Wesleyan

ifollow and Youth Ministry Resources

My good friend Scott Simmons finished his first book and it has become a great discipleship tool that many youth groups are using. Our group is almost through with the 10 week study and has thoroughly enjoyed it. ifollow is a great resource for groups or individuals looking to take the next step in their journey with Christ. Scott is the Director of Youth Ministries for the Wesleyan denomination.

Welcome to the Planet is a great resource that will take your youth group through the 5 purposes of the church. This 6 week study includes powerpoints, outlines, transcripts, and games to help you promote and implement this great series.

Check out these other great sermon series:

Thoughts on a Variety of Topics

1. I wonder how a pro-life supporter can kill someone(in a church)in cold blood because that person is pro-choice.

2. I wonder how many pastors(youth pastors especially) we will see get “let go”, “fired”, “inner circle word for getting fired(copyright, Heath Mullikin 2008)” before the Wesleyan denomination steps in and adds some real job protections to the Discipline. How about when the youth pastor signs a yearly housing lease(because he’s asked to by the board) and shortly after is let go with a pricey out clause? In the corporate world, that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. On the flip side, if the pastor jets in an untimely and unclassey way then he should be penalized like a college basketball coach. At some point, a DS should step in and say, “nope, you ain’t gonna do that to these good people. You’re taking a year off.”

3. I wonder if the John Wesley movie is going to be as bad as I think it is. I wonder if the 5’4″ Wesley appreciates being portrayed by a guy big enough to be an NFL TE(that’s Tight End for all you non-fantasy football players). I wonder if, as Wesleyans, we are obligated to promote a substandard product which may do more harm than good. Of course, the film may be great and I will see it regardless. I thought “Amazing Grace” was great. I just don’t see Mr. Calvin getting this kind of theatrical treatment. When I see the movie(can’t find the release date on www.comingsoon.net which isn’t a good sign) I will give it a fair review and probably take a bunch of people to see it with me. We may even rent out the whole theater. I’m sure Jam can get us a deal at Cinemark in Asheboro.

4. I wonder if TLC is “The Learning Channel” then what are they teaching us with season 5 of Jon and Kate(episode 2 is on as I type). Why would the couple or the network sign on for 40 episodes in the midst of the beginnings of the current scandal(oh wait, I just dropped a dollar, now where was I)? This season is going to be like Nascar-everyone is watching for the wrecks.

5. I wonder how I game I am so terrible at(golf) brings me so much joy? I will break 100 before year’s end. Just gotta get my arm fixed first. Is there such a thing as golfer’s elbow/forearm or that just called old man syndrome?

6. I wonder why I made my wife wait while I finished typing this. I’m an idiot.

When a Wesleyan Pastor Can’t Sleep

I’ll be honest. I don’t know that I necessarily have anything important to say, but it is 3:34 am and I can’t sleep. I started getting a head cold on Saturday and have felt kinda yucky all weekend. There’s a busy week ahead with our grand re-opening of our youth center on Friday night. The floor needs to be painted and the room needs to be decorated. I have an idea of the look I’m trying to achieve so it’s exciting. I’m hoping I can get all of this done so I can play golf on Thursday. I am addicted to this game once again and found a nice cheap set and putter the other day that I’m interested in. My problem is I’m terrible and am just getting used to my clubs again. My putting has been tremendous, but it’s the other 80 or so shots that kill my score. I started hitting the ball better than I ever have at the end of my last round so I’m anxious to get out. I will probably always be the worst Wesleyan pastor golfer on the planet. The last time we played threw off my whole schedule for the week [Read more…] about When a Wesleyan Pastor Can’t Sleep

Vision

Glasses and contacts — How's your Vision?

Vision is scary. A lack of vision is even scarier. I’ve become a big fan of Newspring church in Anderson, SC and Senior Pastor Perry Noble. God has given him a vision for Newspring and during their current Gametime series he is outlining it for the congregation. www.newspring.cc He presents it with such passion and it is encouraging to see a church that is actually going somewhere because their pastor is leading them. I see so many churches that are just in maintenance mode. The pastor is working day to day. I don’t want to be like that. I want God to help me dream big for Chi United. I believe the Senior Pastor has a vision I can support and we’re going to see God move(He already is). However, I keep asking myself, am I dreaming big enough? A volunteer told me at a children’s ministry meeting tonight that thinking we would be up to 60 kids by Christmas wasn’t enough. She said that God could do more. It was awesome because this is an older lady who is so passionate about children’s ministry even with poor health. I wish I had 100 more volunteers like her. It was [Read more…] about Vision

The Drive Home

It is about a 10-15 minute drive from our house to the church. It’s almost all on I-95 and as soon as I hit it on the way home I get lonesome. I just start calling people. It’s good to hear their voices, their stories, and reports from home. Sometimes sports talk radio isn’t enough to fill the void in a way that a familiar voice can.

Sometimes, God and I chat about things. I ask Him how I’m doing and I pray that our church can reach the thousands of people I pass each day. In the places I see God moving, I see strong uncompromising leadership and vision. I wonder if I’ve got that in me or if I’m capable of God putting it in me. I think I’d love to plant a church someday, but I’m not sure that’s what God has for us. I’ve always said there needs to be a Wesleyan church in Pendleton, SC. Now people are telling me we need one in Wilmington, DE. I’m not sure if I call people to make sure they haven’t fallen off the face of the earth as much as to let them know that I haven’t. I know I do too much of the talking most of the time, but I try to ask as many questions as possible. I have to be careful. Am I gathering information or sharing life with these people? I think there’s a [Read more…] about The Drive Home

Communion

517002_38589172 — My hands tremble when I hold the Bread.

I must say that the most heart pounding thing I experience in ministry is serving communion. I look at everyone’s hands. It is truly remarkable when you think of all the stories. I see young hands, old hands, smooth hands, dirty hands, tatooed hands, arthritic hands, deformed hands, and hands of different colors. It’s amazing to see people’s faces. Some have received communion a thousand times, but they still approach with anticipation. Some come because the person next to them came and that’s all they knew to do. Some come feeling unworthy and nervous. Others come as if to say,”That’s my Jesus who died for me!” I always get a lump in my throat and if there ever comes a time when I don’t then I would expect myself to hand my element to someone else. I also always feel unworthy, and I hope that never changes. Maybe that’s just me. The worship was great today with God’s presence all around. People continue to return from summer vacation and attendance has picked up.

We had [Read more…] about Communion