The Next Step

Or

How to do all of this without getting fired

AustinGardner

1.            Before you can put any of this into place in your ministry you must havetwo very important ingredients.

a.   Credibility which is how worthy of belief or trust you are.

                                    i.     Credibility is earned,it is not a gift.

                                   ii.     Credibility is purchasedat great cost through years of work.

                                 iii.     This credibility meansearning the right to be heard and followed.  It can be lost in a day but takes years to gain.

b.   Integrity which speaks of your honest, sincerity and quality .

                                    i.     Our personal holiness isnecessary.

                                   ii.     Our faithfulness in ourministry is vitally important.

1.   You can’t be coming home with a new program every time you travel to aconference.

2.   You can’t be trying to figure out what to do.

3.   It has to be Biblical and they have to see that you are basing what youdo on the Word of God.

4.   We do not need a new program we just need to implement what is soclearly taught in the Scriptures.

2.            Be sure that whatever ministry you want to include in your church thatyou do so first in your life and that it become a reality in you first—this isthe “be” level.

3.            Kill the giant in your own life and ministry—this is the “do” level.

4.            Then you will be able to present this to the church as their pastor—the“serve” level.

5.            Finally you will be training others and get them to train more and youwill obviously be at the “train” level. Remember all of this takes time.

6.            Do not rush home and begin implementing this plan; rather study, pray,and meditate on the Scriptures presented and the lessons until God makes them apart of your very heart.

a.   First you must know that this teaching—worldevangelism—discipleship—every member a minister is what God says in His wordand that you are only obeying Him.

                                    i.     This is not a newprogram—it is starts at the beginning of the Bible and goes all the waythrough.

                                   ii.     This is not a program itis simply obedience to God and His will.

b.   Secondly you must understand that this plan is not optional and thatthough God commands it you must wait on Him to bring the fruit.

                                    i.     The process is yourresponsibility the product is God’s responsibility.

                                   ii.     Numbers are never yourgoal they are simply the result of your ministry and obedience.

                                 iii.     This is no grow yourchurch quick scheme—this is just Bible Christianity

c.   The greatest key to putting this into effect will be your spending longhours in the Word of God every day and studying what the Bible says about thistruth—it must become part of your inner most being.

d.   Next you will take your people to the feet of Jesus through theScriptures so that they will know that this is what God says and wants—oncethey have heard enough Bible, God will change their hearts and give them adesire for the real ministry.

                                    i.     Too long church has been“come as you are and stay as you are.”

                                   ii.     Or it has been preachthe pet peeves.

                                 iii.     Maintain what we haveand build our church.

                                 iv.     Our program but notGod’s Commission

e.   One of the main keys is going to be if this going to become yourlifestyle no matter what everyone else thinks.  If it is real then you will not need a vote to make it areality in your life.  You will notneed to check the winds of popularity to begin to walk the walk and not justtalk it

7.            Any lasting ministry will only be accomplished because you are going tolast—how long are you planning on staying?

8.            Real change can only be effected if you deeply love your people and theycan tell.  Love people, disciplethe saints, win the lost, every thing else is a waste of time.

9.            Don’t try to make big changes all at once.

a.   Change takes time.

b.   People resist change.

c.   Some things do not change.

10.        Never go to your pulpit and tell all the people that they need to bediscipled.

a.   Do not exercise lordship when implementing any program. I Peter 5:1-5

                                    i.     Do not say “I am thepastor and this is what we are going to do.”

                                   ii.     Do not say “God told methat this is what we are going to do.”

b.   Realize that discipleship is not to make them accountable but rather tobecome accountable also.

c.   There is a right way and a wrong way to implement this plan.  Bear in mind the following principles:

                                    i.     It is more caught than taught. They learn from watching us. I Corinthians 16:10-11, 4:17

                                   ii.     Take them forward at the speed that they are able to go.  Genesis 33:13-14

                                 iii.     Have double vision.  Seethem as they are and then see them where God wants them to be.  Judges 6:13-18.  (How God saw Gideon)

                                 iv.     You cannot lead people where you have not already been nor to do whatyou have not already done or are doing.

                                  v.     Have compassion. Hebrews 5:1-4