The Monday before I teach at the Awakening, I try to share a piece of my manuscript so that the community can get an idea of what we are talking about. Here's a snippet from my preparation for tomorrow night.
We are going to discover an aspect of marriage that we rarely notice, books rarely discuss and we rarely think about. So many people enter into marriage thinking, "Now I will be happy, Life will be exciting!" But for those of you that want to get married someday, if you're single, dating, engaged, or even if you are married, you need to hear this. You know what's worse than being single and alone? Being married and numb.
Many enter marriage with excitement and crazy expectations of blissful romance and then after years of falling into routine, they realize they've become simple friends with benefits at best, and boring roommates at worst. They are always dreaming about being somewhere else, with someone else, and doing something else. Husbands and wives feel trapped in a perpetual loneliness committed more for the kids or appearances then to each other. In fact, many of us grew up in that kind of environment, and we do not want it!
So my Question is this: How do we keep from having a marriage that leaves us numb, one that is boring and Lonely? What can a single person do today that will give a great return on their marriage tomorrow?
I look forward to some great discussion tomorrow. Shannon and I look forward to being interviews by YOU - the Awakening. We are accepting emailed questions now and will have an opportunity for you to ask them at the Awakening tomorrow night.
I received a great question from a friend who frequents
The Awakening from time to time and I wanted to answer it here because I think it is relevant if you're concerned about the balance of Authenticity, organic growth and the cold metrics that churches often measure. Here's her question:
How do you feel about quantitative goals or metrics in relation to ministry? For example, saying we want to start 56 new churches or we want to see 142 people trust Christ this year or have 75% of the church in small groups. If you think that they are a good thing, what is your scriptural basis for that perspective?
I think it's good to set both goals and keep track of results. It is encouraging to see growth in whatever capacity it comes and I think it's important to know if what I am doing is not "working." If the results I expect to see/God has led me to believe I would see, are not there, then I question if I miss understood God directionally, or it may be that I am not serving in the capacity that I should be (failing).
As far as scriptural support, I am not sure if quantitative metrics are something prescribed in the Bible. For example, there are prescriptions in the bible for the Church and how it should run. (Elders, deacons, serve others, First shall be last, etc.) But then there are descriptions of how those prescriptions are implemented. Like, how does a church gather? (There is evidence of several ranges from Homes, Library's, to 1000's gathered at one time).
Similarly, I don't think you can find a verse that says, "Keep track of your Numbers, and set Goals to reach this many people a year." (This would be Prescriptive) But there are descriptive passages where recording for the sake of
reporting is seen.
For instance, in
Acts 21:17-26 Luke shares the account of Paul, returning to Jerusalem and then reporting his work to James and all the elders. Paul shares "
one by one" all the things that God had been doing among the Gentiles. The result of this
reporting is in verse 20, "
they glorified God." Then
they report to Paul what has happened there in their ministry (most likely in Jerusalem). They report saying, "
You see Brother, How many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed." The point here is that records were being kept for the purpose of reporting which can lead to the glorification of God.
Where ever a number is written in the Bible concerning the work of Christ or his disciples, it is both a record that was kept, and once written for the masses (as Luke did in writing Acts 21:17-26), it is then being reported This inspired reporting is for our benefit so that we can be encouraged as followers of Christ and Glorify God for what he has done.
For other instances where records are kept and reported, see
Matt.14:13-21;
Acts 2:41,47;
Acts 5:14; and
Acts 11:24.
Imagine this gift of inspired Scripture that God has blessed us with devoid of any of the numerical or even descriptive records (like using the word
multitude). What if instead of 12 Disciples, there were only "some Disciples" Or if instead of feeding the 5000, Jesus feed a bunch people? Or if we were never given that inspiring number of "3000 believers were added to their number" in Acts 2.
I think God doesn't necessarily
prescribe or demand that we keep records like, souls saved, baptisms and percentage in small groups, but I think through his Word, we can see
descriptions of this type of recording taking place. And when it is done well (because I've seen it done poorly too) God will be Glorified and his followers will be encouraged to continue to serve Him.
I know I said a lot, but I'd like to hear from you:
- How would you have answered these questions?
- Do you agree or disagree with what I shared?
I just finished this book, "
When Helping Hurts: How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor...and yourself"
Our
LeverageU staff is reading the book to prepare ourselves for some hard decisions about how we help our local communities. I have to say, this is one of the best books I've read in a while. It reminds me of my days back at the
Pink House (group on
FB)when I lived in Fresno. People, we are not helping the poor by simply giving them stuff. It is so much bigger than that! Read this book before your next mission trip, before your next serve day, before your next neighborhood improvement meeting. Please.
I will write a full book review on this book sometime soon, but I wanted to at least make people aware of it now. It's that important. Check the blog or an update.
