This morning, I was chatting with a Life Group leader in Newcastle, NSW. He runs two groups. One at his university and another online for his friends from home in China. He has been running the online group since he came to Australia 4 years ago. It keeps him connected to home while also allowing him to minister to those he loves. In our conversation, He told me what he loves to do the most. I asked him about his giftedness and his passions. “I love leading people to Christ,” he said. Then, with a smile, he said, “My favourite thing to do is cook for my small group. They love Chinese cooking!” Then he laughed and said, “I also really like driving them places.”
“That’s hospitality!” I said. “The places where your passion and spiritual gifts intersect are the primary spot where God shines to others. It’s your spiritual sweet spot! Cooking for friends who are being discipled by you - that’s your bliss!”
He laughed and said he would love it if that’s all he had to do. He’d love to spend his every waking moment talking about Jesus as he drove people around and cooked for them!
It is my joy, as a spiritual mentor, to help people have these aha moments about themselves and their spirituality. There’s nothing more rewarding for me. That’s my bliss!
Disciple-Makers All
Yesterday, I mentored a Life Group leader from Finland who lives in Canberra. She was unable to attend the Mentoring Workshop at Converge in February due to being in Finland for a funeral. Her grandmother lived to 100 years old! She said it was good to see family again and share stories about grandma with everyone.
Then I gave her a nutshell version of the workshop. It revolved around one simple statement. If we can make this statement live in the front of our mind every moment of every day, we will be the most effective Christian leaders in the world. Here it is, “I am a disciple-maker.” That’s it. You are a disciple-maker.
As a follower of Jesus, you are a disciple-maker. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Spot on - we follow and are followed. All. The. Time!
As a small group leader, you are a disciple-maker. At church, you are not running programs; you are making disciples. After every event, conversation, Bible study, and program, our primary question should be: “How did we shape disciples?” When we plan a sermon, study, or worship set, our primary question should be: “How will we intentionally build disciples for Jesus this time?”
After this review, she said, “I’m really enjoying the Sabbath School lesson discussion guides you write. Is there any chance of getting them sooner in the week?” She explained she uses my studies to prepare her own discussion guides to hand out to break-out group leaders in a larger Sabbath School. So, she needed something shorter.
I can see a future writer and curriculum writer in her! So, I said, “Would you like to join me as I prepare next week's study? We can meet online and I’ll share my screen and my process. That might help you in your planning.”
She was very excited, and so we are having a Sabbath School lesson-building session next Tuesday at 8 a.m. I am in my bliss! Seeing a young person who wants to grow spiritually and develop skills to increase the Kingdom of God—yes, yes, yes! This is disciple-making for me!
Cultural Norms
Wednesday, I had two mentoring sessions. One was a meet and greet with a Life Group leader from Wagga Wagga I hadn’t met before. So, I asked questions and told stories so we got to know each other. Then we prayed together.
The next session was with a duo in Ballina, NSW. They are both missionaries from other countries. We talked about the art of running a small group when nearly everyone is from a different country with different cultural norms.
As an example, we went through how each of our cultures engages in conversation, time management, personal space, and group structure. All three of us laughed a lot. We are each living in Australia but from somewhere else. California, Brazil and Norway.
As we opened our cultural suitcases, we realised things about ourselves, each other and our expectations. It was enlightening and enjoyable.
After our conversation, we prayed together and went back to life away from our screens. I went out into the warmth of sunny Melbourne and they went out to fill more sandbags to get ready for Cyclone Alfred! Yikes!
Mental Health
Last Sabbath, I taught the Sabbath School lesson and preached in Wangaratta. After the church service, as I was greeting people at the door, I asked one man, “How have you been?”
“Not well,” he said, “not well at all, really.”
The sermon had been about struggles in life and I had mentioned that I work in mental health. I realised his response was not a complaint, but a request for help.
I put my hand on his shoulder and we stepped outside next to the church door. Then I said, “Tell me more. How have you been unwell?”
“Mentally,” He said. “My mental health has not been good.”
“What does that look like,” I said, “for you?”
“Just so much negative self-talk,” he said. “I just constantly beat myself up.”
We chatted for a while and a group formed around him. I realised, he was loved here. He was in the right place. The head elde,s wife added valuable comments to the conversation. I could see they knew and loved this man. They cared deeply for him., caring
“What is your best advice for someone like me?” He asked.
“Two things,” I said. “First, find people. Being alone isn’t good for mental health.”
“Yeah,” he said, “I walk down to the corner shop and just chat with people.”
“Fantastic,” I said, “Doing something with others, or even better - for others, is very good for mental health.”
“Yeah,” he smiled and pointed at the head elder, “That’s what he says.”
“The second thing,” I said, patting the brickwork of the church, “Is to participate regularly in a community that acts like an extended family. Keep coming to Church. This place is very good for you.”
He looked at the head elder, “Those are the same two things you are always telling me to do!”
The head elder smiled and nodded.
“Smart man,” I said, laughing. “I think you know what to do!”
Spiritual Sweet Spot
I’ve just finished packing the van for our Lildyale church camp which starts tonight. I’ll head out to do the food shopping and then pick up my wife from the school where she teaches and we will drive to Howqua. A weekend getaway with my best friend and social time with our church family!
My mental well-being is on a high. I know why! I’ve been investing in others this week. That’s my spiritual sweet spot and I know it.
What’s yours?
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