February 3, 2014: Volume 3, Number 7
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MORE WITH
30 60 100 MINISTRIES |
APRIL 3-23, 2014
30 60 100 MINISTRIES in the Ukraine
30 60 100 MINISTRIES COACHING
* Interactive Group Planning
* Mission Field Preparation
* Leadership Transition
Learn more---------------------------------------------
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|  God calls us to serve people, both individually and on a team.
But just as our individual attitude in service can shift ever-so-subtly from a focus on God to a focus on pleasing people, so can the same danger threaten your team. Learn how that happens in this issue's feature, The Tale of Two Teams.
 (And by way of preview, next time we will share ways for your team to keep its focus on pleasing God.)
Meanwhile, we'd love to hear from you. Keep growing! God is still good. |
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JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR THE UKRAINE
|  We are excited about the opportunity to equip Christ-followers in Ukraine when we travel there in April to present the Spiritually Healthy Leader series. We are staying in close contact with leaders in-country who will help us determine the perfect timing for the trip.
Will you join us in praying for this nation and its people, especially in the wake of recent unrest there? Ministry partners Ed and Alice Kraft are in contact with Christian leaders in the Ukraine and share these specific prayer requests with us:
- Pray that bloodshed would stop
- Pray that government leaders and opposition would humble themselves and seek a peaceful compromise
- Pray for unity among believers
- Pray that the Ukraine will remain open to the Gospel no matter what happens.
- Pray for the safety of our ministry partners in Ukraine, specifically Pastors Shav, Alexander, and Sergey
Thank you for your prayers and gifts! |
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 Feature: THE TALE OF TWO MINISTRY TEAMS | Second in a series about serving God first
God calls us to serve people. If we as individuals serve people directly rather than from the overflow of our service to God, we find ourselves battling burnout and depletion. (See Serving God Part 1: Are You a Well or a Pipeline?)
 Ministry teams face the same danger. Does yours?
A Tale of Two Ministry Teams
In Ezekiel 44:10-16, God reveals two distinct ministry teams that served Him in Israel: the Levites and the sons of Zadok.
- The Levites. Born into priesthood, ministry to God was the Levites' birthright. But their purpose shifted during the wanderings of the Jewish people. The Levites chose to please the people and allowed idolatrous practices to infiltrate worship. They abandoned God in favor of the people (Ezekiel 44:10).
- The Sons of Zadok. The sons of Zadok, also members of the tribe of Levi, were not diverted into idolatry when the rest of the Levite ministry team went astray. Instead, they continued to minister faithfully in the Lord's will while performing their priestly duties. By guarding their relationship with the Lord and not taking their position for granted, the sons of Zadok remained humble to His wishes. God took note of that (Ezekiel 44:15-16).
How the Two Teams Serve
In spite of their unfaithfulness, God gave the Levites charge of the ministry to His people and His sanctuary. But the sons of Zadok, who remained faithful stewards of their relationship with the Lord, were invited to minister to Him.
Both services were necessary and both were based upon the teams' choices made along their journey. Yet one had a much higher reward, for it was especially pleasing and personal to God.
The age-old battle about a team's priorities remains today. Pressure to perform is enormous, whether imposed from within or without. Your team may work hard to execute programs, provide services, and reach goals as set forth in your strategic plan ... all worthy endeavors. Yet if your team spends its time and energy fulfilling people's desires for activities - rather than discerning whether those demands line up with God's wishes - then you are in danger of watering down or even ignoring God's direction and will. A compromise of faithfulness to God over His people means your team values people more than its relationship with God.
A Choice with Consequences for Your Team
Your team can either serve God by serving people, or serve people by serving God. With one, your service is limited to people. With the other, you have the privilege of ministering to God Himself - and His people as a result.
Either way, God can use your team. Yet as the Levites learned, the choice has consequences.
Part 3 will address ways you and your team can serve God first, over people, in ministry.
Read Serving God, Part 1: Are You a Well or a Pipeline?
Growth Point
Your team can either serve God by serving people, or serve people by serving God.
Scripture
"The Levitical priests of the family of Zadok continued to minister faithfully in the Temple when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men will serve as my ministers ..." says the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 44:15, NLT)
Prayer Points - Consider a situation your team has faced in which you sought to meet the demands or wishes of the people around you.
- Ask God to reveal to you His will for your team in that particular situation.
- How can seeking to serve God first, over people, change how you view service?
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| What People Are Saying ... |
 "What's so powerful to me about the Spiritually Healthy Leader workshop is the blend of scripture with our business and ministry needs. Weaving scripture with our immediate situation is unbelievably awesome. Thank you." Jim W., Fellowship of Companies for Christ International
Hear more testimonies from Christians in remote areas served by 30 60 100 MINISTRIES staff here.
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