Seven Things We’ve GOT To Do To Be Effective–Part One

Recently I shared with our staff seven things that I honestly feel each minister…heck, EACH CHRIST FOLLOWER must be willing to do if we want to have an effective ministry/lead an effective life.

(I took this out of John 14-16, some of the richest teachings of Jesus…in my opinion!)

#1 - We Have Got To Be Willing To Serve - John 13:1-5

I often joke with our congregation that I do not have the spiritual gift of mercy; however, that is not an excuse for me to be unmerciful in all that I do.

I remember once witnessing a really bad car accident. Lucretia and I were on vacation and saw the whole thing happen. Now…neither of us have the gift of mercy…but there was a NEED in front of us and so we parked our car and sprinted to the scene to see if we could help.

(When I announced that she was a doctor there was an immediate sense of peace with the people who had been in the wreck!)

There are times when we are called out of our comfort zone…and our gift zone…to serve people in a way we’ve never served them before.

If anything is “beneath” us…then we truly are not beneath Christ!

#2 - We Must Be Willing To Love - John 13:34-35

Christians fight too much–period!

Jesus said that the world will know we are His by the love we have for one another.

When someone doesn’t believe the particular brand of theology we embrace…we need to love them anyway. I am begging God to raise up a generation of leaders who do not feel that everyone needs to be the same…and who are secure enough to learn from people who do not believe exactly like them.

Jesus didn’t say they will know we are His disciples by the way we blog against one another OR attack one another…but by the love we have for one another. As I mature I am learning that I can love a brother or sister in Christ without having to agree with everything they say.

#3 - We’ve Got To Be Willing To Trust - John 14:1

If I could apply this verse my life would be so much better!!!

We live in a world that is completely out of control…and because of that we often make the mistake of thinking that God has lost control.

But reality is this (if you are in ministry) - God wants your church to grow more than you want it to! God wants your life to be abundant way more than you do…

One of the mistakes I have made so often is thinking that if I don’t preach well that the Kingdom of God is in danger…not true. One of my sins is that I take myself way to seriously. Sure, I need to spend time studying and preparing for the message…but at the end of the day I’ve got to trust that God is going to do all that I cannot do!

And so…there needs to come a point where we desperately trust Him…even though we may not be able to see Him!

The world needs way less of me…WAY more of Him! (John 3:30)

More tomorrow…