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Insights from John Marino “key to the effectiveness of our message”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Successful Church ministries are made possible by those willing to serve.   The service of these selfless people and their servant heart propel the message of Jesus to the church.  It is that servant’s heart that is the key to the effectiveness of our message.

In recent months I have discovered a character quality that when neglected, has the potential to neutralize the heart for service and diminish the effective communication of our life-giving message.

The character quality is Deference, which is simply respectful submission.   When we refuse to submit to leadership in the ministry to which we believe God has called us to serve, it is a sign of our own refusal to give our personal agenda to God.  

Many times in our service to God, we lose sight of our goal.  Our goal is to bring a Risen Savior to a dying world.  We let our light shine because our light is His Light shining through us.  We are His advertisement; we should be a reflection of the Father.  We get so caught up in who notices our service that we forget the reason for our service.

Often times in our service we also become discontent with those serving with us.  We complain about the way the leaders are leading.  We might be tempted to demand their service to conform to our standards, thus losing sight of our own role and responsibilities.

When we lose sight of our goal, we lose sight of our role.  We need to remember who we are serving, and why we are serving.   Focus our attention and energy on being a faithful, effective servant.  We cannot be an effective servant if we are attempting to dictate the service of those around us.  

Every servant has a role or responsibility if it is not our responsibility; it is not our problem.  We are ultimately responsible to the one who entrusted us with our responsibilities.

We stop being effective servants when we start backbiting, complaining, sowing discord, and causing strife.  

More importantly, if we attack the person who has been given the responsibility to give direction to our service, we lay down the responsibility we have been entrusted with and become a burden for the servants around us.  

If we are unwilling to fulfill our own responsibilities, then we are unfit to assume another person's responsibilities.

We prepare to lead, by learning deference.   When we show respect to our leaders, the ministry team is strengthened.   When we sow discord, our ministry is hidden by the choking weeds of strife.


Consider this character quality.

Deference vs. Rudeness
"Limiting my freedom in order not to offend the tastes of those whom God has called me to serve." *(IBLP)


Consider these verses from God’s word!

Colossians 3:23-24 (RSV)
23  "Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men,
24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ."

Matthew 20:25-27 (MSG)
25  "So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads.
26  It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.
27  Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave."


Click here and listen to this dramatized audio teaching by Pastor Marino! “Preventing Casualties/Maturity level?


Consider the principles in these verses from God’s word!


Maturity means no strife! Watch the video!

 

*Used with permission from the Institute in Basic Life Principles.