Friday, April 22, 2011
Leadership Journal
The "Leadership Journal" addresses various issues in leadership. Some of the articles this month deal with a leader facing their own compulsions, creating people of spiritual depth, and planning worship experiences that generate people of worship rather than consumers.
The magazine also deals with hot topics such as the role of technology and entertainment in worship. The authors ask the tough questions that require careful reflection. For example John Ortberg asks, "How can we make sure ever-changing technology serves our worship of the never-changing God rather than becoming our object of worship." Ortberg explains the difference between having a service that is boring and having a service that is entertaining that does not require the congregation to think or to be transformed. Throughout the article Ortberg wrestles with the tensions of holding people's attention while having Christ being formed in those that hear and participate? He also mentions peoples' small attention spans in our culture, so that a preacher will need to break the sermon by adding stories or a song to keep the congregation's attention. Ortberg talks about issues that capture people's attention while keeping them deeper with Christ. Ortberg asks if people are looking for the right results when they are teaching or preaching. Are people becoming more committed to Christ as a result of what they are learning? Dietrich Bonhoeffer is quoted: "What is missing from the church was the day to day reality of dying to self, of following Christ with every ounce of being in every moment, in every part of one's life."
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got this one!
ReplyDeleteI love the Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote that says, "What is missing from the church was the day to day reality of dying to self, of following Christ with every ounce of being in every moment, in every part of one's life."
ReplyDeleteMy pastor just told me that the words of sermons will often never be remembered in people’s lives, but what will be remembered by an individual is who the person was to them. The character and person that one reflected and lived out among others is the aspect that people will remember about one’s life. I think that totally fits with this quote and also what Ortberg is talking about when he asks if churches are looking at the right results.
I think so often we worry about what we are going to say in sermons, but we often forget its how we influence people with our lives that truly matters.
What would it look like to truly die to oneself and to follow and love Jesus Christ with all that we are and all that we have.
I believe it is the way that we love Jesus Christ and all others, is what will be truly remembered and influential in people’s lives.