Changing the Method not the Message fulfills our Mission. Adult Ministry and Learning Dynamics.

As a former Adult Education Vocational Computer Instructor, and Pastor I find this subject very interesting and important, as it is a subject that at times is not well understood. The following is a few of my observations over the years and I hope it will in some ways be helpful.

In teaching adults I often found that many were truly interested in continuing to expand their knowledge base. It is always a hoot to see ones eyes light up when a new fact or skill was acquired. Most of my class roster consisted of senior adults. Many were very much older being in their 80’s and even older in some cases. These people were delightful for the most part. I was touched by how warm they often were with me. Knowing the life many of them had lived, being a part of World War 2 for example, really made me very sober minded regarding the honor I felt in having influence in their lives. For this reason understanding how adults learn and having a strong adult education processes in the church is crucial to over all discipleship. Understanding how adults learn best will help raise the bar of biblical knowledge and application.

I observed during my 5 years teaching in Adult Public Education and later 3 more years working as a customer trainer & technical instructor for the Canon Semiconductor Division, and later still as a Pastor, a number of interesting dynamics concerning human behavior. Here are a few of my personal observations.
1. People learn better when they are encouraged and not made to feel dumb when the learning curve is steep.
2. People excel when praised.
3. People’s motivation drops if the environment becomes dry and sterile. It is better if the material is interactive and fun.
4. Testing is not a true measure of an individual’s knowledge of the subject.
5. Everyone does not learn at the same pace.
6. Demonstrating mastery of a skill, results in better retention.
7. Humor relaxes the class.
8. Course and teacher evaluations help the instructor develop better teaching aids.
9. Student evaluations keep order and discipline in force
10. Some adults are visual learners others learn and retain from lectures.
11. Maturity is not necessarily a natural result of age.
12. Experience and age generally correlate.
13. The older the generation the deeper the moral virtues (though there are exceptions).
14. Lowering the difficulty in learning without lowing the standards yielded better results.
15. High academics do not always translate into intelligence and vice versa.

My observations are based primarily on personal interaction with my students over the years. I have come to believe most Adults have a short attention spans. This is an important understanding because if it is true and if it can be verified through empirical data than it might change how we minister and teach biblical truth in the church. For example if a person’s attention were to wander say after 20 or 30 minutes might it behoove us to create shorter sermons? Perhaps but I will caution here that we do not want to create 30 minute disciples. We must be discerning on this matter.

This leads us to explore how we are teaching spiritual truths. Perhaps we would discover that there are better methods than just preaching to teach the bible. I am convinced that people want to participate in the process of learning. I would explain this as an experiential approach. Get the listener into the story. This could happen through methods such as Q and A sessions. Worship painting as a visual aid; other things might be using smells, light, sounds, etc. Touching the human senses to stimulate the mind to learning might be highly effective. It is interesting that children often learn this way and if you think about most of us adults are nothing more than big kids we are after all God’s children.

I find it interesting as well that in the bible much teaching and fellowship happened around a meal. Could it be that we are more receptive to teaching when the pleasure centers of the brain are activated. Food makes us feel good, but more importantly it makes us satisfied and relaxed. When we are relaxed we enjoy life more and community and fellowship are enhanced as a result.

Have you ever noticed how music makes us feel better also? Just look at a little toddler. Often when the music is playing they just can’t help themselves they start moving and bopping about. In adults we tend to want to stomp our feet or get up and move or dance. It stimulates a pleasure center of our mind. We use music in worship. Could it be that it makes us feel better and more open to the presence of the Lord. I think it does, for that reason also It can be a way to teach about God and his character.

As an educator and now as a Pastor I have learned one important truth, for people to learn they must be motivated. *One study by Stephen Lieb, Senior Technical Writer and Planner, for the Arizona Department of Health Services and part-time Instructor, at South Mountain Community College made the following observations.
*At least six factors serve as sources of motivation for adult learning:

• Social relationships: to make new friends, to meet a need for associations and friendships.

• External expectations: to comply with instructions from someone else; to fulfill the expectations or recommendations of someone with formal authority.

• Social welfare: to improve ability to serve mankind, prepare for service to the community, and improve ability to participate in community work.

• Personal advancement: to achieve higher status in a job, secure professional advancement, and stay abreast of competitors.

• Escape/Stimulation: to relieve boredom, provide a break in the routine of home or work, and provide a contrast to other exacting details of life.

• Cognitive interest: to learn for the sake of learning, seek knowledge for its own sake, and to satisfy an inquiring mind.

I believe these are some excellent points. As churches we must make sure that we “bore no more”. If people are not having a good time in church, if we are working them to hard, not making it fun, not showing them we value them than how will they be motivated to listen to our message? Will we kill the motivation or encourage it? If we are willing to look at how we can change while maintaining our purity and biblical integrity we can change our methods without changing our message thus fulfilling our mission.

** In Michael J. Anthony’s Book “Christian Education” contributor James A. Davies writes concerning Adult Ministries that the bible is predominantly an “adults oriented book” “It was written by adult for adults”. So it follows that we might want to understand better how to teach and preach to adults. Again it is interesting to me that Jesus taught in parables. Stories to help reinforce his simple yet profound truths. Now I will admit that in Jesus day many were probably uneducated. In some ways however that is still true if not in a broad societal since certainly in a spiritual one. Ironically many believe that Christianity is of little or no value in gaining spiritual truth. It is analogist to driving around in ones car saying to yourself how much you wish you had a cup of coffee and on each street corner is a Starbucks yet you believe you cannot find any coffee to drink. People are doing the same thing saying, “by golly I need a spiritual shot and pick me up” and they walk or drive by the First Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Foursquare, Presbyterians…well you get the idea. They say, “nah surely I cannot get what I need there, A church…certainly not”. How sad that most adults are so susceptible to the influence of the world. Yet the church is not so influential, why? Could it be the world does it better? Is what they offer better? What could possible be better than Jesus? I would suggest that they do not do it better really; it is just that we are so resistant to change that in the eyes of the world we look out of place. This is why it is necessary to understand how people learn and how they are influenced. It is by accident that Satan used a piece of fruit to entice Adam and Eve. Look we need to understand that he used something very familiar to them. He used an object that looked pleasing and tasted good. If Satan gets how humans work, than don’t we think that attractive methods will work today for the church? I don’t mean compromise our message. I am talking about making our self and the church, more relevant by making what we have more attainable and delicious. We know already that Jesus is the tastiest thing of which we will ever partake. The world needs to see that as well; and it might take unusual methods for that to happen. Understanding again how people learn can help. The church must be so passionate about people that nothing will stop us from reaching them for Jesus. We must make hard choices in the church today and not be afraid to throw the box away. Can the church teach the world? Yes…can the world teach the church…you bet? The better question here is who is teaching whom with more influence?


Sources:
* http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-2.htm
** Michael J. Anthony “Christian Education” contributor James A. Davies Chapter 24

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Could it be that God is the original “out of the box” thinker?

Romans 1: 20 - From the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse.

It is interesting that upon refection of my life there was a time when I did not know God. Now that I do know Him this former life of ignorance is very foreign to me. If I think hard however, I can remember that I often wondered about my own existence and purpose. Along the journey of my life God awakened my soul and spoke to my heart. Using His creation; most notably the stars in the universe, I began to hear his voice and the stage was set for an ever-increasing desire for God knowledge and to serve him fully. So I made that commitment and the integrity of the Lord compels me to fulfill His calling in my life and to honor the Lord in how I live, and serve Him.

Over the years the knowledge of God has created a paradox. The more I know about God the less I know about…God. It is a wonderful paradox because what it speaks of is the limitless nature of God. This is a bedrock doctrinal truth, I am that I am (Yahweh) Jehovah…The Lord God Almighty. So I ask, who is bigger than God? People often say that leaders should “think outside the box” It seems to me, with God, this was His original idea. It is incredibly profound and deeply personal spiritual truth.

As I have grown in faith in God I have come to more fully realize that my purpose in this life is to worship the one true living God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now one might assume that God needing worship would make him some sort of megalomaniac but really He is all sufficient so He really does not need me at all, and that is the beauty of it. He does not need me, but he does want me. So my real true purpose beyond worshiping Him is to have a relationship with Him. One that was once separated because of my condition of sin, which he took care of freely giving himself as the payment or judgment for my guilt. This is what is known as propitiation. I was found guilty in the universal court of God’s lawful holiness, but Jesus said I will take the death penalty for you. Incredible, knowing this how can I NOT worship Him?

Engaging in the act of worshiping God involves not only the raising of my voice in song, but in how I serve people as God’s ambassador. Worshiping is to glorify and lift up the Lord with how I live. Each time I serve someone by setting aside my own desires in favor of the other person’s needs I am glorifying Him and thus worshiping Him. This is very cool because in having a relationship with God I partner with Him in His mission to bring Jesus “good news” to those who are still far from Him. That I get to do it is truly an honor.

The very personal “Revelation of God” in my life makes this doctrine especially meaningful.

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20/20 vision

Today I stand in awe, aware in my own limited fashion of the true magnificence of our creator.

Yes I believe in a divine creator and one who is not dead but very much alive and involved in the affairs of mankind. You might wonder what draws me to this conclusion…its simple really. I looked, I mean, I REALLY looked HARD, hard into the invisible places of God's domain and suddenly I realize he is not invisible at all. I see him clearly as with twenty twenty vision.

Yes I saw him today, again fresh and new.

I saw him in the face of a tiny baby as I felt those little fingers wrap around my thumb and I could smell him too in the scent of baby’s sweet skin.

Later I saw him…just a little yellow flower lit by the sun. Or was it the purple one in corner of the yard?

I ate a piece of chocolate candy this afternoon, one brought home by my wife and what do you know I saw him there too. He made the flavors of the chocolate, sugar, and vanilla.. And, what about the mystery of a wife whose love for her husband compelled her to bless him with a gift for no reason at all. How can one explain such love?

Every now and then one finds them in a state of awe. For example, have you ever witnessed a truly unselfish act? I mean the kind servant giving totally devoid of “self”?

If you have seen this then you too have seen Him…But if you cannot see him maybe it is not that you are blind maybe you just need to update your prescription, so that you too will have twenty twenty vision.

Then if you look…I mean really look… I know you will see him also.

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Poetic Wisdom

There is a lot of talk these days of “change” It is especially true in the U.S.A. political arena. I think change is good but I also believe that there is such a thing as tried and true wisdom. One must examine from time to time why we want change. Most often we desire change just because we perceive something to be “broken”. This may or may not be the case and each situation will be different for each person. One thing for sure however, age old wisdom suggest that ones stability is a process of “changing us” self policing as it were, remaining on course in those things which are stable and tested.

All to often our tendency is to run away from difficult situations rather than embrace the hardship and learn from it. Life is wrought with one type of trouble or another. I have observed that the issue(s)in many a circumstance which, when faced with the pressure, ones true character and lack of integrity come to the surface. Many like to point out another’s leadership as somehow being flawed because the results were not to their liking while never examining their role in the problem. This is often the case in the American political process and sadly, all to common a problem in the church as well. This is classic blame shifting.

Let me encourage all of us to apply the tested timeless wisdom of Rudyard Kipling…imagine what the world could be…what the CHURCH could be… were everyone to live like this… what “if” I wonder.
--------------------
Rudyard Kipling

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

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One Pastor’s Leadership Strategy

Webster’s Dictionary defines leadership as...“The ability to guide, direct, or influence people”. Within this definition lay three very key elements crucial to the development of a fully functioning church organism. A leadership training strategy will be the most central and necessary aspect of any organization seeking to obtain maximum effectiveness in their mission. In the case of “Church Ministry” it is paramount to achieve growth, health, and vitality. Before any ministry programs building blocks can be assembled and a foundation laid, one must set a leadership cornerstone. Leadership is the first layer upon which everything else will be built. Leadership guru John C. Maxwell wrote: “The higher the Leadership the greater the effectiveness“ [1]

I believe it to be a recent phenomenon initiated by the Holy Spirit within the last 20 or so years that leadership and its need in training has shifted from the business community to the business of “church building”. (Example: The leadership summit hosted by Willow Creek Church for the past 13+ years and the many other such venues worldwide) We as the body of Christ do well to heed the voice and move of the Holy Spirit in directing us to better understand the value of good leadership. It is not without a since of irony that Lord is “leading” in this way.

To begin an effective strategy we must first establish a model for such leadership. Much in the way an architect might make a miniature model from the blueprints. For the church this model must be Jesus. We need to examine how he leads and the virtues of his character (Honesty, integrity, covenant, demonstration though example, confidence in his disciples, giving the hard word, etc) and look for such virtues in those we partner in leadership with. They must be people who possess the natural and spiritual gift of leadership noting that leaders can be made and as one matures the spiritual gifts often emerge as well. When one is confident that skilled and competent leader(s) are partnered with them the process of influence and shaping can begin. I see it in the following way, using these three “macro” elements or components of leadership, Guide, Direct, and Influence.

Guiding: One who is in a head leadership position has a responsibility to get “buy-in” from the team. Leadership is best implemented as a team effort. Guiding implies taking one by the hand. While this might seem offensive to some, the servant leader will have no problem with this concept. Once the “guiding” (Goals, core values, vision, mission, etc, all of which need “buy-in”) have been established one can move to a leadership management role…directing.

Directing: A good strategy for a leader in directing is to lay out a path perhaps set timelines and expectations, suggestions, bullet points of an idea, then let the team or individual flesh it out all the while reviewing their progress without impeding the progress. For example, if one is desiring to develop a new ministry a head leader (Lead Pastor etc) must allow for the idea to take shape, change, evolve, be tested, and so forth. In directing one helps the micro leader to develop the idea(s) using the ministries core values, mission, vision etc as a filter. It is also imperative that one not micromanage the team. Keeping them focused and on track is necessary however to prevent a future derailing and team train wreck. This is important because such team train wrecks often lead to demoralization of the team and a since of failure and doom. It might be at times hard to intervene in a micro leaders idea (speeding train) and it most certainly will not make you popular in the short run but it will earn you respect if the team knows you respect them and trust them. Then all the more they will follow where you are leading. This by definition is influence.

Influence: You have influence by virtue of how you lead. John C. Maxwell defines leadership as “influence”[2] period. Where I do agree in principal I think this definition is limiting. It would like to suggest that leadership is influencing yes, but perhaps it is best when it is “influence in the form of promotion”. In other words, it is our highest goal to promote others, to acknowledge them and show that you value them, and care about them over what they can do for you. Influence should be in promoting others ideas openly an in support of vision beyond you. Fact is “we just ain't all that” It is never about us. It is about the macro vision of reaching people far from God. We serve the most creative being in the universe and the Holy Spirit is constantly working in the hearts of people to develop His next big idea and guess what, it probably wont be my idea but if I get this, and allow for other to be promoted (seen) then I will have (I believe) ultimate influence and growth in my team and we will be effective in our mission.

The best strategy in leadership training is to raise up servant leaders who understand that service to our Lord and each other and the people we are called to minister is the highest form of worship. It is a matter of the heart. This is the kind of influence I want to have. This is my strategy.

Source: [1] [2] Leadership 101 – John C. Maxwell

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Chump to Champ

FAITH LESSONS FROM GIDEON

Without a doubt Gideon is one of the most honest heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews chapter 11. I suppose that he would make a great guest on Oprah…didn’t I read that in the bible? Let me see…Oh yeah…sorry he was from “Ophrah” under the oak tree. Ahhh… guess I got that one wrong.

Anyway, Gideon is a wonderful story of the human condition. One in which the truth be told we all can relate. I mean who would not be afraid of a marauding army of thugs, in this case Midianites, ravaging your town and villages in which you live. Is it any wonder Gideon was hiding out in the wine press?

The Messenger of the LORD came and sat under the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash from Abiezer's family. Joash's son Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

Now what is so interesting about Gideon is that like so many he had to walk a journey of faith. Can you imagine what is was like to be cowering in fear only to be visited by God’s messenger who is telling you that you are a “mighty man of valor”. Ole Gid, he must have been scratching his head over that one. It would not surprise me a bit if he said out loud…Ah okay…if you say so.

At some point however, it became necessary for Gideon to venture out of the hiding place to a place of exposure. Often this is true in our life. The Lord’s messenger comes and we must decide what we will do. Will we believe what is spoken of us or will we stay in seclusion of our existence marking time trampling out the stuff of our miserable life.

Lets face it, it is true that we all need to take steps of faith but faith is not blind and sometimes it is true that one cannot perfectly hear Gods voice and so it must be tested. This is Gideon’s M.O. also. Is God really calling me, Gideon pondered? You might be saying the same thing? And yes this means even one who at this time is not a Christian. How do I know? Because God is calling everyone to follow him. It is ok to test the Lord but once tested we must all obey.

17 Gideon said to him, "If you find me acceptable, give me a sign that it is really you speaking to me.

In doing so he was able to take the time to test the truth of the Lord’s call. Gideon made one tasty meal for this messenger which he promptly barbequed. Well… burned it up anyway. Gideon upon seeing this was convinced… The Lord was with him.

From this point on in the story Gideon was tested, his army whittled down from thousands to a mere three hundred. And then even when he had these three hundred valiant warriors what does God do? Does he have them take swords and slash the enemy? No…he has them blow trumpets and smash clay pots outside the enemies camp and shout real loud. Well as weird as it seems, it worked. The enemy, all up in a dither started killing each other all while Gideon’s army looked on. Pretty cool eh?

So the moral of the story is… becoming a follower of God is the gutsiest thing anyone will ever do. God’s workings are a mystery. His ways are higher then our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. To hear his voice and embrace his call is to step out into the unknown faith filled world of the eternal adventure. Come, God beckons, follow me and I will wow and amaze you. And you too will move from a weak willed chump to a faith filled champ.

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The Character Question

Character: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. This is at least one definition of character in Webster’s dictionary, and one I love. Because it states that character is “one” of the attributes that distinguish us, it would be true that there are other attributes one should desire to attain as well. This of course is why the character of a person is shaped my many other factors such as integrity, honor, virtues, values, passions, standard, convictions, and so on. One’s character demands nothing less than the total commitment to these high ideals.

I am now a man in his forties having lived now 4.3 decades (not that long in some ways) who is now a pastor and one for whom ministry has been my life for better than 20 years. So you would think I have this character stuff down now right? Well yes in a way I sort of should. Truth is however I am still, and expect will be for the rest of my life working on bettering my character.

Now the above statement would suggest that in many ways all of us are on an evolutionary process or should I say revolutionary process of building character. You see one thing I have learned in my short life is that character can be developed. It is not just who or what you are it is what we are becoming too. We can change, grow, and in time be better if we desire to change. This is the essence of the Christian life. That one does not have to be stuck in the sin filled life but free from sin and guilt and shame. What is required is a U turn or better stated a YOU turn. This is called the first true step in a change of character it is called simply “repentance”.

This journey of my character change has been now over 25 years running. Praise God. I am, each and every day being transformed by the renewing of my mind and heart into the image of Christ. Isn’t it amazing how mankind was created in the image of God and now post fall from grace we are now called to be transformed into the image of Jesus. Talk about healing and restoration. How cool is that!

Now the truth is that this journey by it’s very nature is fluid. We all will slip and find our character tested. Sometimes we past other times we fail. Praise God for His grace and mercy. These are the reset buttons of our life. When we fail God says “hey buddy, push the reset button”. “Remember the cross”. “Make it right, change, work on it, do better”. “You can because I am with you”, Jesus says.

I have fallen even after becoming born again in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. Yep it’s true. My character flaw was in not standing strong on God’s character and recognizing that when I was weak in the flesh, hurting, and lonely God would have held me up had I ask. I did not. I tried to find my own solution and so as a 20 something virgin that really desired to honor God I fell into sexual sin. I will never forget feeling consumed with guilt. After meeting with my pastor and confessing, it was as if a dark pit had swallowed me up, and it had. The hope here however was, I had guilt and that says something about my character and conviction of the Holy Spirit. The two were in sync. I submitted to the discipline of the church, God's quickening, and to obey what was ask of me in making it right. I lost a lot of leadership integrity but gained it back when I made the decision to take a one-year spiritual walkabout to brutally examine the character flaws on my life and correct it. During this time I took a one-year fast from dating women. Many thought “he will never do it” but I did. At the end of that year I met the woman who would one day become my wife. God returned the years the locust of my life had eaten. God is wonderfully gracious.

Today my character continues to grow in depth and width. I believe firmly that ones foundation must be dug down to the bedrock of Christ Jesus and there be anchored. Only then can ones character structure be built on top. If done this way it will be the most safe and secure skyscraper of a life, a true monument to the lasting character of Christ in us.

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The Best Decision I ever made

This will come as no surprise to anyone who would call themselves a “Christ Follower” that the best decision I or anyone else for that matter could make, would be to give their heart to Jesus having received the forgiveness of sin and being filled with his Holy Spirit.

This in-fact did happen to me in 1976 at the tender age of 13. It is the crowning achievement of my life and one decision, which will affect me for the rest of eternity. Equally profound would be to discover later that I was called to be His servant as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and this leads me to the second part of this “best decision”. I said yes to His calling and in pursuit of it I have been on the most rewarding if not challenging journey of my life.

I count it a privilege and a serious responsibility to be a Pastor. What a blessed thing it is to see others discover through my influence the truth and revelation of Jesus offer for forgiveness and Lordship. Freedom from the ravages of sin and restored relationship with our creator, can it possibly get any better that that?

Once upon a time I stood at the most significant crossroad of my life. I am so glad I choose to sojourn on the narrow path. It really does lead to life and more important than my own life it leads to life now for others as I continue to obey.

Thank God he uses us in our imperfection and makes us perfect in Christ. I can do all things in Christ Jesus and I desire too. I will go on making good decisions… like this one…I will continue to daily surrender my life to Him.

I wonder how many more yeses I have in me before Jesus says, “well done my good and faithful servant” come on home my son.

Tears are welling up as I write this…I see home…but not yet ready to go…there is still so many to reach…I think this is a good decision too.

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