August 27, Coaching Network
Have you ever been in a worship service and felt as if the pastor was speaking straight at you? Felt as if he had known what kind of week you'd had and prepared his message strictly for you. That is exactly how I felt Thursday before last as Perry Noble (Lead Pastor of New Spring) spoke to 15 pastors at a coaching Network. I left thinking, wonder if anyone else got anything out of that session because I know God laid it on Perry's heart for me. I don't have time to share everything Perry spoke to us about during our 7 hour session, but I do want to share the five questions he asked us.
5 Questions I Need to Ask Myself
1. How much time do I spend listening to God?
WOW! What a great question. The point here is very simple. Am I spending more time hanging out with God or more time trying to keep people in the church happy? My first obligation to this church is my walk with Jesus Christ.
2. Am I more concerned about being discovered or being developed?
When pastors get together one of the first questions asked is how many are you running now? You see, when a church hits that 1,000 mark they're thought of as a mega church. Its as if you have arrived if you can reach 1,000. This was a great question for me to hear because there have been days someone got saved yet attendance was WAY DOWN and I felt awful. When lives are being changed, that is more important than how many butts are filling a theater seat. Don't get me wrong, numbers matter! Every empty chair represents a soul. But I gotta keep in check that the soul matters more than the number it represents.
3. Is 5 Point about how great He is or how great I am?
Perry didn't use this reference, but it fits perfectly.
John 3:30
He must become greater; I must become less.
As the Pastor of 5 Point I am to lead, cast vision and teach God's Word, but all of it must be for the glory of God.
4. Am I focused on the short term or the long term?
What a great question. Perry made reference to something he has said thousands of times through out the life of New Spring, especially in their beginning years. When people asked when was New Spring going to......(whatever) he always reminded them they were still babies, only four years old. Four year olds aren't doing the same things adults are. That hit home with me. I'm wanting 5 Point to be doing more, but I gotta remember, were not even four years old yet. Great things are happening, but for us to become all God wants, we must focus on the long term growth, not short term.
5. Am I allowing God to sow his vision in my life?
God's plan is bigger than anything I could ever imagine. Am I spending enough time with Him to catch all of this vision? And when I do, am I confident enough in God to believe what he has planned? Perry put it this way:
"there must be two things going on inside of you at all times"
1. A sense of excitement.
2. A sense of overwhelmedness
People need to laugh at you about how big God's vision is for this church.
I have read through these 5 questions and thought about each one in great detail. Making sure I answer each one exactly as God the Father would want.
Getting ready to head to a laundry mat and put quarters in for people. I want to share my time and money with people so I can share my Savior. Have you spent some time and money with someone so you could share your Savior yet as we discussed last Sunday?
5 Questions I Need to Ask Myself
1. How much time do I spend listening to God?
WOW! What a great question. The point here is very simple. Am I spending more time hanging out with God or more time trying to keep people in the church happy? My first obligation to this church is my walk with Jesus Christ.
2. Am I more concerned about being discovered or being developed?
When pastors get together one of the first questions asked is how many are you running now? You see, when a church hits that 1,000 mark they're thought of as a mega church. Its as if you have arrived if you can reach 1,000. This was a great question for me to hear because there have been days someone got saved yet attendance was WAY DOWN and I felt awful. When lives are being changed, that is more important than how many butts are filling a theater seat. Don't get me wrong, numbers matter! Every empty chair represents a soul. But I gotta keep in check that the soul matters more than the number it represents.
3. Is 5 Point about how great He is or how great I am?
Perry didn't use this reference, but it fits perfectly.
John 3:30
He must become greater; I must become less.
As the Pastor of 5 Point I am to lead, cast vision and teach God's Word, but all of it must be for the glory of God.
4. Am I focused on the short term or the long term?
What a great question. Perry made reference to something he has said thousands of times through out the life of New Spring, especially in their beginning years. When people asked when was New Spring going to......(whatever) he always reminded them they were still babies, only four years old. Four year olds aren't doing the same things adults are. That hit home with me. I'm wanting 5 Point to be doing more, but I gotta remember, were not even four years old yet. Great things are happening, but for us to become all God wants, we must focus on the long term growth, not short term.
5. Am I allowing God to sow his vision in my life?
God's plan is bigger than anything I could ever imagine. Am I spending enough time with Him to catch all of this vision? And when I do, am I confident enough in God to believe what he has planned? Perry put it this way:
"there must be two things going on inside of you at all times"
1. A sense of excitement.
2. A sense of overwhelmedness
People need to laugh at you about how big God's vision is for this church.
I have read through these 5 questions and thought about each one in great detail. Making sure I answer each one exactly as God the Father would want.
Getting ready to head to a laundry mat and put quarters in for people. I want to share my time and money with people so I can share my Savior. Have you spent some time and money with someone so you could share your Savior yet as we discussed last Sunday?
Comments