This past Sunday in our Summertime Stories series we took a look at Jesus’ Parable of the Sower – with the main idea being that God does speak to those that are willing and ready to listen. And the various soils in the story represent the various “levels of readiness” people have to what God is saying.
That's one thing when you're considering God's next step for your own life. But I'm wondering what you think about how God leads a church family like SummitView. What are the implications for us to consider as leaders about our collective receptivity to God’s leading? Now I’m going to make an assumption that all of us as leaders WANT to hear from God – we WANT to be the “good soil” and be receptive to God’s leading. Afterall, the role of church leadership is such a daunting task I can’t see how anyone in their right mind would want to do it any other way! But with the Biblical model of a plurality of leadership, how do we make that work in community?
So here's a question for us to consider -- Since last time I checked God didn’t have a blogspot for us to read precisely what he wants to say to SummitView, how do we as leaders responsibly translate what we hear or believe God wants to say to our specific church family? Assuming that God's desire is for us to pull in the same direction, what kinds of things can we do to better serve as cohesive conduits of God's message, calling, leading of SummitView?
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I sometimes feel inadequate compared to those of you who are younger than I when it comes to making assessments on things like this. But for what it is worth, I feel that we sometimes get so convinced that we know what should be done, that we believe it is Gods will, and we can’t see or hear what God is trying to tell us. I think it is so important that we look at every aspect, and investigate each and every door that is presented to us to make sure we are not missing an important message from God. I once had a man pray with me on an important episode in my life, and his prayer included this phrase , “Please God make you answer SO CLEAR to Donn that there is no chance that he will miss it.” When the answer came to me, that phrase came back as if my friend was standing there speaking aloud. It sent shivers up and down my spine. So I guess my point in saying all of this, is we need to be in heavy pointed prayer, both individually and jointly.
As I stated last night at our meeting, I take a rather pessimistic view on this issue. The question is how do I know if GOD is speaking to me and what is HE saying to me. It has become clear to me through various passages in the Bible that if I am not 'in tune' with GOD (which is to say I am against GOD), God doesn't hear me. Jesus says you are either with me or against me leaving NO middle ground. So the obvious reply to what is GOD telling me is am I talking to GOD? Talking to GOD takes on many different forms but primarily burying yourself in His word. When I am regularly reading GOD's word on my own and not as a part of some Bible Study obligation I have definitely sensed GOD being a part of my life and life's decisions.
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