This is a republication of a post on Mr. London’s blog “The Heart of a Pastor.” Original article found here: http://hblondon.typepad.com/blog/2009/11/have-you-found-your-niche.html

Finding your niche is important. Have you found yours in ministry?

A few years ago, I had a very positive experience. I had the opportunity to preach at one of the most successful Cowboy Churches in America. It was so interesting. The architecture, the dress, the rodeo arena, the cattle grazing beyond the parking lot, the music, the atmosphere — all of these things went together to create a “Cowboy Church.” The church was seven years old. The pastor was a former rodeo performer and racetrack chaplain who felt a burden for those who might not fit the norm of another church.

Montgomery, Texas, is not a very large place, but those who have been loved and fed by the Lone Star Cowboy Church flocked into the two services. I even preached in jeans and cowboy boots. It was a real blessing.

How about you, pastor? Are you living your dream? Have you found your niche? What is your niche? If you could pack it all up today and start fresh, what would the church you served look like? Perhaps, it’s right where you are. Hope so!

I know for a fact that a lot of us who have struggled at one place and succeeded at another most likely found our comfort zone in that place.

What does niche mean? “A place of employment or activity for which a person is best suited” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). What keeps you from your “niche zone”? Read the rest of this entry »

This is a re-publication of an article written by Jason Isaacs on his & (his dad) Bill Isaac’s Forward Leadership Blog. No comments are allowed here.

If you have a comment, please visit the Forward Leadership site:  http://forwardleadership.org/blog/?p=989

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I recently read a book by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff called “Groundswell” you can find out more about here. It’s not Christian book, its a book about social technologies (computer nerds like me soak this stuff up) but at the very beginning of the book they discuss what qualifies a social technology to create a groundswell. I thought these questions were incrediblly profound for where we are headed in our churches. Keep in mind that the goal of all these online tools is to create community (and make money) which is exactly what we’ve been called to do in the body of Christ. So whether you are having lots of success in your ministry or struggling to engage people beyond Sunday, ask your self these questions.

1. Is it effortless to sign up for?
Whether it’s small groups, or bible study, or softball, is it easily accessible? How hard does someone have to work to get “signed up” for your “next step.” Obviously promotion and creativity come into play to grab people’s interest but once you have grabbed their interest how hard is it for them to get connected? For us “professionals” our initial answer is probably “Oh well, it’s real easy” because we are familiar with our environments but what about someone who doesn’t know where the sign up table in the foyer is, or someone who doesn’t know everyone’s name. If someone came into your church tomorrow and wanted to get connected, how easy it for them? Read the rest of this entry »

THE DEACON MINISTRY

The deacon is one of the most vital ministries of a local congregation. Churches that grow and become healthy have a Deacon Ministry. It may not be called such, and it may not even be recognized, but it is a functioning ministry where there is a healthy church. The ministry of the deacon was the first administrative structure that the Apostles embraced after the birth of the New Testament Church.

Acts 6:1-5

1. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

Some facts to consider:

• The first Deacons were seven in number – a coincidence?
• The elders of Moses were 70 in number – a coincidence?
• God’s choice for Government is 70/7.
• His number for “foundation” is Twelve.
• These Seven men became seven stones laid upon the Twelve, who were laid upon the Chief Cornerstone.
• The Holy Ghost moved “upon” the men of 70
• The Holy Ghost is “in” the men of 7
• The New Testament Church did not need 70 elders to fulfill the mission.
• Seven Men “Full of the Holy Ghost” was enough to fill the need.

The letter to Timothy shows us that the model of Deacon Ministry in Jerusalem was set forth in other churches also.

The next article in the series will be, “The work of an apostle.”

Ray’s preface: Tim provided this article in the form of a comment to the article that I published about a year ago titled, “The Office of Apostle.” I felt that  it deserved a more prominent display so I have published it here as an article under Tim’s name. I believe that you will find great value in Tim’s thoughts….

Scripturally there are only two offices in the New Testament Church… The Deacon and the Bishop/Apostle.

A mans work defines him… not a title, education or self-proclamation.

Deacons provided care and oversight of the local congregations as well as facilitating meeting, baptisms, evangelism and other essential ministry.

In keeping with strict Scriptural standard, the Apostle gives himself to the study of the Word and establishing the work, recruiting and empowering deacons, training and appointing those deacons, establishing bishops to the local churches as well as several other clearly identified responsibilities.

In contrast to contemporary teaching on “Five-Fold Ministry,” the work would better be defined as “Five-Fold Relationships.”

Jesus never embraced “positional relationship” outside of “teacher” and “disciple” and even emphasized that responsibility at his parting in Matthew 28.

Paul directed our attention to five essential relationships that God uses “within the Church” to grow and equip believers for successful service in the Kingdom of God. These relationships should never be misconstrued as positions held in organized religion. They are easily identified within the parameters of “two” New Testament offices established in the church.

The “True Follower” of Christ can identify by name the “person” who fills these relationship needs in their life.

• Apostle – establishes the work/has “appointed you to your service” (No man may be self-appointed and be in harmony with the kingdom of God”.) He is the person to whom you are accountable. (There should be only one)
• Prophet – provides guidance for service. He/She is that person through whom you seek or hear God’s direct word and divine purpose. (Most people have several)
• Evangelist – That person whom God uses to reach out to you when you stray from the path or direction for your life. (God may use anyone at any time, even without their knowing, to influence your path)
• Pastor – That person who cares for you and watches over you regardless of your actions or preferences. (Godly Mothers are Perfect Pastors to their children and provide an excellent model of what a pastor really is) (Most people have more than one)
• Teacher – That person whom you have empowered to teach you and train you in the area of your specific service to the Kingdom. (To use this relationship in some generic or general way demeans the measure of importance that Paul gave it by establishing it as ESSENTIAL to the maturity of the disciple.) (You may have MANY)

If you cannot put a name to the man who provides Apostolic relationship for you as well as the others God has placed in your life, I encourage you to seek the Lord until you can.

There is much more here than can be told in a few small paragraphs… I hope that I have stirred the thought of those who read this.

Updated on Oct 25, 2008.

During my Bible Study time, I was reading in John chapter 3 when something “popped out” at me! In verse 23, the Scripture says, “Now Jesus was about thirty yeas old when he began his ministry.” Does that strike a note of interest in you? Or, maybe you have already examined this and recognized the enigma (something not easily explained or understood) that it poses?

Although I have read this many times before, the question that occurred to me – this time – was, “Why did Jesus WAIT?”

There are several similar situations that come to mind. One is the case of Lazarus who was dead and had already been in the tomb for four days (John 11:17)! Why didn’t Jesus do something a the first notice of Lazarus’ sickness? Or what about some of the healings? Like the case of the blind man in John chapter 9 where Jesus told the man to walk a half mile down a very steep slope to the Pool of Siloam in order to wash off the mud that Jesus put there. Robin Sampson in her excellent blog (Heart of Wisdom) asks the question, “why didn’t Jesus just heal him there?”
In John 2:46,47 (when Jesus was only 12 yrs old) Mary & Joseph found Jesus “in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Emphasis mine) If Jesus was so smart at 12 that he “amazed” the Bible scholars of his day, why didn’t he go on the road as a child evangelist? Why did he wait another 18 years and then only have 3 or so years left for ministry?

One “answer” to Jesus’ 18 year delay in ministry is probably found in verse 52 – which I believe is one of the most profound verses in the entire Bible. The verse is its self an enigma, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” The only part of that that I can say I understand (at least partially) is that Jesus grew in stature. Although he could have been placed on this earth full-grown, he came as a little baby and underwent the struggles of physical growth – just like you and I must do.

BUT, beyond physical growth, the verse tells us that he also grew in wisdom. One reason that Jesus did not begin his ministry at the age of 12 is that he had to grow in wisdom. That is likely a problem that all of us face as well. In order to be successful, we must first acquire wisdom – and often, by the time we become “wise,” we are too old to do much about it! <grin>.

Later, Matthew recorded, (13:54) “Coming to his home town, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’” Apparently, Jesus satisfied the requirement that he grow in wisdom (and every other requirement of the Messiah). (Check out the next post for more about the acquisition of wisdom.)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Make Disciples

The word discipleship has HUGE baggage with it. For some it brings memories of a boring class, or workbook. For others it brings memories of a set of legalistic rules you had to follow for 8 weeks and at the end of that time you were handed a piece of paper that said you were officially a disciple. I remember when I was a teenager and I was signed up for the Tuesday night discipleship program in my youth group. At the end of the night after finishing 1/8 of our discipleship process my girlfriend and I would sneak out behind the church and do things that were not very “disciple like”  These programs and people were not wrong in their motive, and at some time or another all of us have tried to use a systematic program to make disciples, but at the end of that road we have dealt with the frustration of our people being smarter but not transformed.

Discipleship is not information download or attendance!

So what is it? How do we make disciples? Well….for me to give a systematic answer would not do you any good since those don’t work. All I can do is speak from my experiences and reading of the gospels. Read the rest of this entry »

Wesley Weatherford posted this today and it caused me to think about the need for INTENTIONALITY in restoration of our fallen comrades in ministry…

When Paul wrote “Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” (Galatians 6:1 MSG) he was making it OUR RESPONSIBILITY to restore those who fall among us.

In too many cases, we have failed to live up to OUR RESPONSIBILITY in restoration.  We are accomplished speakers, singers, worshipers, givers, but we are not as good at restoration.  In the NASB, the verse translates… “considering yourself, lest you also be tempted…” and in so many cases, we don’t consider what we would need and then act upon that.

What are the things needed for restoration?  What can we do? Obviously, many are posting on this subject about love, forgiveness and acceptance. What does that mean and how does it translate in real-life terms? Read the rest of this entry »