Catalyst Compassion Moment

I referenced this moment in my message at APEX last night. I know it’s a bit long, but it is worth your time. Challenging, powerful, life-changing.

DS

Next Week = Leadership Week

Hey folks. Just wanted to let you know about something awesome coming your way next week. My good friend, Ben Davis (aka @iambendavis), is hosting a leadership blog gold mine (not sure what that means). All week, gifted leaders from around the country will share on different topics pertaining to life and leadership. I had the privilege of writing, though I am probably the least awesome.

I would share my post with you now on The Invisible Leader, but I think I’ll just whet your appetite for next week. Stay close to Ben’s blog, my friends. It’s gonna be good.

DS

 

When Was the Last Time I…

Do you struggle with pride? I already know the answer to that question. But your response to that question will determine how prideful you are.

As ministers, we are in the public eye. When you’re in the public eye, it’s easy to think highly of yourself, especially when compliments are flowing.

Consider this verse:

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10).

As God increases our public platforms, I believe we need to be continually humbling ourselves before Him. The greater the platform, the greater humility is needed to handle the praise of man.

How do you humble yourself? Ask (what I like the call) the WWLT questions (bracelet, anyone?):

• When was the last time I had a conversation about someone else, with no reference to my own accomplishments?
• When was the last time I spent an hour in private worship?
• When was the last time I thanked God for His indescribable grace and for saving ‘a wretch like me’?
• When was the last time I confessed my sins to a trusted friend?
• When was the last time I personally responded to an altar call?
• When was the last time I visited a sick person in the hospital just to be with them?
• When was the last time I blessed someone financially?
• When was the last time I prayed for someone else, instead of being consumed by my own needs?
• When was the last time I was moved to tears while reading Scripture?
• When was the last time I listened to my spouse with undivided attention?
• When was the last time I personally served someone else’s ministry?
• When was the last time I shared the Gospel with a non-Christian?
• When was the last time I talked about Jesus with my Christian friends?

O God, make me a humble servant of your glory, honor, and fame.

DS

What Type of Congregation Are You?

There are many factors that contribute to great ‘times’ of congregational worship. A worship leader who loves Jesus, can sing well, and can engage people. A sensitive, skilled band, Excellent sound quality, singable songs, songs that are Biblical, Scripture readings, spontaneous praise, and…anything else? Something you may not consider is the congregation.

The type of congregation that is present also determines how powerful a worship service is.

Let me give you an example. Last night Emily and I stepped into the middle of a worship conference at CCOP to hear Israel Houghton lead worship. To begin with, Israel is a high energy worship leader. He has a voice like no other, loves God, and is a skilled musician. But in that room, it really wouldn’t matter WHO was up there. The congregation was bouncing around, shouting and praising before he even sang a lick. A bird could have led worship that night.

Maybe you experience this on Sunday mornings at your church. Maybe you’re like most of us and there is a mixed congregation of seniors, baby boomers, young adults, youth, non-christians and everything in between.

These types of settings can be very challenging to lead worship. A third of the congregation wants to shout in tongues for 2 hours, a third wants to sit down and stop singing these stupid songs, and a third are scared to death of the banners, dancing, raised hands, and off-key singing in the congregation (or from the stage!).

I’m not slamming certain congregations. I actually love the diversity of it all. I love having non-Christians in the room when I lead worship. And I love a large group of spirit-filled, Jesus lovers. Both are fun in a different way.

What do you do? How can one effectively ‘lead’ different congregations? What is most important in your worship leading preparation? Do different congregations require different preparation?

I’ll save that for my next post.

Until then, what type of congregation do you lead for?

Let the discussion flow…

DS

Worship Leaders: Don’t Listen to Too Much Worship Music

Is it possible to listen to too much worship music? Why would I even address such an issue? Am I one of those indie listening types who enjoy taking shots at Christian music because it is bland and lacks creativity? Sometimes. But that is not what I’m trying to do here.

I’m writing to my own heart. I hope this challenges you as well.

In the last 20 years, worship music has risen to the top of all Christian music. I don’t have facts, but I guarantee you it makes the most money. It is accessible. It is encouraging. A lot of it is very good and good for your walk with God today. I’m a worship leader. I listen to a lot of it. I even write my own songs and sell them.

My concern for worship leaders is that we spend so much time listening to professional worship albums that we feel pressure to mimic that sound/experience in our churches. Let’s be honest. You probably don’t have a David Crowder/Chris Tomlin/Hillsong quality band every Sunday. You work with volunteers. You work with the young inexperienced and the older over-experienced. You work with the 13 year old with his Mel Bay chord book and the old 70s rocker who can shred better than you can talk.

I think there is a beautiful value in that.

Yea, it would be nice to have the same team of professional musicians that you travel the world with and crank out songs with your eyes closed. I’m not saying we should disregard improvement. We have a lot to learn from the pros, but becoming Hillsong should not be your goal. Your goal should be to invest in the people God has given you today. Be a spiritual leader. Pray for them. Teach them. Love them. Laugh with them. Care for them.

Don’t be discouraged if your band doesn’t sound exactly like the new United album that just came out 15 seconds ago. Work on improving the quality of your band but don’t use them as a means to your self-glorifying goals. See their need. Bring them higher. Love them. There is more to what we are doing than click-track tight music and emotional sounds. The Holy Spirit wants to connect with His people through your worship leading.

God has given you an amazing opportunity. Be faithful.

Essential Questions for Leadership

Raising up leaders is very exciting work. The easy part is asking people. The hard part is following through. It’s fairly easy to build a team of people. It’s another thing to maintain a strong momentum in your leadership team. But that is where you must focus your energies.

Getting a bunch of bodies on board is essential, given they are the right kind of people. But how are you actually leading your team? Questions to ask:

• Am I modeling the work ethic I am requiring?
• Am I modeling a disciplined lifestyle of consistent prayer/Bible reading?
• Am I praying for each of my leaders?
• Am I breathing consistent, faith-filled vision?
• Am I smiling and laughing a lot? (more important than you may think).
• Am I constantly seeking to improve my leadership through reading & observing other great leaders?
• Am I following through with team assignments?
• Am I having one-on-one, face-to-face conversations and not just sending random emails all the time?
• Do I know where we are going?
• Am I improving my communication skills?
• Am I challenging/coaching/encouraging in real time?
• Do I honor/value/spend QT with my wife above my leaders?
• Am I happy?

Any others you would add?

Leader Lessons: Dominate or Empower?

Are you responsible for leading people? Do you have a heart to see others reach their full potential? Is there a cause on your heart that drives your every day? You are a leader, my friend. And how you handle that role means everything to those you lead.

In I Kings 12, Rehoboam inherited his father’s throne. He was approached by his people with a simple request to lighten the load of work. They were willing to serve Rehoboam, but the workload was unreasonable.

Rehoboam could have used his authority here to empower his people, but instead, he dominated them and spoke very harsh words. In the end, the Kingdom of Israel was divided.

As a leader, you have the influence to either empower or dominate those who follow you. It doesn’t mean you must compromise your goals to match everyone’s preference. It does mean you lead with compassion. To be a great leader, you must adopt these two realities:

1. A driving passion for a certain cause
2. Accomplishing it through real people (with feelings, limitations, insecurities, etc)

If you’re all about the cause and lead without compassion, you will dominate and alienate those who follow you. They will leave you. If you are all about the people and have no driving passion, you will simply have a social club.

You must have a cause that burns in your heart and yet lead in such a way that empowers others to accomplish it with you.

How do I empower, you may ask?

More to come…

Living to Please God

I don’t think about pleasing God enough. In my day to day busyness you know who I’m more concerned about pleasing? People. You mind if I get a little vulnerable today? I am more concerned about maintaining other’s opinions of me than radically living for God’s attention. As long as people are talking about me, like me, and are blessed by me, I feel good.

Do I pursue the pleasure of God in the same way?

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

That is a convicting verse. If you are like me, here are some questions I am asking today. I pray they are a help to you as well.

• Am I spending personal, alone time with Jesus apart from the crowds?
• Am I directly applying Scripture to my life on a daily basis?
• Am I just blogging/facebooking my thoughts or truly internalizing God’s Word to me?
• Do I live more self-aware or more God-aware?
• Do I pray consistently? Or are my dreams too small where I can just ‘get them done’?
• Am I asking God to make me aware of the lost every time I step outside my front door?
• Does my life reflect a passion for Jesus Christ above all other things?

Would you add any others?

Guitar Hero Ministry Mentality – Steven Furtick

Just read this great post by Pastor Steven Furtick:

“If my generation isn’t careful, we may fall into a Guitar Hero mentality toward ministry:
Everybody wants to be a rock star, but no one wants to learn the chords.

It’s hard work to study God’s Word.  To pray for breakthrough.  To do spiritual battle on behalf of those we lead.  To charge forward in faith for the cause of Christ.  To run a church with the highest standard of excellence.

Aspiring ministers:
Be willing to pay the price.  Or please go do something else with your life.”

What kind of a leader are you?

There is a powerful passage in II Timothy that outlines the characteristics of Paul’s leadership. I want to lead and live this way. God help me.

“You, however, have followed:

• my teaching
• my conduct
• my aim in life (i love this!)
• my faith
• my patience
• my love
• my steadfastness
• my persecutions and sufferings…” (II Timothy 3:10-11a).

Can you say this about those you are leading? Are you living a life worth exemplifying?