DON’T READ THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE POST ON TRUST!  It will help you out.  The lack of trust could be the source of your conflict.

Acts 15 is a story on conflict among believers.  The issue was this:  Is salvation possible with or without circumcision?  Now, as a male, I’m going to say no.  But, this was a big issue in its day.  It would be like someone saying you can’t be a Christian and have a tattoo.  Count me out.  Got one back in September in San Antonio, Texas.  I got inked.  Back to the issue……..

In handling conflict on the team, here are some thoughts that will hopefully equip you to lead.

1.  Seperate people from the problem.
- Don’t make it personal.
2.  Focus on INTERESTS rather than POSITIONS.
- Find out what the other person is interested in accomplishing rather than their position vs. yours.
3.  Invent options for mutual gains.
- Bring interests, not positions, together.
- Find out how you can come together for the common good.
4.  Have a standard or system for making a final decision.
-  In Acts 15:13-21, we discover that James was the guy who would listen to the whole debate and remain neutral so that he might weigh all the options and cast the deciding vote.

Conflict is needed in order to have a healthy team.  It encourages communication and allows for people to add their own voice and creativity to the team.  It all hinges on how you handle the conflict.  Bring a position says “It’s me versus you.  Let’s rumble.”  Bring an interest and it says, “How can we work together on this for the greater good?”

It’s time to get ready to run sound for a benefit concert.  I’ll catch up later.  God bless.

After you’ve assembled the dream team of self-less individuals and there is a solid foundation of trust, you’re done, right?  Not at all!  Now we get to implement evaluation and with that will come conflict.  Not maybe.  Definitely.

In creating a culture of evaluation, the trust must be there.  It has taken me 2 years to feel comfortable with evaluating a team member.  What I mean by this is that during a rehearsal, I’ll let them know whether or not what they are doing adds to or takes away from our musical purpose.  Two years.

In creating this type of culture, here are a few thoughts on evaluation:
1.  Humble ourselves.
- Luke 18:9-14

2.  Become childlike (teachable).
- Luke 18:15-17

3.  Be willing to get rid of your baggage.
- Luke 18:18-23

I don’t really think these points need expanding upon.  Check out the scriptures and listen to see what God is saying to you through His word.

Conflict is next.

I can’t write what I wrote on my previous post about a healthy team without following it with this post on creating a culture of trust.  In order to speak openly with your team, everyone on the team must feel safe to be vulnerable around one another.  This is crucial.  I need to say that part of building a healthy team is earning the right to be heard by your team.  You must build trust before you can say anything.  I mean anything.

This is going to be relatively shorter post than the team building post.  Trust is like a bank account.  We need to be making more deposits than withdrawals.  Doing things like admitting when we are wrong adds to the trust fund.  Avoiding our mistakes and copping an attitude that just because “I’m the worship leaders and I have a music degree” will definitely be a withdrawal from the trust fund.

Be vulnerable to your team members.  Let them know that you don’t have it all together.  Let them know when you struggle.  Let them see that you are human and not some guitar playing cyborg with no human emotions.  Have fun.  Cry.  Let them see you emote.  Let them into your life.  Just as we pour into the lives of our volunteer team members, let them pour into you.  YOU WILL BE BLESSED.

Be honest and direct with your team.  Say what you mean and don’t beat around the bush.  When doing this, though, remember to do it in love (Ephesians 4:14) and NOT UNTIL YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD.  The new guy on the team who is at his second rehearsal doesn’t need the leader to come down in him if he isn’t getting his stuff done.

In order for the foundation of trust to be laid down, your team must see that you sincerely love and care for them as people.  Not based on their talent or skill, but, simply because they exist and breathe oxygen.  Look at John 13:35.  LOVE ONE ANOTHER and by doing this, you will earn the trust of the team you have built.  Oh – other people will see this and want to join the team.

It’s been two weeks since the ENTER conference.  I felt like I needed to let things soak for a bit before I started writing.

Building a healthy team is something that hard to do in any line of work.  Ministry is no exception.  As I have learned in ministry, alot of people want to do good work, but, don’t want to make the sacrifice of time.  I’ve seen alot of people bail out when things got tough and demanding.  So, back to the drawing board.

With building a team, one also gets to deal with equipping and retaining.  That’s another post for another day.  However, if you equip well, you retain well.  Right now, I want to focus on building the team.

Building a healthy team begins with defining team.  For the sake of this blog, let’s all agree to not use the over-used sports definitions of “team” that we’ve all seen on the inspirational posters.  Here is the definition I would like you to see:  A team is comprised of individuals who have given up their rights in order to serve a greater purpose.  Alot of professional athletes could raise their game if they followed this definition.  This is a heavy way to define TEAM.  It says this, “If you are on this team, it’s not about you.”  A healthy team begins when the team members decide they are in this for the greater good.  Look at the evidence in Acts 2:45: “Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”  These people were in it for each other – not themselves.  The ego has no place in the life of the Christ-follower.

God finds pleasure in team ministry.  I don’t think He gets real excited about the “Executive” pastor who has his hands in everything and has to have his ideas imprinted on everything.  God finds pleasure in watching us work together for the common good of those around us.  Look at Psalm 133:1-2: “Praise the LORD.  Praise the name of the LORD; praise Him, you servants of the LORD, you who minister in the house of the LORD, in the courts of our God.”  Do you read any hint of one man calling all the shots while some hirelings do his or her bidding?  Nope.  It’s servants doing things to accomplish one purpose in the house of the LORD.

God communicates to the word through community and team.  Jesus told his disciples in John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  It’s in community and team that we can effectively communicate the gospel.  The gospel that is the love of God.  Look at how Jesus sent his disciples out in Mark 6:7: “Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out TWO BY TWO and gave them authority over evil spirits.”  (Emphasis added).  Jesus didn’t send them out alone.  He sent them in pairs – in a team – with specific instructions on how to operate.  He saw the value in team ministry.

So far, God finds pleasure in communicating His gospel of love to humanity through team and community ministry.  It doesn’t stop with these thoughts.  A healthy team must be made up of people who are not emotionally insecure but spiritually confident.  In other words – IT’S ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST.  No identity in Christ means no confidence in what He says He is going to do through you.  We cannot constantly wallow in our self-pity and where we think we are no good.  God did not design us to operate in failure and self-pity.  We have to understand that God created us with a purpose and He loves us.  He believes in us because we operate in Him.  We have to take on the mind of Christ in this area.  Jesus told His followers that He does nothing apart from what the Father does through Him (John 5:19; John 7:16-17; John 8:28-29; John 14:10).

The final thought in building a healthy team is as leaders we must get rid of the fairness doctrine.  Kingdom living is not about what is fair, but, rather what is just.  This is a tough area because we want to be fair to everyone.  What we have to do here is eliminate the fear of failure.  We have to help our team members to stop asking “Why didn’t I get to sing this week?” or “Why didn’t I get the solo?”  We must learn to seize the opportunity God is giving us.  In his new book, ‘Walking With God’, author John Eldredge teaches that we must begin to see what God is giving us rather than what God is NOT giving to us.  A person may not be a talented vocalist, but, is good at administration.  Leaders must learn to help their team members operate in their gifting.  It’s like the people on American Idol.  I feel sorry for the people who get cut because someone finally tells them they aren’t a good singer.  Family and friends have been lying to them for years.  If someone isn’t a good instrumentalist or vocalist – be honest and don’t be fair.  You will do them a greater justice by speaking openly in love rather than perpetuating the idea they are good at singing or playing.

This last thought was the hardest to write.  I struggled with how to write the thought and then I decided to lay it out.

Your thoughts are welcome.  God bless.

Here is my day 1 post of what I am discovering at Enter Worship Conference.  The topic spoken on was “Biblical Worship in the 21st Century”.  Here are the bullet points and my comments on them:

- Worship is shallow because we are trapped in the systems and regulations of American christianity.
I think this is true.  We are so ingrained with how seminary and trends say to do things.  We have created a man-centered way of worshipping God.  I’m still processing this, so, any comments would be welcome.   We feel like we have to create this environment based on rules of the organization of the church.  More on this later.

-God is the initiator and we are the responders.
How true.  We have this idea that we have to create this environment for God to show up.  As the responder, we are relieved of this duty.  As a lead worshipper, I am relieved of the pressure to “create” an environment that tries to get God’s attention.  The question is not “God, use me”, but “God, make me useful.”  Look at Genesis 1:1.  God initiates.  God calls out.  God creates and initiates the environment in which He will show up.  We just respond.

- We are called to be skillful stewards.
We have skills and talents.  Use them wisely.  Let the Holy Spirit play or sing or run audio or teach through you.  When we do it this way, God gets the glory.  We don’t need nor deserve the glory.

- We are called to be multi-sensory worshippers.
With elements like the colors of the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant and the passover meal, we are called to experience God with all 5 senses.  This does not give us reign to allow the Gospel to be validated by fancy media.  Art is a tool that is used in order that God might reveal Himself.  It’s just a tool.

- We are called to be storytellers.
Just as Jesus taught parables that could be lived out, we are to challenged to something deeper.  We are to be the story of Jesus as He is lived out in our lives.

This is just part 1 of 2.  I’ll write later tonight on the rest of the day.  God bless.

I am about to begin Day 1 of the Enter Worship Conference in Colorado Springs.  I am sitting in the worship center at New Life Church.  This is an amazing place.  It’s big.  It’s a vast expanse of a campus.  The people are friendly.  Met Brad Parsley.  He’s Ross Parsley’s brother.  Nice guy.  I’ve seen one of my favorite worship writers – Jared Anderson.  I’m trying not to get lost in the experience of it all.  I really want to hear from God.  I’m facing some interesting challenges as a lead worshipper.  I want to hear from God.  I’m not really looking for technical knowledge or instrument knowledge this week.  I’m going for the songwriting seminars.  I want the music I write to drip with God.  I want the music I write to be from the audible voice of God.  I’ll be posting updates at the end of each day once I get back to the hotel room.

Here is part deux of my notes on spiritual gifts.

- Our response to the Spirit’s work is the determining factor in whether we’ll experience the blessing of the Lord or His discipline.

- When God speaks, the issue isn’t open for discussion; God is looking for our answer.

- Characteristics of a person who is a Christ-follower and is walking in the Spirit:
1. Satisfaction with Christ. (John 4:14)
2. Dissatisfaction with self. (Eph. 4:17-24; Col. 3:1-13)
3. Hunger to know Christ more. (Phil. 1:21)
4. Love for God’s people. (Eph. 4:7,11-16; Rom. 12:5). I also add to this that this means all people who are created in the image of the Almighty God.

A good question: Do I make decisions based on my ability to achieve the results, or upon the Spirit’s leading and equipping?

Jeremiah 33:2-3

These notes and the notes from part 1 came from the book, “What’s So Spiritual About Your Gifts?” by Henry Blackaby. It’s 9 bucks well spent.

Here are some of my notes on spiritual gifts.

Common misconceptions about spiritual gifts:
- You only operate in the gifts God has given you based on a spiritual gifts inventory; not on the working of the Holy spirit.

- Gifts are to be compartmentalized. One doesn’t go with the other.

- My gifts are based on my talents.

- I can’t complete an assignment God has given me because I don’t have the gift that fits that assignment.

What does the Word say about spiritual gifts:
- The gift is the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

- The gifts are the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in our lives. (1 Cor. 12:7)

- The gifts we have and operate in are determined by the Holy Spirit for a specific time with a specific purpose for a specific result. (1 Cor. 12:11)

- The gifts are operated by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:7-11)

What about Jesus and Spiritual Gifts?
From the moment Jesus began his public ministry, the Holy Spirit enabled Him to do everything the Father asked of Him. (Luke 4:1; 14)

Here’s is the pattern Jesus operated in when it came to assignments God gave Him:
- God gives the assignment.
- Jesus accepted the assignment.
- The assignment is fulfilled through the working power of the Spirit.

Jesus fulfilled His assignment as a man, therefore, He showed some limitations. I know what you are thinking – “He’s on the edge of heresy!” – hang on. Consider the following verses: John 5:19, John 7:16-17, John 8:28-29, John 14:10. I hope you read these verses. They speak of Jesus constantly telling us that He does nothing on His own power. Everything He does is by the order of God and by the working of the Holy Spirit.

It’s easy to explain Jesus’ miracles. “He’s God! He can do anything!” True. But, He laid aside that which was rightfully His and lived like a man. (Phil. 2:6-7). Why did He do this? Why did He choose to live with limitations? He could not take our place unless He first took up our position.

Well, I’ve been gone awhile. I’ll be posting regularly. Check back.

Some of you may know what I’m writing about just from the title. Some of you may not. Here it is. The “System” is the religious/political side of the church. This is when people bring their own personal agendas to ministry. This is when programs and numbers are more important than people coming to know Christ. I have several friends who are in church ministry and have been burned by the System. Some of them have emerged from the battle scarred but healed. It’s all behind them. They don’t forget about their experience, but, because they are free from it, there is no need to rage against it. There are other, though, who can’t seem to get free from it. They never let it go. They never get free. They can ‘t escape it. For the sake of this blog, let’s just call them Prisoners. Here is the danger in being out of the System, but, not being free from it. According to the Prisoner, everything anyone in the church does is considered “System”. If someone in the church disagrees with the Prisoner – its System. If the Prisoner disagrees with someone else in the church, the Prisoner labels them as “System”. If the agenda of the Prisoner is not regarded as Holy Doctrine, then it’s because of System. There are enough problems in the church today. The last thing the church needs is ministers blasting other ministers. I’m trying to remember where the Bible talks about pastors and lay people being the judge of the people. As pastors, we are called to be shepherds and not judges. There is certainly nothing wrong with correction and accountability, but, the rules change when we turn accountability into judgement. We are called to love everyone and to serve everyone even if the people we are serving don’t have the same theology or agenda or political thought.