TITUS CONNECTION Volume 16, Number 12 – December, 2022

WISE INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TITUS CONNECTION

Volume 16, Number 12 – December, 2022

Greetings. Let me one of the first to wish you and your family a very Merry & Blessed Christmas and a Happy, New Year. Be encouraged by the Leadership and Youth Ministry articles. Mike

 

SOMEONE IS HAVING GREATER MINISTRY SUCCESS! THAT’S UNFAIR!

How does that make you feel? You work your hardest and work to remain faithful to the Lord and some new guy opens a church, AND everyone is flocking to hear him. That is not fair, in fact, God, it makes me angry as I have faithfully served you and sacrificially living my life, so Your Name would be proclaimed.

Have any of us ever felt that way? We don’t want to be jealous or envious but it hurts when someone leaves our church or group to go somewhere else when it seems more appealing or exiting over there. How should we react and deal with such feelings?

Jesus was beginning His ministry to include baptizing when an argument between some of John’s disciples and certain Jews about Jesus’ ministry. “Hey, we hear that people are flocking to check out the new guy and he is drawing great numbers. You got this guy started in ministry and now he is taking your people! Doesn’t that bother you?” (John 3:22-26)

John’s reply is classic. “My responsibilities lie in preparing the way for Jesus. I am not the bridegroom nor the bride. I got invited to the wedding, I am a guest. With Jesus here, I am overjoyed! I know what my role has been so now Jesus is the focus and I need to and am fading into the background. It is that simple and I am completely content with that.” (John 3:27-30)

“Jesus came from the Father as He is the Messiah. His Words are truth and He is eternal life. I am not. Heed His Words so you believe in Him and receive that life.” (John 3:31-32)

Okay. Here is the bottom line. God is in control and does not need anyone of us to build His Kingdom. It is simply a privilege to be a part of what He is doing. As you discover your uniqueness in how you were created and the opportunities God presents to you to serve and worship Him, carry them out, and one, be utterly joyful that you are part of His work and second, the results are completely up to Him, in His timing and process. Nothing more, nothing less.

People need to see Jesus, not anyone of us. He is salvation and eternal life. I do not carry a candle to who He is. Sweep away pride and any power you think you have. We are His workmanship, made for His glory. Keep that attitude and it will be amazing how God will work in and through you.

We would have a lot less jealousy and fighting between Christians if we would follow John’s example he set when he responded to the Jews. It is easy to get hurt. It takes courage and humility to stay in the place and role God presents to us.

If I can’t rejoice when something good happens to another person, especially another Christian or can’t rejoice when God uses another church or Christian to promote and develop HIS Kingdom, I have an attitude problem and it can be a root of bitterness that potentially will destroy my testimony for Him and also lose out on opportunity blessings God in His sovereignty, offers to His children! So how will I respond?

 

YOUTH MINISTRY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATES TRUE RELATIONSHIPS

Jesus had the perfect blueprint on how to impact people. He built relationships. We celebrate His birth this month; He became a human being. As people say in church, “God Incarnate”. To become one of us was ingenious.

To truly make a difference in someone’s life, there has to be a real connection. Acquaintances are wonderful but to have a good, close friend is priceless. Proverbs 18:24, “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother”. If you have someone who is honest and open with you to help you, you have a gem.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Proverbs 27:17). When iron strikes iron, the surfaces heat up and sparks fly. When you have a friend who strengthens and makes you better, challenges you in the right ways, that person truly is a gift from the Lord to you.

A true spiritual leader, Howard Hendricks said that If you want impress people, you do it from afar, but if you want to impact people, you have to get up close and personal. When we do not delve into the lives of people and not get close to someone, you can impress that person all you want because they really do not know you. But if you want to have a lasting difference, then you need to “rub” shoulders and step into one’s life and really get to know the person(s).

It is hard to hide from someone when that person knows you well. My wife Ann knows me the best of any person on earth. She can pick up on very little things that I do and know what is going on inside of me, without saying a word. Ann sharpens me because she knows how to challenge my thinking or give insight when I need some. This all has happened because we committed ourselves to build a strong relationship between the two of us.

Texting and Instagram are superficial. Facebook, you can say whatever you want others to think of you. When you connect face to face with another human being and are real with each other, it is much harder to fool the other person. Jesus came to this earth to be real and show the rest of the world what integrity and love is. He could only do that by showing up to where we are.

Building a solid relationship takes time and energy. It does not happen on a weekend excursion or living in a house near you. You got to get up close and personal, being willing to be vulnerable with another human being. A true friend will love you when you do not deserve to be loved. A true friend will stand with you when everyone else runs away because things get too messy or inconvenient.

A true friend listens and earns your trust so you can share who you really are and does not push you away. That is what Jesus does! He laid His life down for you. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13). How much am I willing to sacrifice for someone I truly consider a real friend? Will I be by your side when you are going through the most difficult time of your life? Who will be there for me when I deal with terrible things in my life?

Jesus chose to impact, not impress people. He chose to leave the safe confines of heaven to give His life for you and me. Most people will not have to die for their true friends but many have given up a lot and sacrificed a lot for a friend to do the right thing for that friend. Among many things, Christmas celebrates true relationships. Am I a friend that someone sees Jesus clearly living in me? Merry Christmas