I know we can’t spend our lives on the defensive.
I also realize that, when it comes to personal offense, we’re called to turn the other cheek.
The best strategy for dealing with critical, nasty people is usually to ignore them.

Nevertheless, I think every once in a while, it’s good to check a hater.
Sometimes, God might want to use you to shut down a rumor cycle or a negative conversation.

When you hear someone talking crap about a fellow believer, slandering their character, or impugning their motives, why not speak up?

How about saying something like:
“I don’t agree with what you’re saying about him/her, and I’d appreciate it if you stopped.”
Or:
“I’d prefer we didn’t go there. ___ is a good man/woman from what I know, and besides, he/she isn’t here to defend himself/herself.”

I was in a situation recently where I felt I was being baited to drag someone’s name through the mud.
Three different times over the course of the conversation, I stood up for the person in question, and it felt good.
Other times, I haven’t done so well with this. I kind of cowered. Those times, I feel kind of sick to my stomach.

No, you’re not called to police the attitudes and actions of others.
But, if you get the chance to check a hater, and in so doing, defend someone, don’t be a wuss.

There’s an old adage in the corporate world that says that you can be so busy working in your business that you never work on your business. You can be so focused on simply doing what needs to get done that you never take time to really critique the merit of what’s being done.

Is this the best model for our ministry or business?
Do we have the best systems and processes in place?
Are the best people at the table to do what needs to be done?

Elevation isn’t immune to this tendency of working in vs. working on. That’s why over the past two days at our annual Staff Advance (the Church never retreats), we’ve been doing the arduous task of auditing everything we do as a church. We filtered our critique through one question: Is this the best we can do?

At live production. Volunteer teams. Small groups. Videos. Branding. Children’s ministry. Web presence. And everything else under the sun.

If not, what are the next steps to becoming the best in these areas? Who in the church world or the business world is doing it better and what can we learn from them and implement?

It definitely wasn’t an exercise in pride-building. There are some things we need to work on. But it also wasn’t an exercise in false humility. There are some areas where we’re really doing great and we just need to take some of the best practices of other organizations and become even better.

Let me assure you: there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the absolute best you can be so you can do all that God has called you to do. I fear that churches too often take on the perspective that since God is our standard, we can put out crap compared to the rest of the world and it’s OK. Well, it’s not. Our perspective should be, God is our standard, so we should be the best in the world because we have the only thing in the world worth being the best for.

So whether you’re a pastor or district manager, I’d suggest you get in front of your team, read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and 2 Timothy 2:15 for foundation, and have this discussion:

Is what we’re doing right now the best we can do? What needs to be cut? What or who needs to be added? Who in our industry is the best? What can we learn from them and implement?

The Elevation staff pushed itself harder than it ever has the past two days, and God is making us better than we’ve ever been. Do the same for yourself, and God will do the same for you.

Organization Not Optional

Once an idea is recorded, we are now getting into territory where personal preference becomes more of a factor than before. Getting your ideas down isn’t optional. The process you use to organize them is. Ultimately, go with whatever you’re comfortable with and understand. If you can’t use your system, there’s no point in having it.

My own preference is using a spreadsheet with multiple tabs covering different categories and platforms of communication (e.g. blog ideas, sermon illustrations, leadership teaching, staff meeting teachings). Once a week I sit down with my assistants and list every idea I’ve had over the past week with the main idea, any scriptures I want to use with it, and the category or platform it belongs in. Each idea is then listed chronologically within its assigned category. This way, I can see all of the resources I have within a particular area and have access to the freshest concepts within it.

Whatever method you go with, keep in mind that your organizational preference is optional. Being organized isn’t. Many pastors use the excuse that they’re not naturally organized. Translated, that means, “I’m too lazy to take the time to make my ideas more accessible.“ When God has given you inspiration, there is no excuse for mishandling it. Even if it doesn’t come naturally for you. Do the hard work. If nothing else, find someone who is more organized and empower them to do it for you according to your preferred design.

Execution Matters Most

Ideas are overrated. Execution is what really matters. Ideas become reality because of something you do. Not because they are written down. So it’s essential that you have some kind of a system to make sure your thoughts are being filtered into your sermons, blogs, staff teachings, and any other place where you have a platform. If not, all you have done is buried them in a document rather than in your memory.

In my case, I have an assistant who regularly goes through my spreadsheet and makes sure the strongest ideas are being implemented in their respective areas. For example, when it comes time to plan out our sermons for the year, he has access to every single series idea I’ve envisioned up to that point. If we want to do a series on giving, everything I need on that topic is put in front of me.

You might not have the luxury of having a paid staff member to help you do all of this. But don’t let this stop you. Find a volunteer. Or set aside a set time in your calendar every week and do it yourself. The dividends it pays far outweigh the time and energy you will ever put into it.

And remember that it’s not ultimately about efficiency. This is about learning to harness the infinite sum of knowledge and inspiration that is at our disposal because of the God we serve.

Considering the fact that we have a God who is constantly at work to reveal Himself, there should not be another group on the planet that is coming up with better ideas than the people he has chosen to use as his instruments of revelation. Let’s not waste what we have at our disposal.

Easter is almost here.  Jesus is alive.  The tomb is empty.  And we’ve got good news to tell.

Recently, I challenged a group of pastors at an exclusive leadership event about the urgency of boldly presenting the Gospel and clearly inviting people to respond to Jesus.

As we get ready to do the most important work in the universe this weekend, I want you to take a few minutes to watch this clip.  It’s addressed to pastors.  But it applies to everyone who serves in the local church.  So whether you’re parking cars this weekend, changing diapers, or begging your sister to come with you just one time, this is for you.

I’m praying that God would give all of our churches an exponential, logic defying, God glorifying harvest this Easter weekend.  Go big.  Be bold.

Do what God has called you to do like lives depend on it.

Because they do.

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