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Getting Candid with Pastor Dave
By Paul | March 14, 2008
5 Questions put to our earthly shepherd, as he reflects what he is gleaning from our Good Shepherd–and question 4 is a challenge to us leaders in small groups.
1. What’s God been speaking to your heart about lately, personally? What about for the Body?
One of the things that I’ve been learning, or relearning, recently is that a message has a least two basic parts, the content and the “spirit”. One of my tasks is to do all I can to insure that the content I deliver is truth, and only truth. As much as possible it should be organized, clear, helpful, etc. Just as important, however, even though it’s not as easy to analyze, is the spirit or heart behind any teaching, leadership, message that I give. A teaching or message could be completely truthful in content yet have something unhealthy behind it. If there is something unwholesome in the “heart”, it pollutes the whole thing.
One application that helped me see this is from our children’s ministry. As I understand the goals of those who work there, there are two basic objectives: 1. To help the children feel accepted, loved, welcomed and 2. To teach them about Jesus. First, a goal for the “heart” of the ministry and then a goal for the content. If goal number one doesn’t happen, the children won’t be interested in hearing about Jesus.
It turns out that it’s the same for all ages! Even in our adult ministries, at every level (even small groups), those who come must feel the “heart” of the Lord first, then they will be willing and able to hear the content that is spoken there. The application for me is obvious: I need to make sure that my heart is full of the Lord’s love and passion for people when I communicate (actually, at all times). If people sense the Lord’s love, they will be willing to listen to what He has to say.
The application is for our church too. When people come into our presence, in any format (large group, small group), they will feel first the “heart” of the body. If that heart is loving, accepting, welcoming, encouraging, joyful they will be persuaded to hear what we have to say. My prayer is that I will be a good representative of the Lord’s heart, and so will our church family. (Proverbs 4:23)
2. How do you want us to pray for you regarding Easter’s message and call to commitment?
This Easter we are doing what we used to do years ago, remaining in the teaching series we are currently pursuing. This Easter we will still be in the Lord’s prayer series, specifically learning about “lead us not into temptation”. In the sermon, we will also look at the four stages of Christian maturity. The appeal for each one who attends will be to figure out where he/she is on the maturity scale, and make a commitment to “move up”. There will be specific suggestions for each position on the spectrum on how to grow. It would be wonderful if our Bethel folks would pray for the message to be clear and powerful in the Holy Spirit, and that the Lord would move in hearts both to come (especially those who don’t come to church very often) and then to respond to His prompting.
3. What kinds of things do you do in your own small group (men’s group)?
In our men’s group we are currently, in our study part, going through the gospel of Mark. Even though we differ in our daily reading plans we all contribute to this study, reading a few verses of the gospel each Tuesday morning, then asking questions, suggesting answers, giving insights, etc. That part of our agenda usually takes the first 20-30 minutes. The next portion is our “accountability” time. We have some questions that we ask each other every time (have you been in the Word every day this week?) and others that are occasional. Sometimes one of us will ask the others to “hold him accountable” for some specific commitment he has made for the coming week. One of the traditions we have is to proceed around our circle, each man asking the group’s next question and answering that question first himself. After the accountability questions we close with a time of prayer, often for the things we just discussed and also for the one specific request each man wants prayed for that day. Very rarely we meet for breakfast somewhere besides our usual meeting place, the church building. That’s a good thing and we’ve got to do that more!!
4. Got a challenge for us small group leaders for the spring?
(See the answer to question one.) Keep our hearts full of life, joy, hope, Spirit energy, enthusiasm, acceptance. People become healthy when they take in pure living water.
5. Just for fun: what’s your favorite restaurant and what do you order at it?
Probably Burger King. Value meal #1, no onions, no pickles.
Topics: Inspire |
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