Posts Tagged ‘ Christianity ’

Check out Life Christian Howell!


We’ve been working hard to get to where we want to be at Life Christian Church in Howell. We’ve seen God moving and things happen, and we are excited about the future!

One step we’ve taken has been to re-launch our campus website. I hope you’ll check it out here: www.lifehowell.com

Be sure to look around and tell us what you think! We aren’t done, so feedback is always appreciated!
Thanks,

DK

Welcome_Web

 

2013
05/17
CATEGORY
Christian Life
ministry
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Being Christ-Like


Today’s post is another ‘old’ classic from 2010. As I read through it this morning I was re-challenged to think about the things that I’m doing and if they’re the right things…the important things. In reality, 100 years from now the only thing that will matter is someone’s relationship with God.

For anyone in the Kansas City area, the Upper Room still happens every Sunday, and is lead by my good friend Ethan Bunce. I would encourage you to check it out. For everyone else, I challenge you to find time-alone or in a group, where you can spend a while just in worship before God and be refreshed. Services are great, but often times we don’t focus on the worship because we’re serving, we’re there for the Word, we want to connect with friends…Church is an awesome place to provide community, but make sure that you take time to cut out all distractions and worship your awesome God!

Enjoy!

DK

Each Sunday night we have a worship ministry called the Upper Room that meets for 1 hour. This time of worship, prayer, and fellowship is so rich and refreshing. It takes me back to my Bible School days in the living room of one of my good friends homes, as we’d have CD worship and pray, and just wait for God to talk. He always would.

A few weeks back, He impressed something on my heart that I would like to share:

Being a Christian is supposed to mean being Christ-like. But what is that? Our definition of Christianity has become so convoluted and polluted that most people have no idea what its like to be Christ-like. Their head is so full of other peoples ideas of Christianity that they wouldn’t understand Christ-likeness if Jesus Himself stepped in front of them and smacked them in the face.

Today, Christianity has been reduced like a broth to basic religious elements

we go to church
we give to the church
we sing, dance, run, and lift our hands

And we actually thing THESE things are an exhibition of true Christianity.

But its not. Being a Christian isn’t about putting your butt in a seat or a check in the plate on Sunday morning. Christianity has nothing to do with how loud you can shout or how high you can lift your hands.

Christianity is Christ-likeness. Its having our lives look like Jesus’ life, and not like the life of the TV preacher, famous athlete, our momma, or sister so-and-so. Oh, being in church is important because God says so (do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together- Hebrews 10:25). Tithing is important because God tells us to bring the tithe into the storehouse (Malachi 3:10). Singing, shouting and even dancing are important because they are natural expressions and reactions of adoration for an overwhelming, Supreme God how has impacted our lives. David couldn’t help but dance and sing for joy in His presence.

However, nothing about these things makes us a Christian.

all the tee-shirts we wear, the bumper stickers we have…they don’t cut it either. A cross around your neck is no guarantee of the impact of the cross upon your heart. Christianity is about action. What did I DO today that’s like what Jesus DID?

whose life did I impact
whose heart did I encourage
whose thinking did I challenge
whose situation did I step into and bring hope?

God cares so little about your religious expressions that you’d feel embarrassed if you knew how much difference it made. Jesus said ‘The works that I do, you shall do also, and greater works that these…’ (John 14:12). The book of 1 John says ‘as He is, so are we in this world’ (1 John 4:17).

We need to readjust our mindset and stop the frivolous, fanatical religious rituals and start feeling the change of real relationship. We need to stop being church-like and start being Christ-like. We need to stop acting like Christians and start acting like Christ.

The relationship we have with Him should so changes us, so penetrate every area of desire, every dream of the future, every passion of our heart, that instead of life being about simply being close to Him that it becomes about being an imitator, a copy, a double, and a duplicate of Him. Christianity is about Christ-likeness, not people-likeness. Its about action and impact not words and going through the motions of religious expression.

But in order to be Christ-like we first have to be truly impacted by him first. We have to stop caring about what others do, think, or say and be willing to be confrontational, not just conversational. Christianity isn’t about tradition, its about truth. The truth is too many Christians are too much like the world…and that is why they aren’t making a difference AND why they aren’t seeing any difference in their lives. Its not real relationship unless there is real change in the way you talk, think and act.

So, are you Church-like or Christ-like? Who have you and who are you impacting will answer that question well. Be bold…start being like Jesus and not like the crowd.

DK

2013
05/08
CATEGORY
Bible
Christian Life
ministry
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The Holy Spirit and Power


So as we continued our series on the Holy Spirit, I wanted to be sure that I shared with you the message from last Sunday. It was a ton of fun!

Enjoy,

DK

2013
04/24
CATEGORY
Bible
Christian Life
ministry
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Developing the Next Generation


In the almost ten years I’ve been involved in ministry the greatest things I’ve experienced are leading people to the Lord and leading them in being filled with the Spirit. Outside of that, what I enjoy most, and find the most fulfillment in, is working to develop other leaders. Be it through trainings, individual discussions, team building activities,providing resources for them to use, or just giving them the opportunity to bring their own ideas and style, there is little more that brings the satisfaction or joy of helping others reach their potential and step into their calling.

On a ministry-wide scale I’ve had the privilege to recruit and provide training for nearly 600 leaders. But when it comes to the type of mentoring and development I’m talking about, I’ve been mentored and had the honor of in turn pouring into a handful of individuals, most of whom continue to be involved in key ministries even now. Seeing these people ‘get it’ and then use their gifts for God is just awesome, and it also means even more though. Any leader has an opportunity to reach a certain sphere of people around them. In teaching and developing others, I in turn am increasing the effectiveness of what I do, as they too have a sphere of people they can reach. It’s exactly what Jesus did in training the disciples and sending them out.

Yet Jesus also understood that developing leaders weren’t going to do everything the way He would all the time and they were going to make mistakes. However He still poured into them and developed them. I want to follow that pattern.

That being said, I came across a great article that I found very helpful in evaluating and preparing to work with new or young leaders. I want to share it with you. I hope it helps you as you develop the people in your life!

DK

5 Ways to Help Young Leaders Succeed
By: Ron Edmondson

I love working with young leaders. I consistently look for ways to invest in and recruit those who are currently entering the field of leadership or who will be in the future. In doing so, I see part of my role in working with younger leaders as helping them succeed.

I’ve been practicing this for years with incredible results finding new leaders; for non-profits where I serve on the board, to businesses I’ve owned, to churches where I’ve served as pastor. It is often “easier” to get a “seasoned” leader, but I have found, in certain positions, the younger leader is the best option. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.

5 ways to help a new leader succeed:

Eliminate the fear of failing – If a young leader knows failure is welcome, and that a certain amount of mistakes are even expected in the early days, they’ll feel more willing to take risks. They’ll more quickly begin to add value to the team.

Understand he or she may be afraid to ask – Asking may be perceived as a sign of weakness. They know that. New leaders sometimes want to make the best impression and often that means they will refrain from seeking help. They may have 100 questions the first day, but they don’t want to keep asking. Release the tension of asking. In fact, approach them first with “What questions do you have?” If they can’t handle some things on their own in the days and weeks to come you can address that then but in the beginning, recognize their need for help acclimating to a new environment and new responsibility.

Give consistent, constructive, encouraging feedback – Young leaders, even more from this current generation entering the workforce, need to know how they are doing and how they can succeed. They may have an idea in their own mind. It may or may not be correct. They need to know what you think. They won’t know unless you tell them.

Tell them what they need to know, but don’t know to ask- There are always things in any organization that a person needs to know to be successful. The unwritten rules, the hidden culture. It isn’t written in a handbook or in a employee orientation, but you can make young leaders better by letting them in on “secrets” they’ll learn anyway sooner or later. It will be easier to learn them from you.

Give them a seat at the table of influence – They probably haven’t earned it, but it will make them a better leader. It will stretch them. They won’t always feel prepared, but you already gave them the freedom to fail, right? Let them have some insight. Give them an early voice. They will more quickly feel like an insider and a part of the team and you’re more likely to discover a potential superstar leader.

This article was originally found on http://www.ronedmondson.com

2013
03/30
CATEGORY
Christian Life
ministry
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