Theological discussion
NOTE 1: Approach from God Centric Perspective
In the context of the review, the questions was asked why people would take the next step. Probably because of the way the question was framed, the answers given were 'people' centric. From a theological point of view, this is where ministry differs from business. Ministry is 'God' centric, business is 'people' centric.
It would be worth while assessing each future preaching message in the light of is this people centric or God centric preaching. Here are two articles to consider in these theological thoughts. (Just click on title - it is hyperlinked)
Article 1: God vs. Man-Centered Spirituality
Article 2: God-Centered Preaching
Some typical topics that would be covered by God Centric preaching:
1) Worship - Pleasing God as an act of Worship by our acts
2) Faith - Our next steps are in him. We walk by faith!
3) Sanctification - being set apart for God's work
4) Giving - better to give that receive
5) Sacrifice- How can I follow Christ's example of sacrifice
6) Death to self- less of me, more of Christ
7) Resurrection power and victory
8) We are called be overcomes in him.
NOTE 2: What is the role of the church and ministry
Defining what the role of the church is in a persons life will greatly affect what pathways the church will provide. It can range from providing a service to activating service.
Here is a thought provoking article on the role of churches today, ARTICLE: The Role of Churches
My personal opinion is not main stream. I see the western church as largely inactive, while the eastern church is very active. I believe this comes down to the age old argument of separating of church laity and clergy. In the west, often ministry is defined as operating in one of the five fold ascension gifts in Ephesians 4, thus to be a pastor is to be 'in ministry'. However I do not see this as ministry. I see these as a gift given to a person to outwork over in a community of faith so that everybody in the community takes steps in these areas. For example, release the pastoral gift over people and people will start caring and loving each other. Release the teaching gift over the community and the people will develop a love for the word. In Ephesians 4:12 it says that these gifts are given so people can carry out the work of the ministry. I have strong opinions on what this 'ministry' is. It would be very worthwhile for the leadership of AHCC to spend some time defining what they think ministry is. This will be essential if the team is going to encourage the church to take next steps in ministry.
Reference sermons 1: A sermon to encourage people to volunteer in church
Excellent presentation and definitely would use theme and facts to encourage people to get involved in the church
Reference Article 1: Campus Crusade for Christ guide to Fasting
One of the most comprehensive guides to fasting for those where the next step is to take a fast.
In the context of the review, the questions was asked why people would take the next step. Probably because of the way the question was framed, the answers given were 'people' centric. From a theological point of view, this is where ministry differs from business. Ministry is 'God' centric, business is 'people' centric.
It would be worth while assessing each future preaching message in the light of is this people centric or God centric preaching. Here are two articles to consider in these theological thoughts. (Just click on title - it is hyperlinked)
Article 1: God vs. Man-Centered Spirituality
Article 2: God-Centered Preaching
Some typical topics that would be covered by God Centric preaching:
1) Worship - Pleasing God as an act of Worship by our acts
2) Faith - Our next steps are in him. We walk by faith!
3) Sanctification - being set apart for God's work
4) Giving - better to give that receive
5) Sacrifice- How can I follow Christ's example of sacrifice
6) Death to self- less of me, more of Christ
7) Resurrection power and victory
8) We are called be overcomes in him.
NOTE 2: What is the role of the church and ministry
Defining what the role of the church is in a persons life will greatly affect what pathways the church will provide. It can range from providing a service to activating service.
Here is a thought provoking article on the role of churches today, ARTICLE: The Role of Churches
My personal opinion is not main stream. I see the western church as largely inactive, while the eastern church is very active. I believe this comes down to the age old argument of separating of church laity and clergy. In the west, often ministry is defined as operating in one of the five fold ascension gifts in Ephesians 4, thus to be a pastor is to be 'in ministry'. However I do not see this as ministry. I see these as a gift given to a person to outwork over in a community of faith so that everybody in the community takes steps in these areas. For example, release the pastoral gift over people and people will start caring and loving each other. Release the teaching gift over the community and the people will develop a love for the word. In Ephesians 4:12 it says that these gifts are given so people can carry out the work of the ministry. I have strong opinions on what this 'ministry' is. It would be very worthwhile for the leadership of AHCC to spend some time defining what they think ministry is. This will be essential if the team is going to encourage the church to take next steps in ministry.
Reference sermons 1: A sermon to encourage people to volunteer in church
Excellent presentation and definitely would use theme and facts to encourage people to get involved in the church
Reference Article 1: Campus Crusade for Christ guide to Fasting
One of the most comprehensive guides to fasting for those where the next step is to take a fast.
NOTE 3: Worldly based motivation compared with Godly Motivation
When studying Motivation in a MBA course, I was so very troubled with how worldly, manipulative and selfish modern business motivation techniques are. I actually can see worldly philosophy for what it is and really hate it when I see it being preached from our pulpits.
Let me explain. The MASLOW hierarchy of needs states that people’s greatest need is “Self-actualization”. A lower need being “Self Esteem” followed by “Belonging”. Apparently these needs are more powerful that money and thus much more of a motivator that paying a wage.
It was taught that if you want to motivate people in a volunteer setting, what you do is you create an inner circle. People are invited into the inner circle if they comply with the rules. If not they are excluded. It was claimed that this was so powerful that people would give everything to be in that inner circle. This is playing on Maslow “belonging” need. This philosophy really troubled me.
But unintentionally, we can naturally resort to these humanistic ways of motivation people. So, although our heart and intensions may be good, it is also good to check the means.
Why does this business philosophy thinking disturb me? Because it is opposite to what Christ taught. He taught the first shall be last. To be great in the kingdom of God you must be a servant. To be fruitful, you must die. Paul said, less of me, more of Christ. The sanctification of a person is to replace selfishness with Christ as centre through death to self. A motivation that builds to self should be replace by love and our focus on others that detracts from self. This is the central theme described in Philippians 2.
As AHCC leadership, go into the “next steps” program, they are going to have the opportunity to shape peoples lives and thinking by how they motivate people and what they esteem and reward. The question needs to be asked - What should motivate a Christian?
I suggest, it is quite opposite to our natural human thinking and may be even opposite to the societal conditioning of our movements thinking currently. I suggest that we need to teach a strong message of death to self, sacrifice, separation unto Christ, and disciplined lives that seek the communion with him. Let intimacy with God be our goal, our relationship and love received from him our motivation. The beauty of this approach is the theme death to self leads to resurrection in Christ. Our victory! Then our next step, becomes a next step in Christ and it is God who gets the glory not us. Our life is to be one of victory, joy, overcoming and blessing because of Christ and next step with him.
A book that really help me transition the leadership of my former church from a worldly worldview to a very spiritual thinking board (they all read it over the January period) is a book by David Platt called ‘RADICAL’. I think this book captures they heart of the call of a Christian and will help us as leaders determine what and how we should motivate our people forward. I really encourage all the leaders at AHCC to read this book.
You can buy RADICAL by clicking on <Koorong>.
When studying Motivation in a MBA course, I was so very troubled with how worldly, manipulative and selfish modern business motivation techniques are. I actually can see worldly philosophy for what it is and really hate it when I see it being preached from our pulpits.
Let me explain. The MASLOW hierarchy of needs states that people’s greatest need is “Self-actualization”. A lower need being “Self Esteem” followed by “Belonging”. Apparently these needs are more powerful that money and thus much more of a motivator that paying a wage.
It was taught that if you want to motivate people in a volunteer setting, what you do is you create an inner circle. People are invited into the inner circle if they comply with the rules. If not they are excluded. It was claimed that this was so powerful that people would give everything to be in that inner circle. This is playing on Maslow “belonging” need. This philosophy really troubled me.
But unintentionally, we can naturally resort to these humanistic ways of motivation people. So, although our heart and intensions may be good, it is also good to check the means.
Why does this business philosophy thinking disturb me? Because it is opposite to what Christ taught. He taught the first shall be last. To be great in the kingdom of God you must be a servant. To be fruitful, you must die. Paul said, less of me, more of Christ. The sanctification of a person is to replace selfishness with Christ as centre through death to self. A motivation that builds to self should be replace by love and our focus on others that detracts from self. This is the central theme described in Philippians 2.
As AHCC leadership, go into the “next steps” program, they are going to have the opportunity to shape peoples lives and thinking by how they motivate people and what they esteem and reward. The question needs to be asked - What should motivate a Christian?
I suggest, it is quite opposite to our natural human thinking and may be even opposite to the societal conditioning of our movements thinking currently. I suggest that we need to teach a strong message of death to self, sacrifice, separation unto Christ, and disciplined lives that seek the communion with him. Let intimacy with God be our goal, our relationship and love received from him our motivation. The beauty of this approach is the theme death to self leads to resurrection in Christ. Our victory! Then our next step, becomes a next step in Christ and it is God who gets the glory not us. Our life is to be one of victory, joy, overcoming and blessing because of Christ and next step with him.
A book that really help me transition the leadership of my former church from a worldly worldview to a very spiritual thinking board (they all read it over the January period) is a book by David Platt called ‘RADICAL’. I think this book captures they heart of the call of a Christian and will help us as leaders determine what and how we should motivate our people forward. I really encourage all the leaders at AHCC to read this book.
You can buy RADICAL by clicking on <Koorong>.
NOTE 4: What was missing from this site?
In a final review of this site, something become glaringly obvious. A key theological was concept missing.
[2Cr 5:7 NKJV] 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Encouraging people to take the next step is a noble cause. There are many areas in which a person can take the next step as shown in the 'balanced life wheel in the PATHWAYS section. However, there is a way to transform this campaign from the secular to the spiritual. From the mundane to the miraculous,
That is to encourage people to make their next step a step of faith. What a transformation that makes to the whole campaign. This encourages people to go beyond themselves, and dare to believe God. It may be not possible in our own strength, but it is possible in God.
This is a theme that should be interwoven throughout the whole year. It is also something that the church could do corporately. As you have encouraged people to take a next step in the personal lives, let the church also take the next step in faith. You could really build on the theme - Let's go to a new level in God.
In a final review of this site, something become glaringly obvious. A key theological was concept missing.
[2Cr 5:7 NKJV] 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Encouraging people to take the next step is a noble cause. There are many areas in which a person can take the next step as shown in the 'balanced life wheel in the PATHWAYS section. However, there is a way to transform this campaign from the secular to the spiritual. From the mundane to the miraculous,
That is to encourage people to make their next step a step of faith. What a transformation that makes to the whole campaign. This encourages people to go beyond themselves, and dare to believe God. It may be not possible in our own strength, but it is possible in God.
This is a theme that should be interwoven throughout the whole year. It is also something that the church could do corporately. As you have encouraged people to take a next step in the personal lives, let the church also take the next step in faith. You could really build on the theme - Let's go to a new level in God.