Top 10 Retweets - July 2012

Here are ten tweets I've retweeted over the last couple months. A lot of great wisdom here!

 
Rick Howerton‏  @rickhowerton

Either a leader leads like Christ, from a heart of love and mercy, or they aren't a Christlike leader.

Jim Lyon‏  @PastorJimLyon

Everbody has some baggage. The trick is to let God pack your bags + develop the itinerary. Travel light. Travel right. Travel on purpose.

Sarah Michelle Mack‏  @Sarah_Mack123 (yes, this is my daughter!)

When no one else listens, turn to god. When everyone listens, turn to god. No matter what, he will listen.

Ed Stetzer‏  @edstetzer

"Consumerism reduces God from a deity to a commodity and reduces Jesus Christ from Lord to a label" @Skye_Jethani — http://bit.ly/QE4Y2l

Alan Danielson‏  @AlanDanielson

Great dreams and great people won't accomplish much without a great strategy. Do the hard work. #3Threat #Leadership #fb

David C Cook‏  @David_C_Cook

"If you keep saying things are going to be bad, you have a chance of being a prophet. - Isaac B. Singer

C. S. Lewis‏  @CSLewisU

God doesn't want something from us, he simply wants us. #CSLewis

C. S. Lewis‏  @CSLewisDaily

"If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road." #CSLewis

This Is Today‏  @This_Is_Today

Your Father knows you've sinned and rebelled - and he still comes running to meet you with open arms. http://ow.ly/cdJhu

not a fan.‏  @iamnotafan

"Prayer is designed to adjust you to God's will, not to adjust God to your will." -- Richard Blackaby

Dethrone These Top 10 Idols in Your Small Group!

The first commandment for small groups is this: "I am the Lord your God ... you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath . . ." (Exodus 20:2-4).

How can your group live out this first and most fundamental commandment? The first thing to do is to identify the false gods that can so easily be placed on the throne of your group. Remember that God will not share his throne (see verse 5)!

Here are what I consider the top 10 small group idols:

1. Community: Community is a vital element of group life, of course, but I've seen groups place their commitment to community above their commitment to God.
2. Consumers: This is closely related to #1, but with a twist. People often choose a group for what they will personally get out of it. They put themselves and their wants above God's will in the group.
3. Challenges: Are there people (or just one person) whose issues dominate your time together each week? These are usually self-focused people who believe they must be the center of attention. That's God's place.
4. Curriculum (or other Content): What we study can help us grow as disciples, but Christ, not your curriculum, should always be the main focus. (This is a dangerous idol, because it is so sneaky. Be careful, because curriculum-centeredness can easily draw you away from being Christ-centered!)
5. Cause: In today's missional culture, this one also can become a devious false god. Be all about Christ's mission and purpose for you, but don't put your causes above him!
6. Church-wide Programs/Campaigns:  I may get letters on this one, but I see this crafty idol at work more and more lately. As a church-based small group you are accountable to your church leadership. But don't allow the latest program, project, or campaign to sit on the throne of your group. Remember, wherever two or three come together in Jesus' name--not in the name of some Christian celebrity--Christ will be in your midst.
7. Cookies: Do group members compete for who brings the best snacks? Do you focus too much on food?
8. Calendars: Are group members' busy schedules more important than their commitment to Christ and the group? What do your calendars and meeting frequency say about who or what is on the throne of your lives?
9. Children/Child Care: I have witnessed countless groups struggle over issues centered around children and what to do with them as the group meets. Some families allow their children to become idols in their lives, keeping Christ and spiritual growth a distant second--at best. I've also seen group members argue vehimently over what to do with their kids diring group time, and the tension ripped the group apart. Our kids are important parts of our lives, but we can't let them sit on the throne!
10. Controlling Leader: The leader is a member who has the God-given responsibility to help guide the group as God has called him or her to do. The leader is not the center of the group in a Christ-centered group. Some leaders need to step off the throne, and let Christ alone occupy that position.

As you can see, most of these are not bad things when kept in their proper places. But none of them can share the throne of your life or your group. Dethrone them by putting Christ back in his rightful place in your group. Seek first his kingdom, and all these other things will be taken care of as well.

 What small group idols would you add to this list? (It doesn't have to start with a C!)

For more on this important topic, see Chapter 1 of my new book, Small Group Vital Signs: Seven Indicators of Health that Make Groups Flourish.

Step-by-Step Trust

Jesus calls you and me to follow him on this path of life, and that decision takes trust. Not just that first primary decision to start following him, but also the daily, minute-by-minute, step-by-step decisions to follow him.

As I've read through the Psalms lately, trust is a continual refrain. In fact, it's a refrain throughout the Bible. Today in my daily time spent with the Father, I read Psalm 50:15: "Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory" (NLT).

This verse doesn't say, "work harder in your times of trouble" or "go to counseling in your time of trouble" or "run to all your friends for their support in times of trouble" or "feel sorry for yourself in times of trouble" or a thousand other things humans tend to do in times of trouble. (None of those things are necessarily wrong, of course, and they can help, but none of them are the primary places to whch we should turn.) God keeps it simple. "Trust me in your times of trouble." His promise is twofold: He will rescue you and me and, when he does, you and I will give him glory because he did it.

God will rescue me. That's his promise, and I believe him. My part is simply to trust him. And when he does rescue me, it will be because he has done something only he could do! That's the only way for him to receive glory! If the transformation happens because I did something, or it can be accredited to a counselor or pastor or book or whatever or whoever else, then they will receive the credit and glory. God is not a credit hog, but he is very interested in getting all our worship--all our worship! God will use other people and other things in his process, but he is Jehovah Jireh. He is the one who brings real transformation of the heart and mind. He deserves the glory!

And he will receive it.

I'd love to hear your feedback. in what are you trusting God these days? How are you seeing him rescue you? (Tell us your story!) How is he receiving glory through it?

In what ways do you struggle with this? Why is it so hard to trust God step-by-step?

Facing Fear? Need Reassurance? Read This!

There are days when life feels so heavy and scary. Let's face it, even as a Christ-follower and a leader, there are days when you face the future with great fear rather than great faith. I have faced days like these, and today is one of them. As I read through the Psalms, I gain some solace in knowing that King David faced many of the same kinds of days, and I take comfort in seeing how he handled them with faith and trust in God. On those days, David turned to God through prayer, worship, and meditating on God's Word.

As so often happens, today I turned to God's Word (I've been reading through the Psalms one at a time lately, and today I came to Psalm 40) and it spoke directly into my circumstances and feelings. I don't know how God does this, but he does it consistently.

As I read Psalm 40:5, God flooded my mind with His Word and the reassurance I needed. If, like me, you are facing fears or walking through a valley in life, perhaps these will help you, too:

Psalm 40:5 (NLT)  "O Lord my God ... your plans for us are too numerous to list."

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Romans 8:28 (NLT) "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) "Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope."

Luke 1:37 (NLT) "For nothing is impossible with God."

Mark 10:27 (NLT) "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God."

Do you have any other verses that help you face fear? Any other advice to share from your experiences?

The Shortcut: A Parable on the Path of Life

Over the years, I've come to realize that I don't know this trail very well. I don't have any idea what is around the next corner, and the corners are many. It's dangerous. It's an adventure.

I'm hiking on someone else's land. I'm a visitor on these trails, so I have no rights to go wherever I please and do whatever I want. The owner of this land is also my guide. He knows the trails. He knows what is around every corner. He knows every rock and root and drop off. He's already conquered every climb and is victorious in every valley. Even the dangerous creatures in this land belong to him and must obey him.

As I travel along, I see  shortcuts on the trail. They appear to get me to my desired goal easier and faster. My guide looks straight ahead as he leads me along the main trail, and whispers, Trust me. Keep your eyes on the trail ahead of you, no matter how rough it may look. I'll go with you on this journey. 

As i walk, I become aware of an enemy prowling around on this land. My guide warns me that it is the enemy who has blazed those shortcuts. But the shortcuts look so desirable. They look easier than this trail. They appear to be wide, paved paths leading directly to what I most desire. My guide whispers to me that there are thieves hiding along that shortcut who want to steal my heart. The enemy wants me to take the shortcut so he can kill what's inside of me. That shortcut is intended to destroy my soul.

I look away from the shortcut and back to my guide, and he waves his hand to summon me to follow him. He lovingly looks me in the eye and whispers, My dear child, you may choose to take any shortcut you wish, but I will not walk with you there. I know you desire to get to that thing you want along this trail, but the shortcut will not get you there. Be patient and wait on me. Trust me. I know the desire of your heart. Follow me and take delight in being with me along this rough and treacherous trail. I promise: If you walk with me, I will not let your foot slip; I will never leave you alone, even when you don't think you can make it. 

Despite the assurance of my guide, I look down some of the shortcuts and begin to wander down many of them. At first these shortcuts seem so smooth and easy and fun. Many around me cheer me on, enticing me to keep going. "You are strong on your own," some shout. "Do what's best for you," others encourage. "Now you are on the path to freedom and happiness," some declare.

As I continue, the shortcuts grow dark. I feel alone without my guide. What at first looked like paved pathways now lead into thorns and muddy mires. My feet feel trapped as shadows descend upon me. Then I remember the words of my guide.

As I turn around and take a step back toward the main path, I see my guide waiting for me, arms outstretched to help me back onto his path of life. The creator and owner of this land, the trail guide, also looks a lot like my Father.