Sunday School Directors in our Home

On Thursday and Friday we had most of the department directors for our Adult Sunday School over to our home. We decided to make it a two night event with one half coming Thursday and the other half coming Friday. We enjoyed dinner together as well as laughter and light hearted discussion about each other's home towns and other life experiences.

After a couple of hours, we moved into a more directed time of discussion regarding the purpose of the Sunday School and our role in promoting the health of the church. (I am more convinced than ever that time spent together in each other's homes is one of the most important things we can do.) We talked about making small steps in the five purposes of the church (worship, ministry, evangelism, fellowship, and discipleship). We discussed assessing our present involvement with each of the purposes, identifying an idea that will move our people in the right direction, and then the enlistment of a leader to promote and implement the plan. A copy of the book "250 Big Ideas" was given to each of the department directors. They can then take the various ideas from the book and give them to the leader for each of the five purposes. These department directors could then meet quarterly with the leaders they have enlisted. I am convinced that if this plan is followed for one year, we would all look back at the health and growth of the department and say "WOW! Thank God for what He has done in and through us!"

Each of us serving in the role of a Sunday School leader are called upon to develop plans for the health and the growth of the department, but we must also remember that we, too, are to be about executing those plans on a personal level. For example, evangelism starts with me...fellowship starts with me...and so forth.

I am blessed to have a family that is concerned about Jesus' church and will put forth the effort to plan and prepare for opening up our home to other leaders. I am also blessed to serve with these leaders that will give the time it takes for personal development and their commitment to lead others in God's Kingdom building program.

I am reminded of John Maxwell's statement, "Everything rises and falls on leadership." This week, my family and I shared life with some of the leaders in our church...and it was wonderful!

Dale and Kim in California

Kim and I had a great time at Saddleback Church. I encourage everyone to participate in one of the annual Purpose Driven Church Conferences.

Worship
Ministry
Evangelism
Fellowship
Discipleship

Check out church this Sunday!

Commitment

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).

Paul instructs the followers of Christ to, "offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God..." I once heard a preacher say that the problem with living sacrifices is that we keep crawling off of the altar. And that is so true. Many times we want to be involved with Christ (for the benefits He offers), but we really don't want to be committed. The reality is that with God, it's all about commitment...commitment to the Lord, commitment to the family He has blessed us with, commitment to His church, and a commitment to our neighbor. I am writing this in the morning at about the time when most people normally eat breakfast, so let me use an example that all of us can identify with. The difference between "involvement" and "commitment" is like having a breakfast of eggs and ham: the chicken was "involved" but the pig was "committed." The truth is that Jesus is committed to each of us, and He demonstrated this commitment through His life, death on the cross, and His resurrection.

One of the most practical helps for raising our level of commitment to the Lord is by simply following the directions of verse 2. Paul says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..." God wants more than our weak and occasional involvement. He wants us to know and be committed to the proper path for our lives. And by committing our time, our thoughts, our resources, our lives to the pure and right things of God, He will strengthen our commitment to Him and allow us to see clearly "...His good, pleasing, and perfect will" for our lives.