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What Do You Believe About Your Ministry?

Orginally published on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 6:48 AM
by Todd Rhoades

A couple years ago I attended the Innovate Conference hosted by Granger Community Church. Recently I was going over my notes and came across what I'd written down about Pastor Mark Beeson's talk "What Do You Believe About Your Ministry?" Mark told us that as church leaders we must ask ourselves three questions. Our answers to these three questions will largely determine the impact of our ministry:

1) Do you really believe that people need the church? What's the purpose of the church? How do you view the church? If the church is not something worthwhile that God pours his blessing into and works through, then why even be part of it? In order to be successful in church ministry, you must have a high view of the church.

2) Do you really believe that your days are numbered? If you think you have all the time in the world to reach your community, then there's no urgency. But God only gives us so many days and years to accomplish his purpose for us. That makes each day and each minute important. Here's what Mark had to say about urgency:

"I don't have time to play church. My days are numbered. Life is brief. Then I tell people, 'Your life is precious. You don't have time to play church. You need to make your life count.' "

For some reason, this point really hit home for me. I think many of us have lost our sense of urgency.

I remember an informal Sunday school poll at one of the churches I’ve served at over the years. The question was “How long do you think it will be before Christ returns?” Ninety percent of everyone in the classroom felt that Christ’s return would be at least 50 years away. (And a good share of them lived like it). There was no sense of urgency.

The truth is…we don’t have all the time in the world. None of us know how long we have to serve Jesus. Just over the weekend I found out that a precious 3-year-old girl in my family was diagnosed with leukemia. Her future is uncertain today. But so is ours. And we need to make every moment count. 3) Do you really believe that God is working and that you are doing God’s work? Do you have a real sense that God is working through you? If so, you are doing God’s work. What greater calling can there be than that?

Do you need to rethink your beliefs this morning about your ministry? Is the church important? Are your days numbered? Is God working through you? Are you doing God’s work? Then, let’s get to it—today is important. So are the next hour and the next 15 minutes. Let’s make them count.

Let me know what you think! Email me at . Have a great week in ministry!

Todd


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  There are 6 Comments:

  • Posted by Camey

    That’s how my little blog got her name “Life in the Moments"… It’s like I was sharing with our ten-year-old and thirteen-year-old sons yesterday afternoon… There is much in our lives that are up in the air currently. One thing that is not is being available for however we can share the gospel throughout our moments - how we can share the love of God.. be His hands and feet. For our moments are not ours… if we are Christ followers - they belong to him. Life is about God. It is about walking with Him each step of the way whether answering a phone, greeting a visitor, teaching a class, preaching a sermon, going to WalMart… whatever the moment might bring. While I do believe in the local church - I also believe that the church is made up of individuals and is not a building. Therefore, ministry can happen wherever an individual is.

    I know God is working.. I recently said I would live in a tent in order to follow Him. Today, I have the privilege of answering phones, greeting individuals, and praying with the seen and the unseen. I am blessed indeed to be a part of His ministry.

  • Posted by Peter Hamm

    Yes, Camey, I pinched myself as I walked in the door to my office today to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I really get to do this! Unbelievable. But today, and specifically this moment, is the last chance I have promised to me to make a difference in the world. Everything else is a bonus.

  • Posted by Camey

    Peter,

    I am beyond grateful for you…

  • Posted by Andy Wood

    Thanks, Todd, for the reminder of how short life is, and how we need to continue to cultivate a sense of urgency.  It reminded me of two things:
    1.  Our first grandchild – a girl – was born last week.  Her life is priceless – and a reminder that life is also fragile.

    2.  Of all things, Seth Godin’s recent post that the closer you are to pain, the higher the prices you can charge.  How does that speak to ministry?  When we make comfort and convenience a goal or status symbol, we lose our edge, and we cheapen our “product.” But when we get closer to those who are themselves “urgent” or desperate, we cultivate our own sense of urgency – and reform and reframe our beliefs about ministry.

  • Posted by Matt

    Well said. Those are my thoughts exactly. See this article:
    http://gottliebtx.org/blog/sense-of-urgency/

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