Comments on: Kingdom-Minded 1 (of 4)

By: Paula

Paula — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:25:07 +0000

Ok Craig, so you admit that people are unique and we don’t have to do things the way you do… but then you give us rules so that we can do it the way you do. e.g. never speaking ill of another ministry? Well what if that ministry is going off track? What if they are preaching lies?

That reminds me of my eldest sister, when she had a baby, having this rosey glassed goal of never saying anything negative to her newborn daughter. She announced the child would never know the word ‘no.’ She came back to visit when the girl was about 18 months old and my dad asked her “so does she know the word NO yet?” and my sister nodded and said “in four different languages.”

By: Kindom Minded by Craig Groeschel « Ramblings of Passion

Kindom Minded by Craig Groeschel « Ramblings of Passion — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:53:24 +0000

[...] Kingdom Minded 1 of 4: Speak Well of Others [...]

By: John Otjen » Ahead and Falling Behind

John Otjen » Ahead and Falling Behind — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:33:11 +0000

[...] I have been challenged by my Pastor over the last few months with the bulk happening over the last few few days. I have to become more Kingdom Minded every day. I am excited to see what God is doing now and I could get very comfortable in this spot. However, this spot would not be giving God all I have. [...]

By: Trina Kelley

Trina Kelley — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:11:03 +0000

I agree 100%. Churches have to be different because people are. This is hard for some new christians to understand. They want to do everything the “right way”. I find myself grasping to explain this concept to some of my immature in Christ friends. I believe God gave us all our own gifts and our own style of doing things because he does like variety. I believe that it really doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get Back to GOd. I am so thankful that Jesus came and reconcilled me to our Father, without his forgiveness and grace I would still be lost. I don’t have allthe answers and am glad that I don’t because I am still seeking. The important thing is to remember to love one another, not understand one another. lol

By: Steve Kirkeby

Steve Kirkeby — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:49:14 +0000

Last Sunday I shared with the church during the worship service how much I appreciated a Family Fun day that another church down the street did last Saturday. The vision for our church is that we support good and godly things going on in our community. Our reasoning is that we desire our church to look beyond just what we are doing in our building or ministries so they how God is working in many areas in the world. We have found that it expands our spiritual vision and helps people be connected to what God is doing in our world

By: Good Stuff… « Behind the Song

Good Stuff… « Behind the Song — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:55 +0000

[...] Good Stuff… Posted October 9, 2007 One of the things that really bothers me as a pastor is the lack of cooperation among many churches… some (not all) seem to view other churches (especially new ones) as competition. In some cases there is even open hostility! One of Lifesong’s core values is that we value Kingdom growth… that we will do whatever we can to grow, not just Lifesong, but the Kingdom. This post by Greg Groeschel is a great reminder… may I never forget it. [...]

By: Bo

Bo — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:57:59 +0000

Craig, you are exactly right! Let’s not tackle the people on our own team!

By: maggie

maggie — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 02:19:11 +0000

I agree…. I TRY so hard to follow the rule my mamma taught me “If you can’t say something Nice…. say nothing”. Im a hair stylist and in my industry it is sooo easy to say something bad about other stylists… I try to look at life as art and we all see things differently so we tend to do Life differently…. Not right or wrong! Just different!

By: Jason Curlee

Jason Curlee — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 02:02:21 +0000

All important post…there really is no competition but you do see territorialism all over church-world. But I can understand as people work hard.

Truth is…over 85% of churches in America don’t reach 1% of the county population in attendance. (I researched over 2,000 counties in America to find the largest church in each county, which is how I know that.)

If we would unite…which doesn’t mean we all have to do the same thing or be on the same page, but realize we are all after the same mission…we could effectively do more.

Sound advice to us all Craig.

By: Avery

Avery — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 22:07:44 +0000

Its like you plucked that one right out of my heart Craig!!!

You know when I was a brand new Christian, the elder of a church I was attending told me to stay away from John MaCarthur… that he was a false teacher…

I took their advice…

One day I was listening to Bott Radio network, and heard this sermon that just grabbed my heart… and the Spirit of God really used to convict me of personal sin… and healed me of… it was John MaCarthur…

I have to confess that I have been guilty of speaking poorly of other ministries in the past (to my shame)…

I am a bit perplexed though…

Paul in one circumstance called out two men by name, exposing them as “false” (1Timothy 2:18-20)… and yet said something seemingly contradictory in Philliians.. about others preaching Christ…

I think if we have reason to believe that another ministry is sinning, we should go to them in private, then bring a witness, and then tell the whole church…I always though this was the biblical way to deal with that type of stuff…

But as far as ministry is concerned, as long as Christ is preached (even if it is for personal advantage)… we should rejoice…

Is there ever a time we should call out other ministries and expose them, or should we always seek to speak positively of every ministry?

I am perplexed about this…

By the way… I saw that Kevin Bussey responded on this blog…

Hello Kevin!!! You did an article on my ministry on your blog awhile back, and you were very gracious… great blog, great ministry Kevin!

By: Libby

Libby — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 21:06:52 +0000

Not speaking well of other ministries is honestly a characteristic of the hypocritical ‘Christian’. And one of the strongest reasons I prefer ‘disciple’, rather than ‘christian’. Word of mouth is the most powerful method of marketing anything, even faith and ministry. And negative comments spread much faster than positive ones. The irony is that as ministries speak negatively about each other individually, the non-believer views us all as one group. Thank you, Craig and LC Leaders, for making sure we staff members and our attenders give all the glory to Him, not LifeChurch.tv, because we all work for one God.

By: Hope

Hope — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:34:36 +0000

The pastoral staff at Lifecentre is so filled with the love of Christ. They walk in integrity and lead by example. I have never heard a one of them speak poorly about another church, pastor or lay person - no one. I love that God has placed me in such a part of His body - fresh blood running through the veins. As a person who came to Christ later in life, I’m glad to have been a baby Christian with godly spiritual parents. Thanks for the reminder!

By: MArcin Mizak

MArcin Mizak — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:42:34 +0000

Thanks Craig. I don’t know what to write. But I’m with you.

By: Stacey

Stacey — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:19:56 +0000

Honestly, I am at a school that has some different ways of doing things than I am used to. I am learning to embrace the differences and engage in it as a follower of Christ not a member of a church. Although being a member of the body is important, being a devoted follower no matter the circumstances is far better a calling.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:42:23 +0000

I think this is so important, but not just toward ministries, but just toward people in general. People don’t need us to point out their faults. Believe me when I get something in my eye, I’m well aware of it.

Jeremiah 15:19 has helped me in this regards. If I want to speak the things of God to people then I must be able to see the good and speak to that and encourage that. It’s my opinion the more people embrace the good, the more they let go of the bad.

By: John Atkinson

John Atkinson — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:17:35 +0000

Well Said Craig. By the way, some of our staff are still DISTURBED. Apparently they haven’t slept well since you spoke last week. Thanks!

By: kingdom-minded « turned out

kingdom-minded « turned out — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:55:15 +0000

[...] Check it out here [...]

By: Clif

Clif — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:44:54 +0000

This is an important point, thanks for pointing it out again. We always need to be respectful of other ministries and Men/Women of God, sadly most if not all of us have been critical of others and their ministries at one time or another, be it out of jealousy or insecurity or just a competitive spirit.

We are the Body of Christ, One Body, many parts all working together for a singular mission. We have enough outside forces working against us, there is no time or place for in fighting.

I believe that the church has taken great steps forward in recent years and we have, as a whole, become more Kingdom Minded. There was a time that we were divided along denominational lines and you would never see A Baptist and a Pentecostal on the same stage at a conference, now those barriers have been broken down a great deal. And we are beginning to see that it is about building the Kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of men. God has used great servants like Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Bill Bright, John Maxwell and so many others to help point us to the bigger picture. I see more than ever pastor seeking to help one another succeed. Craig you and your team have been amazing at this with Lifechurch Open, and taking the time to share with us through Swerve. And it is catching on. Thanks you Craig for being an example of a Kingdom Minded Man of God. It is about building HIS Kingdom for HIS honor and HIS glory. My prayer is that the Lord would keep us humble servants who seek to make Jesus famous and not ourselves. God Bless

By: dave hensleigh

dave hensleigh — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:32:43 +0000

I am guilty of bashing others too. Typically it has been out of my own ignorance of what they are doing. Lately I have been initiating regular contact with other local senior pastors just to be in touch face to face.

By: J.G. Marking

J.G. Marking — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:27:44 +0000

Craig,

I believe the main reason individuals (within ministry and outside of it) deride other ministries is because on some level we will always feel insecure about some aspect of either our ministry or, more specifically, ourselves. Plus, once we’re set in our ways we’re far less likely to even consider someone else’s point of view.

So, of course, the easiest and fastest way to build up oneself or one’s efforts in ministry is, unfortunately, by tearing down someone else’s. This form of pride, which is of course comparitive in nature, screams of insecurity and selfishness…which is an unfortunate part of the church being comprised of flawed individuals under grace.

But this is exactly why we must be prudent about what we do and what we don’t partake of in thought and discussion, like you said, because the Church is certainly here so that we might strengthen each other’s weaknesses with each other’s strengths…but the Church is here for one far more important thing that should hopefully put it all into perspective: The Church is here for His glory.

Hopefully we can strive to not succumb to the urge to go on an internet-rant, :)

Thanks for the dosage of perspective, Craig.