Now…imagine the ball hitting the net and bouncing away and off. Away and off into some corner or crevice. Some corner or crevice which simply seems impossible. Oh boy! But…away and off it goes with you chasing behind. Crawling around like a fool with your friends laughing and mocking. We’ve all been there. Right?
We pursue. We pursue despite this laughing and mocking. A relentless pursuit. Why? Well…without this ball the game is useless. Without this ball the game is over.
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Ever sit and wonder. Wonder where are the leaders. The shepherds. After all, people sit and listen week in and week out to sermon after sermon. Sit and listen to small group after small group. Shouldn’t they simply emerge? Kind of appear as a basic byproduct?
However, we often forgo the one in pursuit of the many. Creating many sheep without reproducing any shepherds.
Don’t get me wrong. Sheep rock! But, sheep without shepherds quickly fall pray to roaring lions.
The remedy? Some good old fashioned one on one mentoring.
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Back to ping pong. Pursue the ball and what do you get? Bumped heads, bruised egos, and brushed cobwebs. Still, we pursue the ball. The one. And…we pursue with intention. See the similarities?
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Back to reproducing shepherds. You guessed it. More bumped heads, bruised egos, and brushed cobwebs. But, forget the game. The stakes are greater and higher. You see, without these shepherds, ministry is useless. Without these shepherds, ministry is over.
So, here’s the summary…
– Pursue the one for the sake of the many. The shepherd for the sheep. The leader.
– Pursue the one through one on one mentoring. Who are you mentoring? Better yer, who’s mentoring you?
– Ignore the bumps, bruises, and brushes. They come with the territory.
– Be intentional or it’s useless and over.
Reminds me of a quote from my previous post. We impress people from afar, but impact them from up close. Dave Gibbons. Until next time. Jed.
832 Ministries 