I met Andrew a few weeks ago for breakfast. He had been involved in other churches but had just moved to our area and had checked out Carpenter's a few times. He wanted to get involved and had a passion for small groups, or connecting points as we call them here.
What's been cool is to see him actually follow through on his interest in the past few weeks. He's shown a sacrificial heart that's willing to serve. He's jumping in after only being here a short time.
2 questions: Why do we often wait to put people in leadership or ministry and why do people wait to get into it? I think the 1st one answers the 2nd. We are not supposed to wait until supposed "Christian Maturity" (I think I've ranted on that concept already) to serve. I've seen the passage used from Matt. 10 to justify waiting to place people in leadership since Jesus had quite some time in public ministry prior to this, but that's not what Jesus did at all. He waited to send them out on their own, not to let them lead. Maturity is not for me to control, but to inspire no matter the case.
As a result of forcing people into our own version of maturity - which the only thought Christ gives to it is fruit in Matt. 7 - most followers of Christ shy from ministry scared of lacking maturity. Why are our volunteer forces waning? Because of our own pride. It takes humility to let someone serve beside me that has recently come to Christ. That is the real battle.
What's been cool is to see him actually follow through on his interest in the past few weeks. He's shown a sacrificial heart that's willing to serve. He's jumping in after only being here a short time.
2 questions: Why do we often wait to put people in leadership or ministry and why do people wait to get into it? I think the 1st one answers the 2nd. We are not supposed to wait until supposed "Christian Maturity" (I think I've ranted on that concept already) to serve. I've seen the passage used from Matt. 10 to justify waiting to place people in leadership since Jesus had quite some time in public ministry prior to this, but that's not what Jesus did at all. He waited to send them out on their own, not to let them lead. Maturity is not for me to control, but to inspire no matter the case.
As a result of forcing people into our own version of maturity - which the only thought Christ gives to it is fruit in Matt. 7 - most followers of Christ shy from ministry scared of lacking maturity. Why are our volunteer forces waning? Because of our own pride. It takes humility to let someone serve beside me that has recently come to Christ. That is the real battle.
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