People Aren't Getting Dumber

It seems like I frequently hear that people are getting dumber. I understand why. The number of people with shallow thought and dumb behavior is staggering.

I wonder if the issue is peoples intelligence dropping or

is their attention going too many directions?

I've heard people point out that John Calvin wrote Institutes when he was 26 years old and observe that 26 year olds aren't thinking and writing at that level any longer. That's entirely true. However, what else was he going to do with his time? Where else would his mental energy go?

• Did he learn to drive a car?
• Did he learn to operate a computer?
• Did he have to deal with the IRS?
• Did he have cable TV?
• Did he have access to the internet?
• Did he ever have to go to Walmart and sort through 50 options just to buy tissue paper?

People aren't getting dumber, people are more distracted. We all have to be generalists just to navigate our remarkably complex world. We're constantly bombarded by choices.

• We have more options for entertainment than ever before, which distracts us from deep thought and productivity.
• We have access to limitless information which forces us to sort through a far more complex world.
• We have countless choices to make just to do simple things.

All of this comes at consequences. It's very difficult to excel at one thing when you have to be good at countless things just to navigate the world.

Dan Cathy & Seth Godin Discuss Writing and Leadership

Saw this over at Big is the New Small

Seth Godin talks about the value of daily recording your thoughts and why people get writers block.

"Practical, Engaging, and Relevant?"

I've been writing responses to a blog by Kevin DeYoung over the last week. Not as a rebuttal, but more simply using his words as a spring board for my thoughts.

"What do buzz words like practical, engaging, and relevant actually mean? Is not the gospel of Christ crucified supremely relevant all by itself? Or is “relevant” another way of saying “new” (which may or not be a step in the right direction)?"

- Kevin DeYoung http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/10/19/listening-to-and-questioning-the-seeker-church

If I were to give definitions to these terms, I would say...

PRACTICAL - Teaching which people can act on

In simple terms, practical teaching is teaching which the audience knows how to put into action. I don't think the preacher needs to change what they teach to make sure it's practical. The teacher needs to discover what the truth they are teaching has to do with how people are living.

The holiness of God changes on a practical level how I live.

The sovereignty of God changes how I live daily.

Practical teaching is teaching which takes theoretical ideas and explains how the affect every day life.

ENGAGING - Teaching which keeps the audiences attention

Since we're dealing with preaching, being engaging means you're keeping their attention. There are many ways to keep peoples attention. I would argue that if your communication isn't engaging the person receiving it, you aren't really communicating.

RELEVANT - Teaching which connects with the audience where they're at

Being relevant gets a bad reputation becomes some people have compromised content for the sake of being relevant. Instead of discovering how a truth is relevant, they look at the lives of the people and simply preach about what they're currently dealing with.

I would argue that all biblical truth is relevant (though not equally relevant) for life today. Part of the communicators job is the show the audience how the truth connects to their life.

• Preachers don't create relevance, we reveal relevance.
• People think doctrine is irrelevant because they've only seen it taught poorly or intellectually.

Power of Music

This past Saturday I was at a church reunion dinner for the 25th anniversary of the church I grew up at. They gathered as many people as possible who attended the church in the early 90s (the church was 200 people in 1989 and probably 2000 or more by 2000).

For the event they even got the old band back together and sang a whole bunch of old songs. Around the middle of "Shine Jesus Shine" I realized I wasn't reading the words off the screen. I knew all the words to the song. I like most people haven't heard that song in 7 years. I'm pretty sure the last time I heard it was at a ground breaking service for my churches in building in 2004. I remember them playing it then because it struck me as an ancient song I hadn't heard in years back then...but I knew all the words.

Afterwards several other people told me they were surprised to realize they knew the words to ALL the songs.

Music really is a powerful tool which stirs ours emotions and engages our minds. I might not recall but a handful of sermons from the 90s but I remember dozens of songs.

The lyrics of our songs really are what people will remember from our ministries.

Quick Reads to Improve Communication

Here are a couple of blogs I read today which I found simple yet helpful on communication and originality. Both have applications for preaching.

A Guaranteed Way to Improve All Communication by Ron Edmondson

Originality is Overrated by Steven Furtick

Move From Where They Are to Where They Should Be

Last week I mentioned reading a blog by Kevin DeYoung, where he talked about what he's learned from the current generation of seeker churches and his criticisms. The article got me thinking about ministry a bit. In places I disagreed with him and other places I thought he had some great insights.

This comment on preaching/communication stuck out to me.

***DISCLAIMER - His blog was a book review of a book I haven't read. I'm evaluating the statement from the blog without knowing exactly what the book said. I'm writing not at all to criticize but only to use his thoughts as a spring board for my thoughts. ***

"We are told, instead, to communicate the Bible through the door of our listener’s interests–which can be a good strategy except for when the audience doesn’t have the right interests. Good preaching doesn’t just accept existing categories; it creates new ones." - Kevin DeYoung

If I'm understanding him correctly, he is saying that we can only communicate through people's interests if they have the correct interests. I think I would totally disagree with that idea. I don't think that using someones current interests as a starting point is the same thing as "accepting existing categories." Likewise there are ways to communicate through someones interests which is a critique of their current interests.

When I'm communicating a truth, I try to start where the people are at and move them to where they should be.

• Why is it that every teenager girl has read the Twilight saga?
• Why are grown men studying statistics about college boys wearing big pads tackling each other?
• Why do underdog stories continue to stir the emotions of people?
• Why do successful men with high paying jobs continue to make choices which compromise their families for the sake of their careers?

People have wrong interests because they're seeking satisfaction in their wrong places. Most of the most powerful sermons I've preached have involved getting people to examine why they are seeking satisfaction in all the wrong places, and then offering scriptures answers to the gap in their soul. No matter how perverse their interests, they are going to that place for a reason. Follow the path of that reason, and you'll discover something which has a biblical source.

When you approach truth this way you do three things:

1) Help people discover something about themselves

2) Help people to evaluate their motives and interests

3) Teach truth in a way which is intellectual and emotional

Everything We Do Teaches

Everything we do teaches.

Our actions and words communicate what we value. The things we don't say or do communicates our priorities. For the people who we are leading/shepherding, our very lives provide a target for what their lives should look like.

With that in mind, are you a good target?

• Do you do all the things you should be doing?
• Do you use your words the way you should use your words?
• Are you avoiding the things you should avoid?

If someone were to look at your life and attempt to discern your values from your actions, what would they say you value?

What does your life teach?

Other Blogs: Adventures in Mommydom

My sister has a blog on life, kids, and home-schooling. She's actually been consistent for the last several years, and therefore, she has about 300 times as many followers as me. I make an appearance in a story or pictures about once per month.


Adventures in Mommydom

Visitors From Rome

I'm by no means a history buff, but I am fascinated by certain aspects of history. In particular I'm always interested to learn how small mundane events in the past shaped the future. I love hearing the testimonies of famous theologians who's stories involve their parents coming to faith and living fairly unremarkable lives. The person who led them to faith most likely had no idea that their spiritual heritage changed millions of lives. Their small act of obedience was used in huge ways.

This leads me to a verse which I find absolutely fascinating.

Romans 2

¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome

I don't think I've heard anyone else emphasize this particular verse (maybe I have but I just don't recall). All it really does is list groups of people who appeared on the day of Pentecost.

What's fascinating to me is that most likely they were part of the group of people who were saved that day, and then after they returned to their home they started a church in Rome. Then 25 to 30 years later, their church received Paul's letter to the Romans. Within time the church most likely started by these visitors from Rome would become the center for Christianity, and shape Christianity for all history.

All of this assumes that the church in Rome was started by these visitors from Rome. The point remains even if they didn't start the church. What if it wasn't them, and we have absolutely no idea who started the church which shaped all of Christianity? Best case scenario all we know is that they were at Pentecost.

Why do I write about all of this?

Because their story is one of the most inspirational stories I have ever heard (or in this case not heard). Most of us aren't going to be the next Billy Graham. We're not going to lead churches with 10,000 people. We're not going to be on TV. We're not going to write a book. We're not going to be remembered throughout history.

However, our spiritual legacy will last for eternity. Our small acts of faithfulness (which will be forgotten in history) will be used to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.

Somewhere Between Seeker 2.0 and Young & Reformed

Following the theme of the video I posted earlier, I was reading a blog by Kevin DeYoung earlier today where he (a young and reformed pastor) evaluates a book from the more of the seeker 2.0 movement. It's an interesting read, and I'd encourage you to read it.

I continually seem to find myself stuck between the seeker 2.0 movement, and the young & reformed crowd.

I appreciate the creativity, concern for the lost, and the contextualization of the breed of seeker churches. I, however, really don't like the continued lack of emphasis on strong discipleship and virtually exclusive topical preaching. On the flip side, I greatly appreciate the teaching which is coming out of the young and reformed crowd.

I've started writing a few blogs surrounding some thoughts which came to me while reading Kevin's blog. Most of them seem to be trying to find a middle ground between the two camps. I should post those in the next few days or next week.

The Elephant Room: Furtick Vs. Chandler

This clip is by no means fresh or new (particularly since I first saw it on some else's blog 6 months ago), but I loved the idea of the Elephant Room. If you didn't hear about the Elephant Room, it was a pastor "conference" where instead of having the speakers giving a lecture, two pastors/leaders were put against one another on a subject where they disagreed. The line up was very close to being tailored made for me.

As you will see in this clip, they put Steven Furtick and Matt Chandler against one another (which is like a dream match up for me). I appreciate the creativity, professionalism, and audacious faith of Furtick's church. On the flip side, I love Chandler for his clear, relevant, engaging, and expository teaching. I am to be a mix of the two.

So watching the two of them debate one another on their differences and faults is like a dream come true. Here's a clip. I think I bought the DVD set based off of the strength of this clip alone.

Give Away Responsibility

I know this isn't a new concept. It's not even a lesson I've recently learned. However, it's a lesson I've only recently started to put into action.

Most leaders have a natural tendency to want to do everything so that they can control everything and make sure it is up to their standards (at least this is how I function). If you're in-charge of a smaller organization, there's probably a good chance that you probably can do a lot of responsibilities better than anyone else. In the short term, it may even be easier, but in the long run it's very bad for you and the organization.

Reasons to Give Away Responsibilities:

1) You can't do everything at the same time at the same skill level and with the same precision that a group of people can do that same set of taste (though you may be better at individual tasks)

2) You rob other people of an opportunity to serve and grow

3) When people serve they feel they have ownership of the organization

4) When people are given responsibility in the organization, they feel responsible for the success of the organization (obviously)

5) It provides an opportunity to train up the next generation of leaders

6) It provides an opportunity to spend time with your people

7) When you do everything, you steal time from your unique skill sets to give time to tasks which anyone can do. Only do what only you can do!

8) It enables you to do few things with excellence as opposed to many things adequately.

Am I the Only One...

...who constantly plans far ahead but still doesn't finish until the last minute

By now I really feel like I do a good job of thinking well in advance and making places. Still, I constantly feel like I don't' finish anything until the very last minute. It doesn't matter how much time I have, I can't finish until very late in the game.

This applies to sermon preparation, event planning, event setup, weekly services, everything. I never feel like I'm done early.

Preaching Techniques - What's the Opposite?

Often times when teaching/preaching I'll find myself getting stuck. I understand the text and ideas, but I'm not sure how to get a room full of 14-18 year olds to care about it. When that happens, I often ask myself, "What's the opposite?" If someone were to completely ignore this principle, what would it look like? How do we ignore this truth? What do we believe instead?

The opposite principle is simple, people don't connect with the truth because they believe something contrary or all they see around them is the opposite. Therefore, you start with this misunderstanding, demonstrate it's faults, and then reveal a better way to do things.

Some questions I ask:

• What does culture believe about this subject?
• What lie do we embrace instead of this truth?
• How do we do the opposite of this passage?

Power of Words

I'm constantly fascinated by the power of words. Simple sentences said to us can shape our entire view of ourselves for our entire lives. Words never said to us can shape who we are.

The strangest part is that the people who's words have hurt and shaped us probably have no idea what their words have done. The more painful idea is that I have no idea who my words have crushed.

There's the equally powerful idea that we don't know who our words have significantly encouraged.

I'm not naturally an encourager, so I often have to make deliberate effort to try and use my words to encourage. I know I want to be someone who draws out the potential in others and encourages them to be who they're called to be. That requires using words intentionally.

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Focused Thinking

Of all the ways of thinking, focused thinking is one of the most difficult forms of thinking in modern times. Modern technology has made everyone a “master” of multi-tasking, but terrible at focusing.

Smart phones have made things exponentially worse. You have instant access to limitless information and relational connectivity in your pocket. And every time a new piece of information is available, a notification appears on your screen.

Over the last three years of being a pastor I think I’ve become increasingly worse at focused thinking. Naturally when you’re a pastor, you have to juggle many roles and responsibilities. I used to be able to just sit down and focus on one huge project and push through until it was done.

When I started at my church, the student ministry didn’t have a webpage. At the time I believed we NEEDED a webpage. So without really knowing HTML, I sat down and forced through until I had a webpage I liked. It had a decent look, full content, and it was live.

The idea of sitting and just forcing through until a project is finished seems like a foreign concept now. Everything needs a plan and scheduled time. I sit and expect emails, which I feel I have to respond to immediately.

ACTION STEPS:

• · Close my email when I’m not checking it
• Turn off the internet when working on a project which will take time
• · Schedule blocks of time to focus on individual projects

How Successful People Think

I’ve started reading “How Successful People Think” by John Maxwell. It’s one of those half sized books which you can easily read in a plane ride. So when I say I started it, I mean I’m half way through it.

In the book he lists 11 ways people think, and suggests that successful people learn to integrate all 11 ways of thinking.

I thought there would be great value in evaluating myself and which areas I’m weak or could easily make improvement.

11 Ways to Think:

1. 1. Big Picture Thinking
2. 2. Focused Thinking
3. 3. Creative Thinking
4. 4. Realistic Thinking
5. 5. Strategic Thinking
6. 6. Possibility Thinking
7. 7. Reflective Thinking
8. 8. Question Popular Thinking
9. 9. Benefit from Shared Thinking
10. 10. Practice Unselfish Thinking
11. 11. Rely on Bottom-Line Thinking

Preaching: Clarity

Clarity is all about bridging a gap!

Teaching is about bridging the gap between the audience's current understanding or knowledge of the subject matter, and the new ideas/applications you're presenting.

This gap exists in all teaching, but the gap is especially difficult in preaching.

The Bible has several unique difficulties:

• Cultural - It was written 2,000 to 3,000 years ago in the Near Middle East.
• Translation - It was written in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.
• Big Picture - Most people don't understand the larger story of scripture. Therefore, to some extent everything is understood outsider of the greater context
• Preconceived Notions - Since Christianity is common in our culture, people hear a sermon with preconceived notions about the subject. They interpret and misinterpret what you say based on these notions.

The role of the preacher is to find a way to sort through all of these difficulties and bring clarity to the new content and ideas.

Listen to Others

One of the reasons I frequently listen to other preachers when developing a sermon is that I want to know how they articulate ideas. A well crafted phrases is not only memorable but gives new insight and clarity.

The danger of poor clarity is misunderstanding

When we do a poor job of being clear, people leave confused and with misunderstandings. Sometimes this is fairly harmless, but other times you can send people down the entirely wrong path theologically.

The Good News

While we need to strive for clarity, we're not all alone.

John 16

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Preaching: Content

One of the tricky parts about teaching the Bible or preaching is that to do it effectively you need to be able to CLEARLY communicate biblical CONTENT in a way that CONNECTS with the listener. There's sort of this unspoken assumption that, if you're a good Christian communicator, you're good at pulling truth from scripture, studying, and generating content. The reality is that they're two different skill sets.

Some people are great at exegesis (interpreting scripture by pulling meaning from the text), studying, reading, and putting concepts together. Other people aren't.

The problem is that preaching isn't preaching without biblical content.

Without Content Preaching Becomes...

• Motivational Speaking
• Stand Up Comedy
• Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
• Moralism (treating Bible stories like Aesop's Fables, with a moral to the story)
• Heresy

It's not wrong to teach concepts besides scripture, but it's not preaching. Also, if you're an engaging and clear speaker, but lack Biblical content, people won't necessarily know what you're teaching isn't scripture. In children's ministries in particular, I've seen curriculum which completely misses the entire point of Bible teaching (teaching what passages were originally intended to say).

The C's of Preaching

Every summer, I hire college students to be my interns, and I always make my male interns teach at least one time. Since they typically haven't taught before, I attempt to teach them how to teach. As part of that effort, I tried to come up with as simple of an understanding of the parts of preaching as I could.

I'm not typically into alliteration, but in this case, it seemed to work. This week, I'll be writing about each of these individually.

CONTENT

At the foundation of preaching/teaching is the content. This is raw biblical information, theories, principles, etc. This involves the preacher/teacher correctly understand and interpret scripture. Depending on the nature of the sermon, it may involve exegesis, studying theology, or correcting integrating various principles or doctrines.

The "content" is all about the teacher having something biblical which they correctly understand.

CLEAR

This point involves the teacher presenting biblical truths which make them clear for the intended audience. The entire purpose of teaching is to bridge the gap between where the listener currently is at, and where you want them to be.

Clarity is all about taking raw biblical data and presenting it in a way that the audience understand and apply it.

CONNECT

Connecting is all about the relationship between the teacher and listener. Is the audience paying attention to the communicator? Countless factors can interfere with connection between the teacher and the listener. Some of them involve the way the information is communicated. Some of it relates to the environment. Sometimes, it involves the listener not caring about the content.

If the lister isn't paying attention and connecting with the teacher, there's no point in communicating.