The Wisdom of Bobby Pruitt

[This is an interesting post from back in 2009. It's interesting for a simple reason, four months after posting this blog, the Bobby Pruitt in questions became the lead pastor at my church. Tomorrow I'll write my current take on this Bobbyisms, but as for today, you can read my friend Cody Pope's take by clicking on each Boberb.]


My friend Cody Pope recently wrote some blog posts sharing the wisdom of my former youth pastor, Bobby Pruitt. Good stuff...

Bobbyisms or Boberbs

1) What we celebrate, we invite

The interesting thing about this piece of wisdom is that sometimes we celebrate something which is good in moderation, but by celebrating it we invite excess. In particular, in working with teenagers I've often celebrated students who have come up with creative and energetic ideas. The problem is that they don't necessarily have the discernment to know when they've gone too far.  By celebrating their actions you have to be careful not too encourage them to go too far.


2) What leaders do in moderation, followers do in excess

Simply put, when followers see a leader participate in something, they feel they have license to do so as well.  However, since they don't necessarily have the maturity and depth of the leader, they don't know when to stop.

Leaders need to be careful that there actions aren't giving license to those who follow their example.

3) It’s always easier to make a rule than to have a conversation…don’t do this

There's always a temptation to deal with conflict by making a rule instead of having a conversation. However, real ministry requires relationships and conversations. Rules deal with specific actions but not the circumstances which led to those actions.

4) Submission is not submission until there’s a disagreement

If you only submit to someone when you agree with them, that isn't submission.

5) What you win people with is what you win them to

This isn't a fun lesson to learn through experience. If you grow your ministry through wild antics, to keep those people you need to keep up the wild antics.

6) What you allow you invite

7) The easy way always gets harder and the hard way gets easier