work does not with me differ from the time of worship; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, even while several people are at the same time calling out for different things, I commune with God in as great a tranquility as if I were upon my knees in prayer in the holiest cathedral of worship.”
This is the gift of the Spirit of God with us. That in every moment, as we relish in the joys of life and grieve at the sufferings of it, communion with God is always available. May we recognize this gift for what it is–not a means to an end or to some grand work for God–but as the presence of God with us. Just for us–a gift that never withers or fades. The most precious and eternal gift of all. Emmanuel.
Do you want to take your team on the disciple-making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits in which you are excelling and the growth points on which you need to focus. Then invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. / Acts 17:22-34 (NIV)
On this sixth Sunday of Easter, we’re observing what’s commonly known on the church calendar as “Rogation Sunday.”
If you just cocked your head and raised your eyebrows, rest assured–you’re not alone!
This past Sunday is known as Rogation Sunday because the following three days are often days of fasting and prayer. According to Bishop Alastair Redfern, “The word rogation comes from the Latin verb “rogare”, meaning ‘to ask’, which reflects the beseeching of God for protection from calamities. As the Book of Common Prayer puts it: ‘Rogation Days are the three days preceding Ascension Day, especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry.’”
What sticks out to me most in this week’s passage is the Athenians altar to “an unknown god” (v. 23). Paul says to those in the assembly – “you are ignorant of the very thing you worship!”
When I read Paul’s words here I often find myself chuckling and shaking my head – worshiping an unknown god? Building an idol to something/someone when you don’t even know their name? It seems so inconceivable. But it may not be too far from our very own experience.
Let me explain.
The purpose of Rogation Sunday – the week before Ascension Sunday – is prayer and fasting. The purpose of prayer and fasting is to draw us closer to the God we worship. I would argue that our ignorance of the Almighty God is not so far removed from the ignorance of the Athenians and their unknown god–because in order for us to know our God, our eyes must be opened that we may see and know Him. When we first set off on a discipleship journey following Jesus, He is, in so many ways, a mystery to us. Unknown, but not unknowable. Foreign to us, but knows us well.
The purpose of prayer and fasting, then, is to align our hearts, our bodies, and our minds to the will and the person of Jesus so that we may know Him, love Him, follow Him, and do the works He has sent us out to do.
So I want to encourage you this week – as you pray and fast, ask yourself these questions and commit to discovering the mysteries of God you’ve not yet known!
Questions for reflection during Rogation Week:
What assumptions have I made about God that may not be true?
How have I interpreted the truths of God through the lens of my culture? What might the Holy Spirit be telling me about this?
Has God tried to reveal Himself to me in a way I have not felt ready or willing to see or accept?
Is my heart positioned to discover the unknown things of God, and the reality that there are things about Him I will never know in this lifetime?
Do you want to take your team on the disciple-making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits in which you are excelling and the growth points on which you need to focus. Then invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
When have you faced your fears and come through stronger on the other side? Perhaps you’ve experienced a moment when things didn’t go how you had hoped, and it required everything you could muster to push through the situation. But you did what was required of you! That’s courage.
It takes courage to be a Jesus follower. And to be a leader of Jesus followers who are on the same journey takes courage.
Here are 5 aspects of courage:
Strength in the Spirit
When you are with like-minded followers of Jesus, you can often detect a deep sense of connection which is manifested by the Holy Spirit.
There is something mystical about unity in the Spirit: you have sensed it, you know when it is present, you long for it when it is missing. Unity in the Spirit has a galvanizing effect.
Think of your best experiences when working with other Jesus followers. What made it so special?
Questions to assess and build your team’s spiritual unity:
What are the most meaningful, spiritually rich team experiences you have had?
What contributed to the spiritual unity you experienced?
How can you take what you learned and move it forward for your current teams?
Strength in Conviction
It is exciting when you’re a part of something bigger than yourself and share the same resolve with others on your team.
When you are a part of something bigger than yourself you must involve others. But not just anyone: the people the Lord has prepared for the particular mission of your team will have a set of shared convictions that will outlast the challenges and difficulties ahead.
It is thrilling to look back after difficult moments have passed and see the way the Lord has helped your team come together when it mattered most. It can also be humbling to look at the “grit” required. The sense of camaraderie and “sticktoitiveness” builds confidence for the next project, and the next, and the next.
Questions to assess and build your team’s resolve:
What task are you and your team undertaking that will require high commitment?
What can you do to free-up your time to give this more attention?
What is one thing you can do to increase clarity for you and your team?
Strength in the Vision
If mission clarifies, vision motivates.
Churchill made one of the most epic speeches in history when he stated: “This was their finest hour.” It conveyed a message that was inspiring. It also displayed his ability to cast vision when Great Britain and the rest of the allied forces needed it most on 18 June 18, 1940, just over a month after he took over as Prime Minister and after France had sought an armistice on the evening of June 16.
Vision motivates. It describes the “why” behind the “what” and “how.” When you capture the essence of a vision and communicate it in a compelling manner, it can be magical!
Questions to assess and build your visioning capacity:
When have you communicated a compelling vision?
What made it so compelling?
How can you apply what you learned for your team(s) moving forward?
Strength in Unity
The unity you share with your team is so powerful that the strength you embody rubs off on others.
Unity is a powerful force! When your team members work in unison towards a common vision, it is energizing. People love being part of that type of team! Think of your team and how much fun it is when you are operating at your best.
Unity is contagious. When your team functions at its best, the individuals become more and more confident. Other teams take notice and before you know it, your team infects the others.
Questions to assess and build your unity:
What are the things that bind your team together?
What detracts from your team’s unity?
What are some ways to enhance team unity?
Strength in Numbers
When you surround yourself with ministry partners who share your passion, it strengthens the bond you share and gives you confidence that together, you can accomplish much!
Surround yourself with ministry partners who share the same passion! It is sometimes necessary to go it alone. Going solo can last for a season but, whenever possible, invite others into the mission.
Loneliness is a vicious enemy. You can manage these moments for a while, but over the long-term it can erode your confidence, increase anxiety, and result in a decrease of productivity. With a team you can feed off each other, celebrate success and share the struggle. Everything being equal, you will go further faster – resulting in greater fruitfulness.
Questions to assess and build your numbers:
What are the advantages of working with others?
Who has complimentary gifts that you like working with?
How can you bring them one step closer to become part of your team?
What strength can you draw from the courage of Paul, Silas, Timothy and Jason in the following passage?
1 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[a] 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
7 Questions to Take Courage
Following are questions you can use personally (or if you are coaching a group of Jesus followers) to make more and better disciples.
What brings you the most joy?
In what areas are you gifted?
How does this match up with the way you spend your time?
What changes in priorities do you need to make?
What can you stop doing and no one will notice?
What can you delegate
If you could make these changes, how would this impact you and your ministry?
Do you want to take your team on the disciple-making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits in which you are excelling and the growth points on which you need to focus. Then invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
How many times have you found yourself doing something, then a few minutes later doing something totally different than what you started out doing, unsure how you got there? In your ministry is it hard to stay focused?
It is easy to experience mission drift in the midst of a busy, fast-paced ministry. Today we’re reflecting on the unfolding Easter story in the sixth chapter of Acts and the founding of the church–and yes, missional focus and the church of Acts are related!
Spoiler Alert! The apostles faced the same tendency you face–to get involved in things outside their calling and gifting. What did they do? How did they deal with it? What can you learn from them?
Acts 6:1-9 (NIV)
Seven Men Chosen to Serve
1 But as the believersrapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
What to do when you suffer from mission drift?
The apostles went through a discernment process to refocus their energies on the things God had gifted and prepared them to accomplish: their mission. Here are the steps they went through:
Assess – they listened and observed what was going on
Reality Check – they realized people were being neglected
Production Capacity – they realized the movement had outgrown their team
Delegation – they identified people better suited to distribute food
Focus – they put their energies into the few things they were gifted to do
When you are suffering from mission drift it is one thing to recognize it, but it’s quite another to do something about it. Consider the following tips:
Assess
When you listen and look at what is going on around you, what do you see? What’s working? What forces are working against you and your mission? These insights will help you recognize, honor and strengthen the good and address the counter-productive, challenging growth points keeping you from moving your mission forward.
A sober analysis of the ministry will bring clarity. Understanding the true measures of success and having a means to evaluate the metrics is critical to the mission of your church, ministry or organization. Identify the metrics that matter, measure them regularly and make changes as needed.
The things that got you to where you are today may not be the same things that take you where you want to go in the future. Your structures might be a limiting factor. Or you may not have the right kind of leaders you need to take the church, ministry or organization to the next phase in its development. Whatever the limiting factors are, be aware that the organization you have today probably will not be the same organization 5 to 10 years down the road.
Coaching Questions:
How has our structure served us well?
What changes must we make to our structure to move into the new reality?
The genius behind the Apostles was their willingness to delegate the responsibility of food distribution to deacons who were passionate about this ministry. For this to work, you need to identify people who are gifted and passionate or else the ministry suffers. Do you have a way to identify people’s spiritual gifts, passions and/or behavioral style so that you can help them find the best fit for them? Once you have trained, released and coached them, move aside and let them lead.
Coaching Tip:
What areas can we delegate?
Who are the most capable, passionate, and gifted people to lead these areas?
Pruning allows leaders to see reality clearly. The more clearly you see your situation the better able you are to execute. Once you have a clear picture of where you are going, consider how this will impact others on your team.
Coaching Tip:
What good things are happening that don’t contribute to the results we are after?
What are the growth inhibiting activities that are hindering the outcomes we are after?
Do you want to take your team on the disciple-making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits in which you are excelling and the growth points on which you need to focus. Then invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
Humility suggests that you realize that you don’t know everything. Humility causes you to remain curious, inquisitive and teachable. One sign of humility is that you put others before yourself. Today, we’re taking time to reflect on the unfolding Easter story in the second chapter of Acts and the founding of the church.
Acts 2:36-47 (NIV)
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Humility Rules
“They devoted themselves” is the spiritual posture of humility that forms the foundations of the church. The activities that follow flow from a humble heart. It is the governing principle of the early church. The posture of humility is as important as the activities themselves:
teaching
fellowship
eating
prayer
sharing
meeting
worship
evangelism
These activities were done in relationship with one another. Community is hard work. It requires humility.
Discipleship requires humility
Jesus was counter-cultural. In Matthew 5:11-12, He identifies those who will be blessed – which is diametrically opposed to the celebrity culture in our society today. Humility rules!
In our society we are encouraged to be the best, be different, be a person of influence. The Kingdom of God turns that thinking on its head.
Who is comforted?
Who inherits the earth?
Who will be fed?
Who will be shown mercy?
Who will see God?
Who will be called children of God?
Who will inherit the Kingdom of God?
As a leader who empowers others, you assume the posture of a servant. Leadership requires humility. Church history is founded on these humble roots.
As a disciple, you realize the importance of humility. Making disciples is a humbling task.
5 Questions to Stay Humble
Following are questions you can use personally (or if you are coaching a group of Jesus followers) to make more and better disciples.
How have you felt humbled recently?
What was your response?
What would Jesus advise you to do in your next spiritual season?
How can you grow from this moment?
How do you plan to move the action forward in your spiritual journey?
Do you want to take your team on the disciple making journey together? The Discipleship Collective helps you mobilize other disciple makers. Take the Disciple Maker Quiz to discover the habits you are excelling at – and the growth points you need to focus on. Then, invite other members of your team to join you. It’s FREE and you can use it as often as you like!
We celebrated Easter a little over a week ago, but did you know that Easter actually lasts for 50 days?! The season of Easter–or Eastertide, as it’s commonly known–is the period from Resurrection Sunday to Ascension Sunday. It’s a time of celebration, hope and discovery. During this season, Jesus appeared to his followers, revealed his plan and commissioned them for the ministry he had empowered them to fulfill. He promised a Helper in the person of the Holy Spirit to guide them for the work ahead.
Reflect on the book of Acts as the apostles leaned into their mission. How must they have felt after spending this season with their risen Savior? Envision how they might have responded to Jesus’ commission. What spiritual postures can you identify with and employ in your own spiritual work?
Peter Addresses the Crowd
After Jesus’ ascension, his apostles went out to preach the gospel, gathering thousands of followers. Acts 2:22-32 shared Peter’s words as he speaks to a gathered crowd:
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. (Acts 2:22-32 NIV)
The defining moment in His story
Can you imagine the emotions the disciples experienced at the realization of Jesus’s resurrection? Imagine the joy they had when they realized Jesus returned from the dead? Or the fear, curiosity and wonder His resurrected body elicited? What about the sense of adventure and excitement the mission He was commissioning them to pursue produced?
It is helpful to understand the context for Peter’s sermon above. His audience were first century Jews who were in Jerusalem for the festival of Shavu’ot (a Hebrew word meaning “weeks,” a Jewish harvest festival, also known in the first century as Pentecost). Thus, when Peter uses the plural form of “you” in this speech, “you crucified,” (verse 23), he is speaking to the Jews of his day in Jerusalem. Luke lays a share of the culpability for Jesus’ death at the feet of Jesus’ own people. Not a popular point he is making!
Acts records the activities of the Apostles. It is one of the most thrilling accounts of disciple making in church history and is the foundation that we build our faith on today. Imagine if we did not have the book of Acts. We would struggle to put the pieces together. Thanks to Luke, we have the historical account of what transpired after Jesus’s return. It is too easy to blow by Easter and forget what followed.
I invite you to explore afresh what you can learn from the earliest record of disciple-making movements and the spiritual posture the Apostles demonstrated, so that you may adopt a similar posture to experience that same challenge, excitement, and fruit in your life.
What Spiritual Posture can you adopt from this passage?
Following are questions you can use personally (or if you are coaching a group of Jesus followers) to make more and better disciples.
How have you demonstrated faith in Jesus during your spiritual journey?
Where have you doubted His activity in your life?
What can you learn from those moments?
What do you notice about Peter’s spiritual posture in his account of Jesus’s death and resurrection?
What was Peter expecting from this message?
What are you anticipating as you connect with people far from God?
What is your spiritual work right now?
Arrived!
Our latest book, Christian Coaching Essentials is now available for purchase on Amazon! This book is truly as titled—the essentials you need to learn to become a quality Christian Coach. It’s laid out to help you learn and includes bonus links to dozens of resources to help you get started. We are really excited about it and can’t wait to get the resource in your hands! Please pick-up a copy, do the self study guide online, and consider participating in a Christian Coaching Essentials cohort.
It’s now Monday morning and I’m sure most of you are reflecting on all of the fun and special moments you had yesterday during your Easter celebrations. Whether it was with your family, friends, your church… it was a day worth celebrating. But as we start a new week, let’s not stop reflecting on the reason for our celebration, Jesus Christ’s resurrection and triumph over death!
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