Category Archives: Ministry Stuff

Stop Praying Just Prayers

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There are a few things I believe we just need to stop doing. The NFL just needs to stop with the throwback jerseys. They’re ugly. No one likes them. The airline industry just needs to stop with the stunt pilot airshows. Planes crash. Pilots die. And the church just needs to stop praying just prayers.

It’s not what you think. Obviously we shouldn’t stop praying for justice. Justice is part of God’s immutable, unchangeable image. Justice is a good thing Christians should strive for and pray for. What I mean is we just need to stop praying prayers with the word “just” in them. I know, God knows what we mean when we pray, so if we use the word “just”, he’s ok with it. It’s just a pet peeve of mine.

Man-Praying-folding-handsBut it’s easier said than done. In the first two paragraphs of this post, I intentionally used the word “just” several times. We’ve gotten so used to it, we hardly notice anymore. But the word “just” minimizes what we are saying, and praying. It’s sloppy language that dilutes the meaning of what we say. Here’s an example.

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Jesus’ Volunteer Strategy

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Most church leaders know the importance of utilizing quality volunteers in their ministry. Let’s face it, ministry just won’t happen without a passionate group of selfless servants willing to roll up their sleeves and do the tough work of ministry. I once heard a Christian leader address a group of pastors and tell them that if they were doing their ministry, they weren’t doing their jobs. Their main job, he said, was to raise up other leaders.

The Apostle Paul thought so. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul told the church at Ephesus that church leaders are to prepare God’s people for works of service. Jesus thought so too. In fact, Jesus used a very simple approach to find, train, equip and release volunteers into ministry that changed the world. Let me introduce you to this 5 step model.

Identify rising stars
When Jesus was looking for his key volunteer group, the Apostle Mark records, “As Jesus walked,…he saw…” (Mark 1:16 NIV). As you walk, start seeing people. Always have your radar up to identify rising stars. Look for FAT people. Faithful. Available. Teachable. Look for people with the right heart. Skills can be taught later. But a positive attitude, a genuine heart, and a monster work ethic are crucial qualities to look for in great volunteers.

VolunteerTeam1Invite them to join you
Jesus never said, “I want you to volunteer in my organization.” He said, “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17 NIV). Jesus’ approach was relational. His invitation was personal. His mission was essential. So invite people to join you in ministry. People will follow a leader long before they join an organization, so a personal invitation to join you will go a long way. No one responds well to “We need your help.” But there’s real power in “Join me. Let’s do this together!”

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