Ministry requires flexibility.
Yesterday, something was slightly off in the flow of our service at 8:30. We were trying to teach the church a great new song, celebrate communion, and still leave enough time for a serious teaching on Homosexuality: The Elephant In The Room. We muddled through and I had plenty of time for the sermon, but the flow felt disjointed.
So Chris Macedo, who more than anyone oversees the flow we’re trying to craft, came up to me and said, “We need to change something. I don’t know what it is, but something needs to be different this time.” He was right — which says a lot about his character because he had designed the service in the first place!
So we changed the order of a couple of songs, moved a video from one place to another, and then launched into our 10:00 service. Much better. 11:30 was even better still.
It took some of us realizing that what we were doing could be working better, admitting we might have made some mistakes in planning the order, and then having the flexibility to adjust, adapt, and move ahead.
One Sunday service. A microcosm of what ministry is like in the big picture: figure out what’s not working, adjust, adapt, and move ahead.
There are 4 comments
I was in the 8:30 sermon and was thoroughly inspired. When I walked out of Church yesterday I was thinking, “I have finally found a Church which matches my beliefs.” I do not have a problem with homosexuality except that it hurts my heart to see them suffer and struggle, so many are tortured souls. How are we to help them heal and realize God’s love with judgment? If we judge and condemn we have turned our back on one of God’s children.
I have never regularly attended church due to distrust of the Church. When I heard “judgment” from the pulpit, a small voice in my heart was yelling “Not my Jesus!” It is a joyous occasion to be able to listen to Good Sheppard’s teaching and my heart is yelling “Yes, you are talking about the Jesus I worship and adore.” I am looking forward to being a part of a “Christian” church at last.
I am aware that you strive to perfect your message constantly and it does improve due to “flexibility” but do know when you feel out of sync, you still project your “Christian” persona….Love.
I was at the 8:30 service and I thought it was great…would have liked to have seen the changes! Thank you for being intentional in your pursuit of excellence. It shows.
I love this series. I want to get the book. I particularly resonate with the first sermon in the series…”Christians are more known for what we are against rather than Who we are for…” I have been conscious of that for a long while and have felt disillusioned and disappointed in the organized church for that very reason. It is refreshing to come to a group of believers who are authentic and aware of these issues. I have erred on the side of legalism and judgment many times in my walk with God. I want to choose to ere on the side of love, recognizing that there is no perfection this side of heaven. Thank you, Talbot, for not shying away from the tough topics.
I really thought the message was right on, especially the phrase: The Holy Spirit convicts, God judges, we are to love. Nailed it!
As for Chris recognizing the need for change – read the book “Our Iceberg is Melting”. Exactly!
Talbot, I know we talked Sunday briefly, but I wanted to thank you for this sermon. I felt that you said so much that DESPERATELY needed to be said. I felt you stayed faithful to the Bible while also putting on some much-needed Jesus talk to this highly-volatile topic. This is an issue that Christians have dropped the ball on, but your words gave me hope that can change (and must change). However, it must starts with me and you treating our gay friends as PEOPLE, not as political footballs or as albatrosses.
I totally resonated when you said you had a heaviness for this subject matter. I think the Lord put that same heaviness on me a few years back concerning gays after reading “Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would” by Chad W. Thompson (http://www.lovinghomosexuals.com). It totally shook my world and made me reexamine how we, as Christians, have failed to reach out and love gays and those who struggle with their sexuality. I don’t think this book would be available in stores anymore, but you could still get copies of it on like Amazon, ebay…stuff like that.
I’ve already started doing my own research on Andrew Marin’s “Love is an Orientation” you recommended in conjunction with this sermon. I’m very eager to get a copy and learn more about this man’s ministry.
Thanks again Talbot for what you mean to me…and the rest of the Body of Christ!
Scott Chisolm