Marks of Discipleship and Effectiveness

I’ve been really fascinated with a conversation happening between Kevin Watson and John Meunier regarding measuring effectiveness in ministry. Here are the basic premises for the discussion:

Numerical growth is one way to measure effectiveness and faithfulness.
Faithfulness and effectiveness do not always result in numerical growth.
Drawing a crowd is not the same thing as gathering a congregation.
Sometimes we can substitute winning praise and approval for faithfulness.
Therefore, how do you measure faithful ministry?

Kevin suggests the means of grace (prayer, searching the scriptures, communion, fasting, and Christian conferencing/community) as a key to discerning whether or not a ministry is both faithful and effective.

On one hand, I totally agree with Kevin. Living the faith is central to my life as a minister. If I am not searching the scriptures daily, meeting weekly with my small group, praying faithfully, etc. then I am not the person I am called to be. When I fail to do these things, I notice more frustration and confusion about the core commitments I have as a Christian and a minister. These practices allow me to know the difference between faithfulness and going through the motions.

However, I think he’s even closer to answering the original question when he mentions trying to be more concrete about what faithful fruit looks like.

Here at Church of the Servant, we have recently started sharing the results of our vision work with the congregation. Included in that work we have a series of “marks of discipleship” that are intended to help us discern whether we’re helping people down the road of discipleship or not. We’re not interested in simply “drawing a crowd.” We want people to actually become disciples.

Here are those marks, which are prefaced with the phrase, “A Servant:”

worships weekly
prays daily
gives faithfully
loves God’s word
embodies God’s love through service
grows through small group relationships
shares their faith with others

Of course we’re careful with how we teach and share this. These are not the way to establish a relationship with God. That only happens by accepting the grace of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, these are several of the places God has promised to show up and meet his people. These are faithful ways to respond to and grow in God’s grace.

Over time, we will use these marks to determine whether or not we are succeeding at the call God has placed on our lives as a community of faith. It’s one thing to just have more people. It’s another thing altogether to have more and more people falling in love with God’s word, connecting in deeper spiritual relationships, and embodying God’s love through service. While it’s a challenge to measure these things, we can actually count the number of people who are using the resources we provide (bible reading plans, small group involvement, missional participation, etc.) to make educated guesses that they are meeting God in these means of grace.

We’re convinced that can lead to both effective and faithful ministry.

Too Busy?

Timothy Larsen has a great reflection on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the danger of self-importance. It centers around this wonderful, yet challenging quote from Bonhoeffer’s Life Together,

The second service that one should perform for another in a Christian community is that of active helpfulness. This means, initially, simple assistance in trifling, external matters. There is a multitude of these things wherever people live together. Nobody is too good for the meanest service. One who worries about the loss of time that such petty, outward acts of helpfulness entail is usually taking the importance of his own career too solemnly.

Larsen discusses this quote in light of the tendency of academics to be “too busy.” The not-so-subtle effect of telling others we are busy is, “announcing that we think we are important and that our time is more valuable than that of most other people.” Unfortunately, this is a tendency of ministers (and probably every other vocation) as well. According to Larsen,

Being worried about the loss of time is not a sign of a healthy awareness that our work is of vital importance. Quite the contrary; it is actually a sign that something is amiss in our character.

I know he’s right. Far too often when people ask me how I’m doing, I reply, “Oh…I’ve been really busy.” If I’m honest, it’s for the very reasons he describes.

I’d ask for your thoughts, but I don’t want to be a bother when we’re all so busy.

The Bodily Resurrection

As an associate pastor, my ministry is far more specialized than it was when I was a solo pastor in rural churches. As a result, I spend the majority of my time teaching in assorted settings. One of the things I love about this role is the way I get to respond to people’s questions about the faith.

When I come across a resource that helps me think through why I believe what I believe and teach what I teach, it’s like discovering a new tool for the toolbox. Thanks to Allan R. Bevere I came across one of those resources this week.

Professor Craig Blomberg, of Denver Seminary, wrestles with the question, “Must I Believe in the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus?” If you don’t want to read the whole article, here’s the summary of his answer,

Without a supernatural, bodily resurrection we are still dead in our sins and of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:12-19). Without Christ’s bodily resurrection we have no bodily resurrection to look forward to. Death ends everything and we might as well “eat, drink and be merry” (in moderation of course, so as not to get sick) and not bother with any of the sacrifice and self-denial that even just following Christ’s cause requires.

If there is no life after death, indeed if there is no embodied life after death as in the new heavens and new earth…then we are idiots to be Christians and should give it up immediately. If there is, on the other hand, then being a Christian makes all the difference in the world—and in the next!

At a conference I once attended the speaker said, “Jesus is alive every time we remember him in our hearts…” to which the more seasoned pastor sitting next to me replied, “Yeah…so is Elvis.” With my friend, I believe that Jesus is more than a memory. I believe in the bodily resurrection. Jesus is alive, whether we remember him in our hearts or not.

Rambling Update

When I finished my D.Min. degree earlier this year, I just knew that I’d have more time than ever. Of course, that spare time was immediately filled with other responsibilities and opportunities. I thought I’d write a quick post to update everyone on the latest events in my life.

This fall I had my first experience leading a major stewardship campaign. We developed and tried a different approach that we were really happy with. Instead of the normal focus on the importance of stewardship as a spiritual discipline, as important as that is, we focused on the difference giving makes in the life of our congregation. We developed four different video testimonies of individuals whose lives have been changed or transformed in the life of the congregation. We also continually reminded the congregation of the way our giving transforms lives through our missional involvement locally and globally. The campaign was called “Giving Changes Lives,” and we have had an incredible response, seeing increases in giving across the board for the first time in several years. We also had lots of comments about the different “feel” of seeing how our faithful stewardship makes a difference for Christ and his Kingdom.

After the major part of this campaign finished up, I’ve been heavily involved in a visioning process for our future. I’ve leaned heavily on Will Mancini’s book, Church Unique, which is probably the best book I’ve ever read on developing vision in a local congregation. In the back of our mind, we’ve continued to be influenced and inspired by Reggie McNeal’s work after hearing him speak at the UMC Large Church Initiative in San Antonio. We’re closing in on a vision framework that we’ll be presenting to our laity for final refinement in the beginning of 2011.

On a personal spiritual note, on November 30th I finally managed to finish a goal that I began on November 30, 2010. Along with my small group, I’ve been working through a one year bible reading plan using the Life Journal. As embarrassed as I am to admit it, this is the first time I’ve ever maintained this discipline for an entire year. It has been a transforming discipline to say the least. As cliche as it might sound, instead of just reading the bible for study, preaching, and teaching preparation, I’ve been reading the bible daily for personal spiritual transformation and it makes a difference. After this year, I am more deeply committed to the God revealed in Scripture, more fascinated with the incredible missional calling that Scripture describes and more committed to being a faithful follower of Jesus. If you haven’t began a discipline like this, I strongly recommend the Life Journal for 2011. If you’re like me, you’re definitely going to need a small group of committed Christ-followers to hold you accountable on a weekly basis to make sure you stick with your commitment.

Finally, life in my family is cruising right along with all the challenges and blessings of raising an 8, 5, and 1 and 1/2 year old. We’re busier than ever and learning how much work parenting can be! Fortunately, we have the support of a remarkable community of faith and a great family, which makes all the difference.

Denominations & Missional Ministry

I’ve wondered about the connection between the missional Church and denominations quite a bit, so yesterday when I stumbled across this advice from Tim Keller on DJ Chuang’s blog I decided I needed to share it. He doesn’t mention Methodism as one of the historic traditions, but I’d include it in there. What I love here is his recognition that we can work within flawed structures to accomplish something far greater than denominational politics and agendas. Most of the pastors I know having a significant impact seem to really be taking this advice already.

I wonder where you’d go to find a truly missional denomination? I don’t know of any. For missionally minded churches, any denominational connection will bring you into relationship with some other churches and ministers who downright embarass you. This will be true of any ecclesiastical body with more than 5 churches in it. I don’t think that going independent and only staying connected in to a missional ‘network’–which has no disciplinary authority–is the answer either.

My counsel: 1) inhabit a denomination with a historic tradition you admire (Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist) 2) stay in a denomination if it gives you space to follow your calling, 3) don’t be marginal to it–be active in the denomination, but 4) don’t be too absorbed in all its workings and especially not in its politics

Why Pray?

For the last two weeks, I have been teaching one of our young adult classes at Servant. We worked on tough questions that they submitted by email prior to the class. One of the questions I didn’t get to answer, I promised to answer here on the blog. The question is this:

How does someone pray when they know/trust that God either already knows the situation and is on the job or that God knows better what the outcome should be than the one praying? For instance, how does a person ask God to heal someone when that may or may not be God’s plan? I really struggle with this. I can be grateful all day long. I can ask for guidance for myself. But to ask for others seems like I am telling God something that I assume he doesn’t already know.

When someting is troubling, what do I ask for? Peace that passes understanding, I realize is the ultimate goal. But when that is all that is said in a prayer, after a while, the result is a bit of a disconnect. I liken it to an old couple who has been together for years. They still love each other, they still have their little jokes, but when they go out to eat, they don’t talk much.

Got anything for me?

This is obviously a tough question from someone who has really given this some serious thought, and there is a lot of theology underneath this question. The two main questions here, as I see them, are these:

Why are we supposed to pray when God is already omniscient (all-knowing)? After all, we aren’t telling God something he doesn’t already know, and he knows far better than we do what to do in any given situation.
If all I ask God for is generic things like “peace” or “comfort,” how can prayer be truly relational?

To begin with, I think we (this includes me, by the way) sometimes have a mixed up view of prayer. We are tempted to think of God as the “Big Vending Machine in the Sky.” We put in our quarters (prayer), and out pops the Snickers bar (whatever we ask for). This is how we sometimes hear verses like John 15:7 interpreted, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” And yet, Jesus also tells us, “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” in Matthew 6:8.

So, what are we supposed to do? Philip Yancey, in his incredible book, Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference? writes,

The main purpose of prayer is not to make life easier, nor to gain magical powers, but to know God. I need God more than anything I might get from God.

I think this is one of the keys to answering the questions above. Prayer, ultimately is about intimacy and relationship with God, and that relationship is no less dynamic or predictable than any other relationship we find ourselves in. God knows all the problems and needs in the world, and yet for reasons beyond our understanding, God still wants to be in a deep relationship with us. He wants to hear our thoughts, feelings, and desires for our lives and the world around us. We only need to look at Jesus’ prayers and the Psalms to see a great record of these kinds of prayers.

And somehow, in the middle of all of this, God responds to our prayers. We’re not in control of God, but we are given the privilege of working together with him. So, in a sense, the answer to question two is this: prayer that is generic isn’t the kind of relationship God wants to have. He wants to know our deepest thoughts, feelings, and desires both for our own lives and the lives of those around us. He wants us to ask for people to be healed, and even though we can’t comprehend how, our prayers are included and make a difference in the way God works and moves in the world. Again, prayer isn’t predictable (that would put us in control of God), but it is powerful.

In the end, the analogy of an old husband and wife is probably very much what God desires. A relationship that is intimate and deeper than words is only the result of a lifetime of conversation. So, keep praying, don’t be afraid to be specific, share everything with God, and get to know him more than you ever have before. That’s the kind of “abiding” that Jesus says is integral to prayer.

In the end, entire books have been written about these questions, and we are still asking them. I hope this begins to touch on wrestling with this question and gives you food for thought.

Methodist Discipleship

My friend Kevin Watson has a great series starting over at his blog, Deeply Committed. He’s looking at one of the tools John Wesley used to spark revival and renewal in the Church, the Methodist Class Meeting.

You won’t want to miss his insights, which he puts in accessible yet informative language – typical Watsonian style (I wanted to be the first to use that one before the academics beat me to it!). Go check it out:

In Defense of the Megachurch

Lately, I’ve heard and read several conversations wondering about the megachurch. Some question its authenticity, others question its methodology, while some just question whether big is good. As these questions bounce around in my head, I’m serving on staff at the largest United Methodist congregation in Oklahoma City. Needless to say, I’ve got a little different take on the megachurch than some of the voices you hear.

Just this week we started Vacation Bible School. Yesterday, those of us here in OKC were just about washed away in a torrent of rain, and we ended up having to cancel the first day of VBS. As a result, several of our members who were volunteering quickly found themselves as volunteers without a cause. In the end this was a real blessing, because I was able to have some great conversations with the folks who waited inside to avoid going home in the hardest rain.

As I was speaking to one of our volunteers, we began to talk about her children. As we talked she mentioned a friend of her children who has experienced some hard times, but is facing those difficulties with the help of an amazing community surrounding them. As she described the beauty of this caring community, she gestured around at our building and the people gathered there and said, “You know, this is that community for our kids, and it has been since they were little.”

In that moment, I realized something. This family has specifically chosen to raise their kids in an intentional way, surrounded by incredible men and women of faith, and it just so happens to be here in a megachurch. When I look at this family, I can say the same thing for myself. I want my kids to grow up in a community of faith like the one I’m appointed to serve.

Although megachurches are bigger than the churches many of you attend or pastor, they are no less communities of faith and discipleship. In fact, they aren’t even necessarily big for the sake of bigness. In a very large urban or suburban area, the megachurch actually shrinks the city and becomes a smaller community of faith and discipleship within that setting. We aren’t the big box store selling religious experiences or goods; we are a community of people, albeit a large community, who’ve said, “This is where I want my family to grow and be shaped in their faith. This is the place where I want to live out my faith, both inside and outside the walls. This is the place where I want to nurture Christian friendships and live out my commitment to Jesus Christ.”

Are we bigger than some of the small towns in Oklahoma? Sure we are. But just as people who live in those towns are shaped by the life of those communities, people here at Servant are shaped and formed into the image of Jesus Christ because of the living, breathing, faithful men and women who come here to celebrate the goodness and grace of Jesus.

Who is Your Tribe?

Michael Hyatt’s excellent blog has a guest post by Mary DeMuth that explores how she discovered her tribe (a la Seth Godin‘s, Tribes). This post got me thinking about the ways we find our tribe. How do we figure out the group where we have the most potential for impact and influence? DeMuth has a few suggestions.

Ask others, “What is my one thing?” My friend Alex has often said everyone has a “one thing.” This is the theme of your life and ministry – the well you find yourself continually returning to when you feel dry. If someone asked you to communicate one message (verbally or through actions) and one message only, what would that be? DeMuth suggests sending a wide variety of people you know an email asking them to help you define you and your ministry (or calling). I may do this.
Seek Professional Help. As an author, DeMuth had the ability to consult with a variety of experts to help her whittle down to the core of what she lives to communicate.
Finally, so some soul-searching. Here, I’ll quote DeMuth in full, “Frederick Buechner says that the place that you ought to serve is “where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.” So define that. In your opinion, what is the world’s greatest need? (Everyone’s will be different). What is your greatest joy? How do they intersect in your life right now? How would you like them to? Another exercise: List your three favorite movies. (Don’t think about it; just list them.) Now look over your list. What is the common thread in all three? That common thread is typically your passion colliding with the world’s greatest need.”

I’d take the movie thing with a grain of salt, because I’m not quite sure what gritty westerns (Tombstone, Unforgiven, etc.) and stupid comedies (Talladega Nights, Dumb & Dumber, etc.) have to do with my passion colliding with the world’s greatest need, so take the movie thing with a grain of salt.

However, it could definitely be a good exercise to spend some time thinking about your greatest joy, your understanding of the world’s greatest need, and how you see those intersecting in your life. If you’ve identified your tribe, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

A Few Things

I’ve noticed several of our friends writing more personal blog posts, and man, I’ve really enjoyed reading that stuff. This made something click in my mind. Hey, maybe some of you wouldn’t mind reading that kind of stuff from me. So, I think I’m going to start write more than what I’ve stuck to for the last few months, especially since that hasn’t been coming with any regularity!

So here are a few new things in the life of the Judkins of Creek Heights Drive. Nanci and I have really been looking forward to our trip to Madison, NJ for the Drew University graduation ceremony. I’ve been working on a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree in Congregational Development for the last three years, and I’m finally finished! So, we’re going to take a weekend off and head out so I can walk across the stage for the LAST time. One of my goals has always been to get a doctoral degree, so I can finally check this off my list.

Life in Oklahoma City is good, and things are going well at Church of the Servant UMC. We will be welcoming a new Associate Minister in June, the Rev., soon to be Rev. Dr., Robyn Goggs (we’re both graduating with our Dr. degrees within a week or two of one another). Everyone is excited about her arrival, and we are looking forward to welcoming her and her family to the Servant family. After Robyn arrives, my role will shift to an area that we’ve been planning and dreaming about ever since I arrived at Servant as I will be charged with developing a new worshipping community. It’s still in the developmental stages, but I can’t wait to tell you more about it!

In the meantime the kids are growing quickly with Emma (7), Caleb (4), and Blake (1), growing and changing every single day. Emma is so ready for Summer vacation, and I think Nanci is too. Then, they can all sleep in instead of getting up and ready for school every day. We’re all rooting on the Thunder and loving the fact we get to be in OKC for their first playoff experience. Even though we’re fifteen minutes from downtown, I think we can hear the cheers from the Ford Center at our house!

OK, that’s it for now. I’m going to need to get back in the swing of writing, so I’ll need to work back up to longer postings. In the meantime, I’m going back to studying Psalm 51 for this Sunday’s Servant Walk lesson.