Tag: Church Leadership

numbers

Week 2: Day 2- Numbers 14:10

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

This Weeks Passage: Numbers 14:5-19

10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

Numbers 14:10

Explanation:

The children of Israel did not buy into the speech that Joshua and Caelb gave. What they said was true, logical, life giving, and to be preferred. Yet fear is a powerful thing. Fear lead to rebellion. Rebellion lead to a desire to judge the messenger. Stoning was the penalty for being a false witness. These people were making a statement about Joshua and Caleb. They were denying that they were speaking God’s will. They had every intention of stoning Joshua and Caleb, but God protected them when the people of Israel saw his glory.

So here’s the progression:

  • Joshua and Caleb spoke up for the Lord and for the people.
  • Joshua and Caleb were judged by the people.
  • Joshua and Caleb were about to be executed by the people.
  • God stepped in for their protection.

Application:

No matter how logical and right one’s position may be, if fear grips the heart, or someones mind is set against you, they may seek to judge and to fight. God will protect His kids, but it may not always be in the way we want him to or in the timing that we desire. This is a sobering thought.

God knows what is best and it is good for us to trust Him. We must be courageous and stand up for what is right no matter the consequences.

Response:

  1. Are you right with the Lord?
  2. Are you fearful to stand up for what is right? Be courageous.
numbers

Week 2: Day 1- Numbers 14:5-9

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional, Leadership, Ministry2 Comments

This Weeks Passage: Numbers 14:5-19

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.8 If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

Numbers 14:5-9

Explanation:

In verses 5-6 Moses and Aaron went face down in response to the rebellion of the people. Joshua and Caleb, two of the twelve spies that entered in to the land, ripped their clothes off- a sign of passion and distress. Their message took four main thoughts.

First, they said that the children of Israel were blessed to have the opportunity of the good land that they had spied out. Second, they said God would give them the land. Third, they pleaded with the people not to rebel against God because of fear. Lastly, they pleaded with the people not to fear the people of the land, for they are “bread”, or God’s provision, for them in this new land.

Joshua and Caleb’s faith in God and desire to obey lead them to courageously and articulately stand up to this crowd of people. Ultimately this crowds decision lead to dire consequences, but Joshua and Caleb were brought through these consequences. God used them despite the decision of the majority.

Application:

Whether or not we can win the argument that God wants us to make is not a factor in standing up for what is right. The potential that others may not listen to us should not keep us from making that argument. Just because it is God’s will or desire doesn’t ensure that the people will buy in. Yet, if it is what God wants us to say, we should say it clearly and passionately.

  • We should passionately pursue discovering what God desires.
  • We should passionately obey what God desires.
  • We should passionately proclaim what God desires.

Response:

  1. What scares you or keeps you from standing up for what is right?
  2. Are you a Joshua and Caleb, or are you a scared spy?
  3. Are you passionately pursuing, obeying and proclaiming God’s desires for your life?

The Strategic Power of Prayer (and Prayer Requests) for Sunday School and Group Leaders

On By Ben JenningsIn Sunday School & GroupsLeave a comment

Prayer-webIf you want your class to grow, both numerically and spiritually, then you have to be a leader who prays.  Prayer helps us to realize that we cannot do what we’re called to do all on our own.  Prayer helps us to admit to ourselves and confess to God that the ministry we need to do cannot be done without his intervening power and work.  We need Him to work for our ministry to be what He wants it to be.

Here are a few prayer strategies that will help you minister to your class.  You may already do some of these things.  If so, be encouraged by these good reminders:

  1. Take prayer requests in class, and write them down.

The chances of you remembering to pray for their requests later go way up when you commit to write them down every week.

  1. Commit to regular prayer for your class.

Once you’ve written them down you’ll be able to pray for them later on in the week.  Choose at least one day a week to pray for those requests.  It would be best to pray for them every day, but doing something is better than doing nothing.  Set a reminder somewhere and pray!  You can’t take people to places you have never been.  If you want a praying class, then you need to be a praying leader.

  1. Follow up on the requests.

Remembering prayer requests that the people in your class have, praying for them, and then following up with them regarding their prayer requests can be an incredible way to say to those in your class that you care about them.  Have you ever had someone come up to you and ask you about a specific prayer need that you had previously mentioned?  Have you ever caught someone praying for you?  There are very few people who would not be encouraged by knowing that someone had been praying for them and thinking about them.  You may be amazed at what a 5 minute phone call would do to encourage someone.  A text or an email asking them about their job search, a sickness, or the lost son or daughter, can speak volumes about your love for them.  It may be difficult to do this with everyone in the class, but picking out one or two people a week follow up with can have a profound effect on the class.

  1. Pray one-on-one.

Did you know that you can pray with someone over the phone?  You can also pray with them in between the rows between services, or before class in your room.  When someone tells you, “Hey, please pray for my _____________…”, one way you can respond is, “Let’s pray right now!”  I have been blessed by hearing people I love pray for me by name and out loud.  You will be a blessing to others when you do that for them.

  1. Pray for the lost in your class.

One way you can tell that a class has an inward or outward focus is to listen to their prayer requests.  One of the ways that you can help begin to foster an evangelistic spirit in your class is to pray for those who need Christ.  Periodically, try a week of only taking prayer requests regarding people your class knows who are lost.  If they won’t pray for lost people you’ll have a hard time convincing them to talk to lost people about the gospel.

  1. Celebrate answered prayer.

Prayer works!  When you see God work make sure to communicate it to the class.  Thank God publically through prayer each week for what He has done!  It will help the faith of your class to recognize God working among you.

Do any of you have any other ideas in regards to prayer and your classes?  Please share!