Ministry Lessons

This is a rather random collection of thoughts about how I go about pastoral ministry. They reflect what I've learned and how I've been wired. They're not inerrant.

1. Avoid the appearance of gimmicks at all cost.

2. Depend on networking and relationships rather than flash and advertising.

3. Keep things simple and down-to-earth.

4. Have genuine fun without making fun the primary focus.

5. Aim for excellence but be gracious if things are not as excellent as they could be.

6. Maintain a missional focus and awareness in everything we do.

7. Support the Covenant. Invest more than you think you can ever possibly receive back.

8. Build on relationships and hospitality rather than programs and events. (This doesn't mean that programs and events are unimportant but they need to run in the background and in a supportive manner.)

9. Think and act glocally.

10. Multiply before things get complex. Constantly create new streams of ministry.

11. Numerous small units are ultimately more effective than a few large units.

12. Avoid making worship a performance. The congregation is not an audience.

13. Pray short, but often.

14. Worship should include the voices of those present and those past.

15. Neck-ties can be worn at weddings and funerals -- if deemed necessary.

16. Let the flow of scripture dictate the flow of the sermon.

17. Zoom in and out -- from the detail to the big picture -- from the big picture to the detail.

18. If possible live and work where palm trees grow. (Cold has an adverse affect on my ability to live in the present.)

19. You get more done behind the scenes than by making a scene.

20. As much as possible avoid being on the news. (You get more done with less miscommunication if you fly under the professional media radar.)

21. Stop doing everything that doesn't support the mission.

22. If interviewing someone never hand them the microphone.

23. Things are rarely as they appear on the surface.

24. Avoid putting in writing anything that might possibly come back to bite you -- because it will.

25. Lay people are not volunteers in the church. They are the church.

26. Church is not a place. It is a people with a mission. We do not go to church we are the church.

27. Assume good intentions until proven otherwise.

28. Pray with the church catholic.

29. Whether the music is old or new, keep the volume at a level where it is not painful and where the words can be heard.

30. Find encouragement for the future from the heroes of the past.

31. Avoid the appearance of ecclesiastical competition. Look for tangible ways to be supportive of other congregations.

32. Maintain genuine and healthy relationships with those who are theologically outside the realm of orthodoxy. Who knows what God is going to do.

33. Don't back people into a corner. Give them room to change their minds.

34. Ministry, growth, and life are always going to be somewhat messy. Assume that God brings order out of the chaos in his own way and in his own time.

35. Preach to both sides of the brain.

36. A standing meeting is usually more effective than a sit-down meeting.

37. God speaks the most clearly when I'm working in the garden or riding my bike.

38. Think and act holistically. There is no aspect of ministry which is more important than any other. Prayer is no more important than Bible reading. Evangelism is no more important that caring for those on the fringes. It's all a part of the same.

39. Don't overestimate the effects of innovation. Don't discount the impact of change.

40. Stay on top of the technology without letting it get on top of you.

41. Sometimes God's direction is very specific but at other times he, like a healthy parent, seems to enjoy letting us work things out as we see fit.

42. Assume that God is at work and move forward -- unless he interrupts and sends you another direction.

43. Sometimes we send off missionaries but mostly we are missionaries.

44. Listen less to the loudest mouths.

45. Whenever possible be positive -- but avoid thoughtlessly pollyanna yammering.

46. Try to listen at least 90% of the time -- at least try.

47. Celebrate the successes of others -- even if you're not totally on the same page.

48. If in a crisis be highly directive. At all other times work things out collaboratively.

49. Serving Jesus is the bottom line.

50. Pastors are coaches and cheerleaders -- and occasionally they get to be players in the game, too.

51. If it's not singable for ordinary people it usually doesn't belong in worship.

52. Our worship and life as a church should reflect the multi-generational and multi-cultural reality of the new heaven and the new earth.

53. Return daily to the Jesus Creed (Matthew 22:37-40) the Lord's Prayer.

54. Don't worry so much about how blessed you are. (Someone else will always appear more blessed.) Focus instead on being a blessing.

55. Prove that you don't take yourself too seriously. As much as possible keep things light.

56. Sunday worship visitors who volunteer at the door out that they "really enjoyed the service" and that they'll be back next week rarely are. You have a better chance with those who don't feel like they have to say anything other than "good to meet you."

57. Liturgy without stuffiness = freedom

58. Talk more about the cause of Christ than making people feel comfortable with Christ.

59. We're not lacking faith if we emphasize "pay as you go."

60. Sometimes we can accomplish a lot more by doing a lot less. But we have to overdo it for awhile to figure out how that works.