Monday School

It could be that our pastor struck on one of the biggest problems facing the church in America. We have been so influenced by the scientific atheism of our culture that we often divide the "spiritual" from the "secular". We are all about what we learned on Sunday, but then comes Monday and we play by a different rulebook.

This may explain the absence of light and salt in the American culture. We need to take what we learned in Sunday School and apply it in the classroom in Monday School. The classroom may change from the church building to a workplace, home, market or school, but the lessons continue to be the same: You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

I learned two things today because I decided to continue to apply what is being taught to me on Sunday: (Value Potential and a new understanding of "if you say so, Lord" from Luke 5:4-6.)

1. Since we learned about potential on Sunday, my mind was evaluating reaching my potential. As I prayed and began "looking for direction", I ran across an article that reminded me that discipline is the pathway to potential. I "heard" a clear challenge to my heart concerning my need to step up my discipline.

2. My mind has been spinning about all the stuff that could be done and should be done. I found a second lesson today that will shape the rest of my week. "Do well with what you have"

I have my assignments for the week. "Refocus on discipline" and "Eat what is on your plate before you ask for more."

What have you learned in Monday School as you apply what you learned on Sunday.

Paying Attention to the Roots

I know. It sure took me long enough to get back here and followup on my ramblings about "The Fruit of Ministry." I have been digging, praying, watching and pondering what matures Christians and attracts the lost to the gospel. (And I spend a lot more time on Twitter and Facebook.) Someday I'll have to tackle the effectiveness of blogging. I'm not even sure anyone benefits from these random blogs. Maybe a free frap at Starbucks for everyone who comments would reveal how many people this reaches.

Back to the topic of fruit. We would all agree that the fruit of ministry is new and mature Christ-followers. However, we often measure certain programs to evaluate the success of our efforts. Small groups is often one of those programs. But, I know churches where the percentage of participation in small groups is huge and yet the fruit (new converts and mature Christians) is minimal. I know other churches that are rocking the planet with new converts and excited mature Christian servants and yet have a very small percentage of their attendees engaged in organized small groups.

I am convinced that whenever we focus on anything other than true fruit (new converts and maturing Christians) as an evaluation of ministry, we begin to manipulate the plant rather than nurture it. I transplanted two dogwood trees last fall. I love dogwoods and would love to have them in my yard, but I also know that the odds of them making it through the transplant trauma are slim. I was about to declare them dead when my wife pointed out a couple green buds breaking out. I immediately drove in a fertilizer plant. I can't make my dogwoods grow but I can nurture them and trust that dogwoods know how to be dogwoods.

Do we have that same confidence in the church? Why do we get hung up trying to manipulate the plant rather than focusing on nurturing the roots?

What do we do at the root level? 1. Feed the plant (Peter, feed my sheep). Teach God's Word, biblical principles, and the unique ministry vision of your particular church. (Ours is Hospitality) Stay organic, watch out for filler and toxic additives. 2. Loosen the soil. Create an environment that encourages, equips and enables all Christians to be engaged at some level. Sometimes our organizational soil becomes so hard that it stifles root growth. 3. Provide adequate water. Encourage people regularly. Refresh them with encouraging words, special times, etc. Don't let the plant wither and become weary from lack of encouragement.

What do small groups look like in your church? How many people are engaged in volunteering and serving? HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME TO CHRIST SO FAR THIS YEAR? It's cool and natural to observe the plant with its leaves, branches, buds and stuff, but the real issue is whether it is producing fruit.

Remember the care we take at the root level becomes evident at the fruit level. Let the rest of the plant grow as it sees fit. Some plants are leafier, others have more branches, others are taller, but the purpose for the plant (church) is to bear fruit.

I'm thinking. What are you thinking?