Several months ago now, I was going about my day when I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to pray for a friend of mine. So I stopped what I was doing and offered up a rather brief prayer for this friend out of obedience to God. After a few minutes, I felt very strongly that I needed to call this person and talk to them. So I did. When they answered the phone we had some pretty average conversation, until I asked him, “How are you doing?” To which he replied, “Not good, I lost my job today.” At that point it became fairly obvious why the Holy Spirit put him on my heart.
Now, the point of this post comes after the fact. I got off the phone and to be honest, was pretty proud of myself for following the prompting of the Holy Spirit and felt very ‘pastoral’ in that moment. My next thought was, “I need to tell __________ this story.” At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in a very different way, asking me a very simple, but pointed question: “Why?” Why did I want to tell other people about this? Was it because I was genuinely concerned about my friend and his hardship, or did I want to impress everyone with my ‘sensitivity’ to the Holy Spirit? I hate to say this, but I think it was the latter.
God is continually teaching me humility in all areas of my life. Just when I start to feel proud of how humble I’m becoming, God slaps me around a little bit and I realize once again how much Matt apart from Christ flat out sucks.
The point is, what’s your motivation? If God asked you to do something huge for Him, but you couldn’t tell anyone and you’d never get recognition, would it still be as exciting a task? One of my life’s goals is to make the answer to that question a resounding ‘yes’ every time.
I was talking to my man Grant this week. He and I have been friends since day 1 of college and have been basically best friends since. We talk about our own spiritual journeys with one another and challenge one another’s leadership. One of the things that is becoming more apparent in our conversations is basically what separates the real leaders from the posers: follow through.
The majority of leaders in the world can come up with solid strategies or innovative ideas. The difference is actually following through on those ideas and making them reality. That’s hard. The reason it’s hard is because it requires discipline and work. It’s a lot more fun to daydream and analyze about what we should do or what could be than to put in the hard work to make the changes that we need to make.
The same is true personally. It’s a lot of fun to talk about reading the Bible or praying, but when it’s time to do it, many folks struggle. Just like it’s a lot of fun to talk about bench pressing 300 pounds or running a marathon, but when the alarm goes off at 5:00 am to begin training, well, it doesn’t seem as fun or exciting.
The point is as leaders we don’t have to be great. We can plug along and live with status quo. If that’s the case, then we should shut up about greatness and stop dreaming, because it’s simply a waste of time. For the rest of us, dreaming and strategizing is just the beginning. To be great requires more than just desire, it requires action and discipline to stick with the game plan until we see the dream become reality.
The majority of leaders in the world can come up with solid strategies or innovative ideas. The difference is actually following through on those ideas and making them reality. That’s hard. The reason it’s hard is because it requires discipline and work. It’s a lot more fun to daydream and analyze about what we should do or what could be than to put in the hard work to make the changes that we need to make.
The same is true personally. It’s a lot of fun to talk about reading the Bible or praying, but when it’s time to do it, many folks struggle. Just like it’s a lot of fun to talk about bench pressing 300 pounds or running a marathon, but when the alarm goes off at 5:00 am to begin training, well, it doesn’t seem as fun or exciting.
The point is as leaders we don’t have to be great. We can plug along and live with status quo. If that’s the case, then we should shut up about greatness and stop dreaming, because it’s simply a waste of time. For the rest of us, dreaming and strategizing is just the beginning. To be great requires more than just desire, it requires action and discipline to stick with the game plan until we see the dream become reality.
GOD AT THE MOVIES:
THE BUCKET LIST
***Before you begin! Reaffirm the ‘Vegas’ rule with your group – what happens in small groups stays in small groups. This is very important to talk about every week. Encourage everyone that the environment is safe, and that there is no judgment.
***The reason we do small groups is to ‘belong and become’ – Have a safe group of friends to belong to and become more like Jesus every day. This is the vision of small groups – remind your group of this each week.
1. If you only had 30 days until you knew you were going to die, what would you do? What would you see? Who would you talk to?
2. If you knew you only had 30 days to live, what would you stop doing that you currently are doing?
3. If you only had 30 days to live, what would you start doing that you currently aren’t doing?
4. Looking at your life now, what is holding you back from going ahead and changing your priorities?
5. What spiritual changes do we need to make to prioritize our life with a sense of urgency?
6. Last week, we prayed for friends that don’t know Jesus. Thinking about that shift in our priorities, let’s pray for opportunity to invite them to church this week.
As always, end the group with general sharing of prayer requests and prayer. Some groups have found it effective to pray for each request as it’s given, rather than creating the list of requests. Use your discretion as a leader.
THE BUCKET LIST
***Before you begin! Reaffirm the ‘Vegas’ rule with your group – what happens in small groups stays in small groups. This is very important to talk about every week. Encourage everyone that the environment is safe, and that there is no judgment.
***The reason we do small groups is to ‘belong and become’ – Have a safe group of friends to belong to and become more like Jesus every day. This is the vision of small groups – remind your group of this each week.
1. If you only had 30 days until you knew you were going to die, what would you do? What would you see? Who would you talk to?
2. If you knew you only had 30 days to live, what would you stop doing that you currently are doing?
3. If you only had 30 days to live, what would you start doing that you currently aren’t doing?
4. Looking at your life now, what is holding you back from going ahead and changing your priorities?
5. What spiritual changes do we need to make to prioritize our life with a sense of urgency?
6. Last week, we prayed for friends that don’t know Jesus. Thinking about that shift in our priorities, let’s pray for opportunity to invite them to church this week.
As always, end the group with general sharing of prayer requests and prayer. Some groups have found it effective to pray for each request as it’s given, rather than creating the list of requests. Use your discretion as a leader.
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth…for he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:3-7 & 12c)
“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30)
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-15)
“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30)
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-15)
GOD AT THE MOVIES:
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
***Before you begin! Reaffirm the ‘Vegas’ rule with your group – what happens in small groups stays in small groups. This is very important to talk about every week. Encourage everyone that the environment is safe, and that there is no judgment.
***The reason we do small groups is to ‘belong and become’ – Have a safe group of friends to belong to and become more like Jesus every day. This is the vision of small groups – remind your group of this each week.
1. What was your favorite story growing up (TV show, movie, book, etc.)? Did you ever feel like you wanted to escape through a wardrobe? If so, where did you fantasize about going?
2. One of the lines of the film talks about Narnia as being “always winter, and never Christmas.” What are situations people around us going through that would fit that description? What are situations that we’ve gone through/are going through that would fit that description?
3. The character of Edmund succumbs to temptation, endangering the lives of his brother and sisters, not to mention his own. It took Edmund reaching the worst circumstances in his life before recognizing his need for a Savior. For those of you who follow Jesus, what was the moment in your life you realized that you needed Jesus your Savior?
4. When we have a Savior like Jesus, why would people decide to stay “in winter without Christmas”, rather than being rescued by Jesus? To close your group this week, identify the people you know that need a Savior in your life and pray for them by name.
As always, end the group with general sharing of prayer requests and prayer. Some groups have found it effective to pray for each request as it’s given, rather than creating the list of requests. Use your discretion as a leader.
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE
***Before you begin! Reaffirm the ‘Vegas’ rule with your group – what happens in small groups stays in small groups. This is very important to talk about every week. Encourage everyone that the environment is safe, and that there is no judgment.
***The reason we do small groups is to ‘belong and become’ – Have a safe group of friends to belong to and become more like Jesus every day. This is the vision of small groups – remind your group of this each week.
1. What was your favorite story growing up (TV show, movie, book, etc.)? Did you ever feel like you wanted to escape through a wardrobe? If so, where did you fantasize about going?
2. One of the lines of the film talks about Narnia as being “always winter, and never Christmas.” What are situations people around us going through that would fit that description? What are situations that we’ve gone through/are going through that would fit that description?
3. The character of Edmund succumbs to temptation, endangering the lives of his brother and sisters, not to mention his own. It took Edmund reaching the worst circumstances in his life before recognizing his need for a Savior. For those of you who follow Jesus, what was the moment in your life you realized that you needed Jesus your Savior?
4. When we have a Savior like Jesus, why would people decide to stay “in winter without Christmas”, rather than being rescued by Jesus? To close your group this week, identify the people you know that need a Savior in your life and pray for them by name.
As always, end the group with general sharing of prayer requests and prayer. Some groups have found it effective to pray for each request as it’s given, rather than creating the list of requests. Use your discretion as a leader.
I recently saw a movie where one of the characters was a high profile business man in charge of hundreds of people. He had a huge salary, a beautiful home, and drove a BMW. He was a leader. In the movie, he decides that he’s tired of leading so he quits his job and gets hired on as a cashier at a local fast food restaurant. When he’s interviewing he says, “I want the least amount of responsibility possible. I especially don’t want anyone reporting to me.”
If you’re in leadership, it’s inevitable that you’ll have days where you feel like doing exactly what he did. I had a friend who’s a staff pastor. Recently the senior pastor called in all the staff to let him know that he was leaving – out of the blue. He was exhausted and simply burned out. Those stories are sad, but unfortunately happen often.
So what do we do as leaders to avoid exhaustion? Here are some tips I know work (even if I don’t stick to them the best myself from time to time):
· Take good spiritual care of yourself. You have to lead yourself before you can lead others. This is especially true spiritually. Spend time daily communing with God through the Bible and through prayer.
· Take good physical care of yourself. Eat right, sleep right, and exercise right.
· Create margin in your schedule. If you feel like you’re stuck in the rat race, stop doing so much. Write down all of the roles and responsibilities you have in order of importance on a sheet of paper and stop doing the last 4 or 5. Shameless BridgeWay plug: check out ‘How to be Rich’ – Creating Margin message for good stuff here - great message (series) by Dale.
· Have fun and don’t take yourself so seriously.
There are about 500 other things you can do, but this will help you on your journey to being an excellent leader.
If you’re in leadership, it’s inevitable that you’ll have days where you feel like doing exactly what he did. I had a friend who’s a staff pastor. Recently the senior pastor called in all the staff to let him know that he was leaving – out of the blue. He was exhausted and simply burned out. Those stories are sad, but unfortunately happen often.
So what do we do as leaders to avoid exhaustion? Here are some tips I know work (even if I don’t stick to them the best myself from time to time):
· Take good spiritual care of yourself. You have to lead yourself before you can lead others. This is especially true spiritually. Spend time daily communing with God through the Bible and through prayer.
· Take good physical care of yourself. Eat right, sleep right, and exercise right.
· Create margin in your schedule. If you feel like you’re stuck in the rat race, stop doing so much. Write down all of the roles and responsibilities you have in order of importance on a sheet of paper and stop doing the last 4 or 5. Shameless BridgeWay plug: check out ‘How to be Rich’ – Creating Margin message for good stuff here - great message (series) by Dale.
· Have fun and don’t take yourself so seriously.
There are about 500 other things you can do, but this will help you on your journey to being an excellent leader.
MYTHBUSTERS: THE GOD WANTS ME HAPPY MYTH
***Before you begin! Reaffirm the ‘Vegas’ rule with your group – what happens in small groups stays in small groups. This is very important to talk about every week. Encourage everyone that the environment is safe, and that there is no judgment.
***The reason we do small groups is to ‘belong and become’ – Have a safe group of friends to belong to and become more like Jesus every day. This is the vision of small groups – remind your group of this each week.
1. Describe one of the happiest, if not the happiest moment of your life. What made that moment so happy?
2. How many days out of the week would you consider yourself happy? What determines your happiness in day to day situations? Do you feel closer to God in the moments you are happy or in moments where you may not be as happy? Why?
3. What’s the first image or word that pops into your head when you hear the word ‘holy’? How would you define ‘holy’? Why would God want us to be holy? Are holiness and happiness exclusive of each other?
4. What does it take to become holy? What things do we need to give up to become holy? What things do we need to start doing to become holy?
5. How can we pray for one another tonight so that we may become more holy?
As always, end the group with general sharing of prayer requests and prayer. Some groups have found it effective to pray for each request as it’s given, rather than creating the list of requests. Use your discretion as a leader.
