Online Resource Index for Hurting Church Leaders

One of the best resources for those hurting in ministry is parsonage.org Found here
for either ministers, youth ministers etc.

They have listings for Church conflict, counseling, retreat centers etc.

One of the Finest people that I consulted with while in transition with a few ministries I had.

Writing a Sermon

How does one Write a sermon?

There are several good books out there on writing a sermon:

Biblical Preaching By Hadden Robinson

Preaching that Changes Lives - Michael Fabarez

Applying the Sermon- Daniel Overdorf

But how does one write a sermon?

One has to choose a text and examine the text in its context.

You study, pray. write notes. Do word studies etc. Use resources such as other versions, commentaries etc.

You than go back and try to have a skeleton to your message.

What is the main idea of text?

Are there main points that support it?

Is there a structure I can use?

You also look at the content and ask things such as:

What is the subject?
Is my message built on solid exegesis?
What is my analysis?

What in the text supports this?

After doing this you can write the content of your message along with what is the application.

Then you can go back to the introduction and ask - what can I do to get the congregation's attention?

Then when delivering the sermon - you have style - vocabulary using, grammer, pronouncing the words correctly.

Practice Delivery - Who are you talking to?

Is it conversational? Articulated well? Alert? Does the congregation feel like they are talking with them or about them?

Avoid any distracting mannerism.

The big thing is after all the sermon prep, work etc. Is going from the text and context to the application. What is the Word saying that might lead people to changed lives? (In other words, application)


Here is a Sermon worksheet
I use.

Community Leadership Event sponsored by Chik-fil-A

Yesterday I went to a Leadership Event (FREE) sponsored by Chik-Fil-A and heard Mark Miller (@LeadersServe) speak.

Basically he gave his story and in the morning we learned on Leadership .... and in the afternoon (after the FREE Lunch) learned applying it to teams.

There were church leaders, business leaders, and people from Kaplan, Heritage Academy, First Data there and so forth ...and of course Chik-Fil-A.

Of course, at the end we had someone ask what if you have someone that has no talents, and no skills ...(Which I yelled out "Just Hire Simon Cowell to tell them "...)

So what is the Secret of Great Leaders? (Based on His and Ken Blanchard's book The Secret - having nothing to do with the DaVinci Code BTW or the Movie: National Treasure)

Here is the secret what great leaders do:

See the future
Engage and develop others.
Re-invent continuously
Value results and relationships.
Embody the values.


In other words, Great Leaders serve.

In the afternoon, Mr. Miller broke down what different models of leadership looked like and what we need to aspire to be.

All in all a good day. And got his book, The Secret, Free too!!

Here are some quotes from the day:

"Content without context is not very useful"

"If my bullet fits your gun ...shoot it."

"Over 70% of people have to have a picture of some sorts"

Peter D. "The quality of character does not make a leader; but the absence flaws the whole process."

Henry Cloud "Nothing alive will thrive without pruning."

"If there is mist in the pulpit; there will be fog in the pew"

"Good things happen when Great leaders lead."

Recommended reading:


Necessary Endings - Henry Cloud

The Great Game of Business - Jack Stack

Good to Great

Men's Retreat, Leadership Conference and You ...

The last few days have been a world wind of adventure.

I went to our camp's Men's Retreat and got to hear an Allegience Quartet. Art Bush, JD Seagroves, Chuck S. and Jerry Timbrook sing. Then hear about what it meant to be pursuing Jesus ... a good time.

Sunday we had a great service. Praying for people; and for them to be Jesus' hands and feet to the world. We had one family that just wanted to have us pray for them.

That evening ... my family had the chance with other church leaders in the area to have dinner and just sit and listen to Ben Merold and Tom Ellsworth. Funny thing was the Question and Answer session focused on how their wives views ministry and was encouraging to the wives that were there. (Mine included). It seemed like only minutes passed by and we noticed it was hours ...a good time.

On Monday (of course we heard the news about Osama with mixed reaction ... ) Had 4 great sessions on the Dangerous Church on Churches, Leadership, Choices and Calling. Well worth it. Alot of good information, encouragement of why ministry is so needed.

Today I'm just trying to really chew on what I heard and the adventure to begin ....

Ten Ways to Show Your Pastor Some Love!

Ten Ways to Show Your Pastor Some Love!
By Gerrard R. Fess

October is Pastor or Clergy Appreciation Month. The following are some suggestions to help show your leadership that you care. As a fellow pastor some of these suggestions were given to me and helped encourage and show that I was valued as a member of the church body.

1. Gift cards
Cards from a local grocery store, home value places, blockbuster, i-tunes etc. can be great gifts. Be creative. I got one from one of our families just to say "Thank you" for a local Ice Cream place - and plan on taking my family.

2. Groceries
Get what their grocery list is or what they usually buy. Some churches in the South I'm told do what is called a "Pounding" and basically what a pounding is a challenge to fill the cupboards and fridge to the brim with stocks of food. Imagine saving $$$ on groceries. Very practical idea.

3. A Night Out
Free babysitting and complimentary funds for a date night.

4. Money
Sometimes you don't know what the family's bills, struggles or what they need - it might be they need more clothes for the kids but the budget is tight so some extra funds come in handy.

5. A Personal Note
It's as simple as a hand written card. Nothing says Thank You like getting the personal touch of someone saying thanks. Even an e-card would do too.

6. Leadership Development Tools
Subscription services to magazines (Leadership, Rev, Journal of Student Ministries, Group), online services and websites, podcasts. There are some online services like preachingtoday.com that have a subscription and might help with their ministry. Maybe get a wish list of magazines or online services they'd dream of subscribing to.

7. Gadgets
Help the leadership update their software, laptops, PDAs, cell phones. Maybe even have several families go in to help purchase some of this higher dollar items. This not only shows love but an investment in their ministry. Some of my students got me an i-pod (I would not owned one otherwise).

8. Books
Get a wish list of books you church leader has (note the favorite authors) or would like to buy. A good leader is a lifelong learner and always could use more reading resources and books.Consult their spouse for suggestions.

9. Extra Vacation Days
Help organize more time off or see that they can get renewed by having their own personal retreat. Perhaps there is someone in your congregation who has a vacation home to offer, or see what your local camp ministry offers or other resources. One of the best times I had was when a family just invited us to go with them to the beach for the day.

10. Seminar or Retreat
Help send them to a seminar, convention or retreat that they always wanted to go to. Conventions can be expensive. Making sure they get there, have all the funds and don't have to worry about how this affects their own personal budget or the church's - set them at ease. There are many pastor, youth leader, marriage, conventions out there.

Gerrard is a friend of HIGHER ministries, father, husband, and pastor.

October is Minister Appreciation Month.

Here is an article I wrote and published by Higher Ministries .... that can get you some ideas.

Article

Here is an Article Explaining What it is about

Stats, Retreat, and a worthy quote!

For Every 10 Men in your Church:

10 are struggling to balance work and family.

9 will have children who leave the church.

5 will have a serious problem with pornography.

4 will get divorced.

Only 1 will have a Biblical Worldview.

Source: Harry Gill.
Men's Retreat
April 24-25, 2009.

A Big part of the Men's Retreat was a study of 1 Peter 1. The above stats were in context of what Harry had experienced in his own ministries.

One of the things that stood out to me was a prayer of one of the guys there. His prayer that we "Produce Reproducing Disciples". That are time is limited so use it wisely.

Ministering in the midst of Suicide!

About a few months ago I had to conduct one of the hardest funerals I've ever done. A young man took his life. This past weekend, One man took his own family's lives
Mere miles from our Church. Another happened up the road from us


Then a CFO of Freddie Mac
apparently commits suicide as well.

With tough times, financial crisis ... people get depressed and think the only way out is to end it all.

So what is one to do with dealing with suicide? what is the Church's Role?

Here are some things I'm currently learning and have learned.

I. When someone mentions suicide - take it seriously. Don't brush them off or say don't talk like that.

II. Listen. Sometimes the best thing is to just be there for the person or the family that has lost a loved one.

III. Empathize but don't over do it. You can try to understand but know you aren't exactly them. Don't try to trivialize loss.

IV. Encourage the person. Know that they are loved and valued.

V. Pray for them. Lift their needs before our Father.

VI. REFER. Get expert help. Refer to counseling.

VII. Follow-up on the family. See how they are doing.

VIII. Get them plugged into a Bereavement group, ministries like Hospice to help cope.

IX. Don't have all the answers. I got asked several times "Do you think my loved one is in heaven?" My response - I don't know ... but I do know the God of all comfort, and He knows.

X. Be willing to learn more and explore more resources. Just in the last few weeks - I've visited several chaplains, hospice, pastoral care and the other resources out there to be more effective in ministering to those with loss.

Some of the resources I've come across include:

Survivors of Suicide


Josh McDowell's Handbook on Counseling Youth

Christian Counseling - Gary Collins

Hope Line


Road to Healing


Dealing with this issue isn't easy. I struggle with my own faults, failures, and sometimes try to be "Superman" to others. I don't think I've done the best job but do know God is in control, and just try to love the family in the midst of crisis.

Any other resources, or suggestions?