By Mevin
Emeril, the chef-humorist on the TV Food Channel, regularly says, “Let’s take it up another notch!” And he does. Likewise, Paul and Barnabas, apostles of Jesus Christ, according to Acts 14:1, took their ministry “up another notch”-from just speaking, to speaking so effectively: “There (in Iconium) they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.”
The following four key words of the Acts report suggest four key ideas to lay pastors who want to take their pastoring “up another notch.”
SPOKE: Your verbal initiatives, articulating words of care.
EFFECTIVELY: Passionately, clearly, truthfully, with love.
GREAT NUMBER: “So effectively” does more than “Just do it.”
BELIEVED: “Mission Accomplished.”
Through the years I have championed the Nike slogan, “Just Do It,” citing God’s promise from Psalm 1:3 – “Whatever he does prospers.” This is true! God is prospering all you do! However, God will prosper you even more when you take your ministry up another notch.
You find this higher notch in Romans 12:6-8. (So effectively is an ellipse in three of the seven spiritual gifts.)
If your gift is serving, serve so effectively!
If your gift is teaching, teach so effectively!
If your gift is encouraging, encourage so effectively!
Three other gifts include adverbs synonymous for so effectively.*
If your gift is contributing; give generously.
If your gift is leadership, lead diligently;**
If your gift is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.
Lay pastor, God has give you gifts for shepherding a small but significant part of His great flock.
Don’t “Just Do It,” DO IT SO EFFECTIVELY.
here are TOW: (1) Engage your mind-body tie-in; (2) Release your spirit.
First, engage your mind-body tie-in:
■ Make sure of your gift and call.
■ Spend time with God
■ Spend time with and for your people.
■ Listen, get on your people’s agenda, focus on them
■ Show respect by being thoughtful, polite and courteous.
■ Seek ongoing training so as to grow in effectiveness
Second, release your spirit: (Romans 12:9-13):
■ Love (agape, fileo and godly eros)
■ Sincerity (love must be real, not feigned)
■ Hate evil (cling to Christian standards for living)
■ Devoted (in brotherly and sisterly love)
■ Humble (honor others above yourself)
■ Zealous’ fervent (with passion and commitment)
■ Serving (with a servant spirit)
■ Joyful (an inner happiness, delight, excitement)
■ Patient (don’s rush to judgment)
■ Faithful (dependable, consistent, steady)
■ Sharing (generous, outgoing, self denying)
■ Hospitable (welcoming, open, warm hearted)
Do you wish to take your pastoral care ministry up another notch? I know you do. I know you want to serve your God and your people well. I know you desire to really make a difference in their lives. By taking your ministry up another notch, your Chief Shepherd may say at His appearing (I Peter 5:4), not just, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” but “Very well done, good and faithful servant.”
**Someone said of the gift of leadership. “If leadership is your gift, then for God’s sake, lead!” In other words, lead effectively! Lay pastors, whose gifts are encouraging and mercy: “If caring for others is your gift, then for God’s sake, care for others…effectively!