Ten questions to ask about your ministry….

Biggest ones for me were numbers 2 and 10.

It’s easy to fall into doing ministry or making decisions out of how you think things ’should be done’ as opposed to constantly relying on God for fresh revelation.

The last question was massive as well - its also really easy (for me anyway) to fall into having my motivation as seeing things grow and get bigger and more effective rather than purely wanting to create a youth ministry that’s following direction from God.

Thanks heaps

I read your blog. I will keep Darlene and you in my daily thoughts and prayers.

Beth

http://www.henryjudy.com

click the link and resubscribe by clicking the subscribe button on top of right hand column.

Thanks
Henry

Great stuff, Craig!

OUCH! Those questions left me feeling “undone” as I did after your message at Catalyst. Thanks for having the guts to say thing that leaders need to hear! - Kevin

You asked a good question. When I talk about apologizing for failed leadership, I am mostly thinking about to the staff (or occasionally the whole church). As a spiritual leader, hopefully we are growing in our understanding of Scripture and effectiveness as a leader. Unfortunately, even though we hope to be led by the Spirit, we occasionally (or often) fail.

I believe it is important to humble ourselves and repent when we realize we are wrong. Maybe I’m wrong more than most, but I find that every year I am seeing things I wish I had done differently. Blessings to you.

(I’ll be looking forward to more discussion on Monday but am finished commenting for the weekend.)

Ewald, That’s cool you guys are meeting next week.

To answer your question, it seems like I am often apologizing for different leadership failures.

Recent ones include: not teaching more on the Holy Spirit and spiritual warfare, not leading our church to be mission minded, not teaching our people to be radically generous, not being involved enough in certain things.

Apologizing for leadership shortcomings helps to show that the leader is sensitive to God’s leading, still growing, and empowers the leader to make changes.

Just when i am working through the other lists……BAM!!! you hit me with another. I gotta go stop the bleeding!!
Great stuff!

I am curious…How did this one play out the past year in your ministry as a leader?

“Have I repented to my team at least once in the last year for a failure in leadership?”

Thanx

In otherwords, don’t just develop John the Worship Leader to be a great Worship Leader. Truly care about and develop John the person and along the way he will maximize his talent as a Worship Leader.

Clear as mud? :-)

If our primary motivation is not for the glory of God and the Kingdom He is growing, then we have lost our way.

We expend financial resources and human resources SO THAT people can hear the Good News of Christ, enter into it, and mature in their disicpleship. The “why” has got to be crystal clear for everyone who chooses to serve.

i will definitely be using these, just didn’t want to without your permission…thanks craig!

Jon, I am blessed to hear these are making a difference in your life. You can use them in any way you like. Copy them right off the site or reproduce them. Blessings to you.

Bill, It is awesome that you are being empowered with fresh direction. You are a great voice on swerve! Thanks for being a part of the community.

After a long dry spell caused by a sudden move and then pastoring a church made up of mostly older people (median age of 60), I finally feel with the move here 2 1/2 years ago that I am “doing ministry” with a fresh direction from God. It took moving here to see how “rote” I had become. Although this is not technically a new church plant (It is 3 1/2 years old) it is a new experience for me. I praise God for the freshness! And being that this is a new experience for me (I had always been in established churches), I also thank God for people like you who aren’t so high and mighty that you forget the little guy. It has been good to be challenged by reading books like yours, reading blogs, and listening to the “young guns” with so many dreams and hopes for the church. I pray that you and the others never lose your freshness for God. It helps keep us “oldies” thinking young. :)