No profession or calling has a greater focus on influencing change than those of us involved in Christian ministry. That is one reason I feel so blessed by the Lord, because I get to help leaders sharpen their skills of influence and open themselves to the working of God in bringing the good news to both Christians and pre Christians.
Today was the second of six Tuesday mornings when I get to meet with Baptist Pastors from the Great Cincinnati area. I showed you pictures of them last week.
They are a fun group that is seeking the hear God for better and more effective ways to touch lives. It is also a joy to work with pastors from my heritage. When studying my genealogy several years ago I discovered an ancestor that lived close to Mt. Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington at the time they lived there, and a member in good standing in a Baptist Church.
My parents were committed Baptists and I came to faith in a Baptist culture at age 10 years. Perhaps because God was preparing me to minister cross culturally and cross denominationally I left the Baptist fold in 1969 and got involved in the House Church movement during the Jesus Revolution on the campus of U.C. It was a very painful yet necessary move for it prepared me to travel internationally and work ecumenically. So, I am very happy to be back with my roots.
We are looking at the processes of change and what kinds of things facilitate growth toward wholeness and holiness. Research on counseling and change indicates that the words we speak to clients is worth only about 15% of the change needed for a person to find relief.
If that is also true of Preachers and preaching then we give far too much emphasis to the 30 minutes a person is speaking on Sunday morning. But, it makes sense that people are influenced by other things like their family and friends. They are also influenced greatly by their level of motivation. So, maybe we need to find ways to build support systems outside the sermons.
Some of us argue that because preachers are anointed and are preaching the Word of God, his sermons should count more than a counselor. Granted that it may be true. But we also know that many counselors are Christians who speak God's word and pray with faith.
Additionally, if we preach for 30 minutes per week there are 167 1/2 hours left when members are being influenced by other people and events. The key is for pastors and leaders to develop several types of structures that also support the message of the Lord.
Do not assume when members are absent from us they are also absent from God's influence.
It is common to think that we are the only positive influences in a member's life. Thankfully, Jesus promised us that He would not leave us as orphans but would send another Counselor who would be with us and in us.
This is a radical idea! God with us. God in us. No longer do we need an external law because God will write the law on the heart of every believer. So, being absent from us preachers may mean that our members are too busy in ministry to listen any more.
posted by Gary Sweeten @ Tuesday, September 19, 2006
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