Reflect on your own attitude toward stewardship your own personal giving.
My mom and dad taught me about tithing and modeled giving to me from early on, so this has never been a big issue to me at all. I understand and practice stewardship from the Bible's perspective.
The Big Idea: Stewardship is about lifestyle issues.
It's easy for us to single out finances as the one issue of stewardship, but really it's our whole lives that need to reflect a submission to God. Our actions and reactions with people should show that we belong to God.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
lesson 16 reflection
How do you personally feel about your responsibility for apportionments? I feel like maybe we're a little top heavy. I grew up in the Nazarene church and still need to understand better the role of the DS. Is it necessary? What do they actually do? We have a good DS and he'll do a good job. I've honestly felt like the apportionments is like the Nazarene tax. I guess I'm selfish and would like to see us as a local church be able to do more in/for our community. I understand why and where it goes and believe in it; just seems a little much. I also think the budget should be a flat rate, not based on how large your church is or how many staff people you have. That part is ridiculous.
How will that affect your congregation? I will be supportive of the denomination.
The Big Idea: Through denominational channels the ministry of the local church
extends to the community and the whole world.The Nazarene church does well in its organization.
How will that affect your congregation? I will be supportive of the denomination.
The Big Idea: Through denominational channels the ministry of the local church
extends to the community and the whole world.The Nazarene church does well in its organization.
lesson 15 reflection
Reflect on how you have felt when the church has reached out to personally communicate with you.
It always feels good when a church does something like send a birthday card or a letter letting you know they are praying for you. I plan on coming up with a schedule of contacting our youth staff and students.
The Big Idea: The Bible gives us a wonderfully accurate statement: “An unreliable
messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress” (Prov
13:17, TLB). The second part of that proverb provides a summary of what this class
session is intended to accomplish.
We need to provide constant, accurate and truthful contacts with all those connected to our local church (including those that rarely/barely attend). This will help us be effective within our church and believable to those outside the church.
It always feels good when a church does something like send a birthday card or a letter letting you know they are praying for you. I plan on coming up with a schedule of contacting our youth staff and students.
The Big Idea: The Bible gives us a wonderfully accurate statement: “An unreliable
messenger can cause a lot of trouble. Reliable communication permits progress” (Prov
13:17, TLB). The second part of that proverb provides a summary of what this class
session is intended to accomplish.
We need to provide constant, accurate and truthful contacts with all those connected to our local church (including those that rarely/barely attend). This will help us be effective within our church and believable to those outside the church.
Friday, June 19, 2009
lesson 13 reflection
After a motion is made in the decision group, the implementation of
the idea depends on delegation and her friends—programming and follow- through.
*It ultimately depends on the people who are implementing the programming and follow through. The leader or supervisor of the idea is primarily responsible for making sure the different steps are being executed.
What did you learn from Moses?
That it would be so much better if I would take time and invest more in my youth staff. I need to put way more time into developing my youth staff; not just for helping sake, but for them to really enhance their gifts and increase the effectiveness of our ministry. In the long run this will help us all.
the idea depends on delegation and her friends—programming and follow- through.
*It ultimately depends on the people who are implementing the programming and follow through. The leader or supervisor of the idea is primarily responsible for making sure the different steps are being executed.
What did you learn from Moses?
That it would be so much better if I would take time and invest more in my youth staff. I need to put way more time into developing my youth staff; not just for helping sake, but for them to really enhance their gifts and increase the effectiveness of our ministry. In the long run this will help us all.
lesson 12 manual
I feel somewhat comfortable in my knowledge of the manual. I took the class on it way back when you could do a directed study, and remember feeling like I'm reading a phone book or its equivalent. I like that we have the sixteen articles of faith that we probably hold in common with most other churches around the world.
For me to be a leader in the church is a tremendous responsibility, but also a high honor and privilege. I know that as a leader I'm responsible first to God for what I do with ministry and then to the church for fulfilling the expectations/job description. I like being a leader, but like most people, wish I could take that hat off for a while and just be a normal attender. There is a little bit of pressure on those of us in leadership, but that's not always a bad thing.
For me to be a leader in the church is a tremendous responsibility, but also a high honor and privilege. I know that as a leader I'm responsible first to God for what I do with ministry and then to the church for fulfilling the expectations/job description. I like being a leader, but like most people, wish I could take that hat off for a while and just be a normal attender. There is a little bit of pressure on those of us in leadership, but that's not always a bad thing.
lesson 11 reflection
Write 8 to 10 concepts in your journal to summarize what you learned in
this session.
Reflect on your reaction to these concepts.
1. When leading change, conflict can be expected.
One of my favorite lead pastors told me that conflict isn't bad, unless there's no resolution.
It's normal.
2. Change for the sake of change is not always a great idea. I've been guilty of thinking that we just need to change things up just for the change. I probably need to consider this the next time I think we need to change things up.
3. We need to love and care for people who are opposed to the changes being made, or are involved in a conflict. This was a good reminder to me, considering a recent situation I was involved in.
4. Growth only comes through change. Makes me wonder who/what is going to change before we grow. Maybe we're not ready to grow out right now.
5. Listening to those who point out our weak spots is a good habit to develop.
It's weird but I can actually look forward to someone pointing out something I didn't think of when it comes to pulling off an event or ministry. This is more difficult when it comes to personal styles or issues.
6. We need to keep being a pastor to both parties involved in a conflict. See reference to number 3.
7. Be a non-defensive learner. This is important to know and practice because we're always going to hear other people's opinions; and they might be different than mine.
8. To be a change agent, I must change first. Or at least be willing to change. Oftentimes God changes the leader's heart before leading them to make forward progress.
this session.
Reflect on your reaction to these concepts.
1. When leading change, conflict can be expected.
One of my favorite lead pastors told me that conflict isn't bad, unless there's no resolution.
It's normal.
2. Change for the sake of change is not always a great idea. I've been guilty of thinking that we just need to change things up just for the change. I probably need to consider this the next time I think we need to change things up.
3. We need to love and care for people who are opposed to the changes being made, or are involved in a conflict. This was a good reminder to me, considering a recent situation I was involved in.
4. Growth only comes through change. Makes me wonder who/what is going to change before we grow. Maybe we're not ready to grow out right now.
5. Listening to those who point out our weak spots is a good habit to develop.
It's weird but I can actually look forward to someone pointing out something I didn't think of when it comes to pulling off an event or ministry. This is more difficult when it comes to personal styles or issues.
6. We need to keep being a pastor to both parties involved in a conflict. See reference to number 3.
7. Be a non-defensive learner. This is important to know and practice because we're always going to hear other people's opinions; and they might be different than mine.
8. To be a change agent, I must change first. Or at least be willing to change. Oftentimes God changes the leader's heart before leading them to make forward progress.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
lesson 10 reflection
The Big Idea: Understanding how decision-making groups work becomes useful only
when applied to actual leadership of groups.
If there's not one already, there should be an entire module (or three) just on leadership and how to lead people well. It's one thing that we are going to have to do the rest of our career. Being a lousy leader doesn't accomplish anything, and with our Commission, that's not acceptable. Being a constantly-learning leader though has many benefits that not only affect our lives, but the lives around us as well.
Reflect on how you are going to incorporate the information and ideas from
this lesson into your ministry.
Now I have a lot of practical tools for leading meetings. One of the improvements I would like to implement is the one to help the leadership know their spiritual health is vital. We can take the first portion of the meeting to study Scripture and pray together. I especially like the piece of advice about praying for one another by name.
when applied to actual leadership of groups.
If there's not one already, there should be an entire module (or three) just on leadership and how to lead people well. It's one thing that we are going to have to do the rest of our career. Being a lousy leader doesn't accomplish anything, and with our Commission, that's not acceptable. Being a constantly-learning leader though has many benefits that not only affect our lives, but the lives around us as well.
Reflect on how you are going to incorporate the information and ideas from
this lesson into your ministry.
Now I have a lot of practical tools for leading meetings. One of the improvements I would like to implement is the one to help the leadership know their spiritual health is vital. We can take the first portion of the meeting to study Scripture and pray together. I especially like the piece of advice about praying for one another by name.
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