It is in the Small Things– Making a difference

It is in the Small Things– Making a difference

Posted on by Matthew Laker

small thingsSmall things have a way of growing into big things.

As I concluded one season of ministry and entered a new season, I realized I had a bigger impact than what I ever knew. There were moments in that old season I wondered, what am I doing? Are we making any impact? I have learned sometimes we are so close we cannot see the growth. I also learned again the power of stories.

 

There is much I have learned about life, God, ministry and myself from raising my kids. Much of parenting I am learning is the small steps and choices in the moment. The thing is, my kids continue to grow. My boys seem to eat like they have an endless pit inside of them some days. Sometimes it is like I look up and realized you have grown. They were growing the whole time, I was just too close to fully see or understand it. The same can happen in the ministries and when we are investing in others.

 

I have learned from my recent ministry experience that it really is the small choices and small things that have a way of growing into big things. I do not feel we did anything special in our time in Ottawa and we made our mistakes. We tried to follow Jesus and do the small stuff, be faithful to who he created us to be. We took risks and learned and saw the kingdom grow and be strengthened.

md04a_15_277

 

During the last few weeks, a number of people shared with us the impact we had on their life. Please, I am not sharing this to say look at me. I share this to say you never know the power of small steps over time. There is power in small faithful moments that lead to grand things. Perhaps not success as the world defines it, but lives are different, the kingdom has grown. For that, I can only say, praise Jesus.

 

The gospel has this way of starting small like a mustard seed that over time grows large enough for birds to nest. We cannot underestimate the daily grind and faithfulness of seed scattering and planting and watering.

 

Do not give up on the good works you are doing. Do not give up on the faithful small steps. Do not give up on the seeds being planted every week and not knowing what is happening. God is at work. God is with you. Keep your eyes on Christ the author and perfecter of our faith.

 

Small things have a way of growing into big things.

 

Perhaps God has placed an idea, a burden, for someone or group of people. Break it down into small steps and start taking one step at a time. Embrace every moment and look for Jesus there. Let him shape you and form you. Take a risk and small steps. Over time, small things have a way of growing into big things.

 

“31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”” Matthew13:31-32

A method for discipleship: Power in coaching-mentoring relationship

A method for discipleship: Power in coaching-mentoring relationship

Posted on by Matthew Laker

I have found the coaching-mentoring idea a great tool to help people grow in life and faith.

 

In my local setting coaching-mentoring has become a part of my ministry. I soon realized in leading a church I cannot do it all but need to train others to develop what has started. As I connected people with mentors/coaches it helped create an environment for them to grow in life and faith. There is power in the body of Christ.

 

Jesus said to teach them to “obey everything I have commanded”. Often we think this is just in large or small group classroom style settings. Jesus definitely had large teaching times, however, he spent more of his time with a few individuals. When we get to the book of Acts we often see the apostles taking people under their wing.

 

One may protest to me that mentoring and coaching are two different things. They are right, but, there are good principles in both systems that I have found useful in helping people fully enter into Christ-likeness and the life he calls them to.

 

I see the Coaching/mentoring as a relational experience through which one person journeys with another by sharing God-given resources. It is understood chiefly as coming alongside someone and offering them support, accountability, and a listening ear in any and all aspects of life. Each experience has clearly defined start and finish times. The goal is to help the other person fully enter, engage and experience the life they were created for.

 

There are many methods to go about the great commission. This is one that I continue to see fruit from and one that I see throughout history in one form or another. Often it is not fast or glamorous. It is often messy and not a special pill of wonders. It is often slow but gives an opportunity for people to put down strong roots.

 

Jesus said the harvest is ready but the workers are few.

 

What if you consider investing in just one person over the next year?

 

As we serve others we enter, engage and experience the life we were created for.

 

To be a follower of Jesus means we will invest in others. This investment will not be for our benefit but for theirs.

 

Check out this post for informal coaching-mentoring relationships tips.

Here are two books that may also help:

“Become a coaching leader” by Daniel Harkavy

“Christian coaching” by Gary r. Collins

Beginners guide to advent:Advent as a discipleship tool

Posted on by Matthew Laker

“The church year was developed centuries ago as a teaching tool. From four Sundays before Christmas to the celebration of the ascension of Jesus, it tells the story of the Christian faith. Advent is the story of the sinful world yearning for a savior. It focuses on Old Testament prophecy related to the coming Messiah”( Rev. Roland McGregor).

The church calendar contains different seasons of the story of Jesus. Each season helps us to get into the flow of the Christian story. In each season, we take the time to learn, experience and live in the story of Jesus and let his story enter our story.

Advent is part of a larger system of discipleship to teach people who Jesus is, who they are in Christ and what we are to do. During advent, we can hit upon the two major themes of Christ’s first coming and his second coming.

If one follows the church year, which starts with the advent, when it comes full circle they will have journeyed through the life of Christ.

We may see advent as a time to just light candles and sing some Christmas songs, but traditionally it is a call to learn and enter the story of Jesus. Advent is not just a tradition, for tradition sake, but a call to obey the commands of Jesus. It is as we embrace Jesus that we enter, engage and experience the life we were created for.

On a Personal level in my home, we use advent as a way to disciple our children. One year we even used a type of advent calendar that had a scripture reading that we read each day. Each night we light a candle, which provides a moment to call them to Jesus, to enter the story of Jesus and talk about the story of Jesus.

Some may say, “but do we not do this throughout the year?” The reality is many have not thought through or have any system in place to make disciples. How are we going to teach people to follow Jesus? Advent can be a tool to help.

Advent can serve as part of a larger system to teach about Jesus. I am not convinced that we have to be legalistic about it. I do believe for the corporate body it can help larger teaching and guiding of the community to cultivate and foster faith in Jesus. In a smaller community, like my family, it provides times for specific conversation.

How have you used advent to teach the young, or old, and or searching in the faith about the story of Jesus?