The Church "Law of the Lid"

Posted by on Jan 23, 2008 in Uncategorized | 8 comments

A couple years ago, I watched and studied a leadership video series by John Maxwell entitled, “Learning the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.” John Maxwell is called America’s leadership expert. His website is found here. I have several resources from John Maxwell and he is an excellent author and lecturer on the topic of leadership.

It is my humble opinion that one of the greatest things we suffer not only in the congregations but in our country is leadership.

If you will, allow me to think out loud for a moment. The first law in the series is entitled, “The Law of the Lid.” The lesson teaches that any organization will not go as high as the leader(s) of the organization. I found this interesting in relation to the church. I have contained some thoughts below relating to this subject.Give me some feedback as to what you think.

I wrote my thoughts with elders in mind, but I understand some congregations do not have elders, so insert leaders or leadership for the word “elder.”

My thoughts on the “Law of the Lid” relating to the Lord’s Church:

The members will not rise above the spiritual leadership of the eldership (or leadership)!

 

The shepherds (elders) must be men of leadership.

  • The leadership be be willing and not forced. (Do you really want to follow someone who has been forced to be a leader?)
  • Others must see them as leaders.
  • Others must respect them as leaders. (Do you really want to follow someone you do not respect?)
  • They must not abuse their leadership. (As Peter said, “not lording over the flock.”)
  • They must communicate.

 

The shepherds must be growing spiritually.

  • Do they have a plan for personal growth?
  • Do they have a plan for congregational growth?
  • Do they communicate the congregation plan?

 

The shepherds must lead.

  • They need to be men of action and not just words.
  • They must have followers. (Those followers must respect and honor the leaders and they will follow the shepherds)
  • The followers must be willing to lead. (This speaks of the character and work of the shepherds.)

 

Some Words for Preachers

  • Share the message of God’s saving grace.
  • Train others to find and use their ability. (Help others become leaders)
  • Preachers must have the “Law of Respect.”
  • He must have a personal growth plan.
  • Focus your abilities on your God-given abilities and delegate to those who can use their God-given abilities.

 

Personal Questions:

  • Have you ever seen a congregation start to take off like wildfire once a preacher or a man in “installed as a new shepherd?”
  • If so, what happened When the preacher or elder left? Did the congregation go back to the way it was before?
  • If so (to one or both questions above), is that a reflection on leadership? Is it a reflection on the Law of the Lid?
  • Is the eldership where you attend growing as the congregation grows?
  • Or is the congregation growing as the eldership grows?

Do You Create Conflict?

Posted by on Jan 21, 2008 in Blog | 1 comment

Last week I sat in the waiting room of a car dealership reading through a stack of papers labeled, “Been meaning to Read for Three Months.” What better way to spend time in a waiting room than reading through all the articles, thoughts, devotionals I should have read a couple months ago.

As I left the house I grabbed a three-ring binder full of information because I knew I would be sitting for a while while my wife’s car was being repaired. (Yes, I took my wife’s car because I enjoying driving her car with the “Carolina Girl – Best in the World” License plate.)

I ran across the Leadership Wired -January 2008 email newsletter and my brain rattled. An article summarized an article by Michael A. Roberto entitled, “Why Leaders Don’t Take Yes for an Answer” found on www.govleaders.org.

Here is the statement which rattled my brain,

“The first step for a leader to invite conflict into the decision-making process involves actively seeking the participation of others.”

 

I read that line two or three times and the words “invite conflict” stuck out like a sore thumb. Why would anyone invite conflict into their life? I have spent all my life, seemly, trying to stop conflict, why would someone encourage conflict?

As I read the words, my thoughts continued to race as I considered inviting conflict into my life, but then it hit me: God’s word creates conflict. Our human spirit creates conflict with our Christian spirit. We wage a war between the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the righteous life found in Christ. (Note 1 John 2.15-17)

Each one of us creates conflict by attending Bible class. Each Bible class should challenge us to live better and correct things in our lives. Bible study challenges us to live better. Sermons should do the same. God’s people need challenged. We need challenged by God’s word, not by man’s opinions. We need God’s word to bring our hearts closer to him because we will come to him as he comes to us. (Think of the Lost Son and His Father – Luke 15)

 

So, what do you think – is conflict a good thing?

 

Just my thoughts…but I want to hear yours!

Updates, Randomness and Whatever

Posted by on Jan 14, 2008 in Blog | 1 comment

Recent updates:

  • The Preacher’s Pen Podcast has been updated with several sermons over the past few months. Using the Podpress software, I have provided the sermons for listening directly from the website, the ability to listen in a pop-up window and even a download link to save the file directly to your computer. Take a moment, give it a listen and let me know what you think.

 

  • The Preaching Journal has been updated with a new sermon file and a new powerpoint file. I invite you to visit the site and check out the sermon outline page and the powerpoint page. The current sermon series is covering several of the Hebrew names of God. Join us at anytime to grow in your knowledge, your encouragement and your faith in the word of God.

 

 

  • Remember to check out and join the Preacher’s Pen Discussion Forum. I would love to have you join us in developing a vital discussion forum for the church. Ideas will be shared and comments made; all with the hope of improving our spiritual lives.

 

Randomness:

  • Why worry about the voting and elections of this country while thousands die on a daily basis because of the effects of the disease of sin. Thousands upon thousands will never see the realm of Paradise because no one ever told them of the saving power of Christ. Are we concerning ourselves with an election God has already determined the winner?

 

Whatever:

  • Regarding the Worse Than a Telemarketer post; I hold no regrets of attending of paying my  way through school. I do regret many good Christian young people will never achieve a degree form those school because the private church affiliated schools are pricing their schools above what the average young person can afford.

 

  • I might agree a “Christian school education” might be better than a state school education; I do believe we can shelter our young people so much buy high-priced tuition, we allow them to become robots of doctrine instead of learned men and women of the church.

 

  • Please do not misunderstand me, I would and will send my children to a church affiliated school, but I will not destroy their future in a hundred thousand dollars in debt. Their soul can be strengthened now, even at their young age, to fight the fight of faith. They will fight this fight whether in a state school, a church affiliated school or the job they have. I need to begin building them now for the future they will have.

 

Just a thought…

!!PODCASTING UPDATE!!

Posted by on Jan 12, 2008 in Blog | 0 comments

Over the past several days I have recreated some of the podcasting files needed to place my audio sermons on the Internet. Due to the revision I decided to make a new domain for the podcasting site. If you have subscribed to the Preacher’s Pen Podcast before, you must resubscribe your podcast feeder.

The new podcasting site is http://podcast.preacherspen.org

This site will hold the audio sermons and the Bible class lessons I present. I have added several sermons and I hope to grab a few more from the archives to fill the site. Take a moment and give it a look.

When I update the Preacher’s Pen Podcast site, I will make a note to direct you there.

Also, when you have a moment, check out our new congregational website at www.mtpchurch.org

Thanks for your support!

Chris

Worse Than a Telemarketer

Posted by on Jan 10, 2008 in Uncategorized | 6 comments

Well, I will warn you this is more of a personal rant than anything thought worthy, so you have been warned!

 

In a few months my phone will ring and I will hear words such as,

“Hello Mr. Gallagher. My name is ________________________ and I am a freshman at _____________________ University. We are calling each of our alumni asking them to take part in our alumni giving program. There are many students receiving scholarship because of donations like yours. Can we count on you this year?”

 

 

 

 

My response is always the same,

“I will not be giving this year. Sorry, but I look elsewhere.”

 

This year brings me greater frustration, so I am asking you to pray for me. I am tired of calls from various organizations asking me to give to them two or three times a year. They drive me nuts. I wish the Do Not Call List applied to these organizations as well, but a wish is a wish.

My frustration is in the constant barrage of donation requests while my calls to the University went unheeded. When I traveled to FHU for my undergraduate education I never received a scholarship or financial aid. It was me and my loans paying my ways through a private church affiliated school. The only time I received a scholarship is when I approached someone (names do not need to be mentioned) about something said in chapel. The chapel statement was, “All of our Bible majors are receiving scholarships.” At that point, several Bible majors looked at me and I looked at them and we burst into laughter. I, being the only one dumb enough, went to the individual and told him his statement was not true and several of us were not receiving anything. He promptly gave me $500 for two semesters. While I appreciated the gesture, I was disappointed, because I felt like I was given money to appease the statement and never to help.

Several years later I called the University and told them of my brother. I told them of his High School achievements and his sports ability, even providing them with statistics yet nothing was done. Oh yeah, a letter was sent, but the Army even sent a letter. At the same time, various state schools were after him, but a Methodist school sought him further. The Methodist school provided funds, scholarships and other financial helps to enable him to attend a school far costlier, yet at a much cheaper price. His baseball talents would be used at a Methodist school instead of a church of Christ affiliated one. I was disappointed.

A couple years later, I called them again and gave information regarding my sister. I provided academic information, sports information, community achievements and what did my sister get….a letter. Once again, I felt disappointed in the school I had given so much money. Yeah, she is at another church of Christ affiliated school, because they treated her like a person, not a number.

This year, I find out my youngest brother is being recruited to play baseball by several schools. What did the college I graduated form send him…a letter. I am not calling any more. I have tried and you have failed. I am still disappointed.

 

Personal Note:

I am thankful for the education I received, but disappointed in the follow-up efforts. I would think if I had become a millionaire instead of a preacher, I would get more than a phone call. Why? It is all about money.

I left with the burden of tens of thousands of dollars in loans, only to make a little preaching the word.

 

College Presidents and Faculty:

  • Think of what you are doing. I know you are providing the best for those around you, but you are pricing yourself out of anyone who cannot afford it.
  • Stop calling for money and begin calling for prayer.
  • Be sure you are teaching every student to glorify God in what they attend to do, than how much money they will make.
  • One more…do not call me for money.

 

Ok, I am done now!