Leadership Lab: Prayer Prompts to Reimagine Ministry
The "Re____" Issue: Prayer Prompts to Reimagine Ministry
Phil Miglioratti @ The Reimagine.Network
Thesis:
The Holy Spirit inspired Romans 12:2 as a foundational truth for Jesus-followers (discipleship) but also for ministry-leaders (leadership) … so that … we apply the transformational power of this truth beyond individual lives to congregations … so that … our plans and practices are Spirit-led, Scripture-fed, and develop authentic Social-cred.
"Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.
Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect." NLT
"Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think.
Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him." CEV
“Don’t be conformed” is an admonition to continually examine how we express/explain biblical truths. As much as we desire the Bible to be the foundation of our worldview, personal preferences and cultural perspectives inexorably find ways to infect our theological interpretations, contaminate our personal applications, and compromise our ministry implementations.
“Be transformed" is a call to a lifestyle of ongoing discipleship, seeking the new thing the Spirit wants to lead us into for our personal life but also across our ministry responsibilities. Christ-followers need transformation. Christian congregations (teams, small groups, organizations) need transformation. "Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day." 2 Corinthians 4:16
“By the renewing of your mind” is the process by which the Spirit changes our thinking to be in sync with the “mind of Christ” (1Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 4:7). Our journey is directed by God’s eternal Word appropriated to a specific plan, problem or possibility.
I am not suggesting we stop believing in the God of creation or begin doubting the incarnation or rejecting the teaching of salvation by grace through faith… but failure to re-examine how we think about what we believe results in conferring a type of infallible status on our interpretations and applications and implementation simply because we believe they are rooted in the infallible Word of God. Correct biblical theology cannot exist independent of the influences of our ethnicity, nationality, and personality.
Our macro-perspective, our plans and programs and practices, are not inerrant. An ongoing Holy Spirit guided and guarded review is needed to renew the thinking which shapes our doctrines and our deeds. We, individuals and congregations, must "pray continuously" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ) that our leading is from an unadulterated (unmixed, not diluted) reading of the Word of God.
Reimagining should be a result of worship, praise and thanksgiving (the immediate context of Romans 12:2 (11:33-36).
We must resist the fear that if we begin to question anything, we will stop believing everything.
Questioning is not the same as doubting. The latter is a skeptical uncertainty; the former is a quest for a deeper, more complete truth.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you seek knowledge-discernment-wisdom so that you can knock at the door of restoring-renewing-reviving your ministry.
The truth never changes, but our seasons in life change, cultures change, circumstances change. That requires leadership to change, adapt, reframe how we communicate the eternal truths of Scripture.
The implementation must be corporate said, in other words, don’t lead by telling the church or group what to do, involve them in the praying (Ask-Seek-Knock).
Reimaginers Are On A Prayer-Fueled Journey
The Journey into a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed future can begin with a prayer like this…
>Holy Spirit, guide and guard me as I dare to reimagine:
...how your Word comes alive in our world today...the fresh intent of your will...that will reveal your way forward
>Lord Jesus, help me understand your mission, so that I can reshape and reset my/our ministry
>Almighty God, we are desperate for you to review our ministry so that we revise what is wrongly configured ... then we seek to be transformed as you renew our mindset, the way we think about prayer and disciplemaking and evangelism and all church ministries and activities
A Prayer Prompt from Romans 12:2
•"Don’t be conformed"Father reveal to me, make us aware, of how our views, our values, our ventures (ministries; programs) have too much of our human thinking… Help us discern between the two, and then remove those things that are not conformed to your will, your word, your ways.
•"Be transformed" ~Jesus grant us courage, because transformation requires change, and change requires the end of some comfortable things and the beginning of some new, unfamiliar things.
•"By the renewing of your mind" ~
Holy Spirit we yield to you so that you fill us with your wisdom and guidance for our plans-programs-practices, schedules-systems...
•"So that you may prove that God and God’s will is good perfect acceptable" ~
May our mission-vision-passion declare and demonstrate that the will of God for our families and ministries is good, satisfying, complete.
Prayer Prompts to #Re_____ View/New/Vise/Vive Your Ministry
‘Re____’
Re “is a prefix with the meaning of again, back or it indicates repetition…also transitioning.”
Lord, hear our prayer... We desire to know and understand the mind of the Lord; God's counsels and purposes. We cannot instruct nor give the Lord knowledge. (Isaiah 40:13) But, by your Spirit, we have access to the mind of Christ, the Messiah...so that...we can realign and reorganize how we think and act to the thoughts and purposes of your heart. 1 Corinthians 2:16
Reallocate
to distribute (something) in a new or different way; to designate (something) for a new or different purpose
Reanalyze
to consider again especially with the possibility of change or reversal
Rearrange
to arrange again in a different way
Reassess
Sovereign Lord... We want our reassessment to be guided by the Spirit...so that...we will know and yield to your plans, not our selfish desires. Galatians 5:16
Recognize
Chief Shepherd, you are the real light—the light that comes into the world and shines on all people. You, the Word, was in the world, and though God made the world through you, yet the world did not recognize you. Comein our midst, your own people. Holy Spirit, help us recognize and receive our Chief Shepherd, then we will be able to decide what God wants for us. We will know God's good and pleasing and perfect plan for our ministry. John 1:9-11; Romans 12:2b
Reengage
Spirit of the Lord... Reengage us to give us understanding, wisdom, and insight...so that...our ministries will be powerful, and people will come to know and honor the LORD.. Isaiah 11:2
Refocus
change the emphasis or direction
Reform
Wonderful Counselor... Help us reform our praying to be like Epaphras, who served Christ Jesus by always praying hard so that we may fully know what the Lord wants us to do and empower us to do it completely...so that...we may have an impact in our community and beyond. Colossians 4:12-13
Reformat
to arrange or function in a different way
Refresh
Lord Jesus... Reset our focus to join our life with yours...so that...we learn your ways and discover how to please you...to find refreshment and rest in you; your word, your will, your ways . Matthew 1:29
Remind
Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding... Remind us to ask continuously to know your will... to constantly seek to find your way...to keep knocking so we know where to walk and work. Matthew 7:7
Reorganize
to rearrange the plan or structure of : organize again or anew. specifically : to cause (a business) to undergo a reorganization
Repent
Jesus... Help us repent, because we recognize “the time has come! God's kingdom will soon be here. We must turn back to God and believe (reapply) the good news!” Mark 1:15
Replace
replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate
Reset
Holy Spirit... Open the eyes of our hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling us to embrace. Reset me, my team/group/congregation on the glorious riches You are preparing as our inheritance...and how that should shape our ministry. Ephesians 1:18 TVT
Restore
Spirit of Life... Refresh and restore the soul of our people; lead us on ministry paths of righteousness for the good of your name. Psalm 23:3
Rethink
Rethinking, reconsidering, or reconsideration, is the process of reviewing a decision or conclusion that has previously been made to determine whether the initial decision should be changed
Return
Author of our faith... We know that to be under the control of anyone or any human substance or system will lead to ruin. Instead, we want to return, to be filled once again with the Holy Spirit...so that...we know what to leave behind and what begins anew. Ephesians 5:18
Reveal
Almighty God... Reveal to us how the faith we share may effectively deepen our understanding of every good thing that belongs to us in Christ. Philemon 1:6
Revise
to look over again in order to correct or improve; to study again; to make a new, amended, improved, or up-to-date version of
Revive
Oh God, we ask-seek-knock for your Spirit to revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you...Revive us so that when we call on your name once more, we receive clear direction and discernment for our decisions. Psalm 85:6 80:18
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The clerk at my bank, after completing my transaction, held up a book to show me he was reading "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren.
It made me think how our challenge to #ReimagineCHURCH...is a call to be a purpose-driven ministry.
#REthink. #REvive #REviatalize!