Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

I5: Our Interview With Andrea Lowe about the Enneagram

Visit Andrea 

Episode 46: Leadership Models of Ministry

Episode 46: Leadership Models for Ministry

 

The 3 most Common Models

• Shepherd - largely churches with one pastor who diligently cares for the congregation.
  • Primary task - care for the flock...pastoral care
  • Expectation - Meet my needs
    • biological growth, growth as families grow
  • Danger -  easy to have an inward focus

• Rancher
  • Primary task - oversee the farmhands in their tasks
  • Expectation - Provide for my needs
    • moderate growth typically based on programming
  • Danger -  easy to become busy and distracted

• Business leader sole proprietor; partnership, ceo
  • Primary task - build leaders expand the organization
  • Expectation - Exceed my needs
    • leadership development and upward mobility
  • Danger - easy to confuse leadership with spirituality

The 4th.

• Coach
  • Primary task - work together purposefully to win
  • Expectation - equip people to fulfill their ministry by putting them in the right place
  • Danger - we won’t let others rise up to coach others.
    • Ex. A runner asked me to explain what a tempo run is to another…I made him do it… he needs that opportunity.

 

Why we think pastor as coach is the best model.

 

1. It’s culturally relevant - agriculture pictures have not aged well
2. It’s practically relevant - some teams have one coach, some have a head coach and one or two assistants, others have a whole team of coaches, speaks to all size churches
3. It’s a healthier mindset - players aren’t overlooked so much by the strong personalities of the shepherd, ranch owner, CEO. 
4. It’s more adaptable

Episode 45: Sermon Block

Episode 45: Sermon Block

 

Develop a plan

Regular time and place - habit and practice

Get to know your passage; 

• pray for insight
• Study it
• Look at outside resources
• Be reading in lots of areas - renaissance man
• keep notes - sermon ideas on evernote

 

Take the passage with you on a walk or to the gym or do something else that allows you to create.

 

What does God's Word say about what is happening around you?

• Be careful of Isogesis rather than exegesis 

 

Ask for help from others

 

Plan some breaks from preaching…

• “Your best 44 are a lot better than your mediocre 50."
• how often do you have a guest speaker in? - 

 

Vary your style in preaching

 

We found this article online which shares some of the same and additional insights.

See also:

https://www.propreacher.com/sermon-writers-block/

Episode 44: Dangerous Success

Episode 44: Dangerous Success

Dangerous success:

1. Burnout - mostly because we always have to beat our last success
2. Self promotion
3. Loss of personal devotion and loss of accountability 
4. Family neglect

 

Remember:

1. Success comes from God.
2. Success never happens in ministry from a solo effort.
   1. its not really success if your not bringing someone along with you
3. Success is quickly forgotten. -
   1. just like our lives - we are quickly forgotton so play the long game and plant for future generations
4. Success can be false God.
   1. Comparison is a trap

 

Resources:

Didn’t See It Coming by Cary Nieuwhof

Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome by Kent Hughes (an old one still relevant)

Episode 43: Accountability in 2020

Episode 43: Accountability in 2020

 

 

We all feel drawn to the calendar and want to make plans when it comes to the new year.

 

Accountability is a key factor in improving in your faith walk

 

Being a disciple of Christ  - accountability is vital    

You can't be a growing  follower of Christ without accountability relationships

 

accountability to God - seems like a no brainer but we have to be open and honest with God

 

 

accountability to others

                           1. Honesty with our spouse

 

                           2. openness with a a close Godly friend

 

                           3. accountability to your church - 

                                       a. We tend to buck at this - we are the leader  - they are                                                accountable to me not me to them.   Unhealthy - Jim                                                  Jones, David Karresh, etc

Philippians 2:5-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,[a]

    he did not think of equality with God

    as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b];

    he took the humble position of a slave[c]

    and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,[d]

8  he humbled himself in obedience to God

    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

    and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

 

Accountability to our church shows:

1. We really do love them
2. We are a servant leader like Christ
3. They can trust us.

Episode 42: Need a Map

Episode 42: Need a Map

 

Is visioning natural or unnatural to you?

• More about destination or how to get there?
• Do you see things others cannot see as of yet?
• Do you tend to run ahead of everyone else?

 

If you are not strong, you have to get help to flush it out a vision.

• Look for a visioning person…entrepreneur, business leader…
• Craft something you can believe in.

 

For visioning to be successful

• Keep your final destination in view.
• Communicate your vision constantly.
• Evaluate your vision regularly.
• Remember visioning has a shorter shelf life than it used to have.
• Let others help in the details of getting you where you want to go.

Episode 41: 20/20 Vision

Episode 41: 20/20 Vision

Alan shares some insights on planning for 2020

Evaluation 

• most churches are not good at evaluating their efforts, events and programs
• evaluation is essential for visioning and goal setting

 

Church visioning

 

• I usually have a word or phrase to guide my thinking.
• This year; the word is disciple.
• Developing processes for the church to get more repeatable outcomes.

 

Development:

 

Professional:

 

What areas of ministry do I need to develop or improve?

• Committed to at least one book on preaching.
• Connecting with the unchurched is a big new challenge.

Personal: 

• The Enneagram was a game changing personality experience after I read Ian Morgan Caron’s the Road Back to You.
• I plan to learn more and hope we have podcast set up to discuss it more.
• Work our podcast and help leaders endure. At least 64 podcasts 52 weeks and 12 interviews. 

Episode 40: Proof Trent has a Heart

Episode 40: Proof Trent Has a Heart

 

Lessons I learned in the last 2 weeks

 

• God is still in control

 

Alan, Trent I think in essence that is the Christmas story. I was preaching about how easy it is to get frustrated when we serve God and things happen that push us to our limits. I think of Mary and Jospeh being forced to have their baby in a stable. And we see God provide and move in them.

 

• God is good no matter what
  • God is big enough to handle your questions
    • I questioned why God saved me - I would have been perfectly fine being in heaven. Then I questioned how He saved me - I was not prepared for the pain and recovery. But God doesn't waste anything. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭

 

• • • I told my family several times "no matter what - God is good". Easy to say. Harder to actually believe. But slowly(because I'm a slow learner) I am trusting more and seeing God's good hand in my circumstances. I'm not sure why He still has me here but I want to use it for His glory. I'm not sure why He chose this method but I am looking for opportunities to talk about Him. Trust in the Lord - trust in His timing - trust in His methods - because He is good!
• God doesn't waste anything
  • Reconnecting
  • Reading
  • Re-evalation

Episode 39: Experiencing Generation Z

Episode 39: Experiencing Generation Z

 

James Emery White - Meet Generation Z 

- from 1995-2000 depending on who you ask

- by 2020 will account for 40% or so of American consumers….they will be getting a lot of attention…we will soon be giving way to yet another generation, but for now; these are children and students. 

 

The anxious generation

• Uncertainty follows them around

 

GOY - Growing older younger

• unprotective parents
• The whole world in the palm of their hand with all its good and bad elements esp pornography

 

They want to understand their value; because they aren’t sure they have any.

• My experience with the Enneagram
• So independent they are lost in themselves

 

They are looking for 

• Encouraging relationships - how to reach them
  • Illustration: Kids were inviting more friends to our “fellowship” events than to our “outreach” event.
  • Don’t try to get them with a big flashy event; invite them into fellowship and fun.
• Truth that is loving - how to keep them
  • In other words, looking for the character of Christ
  • Mature spiritual adult leaders are hugely important
  • Leverage small groups of students with strong adult encouragement.
  • Allow the Bible to become a tool not a resource (If they don’t leave with a tool, they know how to use, then you haven’t)
    • 86% “At church I get wisdom for how the Bible applies to my life.”
    • 70% “In my church, I regularly receive wisdom fro how the Bible applies to my life.”
    • Focus on not just informing, but equipping.

Episode 38: How to Have a Critical Conversation

Episode 38: How to Have a Critical Conversation

with special guest Luke Heirendt

 

Why have these kinds of conversations?

• Help the person get better
• Help the Church bet better
  • illustration: Seahawks have “Tell the Truth Mondays”
• Truth: It’s hard to see what we need to change in the mirror…if we could see it, we would have already changed it!

 

7 Keys in Critical conversations

1. Build trust with your team.
2. Lay groundwork for hones feedback.
3. Let a person know you are going to have a tough conversation with them.
4. Be loving and not harsh.

• Connect the complaint to the cause
• Connect your solution to their identity

Offer support. If you are going to give it, be willing to receive it. Remove your own defenses.

 

Final thought: Don’t stay quiet.