Daniel Im's Blog, page 9

Whose Responsibility is it to Recruit?

A few weekends ago I met one of our volunteers who was operating the stage camera.

As I got to know him, I was surprised that it was his first time serving at Beulah—after attending for 23 years!

Oftentimes because of the pace of ministry, and a lack of contributors, leaders, coaches, and ministry catalysts, we end up doing ministry, rather than equipping our church to do the work of ministry. We do this because it’s easy. We know how to get things done. We have the responsibility for the ministry and it’s sometimes just faster to get it done ourselves.

However, here’s the catch-22. The more we do the ministry, the less time we’re going to have to equip our church to do the work of ministry, which then unintentionally creates a culture of professionalism where our church doesn’t think there’s a place for them to serve!

The more we do the work of ministry, the less time we have to equip.
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The responsibility of recruiting volunteers is NOT all on you.

In fact, the only people that you have the direct responsibility in recruiting are those at your level on the leadership pipeline, or one level underneath. Other than that, you need to be a part of cultivating this culture of recruiting on your team and the teams that you’re serving on.

The responsibility of recruiting volunteers is NOT all on you.
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Now you might be wondering, “What about contributors and leaders? What about guys like Mike? Who is the best person to recruit guys like him?”

It’s other contributors and leaders. The best person to recruit a contributor is another contributor. The best person to recruit a leader is another leader. The best person to recruit a coach is another coach. And the best person to recruit a ministry catalyst is another ministry catalyst. This is how a leadership pipeline functions best.

So this week, what would it look like if you asked each of your contributors, leaders, coaches, and ministry catalysts to identify a friend or someone else in the church who can serve alongside them in the same role?

A Vision to Reach 1% of a City

Our vision is to reach 1% of Edmonton.

I know it doesn’t seem like a B.H.A.G. (big hairy audacious goal) or a W.I.G. (wildly important goal), but it’s the specific vision that God has given our church.

And reaching this vision in Edmonton—through Beulah Alliance Church—is the very thing that God broke my heart over as Christina and I were discerning our calling to move back to Edmonton. You can read about our story in these two posts:

The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next StepsThe Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling



But why Edmonton?

I used to think that Edmonton was the “Bible Belt” in Canada—if there was even such a thing—because of the number of churches and megachurches here. But when we were candidating to come back to Edmonton, God showed us otherwise. On the one hand, he showed us the spiritual dynamics that have changed (and are changing) in this city—making it a mission field. On the other hand, based on the recent Vital Signs report, it’s clear that the rapid growth and change in our city is going to necessitate an increase in healthy, multiplying, missional churches. Here are a few statistics:

Edmonton grew by close to 200,000 people in the last 10 years, making the city’s population 972,22353% of the city is a millennial, Gen Z, or younger—making the median age 35.74 in 10 of Edmontonians are a visible minority—this is more than a 100% increase in the last decade

So reaching 1% of any city that’s growing and changing is actually quite a dynamic vision statement.

This is why we’re hiring an Executive Pastor of Ministries.

I’m looking for a partner in ministry who will join us in leading our ministry staff to equip our church to reach 1% of Edmonton for Christ. While strategic leadership, staff development, and organizational development are the three key areas that this individual will focus on, I’m first and foremost praying for someone who senses a call to lay down roots in Edmonton and reach this city for Christ.

…because God is calling us to reach 1% of Edmonton for Christ! And 1% is only a starting point!

I’m not looking for a preacher or someone who wants to be a senior pastor someday. I’m looking for someone who is called to lead from the second chair, and who is excited about joining an executive leadership team that lives, breathes, and eats this vision to reach our city for Christ.

If you’re interested (or know someone who might be), you can learn more about our church and check out the job description here.

Why Guilt is a Cheap Motivator

Sharing my faith was the last thing I felt equipped to do.

As a first year student in university, I knew that there was something called the Great Commission, but I didn’t know what to do with it. So after looking through all the Christian clubs listed online, I decided to join Campus Crusade for Christ, since they were all about evangelism (it’s now called Power to Change in Canada, or Cru in the U.S.).

That first year was incredible and I owe so much of my spiritual formation to that ministry. I learnt how to share my faith, I was filled with the Holy Spirit, I saw multiple people give their lives to Christ, and I went on a mission trip where I met my wife, Christina.

Everything was perfect, except for the fact that I was doing it all out of guilt.

At some point that I don’t remember, things shifted and I realized that I began sharing my faith with others because I felt like I had to, not out of a joy that I got to.

I wasn’t introducing people to Jesus because God loved them, I was doing it because I wanted God to love me more. And I was afraid that if I missed an opportunity to share Jesus with a stranger, that somehow it would be my fault if they went to hell. After all, what if they never met another Jesus loving, Jesus believing person again?

Honestly, I can’t pinpoint the moment I started to believe these lies, but I know that I didn’t get it from this ministry.

In fact, the scary thing was that I began looking down on others who weren’t actively sharing their faith on a weekly basis. I started thinking things like, “How can you live with yourself?! What if these people got hit with a bus and died tonight!”

And thoughts like this would run through my mind, “You don’t want to go on a mission trip in the summer?!” “Ugh, how could you be so self centred!”

I was suffering with the classic older brother syndrome from the Prodigal Son story. I thought that by DOING more for God, I would BE more loved by Him. That by DOING more evangelism, I would BE more accepted. And that by DOING more, I would BE more.

Have you ever thought that by doing more for God, you would be more loved by him?
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Have you ever been there? Have you ever thought this?

Unfortunately, motivation doesn’t translate as naturally as action.

Let me explain. Have you ever caught yourself yelling at your kids to stop yelling? I know I have.

My motivation for yelling at them was good. I wanted to parent them well and raise them up to talk through their problems, rather than bulldozing and yelling to get their way.

But my actions didn’t communicate that. My actions basically said that yelling was okay if you really wanted to get your way, and if you were older and bigger than someone else.

And unfortunately, this is what happens in the church.

Our motivation for wanting others to share their faith, give their lives away, and serve is good, isn’t it? We know that following Christ is not just about knowing the life he lived, it’s about living the life he lived.

Following Christ is not just about knowing the life he lived, it’s about living the life he lived.
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So, with the right motivation, we do whatever we can to get others to live this way because if they do, they’ll experience the abundant life that Christ promised…right?!

So, we guilt people into sharing their faith and serving by saying things like:

“If Jesus did it, shouldn’t you?”“What kind of follower are you, if you don’t follow the person you said you were going to?”“Yeah obviously you get to do it, but honestly you really have to do it.”“Uhh….don’t you realize how much Jesus talked about it?” “Tsk tsk tsk…”“It’s too bad…you really are missing out.”“Look at all the ways I’m sharing my faith and serving others…wait, you’re not??”

Just like in marriage, the right thing done the wrong way is the wrong thing no matter how right it is.

The right thing done the wrong way is the wrong thing no matter how right it is.
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In other words, guilting people to share their faith, serve, and follow Christ is wrong—no matter what the outcome might be. It’s cheap. It’s trite. And it’s ineffective.

Guilt is a cheap motivator.

Guilt is a cheap motivator.
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The alternative—or the better way to motivate—is outlined in Ephesians 3:16-21.

I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Do you see what’s happening here?

Who is the one that’s strengthening you? Jesus.

What is he strengthening you with? The riches of his glory.

Where is he strengthening you? In your inner being through his Spirit.

And what’s the result of him strengthening you?

Is it so that you would serve more effectively? So that you would 100x your output? So that you would break whatever barrier you’re wanting to break? So that you can get on some top 100 list?

Nope.

It’s so that Christ may dwell in your hearts. So that you would be rooted and firmly established in love. So that you would comprehend the length, width, height, and depth of God’s love. And so that you would know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.

In other words, we don’t share our faith, serve, and follow Christ because we have to. We do it because we get to.

We do it because of Christ’s incredible love poured out upon us.

We share our faith and serve not to do, but because Christ has done.

We share our faith and serve not to do, but because Christ has done.
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We share our faith and serve not to become, but because Christ says be still, I love you.

Now that’s a different—and far superior—motivator than guilt.

Best Resources on Transition

Are you praying about making a move? Trying to discern God’s will, but not sure how to decide?

Change is the one thing that’s constant in life. And as I recently outlined in my last two articles, Christina and I have gone through a lot of change!

The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next StepsThe Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling

So, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite resources on transition to help you discern your next step in life and leadership:

1. Bible and Journaling

The Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide. So the best way to position yourself to hear from God is by spending time reading and praying through the Bible. Although I haven’t always been the biggest fan of journaling, I’ve actually found that it’s helped me focus and process what’s going on. After all, moving and changing jobs is one of the most stressful transitions that no one talks about.

And here’s a #protip for journaling: Journaling isn’t about you and the journal. Journaling is about you and God. So when you journal, write down your prayers to God and process what’s going on as a prayer to God.

Journaling is about you and God, so process what’s going on as a prayer to God.
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Christina and I are loving our He Reads Truth and She Reads Truth Bibles. They’re incredible. Y’all have to check it out:

He Reads Truth BibleShe Reads Truth Bible



2. Weeds Among the Wheat

My college pastor gave me this book when I was first learning about discernment, and I’ve found myself returning to it again and again. It’s Weeds Among the Wheat by Thomas H. Green. Though I’m not a Catholic, I’ve found this book incredibly helpful. It’s given me a solid framework to know how to deal with my emotions during decision making.

3. The Next Right Thing

This is my new favorite book on decision making. It’s Emily P. Freeman’s book, The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions. I wrote about it in one of my previous articles so I won’t belabor the point here.

4. 5 Tips to Help You Thrive Your Next Transition

In Episode 71 of the IMbetween Podcast that I co-host with Christina, we talk about five things we’ve learned after moving 9 times to 3 different countries and 7 different cities—while experiencing both homelessness and unemployment.

You can listen here.

What are your favorite resources on transition?

Let’s talk! You can submit them in the comments below.

The Difference Between an Opportunity and a Calling

“That was the worst sermon you ever preached. Why are you even here? Just go back to Nashville.”

It’s true. I heard those words.

It happened when Christina and I were interviewing at Beulah Alliance Church this last year. As I shared last week, God had unsettled our hearts and led us to the point where we knew our next right thing was to go up to Edmonton and interview.

Now whether coming back to Beulah was just an opportunity or a calling, we weren’t certain of. All we knew was that the next right thing was to go to Edmonton. So that’s what we did. With an open heart and a deep desire to live our lives wholeheartedly for God—wherever, whenever, and doing whatever—we hopped on a plane and flew to Edmonton. After all, for as long as I can remember, this has been our family motto: “Lord, here I am. Lord, here we are.”

So we went. And it went well.

Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Interviews. Meet and greets. Meals. Everything went well. Incredibly well. Honestly, I don’t know if I could’ve planned it any better. So clearly this meant that God was saying yes, right? That He was opening up the opportunity for us to come back and help lead Beulah to accomplish its vision to reach 1% of greater Edmonton for Christ…right?

Isn’t that how God leads?

Didn’t someone say that a lack of obstacles is another sign for God’s leading? That if you’re in God’s plan, no man can be against you?

I hope you’re shaking your head and vehemently disagreeing with me because that last paragraph was 100% sarcasm.

In the Bible we see that trials and opposition are actually a good thing—and to some extent a matter of joy—because it’s one of the ways that God shapes our faith and matures us (James 1:2-4). We see this all throughout the Scriptures with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, and the disciples.

Trials and opposition are actually a good thing—and to some extent a matter of joy.
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But if you look at it the other way, the presence of opposition doesn’t necessarily equate to God’s leading either.

So what is it? How does God lead?!

Discernment is not random, but it’s not science either. It’s a bit like watching an experienced musician play jazz. They’re not randomly hitting notes, nor are they playing from a blank slate. Instead, being well informed by a deep knowledge of theory, scales, and a large repertoire of music, they start every rehearsal and concert from a place of familiarity and experience.

Discernment is a bit like watching an experienced musician play jazz.
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In the same way, discerning God’s leading is not about randomly putting together a pros/cons list, or just going whatever direction you want to go—hoping that God will bless it. Instead, being well informed by a deep Biblical knowledge of how God has directed his people in the past, that He is a good Father, and that God is for us and not against us, we can approach every situation from a place of familiarity and experience.

And that’s when I heard those words.

After an incredible three days of interviewing and connecting with the staff team at Beulah, it was time for the first weekend service. It was Saturday night, and I was ready. It was the week before Easter, and I was preaching on the fact that Jesus is not only our Saviour, but that He is our King, which means that there is a heavenly kingdom, an anti-kingdom, and citizens on both sides.

And just as I was finishing up the sermon and getting ready to close, I heard those words, “That was the worst sermon you ever preached. Why are you even here? Just go back to Nashville.”

No, it wasn’t from the worship team and no one was heckling me either. Those were the words I heard in my head.

I wish I knew then, what I discovered a couple hours later, but I didn’t. Instead of immediately recognizing those words as flaming arrows from the evil one (Eph 6:16), I just heard them…and unfortunately, I believed them.

There’s a reason biblical community is a critical component to discernment and decision making.

It’s because we all have blind spots! And since it’s the same Holy Spirit that indwells all believers, God will often speak through someone else if your ears are plugged or blinders are up. So stop trying to make decisions in isolation. There’s a word for people who do that, and it’s not “wise.”

Stop trying to make decisions in isolation.
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After the service ended, Christina and I went out to dinner with two of the pastors (and their significant others). And frankly, after hearing what I heard at the end of the service, I didn’t want to. I just wanted to curl up into a ball and go back to Nashville, but we weren’t about to bail during this candidating weekend. So we went.

After finishing up dinner, I decided to turn the table on the interview and ask everyone to share their thoughts on the spiritual state of Beulah and Edmonton. And that’s when it happened. Like blinders being lifted off of a horse, or a cloak coming off of my head, I finally recognized that those words weren’t true. That instead, the words I heard at the end of the sermon were actually lies from the evil one. And guess what? It’s all because of Biblical community! God spoke to and through these couples, to help me see what was really going on.

In that moment, I felt like a huge weight had lifted off of my shoulders. So after this revelation, Christina and I went back to the hotel and continued praying. We were praying for Beulah, for Edmonton, and for his divine leading—essentially, whatever the Holy Spirit was prompting us to pray for.

We were trying to figure out whether this was merely a good opportunity for ministry, or if it was a calling? His calling upon our lives? And that’s when God broke our hearts.

Opportunities and Callings

When discerning and making big decisions, I’ve learned that there’s a difference between an opportunity and a calling. I wish I could present the differences in a chart, but that would seem too exact. It would seem as if I were some expert on the matter, but the fact is I’m not. I’m learning like you are. So here are a few of my thoughts on the differences.

When you’re discerning your next step, recognize that there’s a subtle difference between a good opportunity and a God calling. If it’s an opportunity, you will likely be able to see yourself doing it, or doing something else. Opportunities are abundant, and sometimes when making a decision, it will honestly come down to one opportunity or another—the difference between good and good. In those situations, you need to saturate yourself in prayer and the Scriptures, use wisdom, and listen to the advice of others who love you and love God because sometimes they may see something you don’t. (There’s a reason blind spots are called blind spots. You can’t see them, but others can.) But at end of it all, there are times when you just need to make the call and walk in it—one step at a time.

However, there are other times where, as you are placing yourself at the foot of the cross, God will break your heart and you won’t be able to see yourself doing anything else. Even if it doesn’t make sense, you can’t not do it. Even if you feel inadequate for the task, you are drawn toward it. That’s a sign of a calling, but it’s important to recognize that timing is a different matter.

God may call you to something, but that doesn’t always mean it’s immediate. After God called Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, and Paul to a task, they all had to wait. It wasn’t instant by any means.

When God calls, it’s not always now.
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And that’s what happened on that Saturday night. As Christina and I were placing ourselves at the foot of the cross, meditating on the Scriptures, praying, worshipping, and seeking God’s face, He broke our hearts for Edmonton and for Beulah. That night, we sensed God was saying that this is where He wanted us. That this was the next right thing. And that everything we had learned and done in life was leading us to this next appointment.

So, here we are. Several months later, we’re now back in Edmonton, more excited than ever to help lead Beulah to accomplish its vision to reach 1% of greater Edmonton for Christ.

And it’s not because this is some opportunity. No, it’s because this is a calling—God’s calling on our lives.

So what?

I love what Frederick Buechner says, ““The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

If, after reading this article, you don’t feel like you are working in your calling, don’t quit! Instead, be faithful where you’re at, do your best, serve others as if you’re serving Jesus, and continue to seek His face through reading the Bible, prayer, and the spiritual disciplines because God wants the best for you.

God is a good Father. He is for you and not against you. He will lead you. He will go before you. And He will make a way for you.

Seek first His Kingdom and trust His timing.

If you don’t believe me, spend some time reading these passages from the Bible:

Luke 11Romans 8Matthew 6Proverbs 3

The Most Important Question When Discerning Your Next Steps

Not making the decision isn’t the issue. The issue is not even having the option of making the decision.

It’s not that I don’t like double negatives, it’s just that they can sometimes be tricky to navigate—much like decision making. And boy, was this last year ever a year for decision making.

Five years ago, when we moved down to Nashville to serve the Church in her mission of making disciples with LifeWay Leadership, I never thought we’d be back up in Canada this soon. In fact, we had just gotten permanent residency in the States, which was a long, complicated, and expensive process.

But last Fall, Christina and I began sensing that change was on the horizon. There was this unsettledness in our hearts that couldn’t be explained. We loved everything about our lives in Nashville. Our community was incredible, our church was healthy and growing, our podcast was impacting marriages and families, and my work at LifeWay was affecting and changing church practice. I was also in the middle of writing my third book, while continuing to accept invitations to speak on my previous one. In other words, there was no human reason for us to move, or even consider a change—especially if you’re an Enneagram 3 like I am. In fact, I even heard some people remark that I had their dream job.

So you can probably anticipate how surprised I was when, only a few months later, Christina and I started praying about coming back to Beulah Alliance Church—especially since it was in the middle of an Edmonton winter (#ifyouknowyouknow). And to be crystal clear, this wasn’t some trite little “prayer” that we carelessly tossed up to God. No, this was one of those all-hands-on-deck, get-on-your-knees, everything-is-up-for-grabs, I-can’t-believe-I’m-actually-praying-this kind of prayer.

Here’s why it was one of those prayers.

When Keith Taylor, the Lead Pastor of Beulah for the last 28 years, asked us to pray about coming back, it wasn’t just to fill a gap. He had been asking God to unsettle the right person’s heart who was going to come alongside him and lead Beulah into the future.

Unsettle?

Now I’m no expert in making decisions, but there are certain moments when there are one too many “coincidences” to just let things pass by without some serious reflection and prayer—and this was one of those moments.

I love the image that our friends Kevin and Rea Queen shared with us about discernment and decision making. When a gardener wishes to move a plant, he is going to first dig and prepare the hole that the plant is going to be moved into. It’s only after that place is ready, that the gardener begins to gently unsettle the soil around the plant—until it’s ready to come out.

God is the great gardener, and if you’re in the midst of a transition where you feel like you are being uprooted out of your context, perhaps you need to trust the fact that God has already begun preparing a place for you.

This is because God is a good Father (Luke 11:11-13). And he is for you and not against you (Romans 8:31).

In seasons of transition, your primary responsibility isn’t to strategically outline all possible avenues forward, which has typically been my default go-to method. No, your primary responsibility is to look to and trust in the One who knows all possible avenues forward. In other words, the best thing you can do is to surrender. I’m not referring to some passive laissez-faire approach to life and decision making. I’m talking about actively surrendering your good ideas for God’s best idea for your life.

Surrender your good ideas for God’s best idea for your life.
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And surrendering not only includes your plans, but it also includes your timeline.

After all, isn’t waiting the hardest thing about discernment?

All in all, it was a six month process of discernment for us. There were many points along the way where we just wanted to call it and make the decision—one way or the other—since living in limbo sometimes feels like the worst. But as we were actively surrendering our good plans for God’s best plan, we knew that God was calling us to wait.

For us, the difficulty wasn’t in making the decision, it was not even having the option of making the decision—since God was calling us to wait.

As we were nearing the end of the process, Christina recommended this wonderfully insightful book to help clarify our thoughts, our desires, and our motives. It’s The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman.

At the end of the book, Freeman mentions that in seasons of discernment, it’s helpful to evaluate what the process of discernment has done to your relationship with God and the relationships of those around you. If there’s an increasing measure of strife in your relationship with others, and you seem to be filled with more anxiety than peace, and a desire for control than surrender, then perhaps the thing that you are seeking after isn’t God’s best for your life.

However, if you’ve drawn nearer to the Lord, are filled with a greater measure of peace and surrender, and the relationships around you are stronger and healthier, then perhaps God’s will has already been accomplished in your life? And the result is secondary?

What if the process of discernment is more important than the outcome? And what if God is more concerned with the person you’re becoming, than the place you’re going, or some decision that needs to be made?

What if the process of discernment is more important than the outcome?
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Next week I’ll share the role of a call in decision making, and how that played a part for us in moving back to Edmonton (and why we’re so incredibly excited to be back), but until then, I want to leave you with this question.

Are you willing to surrender your good ideas for God’s best idea for your life?

Or, is being in control and making a decision more important for you?

What Mazda Can Teach You About Core Values

With so many options out there, how do you choose?

I remember the first time I went grocery shopping without my parents and feeling paralyzed by all the different options for salad dressing. I only had one job—to buy salad dressing—yet I couldn’t make the decision.

Do I go for classic ranch or caesar? What about garlic caesar? And why are some cheaper than others? Raspberry vinaigrette sounds good too, but balsamic vinaigrette is the safer option.

And now with Amazon and online shopping, it’s even worse. There are over 8,000 results for “salad dressing” on Amazon!

Well, fast forward several years later, I felt the same way when shopping for a new car…

…but this time, I saw the leadership lesson underneath the surface.

Did you know that clay is still used to design cars? No, I’m not referring to a small lump of clay or Play Doh that you model into a miniature car. I’m referring to full life sized models of cars made out of clay!

Okay, to be honest, I didn’t know that clay was ever used to design cars, but it makes sense as a medium…of the past. From 1927 to the end of the 1950s, Harley Earl of General Motors used clay to design cars. But that was then! These days, car companies have 3D printers, design software, and virtual reality at their disposal, so why would they still use such an archaic method for design?

I didn’t understand why, until I came across this one particular Mazda commercial.

Now, is Mazda the only car company using clay to design their vehicles? By no means! Yet, that commercial helped me see Mazda cars as sculptures of art, rather than hunks of metal or utilitarian modes of transportation.

And it’s all because design is a core value for Mazda.

For Mazda, design is “art that generates a soul.” Here’s how they put it on their website:

We engineer cars that deliver pure driving joy. That starts with alluring design that conveys soul and personality. Design that is uniquely Mazda. Each and every car in our lineup is made to appeal to the senses, and design is the language we use to communicate that. Because we believe your emotional response to them is just as important as their mechanical response to you.

Creating a sense of motion, even at a standstill—That’s the essence of Mazda’s KODO: “Soul of Motion” design philosophy. It allows designers to imbue each model with its own personality while staying true to a unifying theme. Cars are our canvas, and every one we make begs to be driven. We’re honored that drivers are so happy to oblige.

In the same way that an artist wants to evoke a response from his audience, we want to design cars that spark emotion in drivers. Only human hands can create true art and so this is where our process begins. We call it “Exploratory Preparation,” and it rarely includes anything car-like. Rather, we experiment with forms that we find exciting or pleasing and translate these ideas into fabrication, where the human hand always plays a vital role.

We’re in the golden age of computer-aided design. It allows us to render 3D models with a level of accuracy that was out of reach just a few short years ago. But at Mazda, design starts with a block of clay. And for that, there is simply no substitute. Artisans shape the clay until the ideal lines reveal themselves and only then do they collaborate with digital modelers. This traditional/digital partnership takes the best of both worlds to create uniquely appealing designs.

Now to be completely clear, Mazda is not the only car company that uses clay to design their vehicles. In fact, they didn’t even invent the idea—GM was the first one to do it. However, because of their core value for design, they’ve been able to leverage their use of clay and design to set themselves apart from the competition.

Just imagine if Ford, Toyota, or any other non-luxury car company tried the same commercial? It would feel disingenuous, right? After all, Toyota Camry’s are blasé. Honda CR-V’s are utilitarian. Nissan Murano’s look like every other SUV out there. And because Ford keeps on trying to reinvent themselves, I don’t even know what they’re about anymore. Yet the new line of Mazda’s are absolutely stunning—especially for a non-luxury vehicle.

This is because Mazda’s core value of design dictates everything for them.

What core values dictate everything for your church or organization?
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If you were to compare your church or organization to a car company, which one would you liken it to?

From a general point of view, every car company has the same vision and strategy—to make cars, sell cars, and generate profit.

It’s their core values that separates one from the other.

And it’s the same with your church or organization. You might even have two churches in the same neighborhood with the same vision and strategy, but they will feel completely different because of the unique core values of each church.

This is because core values are not what you do; they are what characterize everything you do.

Core values are not what you do; they are what characterize everything you do.
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Here’s how I put it in my book, No Silver Bullets:

Core values “influence behavior and strategic decision-making. They influence the way your systems operate. They influence the strategic decisions and direction you need to make to get to your vision. They are essentially the personality of your church. To put it another way, your values are the litmus test that determines who will feel comfortable in your church and thrive as a valuable member and leader in it. Values are not what you do; they are what characterize everything you do.

So, what are the values of your church? And are they core? Accidental? Permission-to-play? Or aspirational?

Learn more by reading this article on the difference between authenticity vs excellence, or walk through the Values Audit in chapter 7 of my book, No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry.

How to Create a Discipleship Pathway



After surveying and studying the discipleship pathways of thriving churches across North America for my book No Silver Bullets , I discovered that ownership matters when it comes to creating a discipleship pathway.

Most discipleship pathways are typically organized around what the church can do for individuals. This is because churches typically see their discipleship pathway as the ways disciples are formed through the ministries of their church: weekend services, classes, events,
groups, and serve opportunities. And while I don’t disagree that the church needs to offer environments and opportunities for individuals
to get plugged in and grow, I’ve come to discover that
 the goal for a discipleship pathway is never to get someone through it; the goal is to get individuals to own it.

The goal for a discipleship pathway is never to get someone through it; the goal is to get individuals to own it.
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After all, as long as the church owns the pathway, the only possible response for an individual is consumption. This is like the difference between renting and owning, or being an hourly worker versus a shareholder. When something is ours, a shift happens inside of us, and we tend to approach it in a fundamentally different way.

Most discipleship pathways are typically organized around what the church can do for individuals.
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Check out this 90 Second Leadership video I recently filmed for LifeWay Leadership on how to create a discipleship pathway for your church.

If you like what you saw on this video, I elaborate on this concept further in chapter 8 of my book, No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry.

Click here to watch other 90 Second Leadership videos by LifeWay Leadership.

Authenticity vs. Excellence

If you had to choose one, which would you choose?

If you were only known for one of these values, which would you prefer?

If your team could be marked by either authenticity or excellence, which would you rather?

Unless you wrestle through black and white polarizing questions like these ones, you’ll never uncover your true bias.

After all, most leaders would publicly choose both, but when push comes to shove, often lean in one direction or the other. So which direction is that for you?

And that’s the thing. It really is a direction. Authenticity and excellence are not opposites. I’ve been a part of worship services that have been both authentic and excellent—in mega, medium, and micro churches. The same is true for concerts, small groups, staff meetings, service projects, and block parties. All of those gatherings can be simultaneously authentic and excellent, but they often lack one or the other—or both.

Authenticity and excellence are not opposites.
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So if you had to choose one, which would you choose? Or better yet, if authenticity and excellence were on the opposite ends of a spectrum—even though they’re technically not in opposition to one another—where would you mark yourself?

If you had to choose one, which would you choose?

Let’s explore the implications of both choices for the teams that you’re on and the teams that you lead.

1. Choosing excellence over authenticity

Teams that are led with a bias toward excellence over authenticity are often high pressure. Workaholics thrive on teams like this. Enneagram 3s and 8s would be attracted to these environments. Projects are prioritized over people. Hard growth metrics are more important than emotional health. You are judged solely on your public persona—as long as you keep your private life private.

In other words, teams that value excellence over authenticity will often out-do, out-perform, and out-grow every other team—on the surface.

2. Choosing authenticity over excellence

Teams that are led with a bias toward authenticity over excellence often have a higher level of emotional health and sense of balance. Projects and new initiatives are typically evaluated in light of a longer time frame, rather than a quick win. Newcomers and outsiders are often overlooked, since there’s a greater emphasis on internal health than external growth. Status quo is okay, as long as people are working toward a healthy sense of balance.

In other words, teams that value authenticity over excellence will often run longer, remain healthier, and grow deeper than every other team.

3. Choosing authenticity AND excellence

Now what if you could choose both? While that would be ideal—especially to take the positive attributes of excellent and authentic cultures, and throw away the negative ones—most leaders typically lean one way or the other.

Most leaders typically lean one way or the other.
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So first things first: determine which side you lean toward and have a natural bias for. Once you figure that out, make sure you have others around you who ooze out the other value. And instead of trying to conform them to your preference or unintentionally punish anyone that exhibits that value, have a conversation around ways you can elevate both values—each in the appropriate time and situation.

If you haven’t sat down and identified the core values for your team, make sure to work through the Values Audit in chapter 7 of my book, No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry. Alternatively, I also have a coaching process where I’ve helped churches identify their core values. Just leave a comment below and I’ll reach out to you with more information.

Ultimately, the question isn’t about authority versus excellence. It’s a matter of how much of both—especially since a lack of authenticity is a nonstarter. It basically disqualifies you before the race even begins.

A lack of authenticity is a nonstarter. It basically disqualifies you before the race even begins.
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Discipleship in the Local Church

When I spoke at the Calvary Chapel Global Pastors and Leaders Conference last year, I had the privilege of being on “Things That Matter” with Brian Brodersen, who is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.

Check out this episode where he interviews me on my faith story, the role of discipleship in the local church, spiritual maturity, and how we can define maturity differently.

Next Steps:

Watch my talk from the conference on “The Power of the Gospel and Discipleship Systems”
Read my book, No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry to learn more about the role of discipleship in the local church