Ministry Lesson #2 & 3

Lesson #2

If you work at a church, you are expected to pray.

No, I don’t mean what you think I mean.  I mean you are expected to pray the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner prayer.  Really?  They do know that I don’t actually preach on Sunday’s right?  We all circled around and held hands and it was announced that I should pray.  I said sure and prayed and then filled my plate.  Things were really looking up until I asked which one was my seat and found out I was still at the kids table.  28 years later and I am still at the kids table.  I thought the person that blesses the food sits at the head of the table!

Lesson #3

Learn people’s names.

It’s a practice everyone should learn, but it’s something I struggle with.  It really hit home when one Sunday a group of my friends were standing around and I wanted to say hello to someone but couldn’t remember their name.  So I asked a friend and she looked at me and said, “Wes, you know you have hurt people’s feelings by not remembering their name.”  That hit me like a ton of bricks, but it’s true.  You can make someone feel 2 feet tall by not remembering something as simple as their name.

I remember a friend telling me a story about Bill Clinton.  A friend of his met him late one night at a restaurant bar.  They had a drink together and talked for about 30 minutes.  A few years passed and he actually ran into the ex-President again and before he could say hello, Bill Clinton called him out by name to see how he’s been.  Unreal.

Calling someone by their name instantly gives your message credibility.  It makes you more approachable and it shows respect.  After that day, I went and searched for tips on remembering people’s names and have tried ever since to be more aware of remembering names and faces.  It’s definitely taking some practice.

 

 

Ministry Lesson #1

I’ve decided to create a series of lessons that I am learning about ministry. For those who don’t know, a little more than a month ago I came on board at Cross Point to assist Pete Wilson on a day to day basis. It’s been an amazing opportunity to learn everything I can about ministry and serve with the most talented and best group of people I have ever been around.

I hope the lessons I am learning will give you an insight into the world of ministry and what I am learning. These lessons are just what I am personally learning. Hope you enjoy.

Ministry Lesson #1

A LOT of work goes into a Sunday service. A lot. I am amazed at the energy and time it takes from staff AND volunteers to make Sunday happen. Of course every single second is worth it, but that’s not the lesson. That was just a realization. The lesson that I have learned is that I have to turn myself off in order to worship.

Sundays are a work day. We all have responsibilities on that day, so how do we also experience worship? We all need that time on Sundays to worship with others, but I will admit that it is easier said than done. The first few weeks I found myself sneaking into the service right before the message. I would try my best to listen, but I would still be in work mode.

“Why is that guy standing up in the middle of the service? Why is he approaching the stage? What happened to the video cue?” And on and on it went. I would leave with a sense of job well done and know that people experienced God. But did I?

It wasn’t until after Catalyst that I realized I was cheating God on Sundays. Catalyst wasn’t my responsibility and I sat back and worshiped and learned. It was refreshing and convicting.

So I learned a lesson. I have to turn “off” and give God everything I have during one of the services. From beginning to end. I’m sure it will be a discipline that I will have to work on, but nothing I am doing is as important as stopping and experiencing the creator of the universe with those around me.

Lesson Learned.

What’s a discipline that you have had to institute in order to give God the time he deserves?