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Oops 4 (of 4): MY ministry
Mistake 4: One of the biggest mistakes I made early in ministry was that I was overly focused on “my” ministry. (It’s not really mine…) Because I was so passionate about God’s work at LifeChurch, I neglected to build “kingdom friendships.” I rarely traveled, attended pastors’ meetings, or got to know other ministry leaders. This was a huge mistake.
We can do so much more together than we can apart. It’s never about “my” ministry or about “your” ministry. It’s about “HIS” ministry. That’s why I’m excited now about intentionally building ministry friendships.
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In the small amount of ministry that I’ve had so far, I’ve found out how quickly things can go sour when I start to pursue MY desires for MY ministry rather than God’s desire for God’s ministry.
It blows my mind how quickly I can forget that this isn’t about me.
This reminds me of Ecclesiastes 4:9,10–
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
Craig, I’m encouraged to know that you’ve made an effort to stay networked and accountable with other pastors in the OKC area. It’s a sign of real humility, and I’m blessed to be a member of Life Church in light of that fact.
It’s a blessing to me to know that you want to look out for each other, and causes me to desire the same as I press on to do HIS work in this little portion of the world.
I have a question: How often–if at all–do you hear arguments from other pastors against this approach? And, if so, what are some of the ways you hear such arguments being rationalized?
– Mike C.
Thats one thing I love about multi-site. Its an built-in group of ministry friendships based around the same mission and vision. It provides for alot of idea sharing, best practices, shared victories, talking each other off the ledges, etc.
I dont know how some guys do this without these kind of relationships. Having said that, I do feel challenged to branch out and get to know some of the other ministry leaders in my area. I need to work on that.
Thanks Craig.
It’s very true it isn’t about us anyway. I grew up a pastors kid and moved to a lot of different churches I am amazed at how insecure so many pastors are. I think insecurity and the fine art of comparisons. Are the main reasons for the “Me”ness of ministry.
It isn’t about us it is about us reaching those far from him.
God bless. Keep up the good work.
Bill, How true.
Mike, Thanks for the encouragement. I think pastors are working better together than ever before.
Brett, I pray you make some great ministry friendships!
Thanks, Sam!
Just an observation, but did anyone notice the background of the pic for this post?
Anonymous,
You are more observant than I am. My assistant, Sarah, picked that picture. She’ll be really embarrassed.
The pic is gone.
For those of you late to the post, you missed a guy with an expression like he was saying “oops.” In the background, and very difficult to see, was the bottom half of a girl in a bikini.
So much for the excitement on Swerve!
Just out of curiosity - where is Mistake number 4?
I have a bias towards all things Scottish, but I really love what Oswald Chambers says regarding ministry and “Christian Work” - one of my favorites:
This one is it
- Implementing “Me”ness in your ministry 
Laptop computer - $900…monthly internet connection - $29…pair of reading glass - $150…bikini clad girls on Swerve - priceless.
another great nugget. ministry is so much more rewarding and fufilling when its shared with others. if you make it about yourself you put such a huge lid on what God is trying to do. holding things loosely(vs. selfishly) is a happier way to live and lead.
btw, the sentence “another great nugget” is refering to craig’s post, not my comment
that came out a little weird.
[...] Gostei muito do post de hoje, onde ele disse que um dos seus erros dentro do ministério era o própio ministério. [...]
Everyone has been guilty of saying this is “MY” ministry.
I went to a conference not so long ago, and I realized something while I was sitting there, I never would have had the chance to be here with all these big names if “I” allowed it to all mine. God gave me this incredible opportunity. I quickly went back and fell to my knees and God gave me the biggest insights of the ministry for the very first time, he re-casted a vision of passion of “people matter to Him” in me so deeply and reminded me that I need to seek that instead of prestige. What a moment for me.
I think to myself: “Oh, it’s such a pity I didn’t see the picture.” Maybe that’s an indication that there is too much of ‘me’ in myself. I don’t know. Never mind. -:)
Thanks for the reminder Craig. This attitude has a potential of solving so many problems! Whenever I remind myself about it I feel so much more peaceful.
Too much of church it personality driven. The icon of the pastor is almost worshipped too much. I really believe in respecting and supporting your pastor, but there has to be balance. It becomes this endless flaming of one mans ego until they develop an Elvis syndrome and no one can speak into their lives. And say like…”Man I think that 4 fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches is enough” or “Come on bro…rhinestones, a jumpsuit and a cape…are you serious.”
I am into the authenticity mixed with humility and accountablity. I also know the difficulty when people say they just want the pastor to be accountable, but they really mean to control them.
I get so sick of church politics that I want to puke. It’s terrible that I rant and have no real solid solutions…
For the record, Craig, you have always seemed authentic and submitted to God when you communicate. How do you keep balanced with all the people and attention getting focused on you as much as God. It would be cool if you preached one weekend in a rhinestone jumpsuit with a cape.
Heidi, Thanks for sharing your story. Very powerful.
Rob, You asked, “How do you keep balanced with all the people and attention getting focused on you as much as God?”
I try to deflect the attention as much as possible. The attention doesn’t feed my ego. It makes me feel more lonely. Odd, I know.
I’m so thankful for long-term friends who are brutally honest and a wife who loves Craig, not Pastor Craig.
Craig,
My husband and I really learned this about a year ago. We are raising support to go to France to plant a church like yours and then train others to do the same. We learned after about a year of raising support that networking and taking an interest in what others are doing, going to conferences and visiting churches, learning from them and “cheering them on”, allowed God to do the support raising. And now we have also been blessed by so many new relationships.
Thanks for sharing this.
Craig, your pure heart for Jesus is evident in all you do!
[...] Talking about top churches, LifeChurch.TV is seen as the top church in the US. Craig Groeschel is the Pastor and like any relevant Pastor on this planet, he has a blog. He has a series of posts he titles, “oops” where he outlines the biggest stuff up’s in his journey at lifchurch.tv. I love it when Pastors are transparent. The absence of pride gives me great joy! Moving right along, be sure to check out his posts on his 4 biggests “ooops” - 1. Stinginess. 2 Building Small. 3 Let My People Go. 4 My Ministry. [...]
[...] It’s not your ministry (link) [...]