Inspiration for Implementation

Ministry Mechanics: Inspiration for Implementation

Then the Lord replied:“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it."- Habakkuk 2:2 (NIV)

Put your plans in writing in order to put them into action. Consider what it will take for others to run with it. How will you help others to wait for it and its appointed time? The Lord Himself says that it will certainly come. Put the vision in writing. Put the vision into action.

Originally posted at http://urbanministry.org/blogs/saved2serve/2010/07/07/write-it-down/

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.-Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)

We all have been positioned for a purpose. Christ gave gifts to the church, the people of God, for a purpose. He provided gifts so that these gifts would be used for His purpose. These varying gifts are to be used in concert to help God’s people ready themselves for God’s work and build up the church. Consider why God has provided us with such positions. Rethink about your approach to Christian leadership.

Look at Position for a Purpose where a full document shares further about this topic. http://lifepathministries.christianarchives.org/.

Biblical Models of Ministry
Moses (delegation)
John the Baptist (behind-the-scenes leadership)
Paul (Mobilizing ministry)
Modernize the methods of ministry
John the Baptist: preparing the way
Jesus Christ: preaching and teaching
Paul: mobilized ministry
Show & Prove (James 2:14-19, 26)

“Our purpose in all things is to please God.”- John Wesley

Ask yourself if you are living up to such a calling. See if your life matches up with giving God your best effort. After all, in the end, we do it for His glory. It is not for the kudos that we could get from our friends and co-workers. We do so to the glory of God, expecting nothing for ourselves.

Originally posted@ Saved2Serve Blog

Ministry Mechanics: We promote success while providing support to organizations, ministries, grassroots and community-based groups, faith-based programs, nonprofits, and small business. Contact us for a Ministry Makeover or any of our other services whether standard or customized: revbruce@ministriesinaction.com

12 Things to Change Your Ministry

Ministry Mechanics:
12 Things to Change Your Ministry (And This World)

1. Pray for God's will, not just success (Matthew 26:39)
2. Study the Bible (morning, noon and night) (Psalm 1:2)
3. Promote Christian fellowship (Romans 14:19)
4. Reach out to someone like Christ did (Mark 16:15)
5. Speak kindly of and to others (Matthew 5:44)
6. Give graciously (Luke 6:38)
7. Support others in recovery and restoration (Exodus 6:6)
8. Train your replacement (John 13:15)
9. Market your ministry (Psalm 34:1)
10. Build a community (Acts 2:44)
11. Develop a personal mission statement (Isaiah 61:1-2)
12. Worship while you "work" (Psalm 100:2)

There are numerous other activities that one could do, but these 12 serve as a starting point to keep in mind as you seek to bring about change. If you are going to serve as an "agent of change," you will need to be ready and willing to implement change.

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Count Your Blessings

Quick Tip: Count Your Blessings

Here is a quick tip you can use with your co-workers, at weekly parent empowerment sessions, or in other areas of your work beyond Freedom School. Do this exercise called "Count Your Blessings." In this exercise, you will have everyone present identify their various blessings in life. Each person should reflect on their blessings such as children, spouse, personal experiences, etc. Give people about 1-2 minutes. Then, have each person share what they consider their most important blessing and why. Complete the exercise by thanking everyone for sharing and asking everyone to keep in mind the blessings that came to mind for them and hold on to what's most important. This exercise helps put what really matters in perspective and allows you to get to know those who share at a different level.

Signs of a Dying Church

"If you are not growing, you're dying."- Rick Warren

It was a profound statement in The Purpose Driven Church. It stood out. It said a lot in a brief conditional statement. Not growing? You most probably are dying. You may not want to hear it, but its sting is real.

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  Are there unmet needs within your church?



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  Are you evangelizing?



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  Is your congregation making an impact on its community?



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  How is your participation for Sunday school, prayer meeting, and Bible study?



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  Is there demographic diversity within your church (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.)?



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  Are you baptizing and indoctrinating new members? How often? Do they stay?



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  What do people say about your church in the community (barbershop, beauty salon, social gatherings, etc.)?

Beyond all of these questions, you have to take a long hard look at what is happening around you. Is there a drop in offerings and tithes? Is your attendance off? Is it just a gut feeling? or, do you really know so because of the data. Have your staff or trustee board develop spreadsheets and charts that give you some accurate numbers to start working with as soon as possible. Start talking with stakeholders like staff, key volunteers like ministry leaders, deacons, elders, and trustees, and others. See what is really going on.

Have you noticed these signs in your church? One or more may be present at the same time.

Signs of a dying church?

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  Complacency


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  Conflicts


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  Commonplace


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  Closed-mindedness

There are more signs, but this is just a short list of the signs that lead to death. If these are recurring problems for your congregation, start thinking of how to change hearts and minds. Do you need to start a church-wide campaign like a Bible study series on discipleship or church conduct? Could you conduct a retreat with your key stakeholders? How about conducting a S.W.O.T. analysis and developing some concrete action steps? Maybe your congregation would benefit from a simple sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes, even the early church, with a follow-up study in small groups or Sunday school.

You need to stop the bleeding at least. You need to bring the life back into your church. Remember: if you are not dying, you may be simply decaying which is only a slow death nonetheless.

"The minister is to use all means to save some."- C.H. Spurgeon

Multimedia Ministry Tools

...These that have turned the world upside down are come here also.- Acts 17:6 (KJV)

Christians are called to do something with the Word. In fact, they are called to do something with the Word in the world. (Why am I using "they," we are the unified body of Christ so let me use "we" and "us.")

We should use all that we have to turn the world upside down where we go in the world. Whether it be work, school, college or the community, we are to be used by God to share His Word as we interact with this world.

Here are some tools we can use:

• website
• blog
• email
• e-newsletter
• podcasts
• video
• SMS text messages
• Instant Messaging (IM)
• Social media

Think about how you can use your tech tools to turn the world upside down.

Produce Much Fruit

When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.- John 15:8 (NLT)

Ultimately, Christian servants are to produce much fruit. Fruit serves s evidence of our faithful work. Our fruitfulness speaks volumes to others about what we offer to the glory of God. When we're faithful, we have the potential to become fruitful. Our faithfulness can lead to our fruitfulness.

God wants us producing much fruit. The Lord does not entertain us working on something that does not have a lasting impact. He speaks of fruit as part of being His true disciples. His words on discipleship related to what we produce in His name for the Father's glory.

Are you a productive Christian? How do you know or not? Look at your fruit. Look at its quality and look at its quantity. If it is good fruit, its seeds will produce more fruit. The quality will lead to its quantity. The quantity will be much fruit due to its seeds being spread into other areas. look t the quality and quantity. See if you are producing much fruit.