Grass-Roots Leadership

An effective leader in the church has a passion for what they do and has a sense of commitment and connection to their ministry. What is the best way to achieve this type of leader? I believe cultivating leaders from the midst of the church is the best way. This grass-roots style of leader has a genuine sense of passion and commitment for their ministry.

I once heard a story of a guy who is now a paid staff member at a church. He earned his position in the church because of his hard work and passion for the area of the church he was involved in. This guy used to work 40 hours a week for UPS. He would also volunteer 40 hours a week at church and he had a family. This guy showed a genuine commitment to his ministry and to the lives of the people he helped. He had a passion for what he did. Eventually, he became so tired and run down from doing all the work he did, he crashed his car when he fell asleep at the wheel. Luckily, he wasn't hurt bad. He did lose his driver's license so he couldn't work at UPS anymore. At the same time, the church found the money to be able to pay him. So, the pastor offered him a job at the church. The next Monday at work, this guy didn't know what to do with himself. The pastor told him, "Just do what you have always been doing, we are just paying you to spend more time with your family now."

How powerful a story. This guy had such a passion and commitment to his ministry that he worked long hours for free. Then, when the church was able to pay him, he just continued on with what he had always done. We can learn from this lesson. The best way to get great leaders is to develop them from within. These grass-roots leaders are already committed, connected, and are already passionate about what they do.

That's Peachy

Do you know what your church's core values are? Can you name them off by heart? More importantly, are you actually living them out? Often, the understanding and fulfillment of the core values of the church is not done well. We need to know what our mission is before we try to be effective in ministry.

If you clearly establish your core values and common passion, then the people of the church will be free to do amazing things. The best thing a church could do in casting a vision is to create an easy way for people to identify those goals and apply them. Visual or literary metaphors are perfect ways for people to easily remember the vision of a church. When a vision is clear, then the people do not have to question if what they are doing is in line with the vision of the church.

The best metaphor for a ministry that is effective with strong core values is like a peach. It is all fuzzy on the outside, it has a juicy and meaty inside, and if you mess with the core you lose a tooth. It is the core that is solid and the foundation for the effectiveness of the ministry.

What the world needs is Jesus Christ. When Christ's followers can be free to fulfill their mission because of a clear vision, then the lost people will hear the good news of salvation. The people of God need to be empowered by a clear vision to be active in their faith and authentic in their mission. Core values are the best way to bring unity and purpose to the hearts of the church. Then, the church can go out and reach the lost.

The Church?

"The church isn't here for us, we are here to be the church." -Erwin McManus

How many of us show up on Sundays to hear the Word of God, sing praise, and fellowship? I know I do. But when someone asks you what church is, do you describe the elements of worship, fellowship, and teaching? This is not the church. The church is people.

When we gather on Sundays our purpose is to empower, instruct, and provide a place to worship together when the majority of our ministry is out in the world. The church is not a place to come to escape the world. The church is a body that reaches out to the world. Isn't our goal to live as Christ lived, with passion for God and compassion for others? When we gather on Sundays to be churched, we are missing the point of ministry. Christians should not come to church to find answers, Christ is the answer. Our weekly meetings are great because they prepare the people (the real church) to change the world for Christ.

Contemplate the quote from Erwin McManus. We are here to change the world for Christ and live like Christ. Jesus spent time with the lowest of the low in His society. He forgave them of sin and let them find new life. The church is people that reach out to the lost and show them how to live according toThe Way. That way is Jesus Christ. "Now go, be the church in the world!" -Kevin Kompelien

The Origins Experience

This week, I will be writing articles about the leadership conference I am attending in Pasadena, CA. These writings will be considering ideas, visions, and new ways of doing church that are being presented at this conference. Please leave comments.

Show Me Your Glory

Moses met with God regularly in the Tent of Meeting throughout the Old Testament. The Bible says "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend." (Ex. 33:11 NIV) Biblical commentaries will say that this meant Moses had a different connection with God than anyone else at the time.

It says in Numbers 12:6-8 that "[God] said, 'Listen to my words:
'When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.''"

The form of the Lord is not the essence of God. Rather, it is an actual manifestation of the living God. The Lord would meet with Moses and speak with him like a friend. What an intimate relationship!

As Christians today, we do not need a Tent of Meeting to speak with God. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and God's presence is constantly with us. Later, Moses asks God, "Show me Your glory." (Ex. 33:18 NIV) God revealed himself to Moses and did many great and mighty things through his faith. But what does this mean for us today?

Open up your own Bible and read 2 Cor. 3:7-18.

Essentially, the apostle Paul is saying this (in modern slang of course): If you thought that God revealed His glory in awesome ways through Moses, how much greater things will God do through us now that we have the Holy Spirit? All we have to do is be BOLD, faithful followers of Christ and desire to see the glory of God fulfilled in your life.

God wants to meet with us face to face. He will reveal His glory through us if we just ask Him, "Show me your glory."

Catalyst Series

I have been reading through a workbook called the Catalyst Groupzine. It is a compilation of articles written by influential people in today's church such as Donald Miller, John Eldrege, Erwin McManus, Andy Stanley, and John C. Maxwell. As I read through this book, I'll write reviews on each section about what I learned. If you want more information about the Catalyst Groupzine, click on the link to the right.

Unavoidable Relevancy

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV).

God desires us to reach out to the lost people of this world. Jesus Himself had compassion on the helpless because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Since we are called to be like Christ, we must have the same view towards the people of this world.

It is easy to use these verse to build a barrier between Christians and the world. Just because the people of the world are referred to as a "harvest" doesn't mean that they are an object to be won. These people are in need of relationships and a God who cares about them and offers salvation. We must carry this message to these people.

In order to reach people with the God's liberating grace, we must do a number of things. First, we need to get out of our box and build relationships with people in this world. This can be done through missions trips, community service, conversing with co-workers, and creating opportunities to connect with the lost. Second, we need to shape the church with cultural relavency. The apostle Paul writes that we are called to live in the world and not of the world. In other words, as Christians we need to be emmerced in culture in order to make a difference. Although we live in today's world, we do not follow the ways of the world. Instead, we are to live a life the reflects the life of Christ. Again, Christ befriended the lowest of the low in his world. He had compassion on people that the rest of the world rejected. Our calling should be the same. We need to reach out to the culture we live in.

We cannot ignore the needs of the culture. Our churches cannot be caught with a complacent attitude that desires to stick with the status quo. Culture is changing, therefore the way we reach out to the lost is changing. This does not mean that we try to follow trends or fads. We just need to be aware of the fact that the church needs to change in order to most effectively reach our culture. We need to be the church in the world. This change may be painful, but we need to be constantly seeking to refine how we fulfill our purpose in order to be effective. But our message does not change. God is still the same and He offers us an amazing gift: salvation.

Do you ever feel like this?

Take a look at this picture. Do you ever feel like Peter? Do you find yourself falling down into the sea of life, unable to pull yourself up? Here Christ offers a helping hand to a man who is sinking. He will do the same for you.

Our walk of faith is often difficult. God knows that. Afterall, Christ went through temptation and hardship while living on earth. He knows what we are going through because He expereienced it first-hand.

The hand of Christ is outstretched waiting for you to grab hold. He desires you to rely on Him. He is our creator and sustainer. God knows that life gets you down, but He is there with you guiding your steps. When we feel like we're sinking, Christ holds out His hand to save you. All you have to do is grab it and never let go.

The Still, Small Voice of God

Often, the importance of listening is overlooked. Culture tells us to speak our opinion, make decisions on our own, and seek selfish materialism, but that is not the way of God.

The scriptures repeatedly emphasize rest and reflection. In fact, the Israelites in the Old Testament were commanded by God to have a day of rest. Jesus Himself even found time to rest. Shouldn't we follow the same model?

American culture today is in overdrive. Starbucks, SUVS, smart phones, WIFI, and HDTV. Life seems to have lost its brakes. We often never find time to relax. Here in lies the problem: life is hard and we are running ragged trying to keep up. We find ourselves stressed and feel hopeless. Maybe there is a looming decision that you are having trouble with. Maybe you feel distant from God. Maybe you don't feel like God is there. There's a simple solution: listen.

God wants to speak to you. When you are distressed, distant, or hopeless, God wants to give you rest and peace. Even when things are going well, God is there. In this world of go, go, go, God desires to speak to us. The best way to listen is to find silence. God speaks in silence.

Listening to God will provide greater meaning and insight to the lesson you hear on Sunday. Listening to God will allow you to draw closer to Him. God wants you to listen. Afterall, He is God. So, shouldn't we let Him be God for a moment?

Oh, now I understand...

This blog is going to be dedicated to seeking insight into today's culture through the eyes of a Christian. I will write periodic columns which provide comments and analysis on topics which are relavent to today's Christian. These columns may appear in numerous installments much like a magazine or newspaper or they could be one time entries.
Throughout this blog, I will share my thoughts, insights, and inspirations as I make my journey through college and graduate school on my way to becoming a leader in the church. I hope someone in cyberspace finds my writing insightful and challenging.

A little about me

My name is Brent Kompelien and I love Jesus Christ. I am 19 and currently in college. I plan to go to seminary for a master's degree in preparation to become a pastor. I am deeply in love with my savior, Jesus Christ, and my purpose is to have a passion for God and compassion for others. This blogspot is dedicated to my journey through college and seminary as I learn and grow in my faith. There will be many posts that discuss things I have learned as well as insights on my faith.

Its Late

Today I have become overwhelmed with my ignorance. Let me explain, today I hung out with a great friend of mine, Robbie Ernst, and we had a lengthy conversation about everything from book to politics to gay marriage to music. We covered all the bases. He expressed to me that he felt he could never achieve the level of knowledge he desired. There just simply isn't enough time in a week to live life and catch up on the books he's been meaning to read. I suddenly felt the same way. I have been so busy with school and work that I've forgotten to really latch onto one thing that I love: learning, sharing, and exploring literature (namely the Bible). I've got so much to learn and so little time. Basically, I desire to seek a better understanding of my faith through a dynamic knowledge of the world and Christianity. I just need to figure out how to create a 26 hour day. Maybe, I could just change my priorities. Just a thought.