Source: 7 Audacious Practices of Those Who Lead Ice-Breakers Effectively | Rick Howerton
Month: February 2016
Credit to boot…
Spurgeon had a way with words and imagery…
“Do not give me ready money now; give a cheque book, and let me draw what I like. That is what God does with the believer. He does not immediately transfer his inheritance to him, but lets him draw what he needs out of the riches of His fulness in Christ Jesus.”
Charles Spurgeon, The Lord is my Shepherd
The Kingdom of Self vs. The Kingdom of God
I love the Kingdom of Self. I hate to admit it, but I do. I am in charge, make the decisions, determine the priorities and manage the schedule. It works great. Well, at least most of the time. Or maybe sometimes. Ok – rarely…if ever.
David Benner in Desiring God’s Will compares the two kingdoms and describes the kingdom of self as a dark room, and the kingdom of God a place of freshness and vitality. I would agree.
| Kingdom of Self | Kingdom of God |
| Ruled by self-interest | Ruled by love |
| Grasping | Releasing |
| Achievement | Gift |
| Effort | Interdependence |
| Willful | Willing |
| Clenched fist | Open hands |
| Closed heart | Open heart |
| Hard and brittle | Soft and malleable |
| Determination | Transformation |
The truth is my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak; so I find myself wandering back to the kingdom of self more than I care to admit. I need community, truth, and hope if I am to remain a resident of the kingdom of God. Ok, I know in reality I am already a resident, thanks to what God has done.
It’s just that I take too many side trips to the kingdom of self. After all, the travel brochure looks so good on the cover. But it costs so much to travel there, and the trip home reminds me what a waste of time, money and effort it has been.
I am grateful today for those who walk with me on the journey, reminding us all that there really is no place like home…in the kingdom of God.
Three Outrageously Dangerous Group Leader Types
Good thoughts on small group leadership… the dangerous kind.
Being a small group leader is a seemingly overwhelmingly responsibility. At least, that’s what some will say. I actually believe that almost anyone can be an effective small group leader. That is, anyone whose heart is in the right place. Sorry to say, not everyone’s heart is in the right place.
There are three group leader types that may be hazardous to those they lead as well as being a hazard to the reputation of the small group point person, the church leader that allows them to lead.
They are…
- The self-proclaimed Bible scholar – There are those people who long to lead so that they have an audience to teach. These types will study hours upon hours so that they can, “teach a lesson.” The self-proclaimed Bible scholar sees himself or herself as the only expert in the room and they speak to others in the room as though…
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Sentinel Court 