Here’s my not to do list this week:

  1. Don’t make new friends
  2. Don’t atttend church
  3. Don’t go
  4. Don’t preach

I am called as a slave to join a family (Philem. 16 NIV).  This sounds simple until I get in a few family fights.  I like friendship evangelism.  It’s safer than family evangelism.  The problem is that friendship is a lower calling than Christ’s.  So…

Item 1.  Don’t make new friends (make family members)

Celebrity leadership is not the design for the Church.  It only grows as each follower does his/her part (Eph. 4:16 NIV).  Participation not fame is what sparks life change.  Have I used programs or performance (how my ministry looks on paper, the web, or a stage) as my strategy?  Have I negleted participation (how those I am pastoring are used by God) as the true measure of my success?

Maybe if I increased participation I would see Real growth.  So…

Item 2.  Don’t just go to church… (be the church and help others be the church too).

From time to time Jesus really blindsides me.  At the end of His earthly ministry, He told his disciples to take all of His teaching, miracles and resurrection power, march right up to Jerusalem and then – Do Nothing At All – at least until the Holy Spirit showed up (Acts 1:4 NIV). 

This doesn’t come naturally all the time.  Often I go before I wait.  Maybe if I did more waiting I would go where and when I should?  So…

Item 3.  Don’t go (until I wait)

Religious education and leadership classes have taught me how to use words.  I know resonate and relevant and reciprocate and rhythm and many more (even words that don’t start with “r”).  I am such a “wordsmith” (sarcasm).

There’s a problem though, I can use words to keep myself from action.  My talking can be divorced from acts of restoration an reconciliation (2 more r’s!).  His never was (Matt. 12:18 NIV).

Maybe I will see real change when healing and justice proceed my preaching?  So…

Item 4.  Don’t preach (until I serve).

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