YGT: Administration Idol

Critiquing administration in a church is a lot like judging American Idol - anyone can do it.  You don't have to be a great singer to hear another person sing and immediately know "They CAN'T sing".  Likewise, we don't have to be good at administration to know when others aren't good at it.  When we attend church, we know immediately whether the administration is good or not.  We observe the orderliness of the ushers, the organization of the service, and even the parking situation!  We cast our vote immediately for whether a church can "sing" or not.  


It's helpful to observe Acts 2 to see what administration for the first church must have looked like.  They had lots of administrative headaches and yet they completed them with gladness, sincerity, grace, wisdom, and the Spirit.

• There was the exchanging of money between the rich and poor (someone had to be counting the money and distributing it) - v. 45 and Acts 4:33-37
• Lots of people were being fed everyday (someone was cooking and others were serving) - v. 46 and Acts 6:2-3
• There were people being added to the church daily (perhaps through baptism and/or teaching) - v. 47 and Acts 6:1

To be completely honest, I've often overlooked administration.  I would rather idealize, create, and do.  But over time, I've come to realize that effective administration is crucial to ministry.  It was critical for the first church to succeed and it's even more critical today.  Some of the worst testimonies of the church are from poor administration.  Almost everybody knows of a church that has experienced financial mismanagement, grumpy servants, or unorganized teaching.  


This is not an indictment on any particular church, but a calling to see administration as a spiritual gift.  If we are indeed a body, administration can be compared to the muscles.  They're usually never seen (and when they are, that means there's a serious problem).  However, the better the muscle is, the more that can be accomplished by the leg, arm, waist ... or voice.  When that happens, we can all readily agree, "That church can sing!"

Lord, please forgive me for overlooking administrative tasks.  Please help me to be better at responding to emails, meeting deadlines, and organizing my life.  Thank you for the people you have given to the church to help disciple your people.  For every trustee, usher, and secretary, thank You.  Please grant them each the grace, wisdom, and love that they may administer in Your Spirit.  Let all things be done decently and in order.  In Christ's name, Amen.  

Repenting,

j.a.g.

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Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

Acts 4:33-37
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all
34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.


Acts 6:1-3
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

YGT: A Prophetic Vacation Home

Never forget where you came from…

This week, Ashley, Jocelyn, and I are in our hometown East Chicago, Indiana. Coming to EC is always a mixed blessing.  In the midst of the reunions and irreplaceable people, is the reality of change.  I’m no longer who I was when I lived here, but I’m still connected in a way that can never be changed.  I love the community even though it’s hard to see it flatlining in some areas and declining in others.  Somehow, I don’t feel I’m alone in this.  Even Jesus felt that it was difficult to go home (Mark 6:4 below)

Today, I attended Apostolic Faith Church in Chicago and heard a powerful sermon by Bishop Horace Smith.  He preached about having “Prophetic Vision”.  In the message, he remarked on the many ways we limit ourselves in what we believe.  One of the ways we do this is by looking back and becoming satisfied with what we've become.  God is doing a “new thing” (Isaiah 43), he exclaimed.  This encouraged me not to become complacent in the vision God has for my life. 

Another great word from the Bishop - “God doesn’t give you more Holy Ghost”.  He only renews the Holy Spirit that was lying dormant in a believer.  I surely felt the spirit awakened in service.  Today was a day of renewal. 

As I was saying - Never forget where you came from... but never forget where you're going.

Lord, thank You for the power of going home.  Please bless the city of East Chicago, it's leaders, and it's children.  I'm grateful to have a place to return and be revived.  We await our final vacation home with You.  In Christ's name, Amen.

Enjoying,

j.a.g.

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Mark 6:4
Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”

On Spiritual (ESPN) Distractions

Yesterday, Ashley and I went to Indianapolis for a doctor’s visit and to attend the Glory to Glory Conference at Cathedral of Praise COGIC. We were not sure if we would go due to the weather forecast – there was a flood warning in Bloomington and thunderstorms were expected throughout the area. We talked about it, prayed, and decided to go in faith that God would watch over our trip.

What we experienced was a reminder of the significance of focusing on the spirit. At the conference, the preacher spoke about many things, but what resonated was his celebration of the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) as an essential part of victorious living. Christians have been given the Holy Ghost, promised through Jesus Christ (John 16:7, below), to empower their witness and allow them to live in love. Last night was a powerful experience of God’s desire for all believers, a life of fruitfulness through His Spirit.

Personally, this reached me because lately there has been one thing that has tried to distract me from focusing on things of the spirit. That is sports. Wow, I said it… My name is Jeremy and I am addicted to sports. I watch ESPN at least once daily and monitor my fantasy baseball team during work hours, during home hours, and other hours in between. Recently, I have begun to pull back from this hobby because I noticed it was consuming too much of my time and thoughts. (I should say that there is nothing wrong with having a hobby – in fact, we NEED hobbies, they give us balance, perspective, and variety in life – but when a hobby makes demands that limit your spirituality, it has become a distraction.) Last night, the preacher articulated why I need to control things that threaten to steal my effectiveness as God’s child. He said “de-emphasize the flesh, and you maximize the spirit”.

That is the thought that I carry with me today and moving forward. My flesh, or human nature, focuses on being entertained, my spirit should focus on being like God. Simply put, if I am seeking to be more like the heavenly Father, I have to make the spirit of God a priority in my life. As we arrived home after our trip, I realized that in the 9 hours we were gone yesterday, it only rained for 5 minutes. Indeed, God held back the flood and storms (our own Red Sea experience - Exodus 14:21-22, below)! He must have been seeing if we were going to travel in faith or be distracted by doubt. I’m glad we trusted the spirit…




Lord, thank You for last night. Thank You for the Holy Ghost. Thank You for obedience. Please let us hear Your voice and live in the Spirit daily. Give us the strength and wisdom to remove distractions. We have to seek His leading, be open to His instruction, and utilize the gifts he’s given us for Your glory. It is an awesome task to be used as Your child. Let us remember this when we are tempted to become distracted, even by innocent activities. I love You and thank You for all things.





Grateful for the blog-iversary,
j.a.g.








John 16:7 (NASB)
"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”


Exodus 14:20-21 (NASB)
21...and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.