Barnabas File

In a recent post, I stated that most churches will settle for being “good” rather than “great.”  So what does a great church look like?  I am not talking about numbers.  Being a great church has nothing to do with numbers—people attending, services offered, funds received.  A great church is characterized by the willingness of its members and leaders to pursue certain tasks. A great church both prays to God and listens for God’s response.  Great churches have members who are willing to lay their concerns, hopes, and fears before God and to be patient enough to listen for an answer.  This means that the church is willing to hold everything loosely —ministries, budgets, leaders—and place it all in God’s hands. A great church values its people as their number one resource whether they are children, adults, or retired people.  A concerted effort is made not only to teach the Bible but to apply it to life.  Leaders listen to members and disc...

Although mentoring has been practiced for generations on both informal and formal bases, the practice has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years as a means to encourage gender, racial, and socio-economic diversity in leadership of all types of organizations. In Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring: Lean Forward, Learn, Leverage , Lisa Z. Fain and Lois J. Zachary offer a three-part model for taking advantage of this process to develop leaders in contemporary settings: Part One:     Learn Forward into Differences Part Two:     Learn from Differences Part Three:     Leverage Differences There are three key foundational ideas for this model.  First, differences can be leveraged to build successful mentoring relationships.  Second, mentoring takes intentional planning, hard work, and commitment to effective communication.  Third, the learning that comes from mentoring is a two-way street--it benefi...

If you are like me, you have a natural aversion to engaging in a conversation about money.     There are times, however, when we have to step up and accept the challenge.     There may be a specific need in the life of the church, a person in need, or a significant ministry opportunity.    On those occasions, there are some key things to remember. First, it’s not about you.  Although your relationship may have opened the door for the conversation, you are asking for a contribution because you believe in the cause the person would be funding.  Even though it may be supporting a ministry where you are the key leader, you are seeking a gift for something bigger than yourself, one that will benefit others. Second, be prepared to offer a clear, concise description of the cause and the anticipated outcomes or results.  For example, “When we fund this initiative, we will provide weekend meals for over 400 elementary school ...

On a recent Sunday, I had the opportunity to lead a presentation for adults and youth on “The Spiritual Dimensions of Star Wars.”     Much of the content has been published here in blog format. After the session, one of the adults texted me with this comment: “I always enjoy any chance to tie pop culture to Christian faith and beliefs, and I know it helps me find new ways to witness in conversations not directly faith-related.”   This was a great insight.  Those of us who call ourselves “moderate Baptists” often struggle with the term “evangelism,” but my friend had discovered one of the most effective ways we can engage with the culture in order to communicate our faith. There are three levels to the Star Wars films or what we now call the Skywalker Saga. First, there is  the  Commercial/Entertainment/Pop Culture level.  The studios continue to make these movies because they make money, but George Lucas made the first fil...

When we promote coach training, we often refer to the process as “an additional tool in your ministry toolbox.”     As I talked with a ministry leader this week about coach training for his denomination, I realized that coaching is much more than simply a skill. First, it is a biblical approach to developing disciples.  We believe that each person is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and is unique in the sight of God.  Because of this, each of us has a special calling, one that can be discerned through interaction with a coach.  As believers we are also commanded to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18, NIV).  Entering into the life of faith is just the beginning because we are invited into a process of lifelong learning and serving.   This journey can be facilitated through a relationship with a Christian coach. Second, coaching is a way of knowing....

Qui-Gon Jinn checks Anakin's blood for midi-chlorians The Star Wars films gave us a new pop-culture phrase: “May the Force be with you.”  Christians should not jump to the conclusion that this greeting is equivalent to, “God with you.”  This is one place that that Star Ways mythology and Christian theology do not intersect. In A New Hope (Episode four) viewers of the Skywalker Saga are introduced to the Force.  In the original trilogy, the Force is a spiritual, almost magical, power that the Jedi use to control objects and manipulate minds.  Although others may experience the Force in some ways, Jedi are called to become masters of the Force and use it for benevolent purposes. When the prequel series was developed, creator George Lucas felt it necessary to provide a physical and biological explanation for the Force.  Jedi Master  Qui-Gon Jinn explains to young Anakin Skywalker: " Without the midi-chlorians, life co...

Add caption (Many spoilers here.) Perhaps the theme in the Skywalker Saga that finds the most resonance with the Christian faith is the theme of fall and redemption.    The Book of Genesis recounts the fall of humankind in the Garden of Eden and the destruction of the world due to humanity’s rebellion as well as the first steps toward redemption through the call of Abram to be the father of a great nation. Of course, this process of redemption only comes to fruition in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like most humans, key characters in the Skywalker Saga are flawed people who fail and seek redemption. Anakin Skywalker is “the chosen one” who is meant to bring balance the Force.  In Attack of Clones (Episode two), Anakin has become a prideful, petulant teen-ager who thinks he knows everything.  According to Christian writer C. S. Lewis, pride was the original sin of humanity, thinking that the creature could attain...