A journey through "17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork" by John Maxwell. Chapter One - The Law of Significance.

I read at least one to two books every month. However, by the end of the book two things normally happen. I don't always retain as much from the book as I would have liked and I don't apply near as much I should from each book that I've read. So instead of going out and buying yet another book.  I've decided to go back and read a book that I read a few years ago. 

The book I'm reading and journaling on is "17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork" by John Maxwell. As I read this book, taking notes, asking myself questions and applying what I'm learning, I will also be posting my notes from each chapter.  I hope you'll pick up a copy of John's book for yourself, journey along with me on this blog, and maybe we can grow together. 

Chapter One - The Law of Significance  

Nothing great or significant can or will ever be done alone. 

It takes a team. I know this. I think everyone knows this. However, the truth is when I read this chapter I was once again reminded that, I need to utilize the people around me more effectively. 

In the book, Maxwell talks about four things that keep leaders from fully engaging and releasing team members, ego, insecurity, naivete, and temperament.

Out of the four these four things the one that gets in the way of me effectively empowering team members around me is my ego. 

Ego: 

We do have an incredible team and I do delegate a lot. However, If I’m brutally honest, in all of the areas that I oversee, there are some that I have not completely released to others, because I think I can do it better in some way. Truth is, I have an inflated sense of who I am and how many things I am able to do with excellence. 

When something comes up that needs to be done, launched, or fixed, my first inclination is … I’ll do it. This not only keeps me overworked and others from finding their place; it makes mediocrity more prevalent because I have my hands on far too many things. 

In order to accomplish the tasked that God has called us to do, this has to change. 

Five questions I'm working through to help me live by the law of significance. 

1. What are the three things that only I can do for my organization?

2. What three goals am I working toward this year 2018?

3. Who do I currently have around me that has the desire and ability to be a part?

4. What am I currently doing that someone around me could do at least 75% as good as I can?

5. What is my game plan to empower and release these initiatives / ministries to them?

Five things teenagers need to see in you before they will follow you. (Part-3)

As a Pastor, Youth Pastor, or Youth Leader here are five things that teenagers need to see in you before they will really step in and begin to follow you. 

1 - Authenticity

Check out the entire blog on Authenticity by CLICKING HERE

2 - Expertise

Check out the entire blog on Expertise by CLICKING HERE 

3 - Love

Teenagers spell love T-I-M-E. The more time you spend with them the more you show you love them. So get into their world. Don't just connect quickly in the hallway at church or simply speak a good message to them from the stage, get into their world. The more you get into their world, the more they will consider getting into yours. 

4 - Consistency

There are far too many people in teenagers lives that are here today and gone tomorrow. You cannot be one of those people. Do what you do, over, and over, and over again. When student see that you are in for the long haul, they will begin to walk alongside you. 

5 - Vision

Who are you? Why are you here? Where are you going? If you don't know those three things, you are not as influential as the kid they sit next to in Algebra 1. The student next to them, knows who they are and they know what they want. (Well at least they act like they do.) When you know where you are going and cast a compelling reason why you are going there, teenagers will stand up and follow. Until then, they will continue to follow their friends.  

Click the links below for resources designed to help you grow. 

12 THINGS EVERY YOUTH PASTOR NEEDS TO KNOW - eBook. 

YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY - one year online training course

Five things teenagers need to see in you before they will follow you. (Part 2)

The second thing that teenagers need to see in you before they trust you is .... 

Expertise.

Teenagers are looking for someone who has been down the road a little further than they have.

Someone who really knows the Bible and can unpack in a way that is interesting and applicable to them. 

Someone who totally understands money and isn't afraid to share the secrets they have learned.

Someone who has mastered their personal craft of writing, teaching, photography, media and graphic design is someone that a teenager will be want to be around. 

Teenagers are looking for the real deal. So, be the real deal. Know your stuff. Deliver it in interesting ways. They will trust you and maybe even listen to what you have to say! 

Click the links below for resources designed to help you grow. 

12 THINGS EVERY YOUTH PASTOR NEEDS TO KNOW - eBook. 

YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY - one year online training course

Five things teenagers need to see in you before they will follow you. (Part 1)

If you want to help teenagers know and follow Jesus, there are a few things they need to see in you, before they will really listen to what you have to say. 

In the next few blogs I'm going to share a few things that I've learned not only as a youth pastor that worked with teenagers for 20+ years, but also as a father of teenagers myself. 

Here is the first thing teens need to see in you. 

1 - Authenticity.

Are you real or are you putting on a show? Teenagers hate to be lied too.  If your private life does not line up with your public persona, you are lying to them. Eventually the truth will come out and they will not trust you. Teenagers have plenty of people in their life that consistently say one thing and then do another. Don't be one of them!  If you are who you say you are. If you keep your word. Teenagers will love you. 

Teenagers just want you to be yourself. If you are a 34 year old Dad who likes country music, then don't act like a hipster around them. If you are really into sports, then be into sports. If you love reading then talk about the books you read. 

Teenagers are trying to discover who they are. Because of this, anyone who knows who they are and is comfortable in their own skin is very magnetic to a teenager. Just be yourself. Love God in front of them and they just might love him too. 

Click the links below for resources designed to help you grow. 

12 THINGS EVERY YOUTH PASTOR NEEDS TO KNOW - eBook

 

YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY - one year online training course

10 things to "NEVER DO" in Youth Ministry.

To be successful sometimes you just need to know what NOT to do.
Here are nine never’s of Youth Ministry. 

1. Never yell at one of your students.

In those cases when a student is acting up or causing trouble, raising your voice will not help help the situation. In fact it will generally make it a lot worse. Stay in control. You are the one in charge. Look them in the eye. Speak to them firmly but never yell at them.

 

2. Never "wing it" when you are speaking. 

Here are a few reasons why you should never just get up there and start speaking with out preparing your message before hand. 1. You are not that good. 2. God word deserves your best effort. 3. You are not that good. (I know I said that twice ... but I just wanted to get the point across). 

3. Never use slang words around them.

Shoot – Dang – Darn – can easily be misunderstood or cuss words. Don’t use them around your teenagers.

4. Never be alone with the opposite sex.

Say this out loud as you read it – “IT IS NOT WORTH IT” – never be alone in the car, in the hallway, in a room with a teenager of the opposite sex, I don’t care the reason why … IT IS NOT WORTH IT.

 

5. Never expect them to obey a rule you have not explained to them.

What are your rules? If they don’t know them, they cannot obey them.

 

6. Never make a promise you cannot keep.

Don’t be a people pleaser – let your yes be yes and your no be no – if you can’t do it – don’t say you will.

 

7. Never expect them to get into your world until you have gotten into theirs.

Jesus came to our world so that we would want to come to HIS. I think we should do the same with the people we want to reach.

 

8. Never think of a students parent as the problem.

The only reason you have the ability to be in this teenagers life is because their parent is allowing you to. Parents are not the problem they are part of the solution.

 

9. Never preach to them until you have prayed for them.

There are four P’s in Preaching. Plan – Prepare – Pray – Present. Never forget to pray.

 

10. Never spend more time on what your wearing than what you are teaching. 

There are two things you need to know about how you dress. 1. Stylish clothes never saved a soul. 2. The kids already think you are old, so just be yourself, know your stuff, and give them Jesus! 

Those are some things to NEVER do in student ministry.

To help go to a whole new level in making disciples, building teams, and making an impact check out our one year online training platform - YOUTH MINISTRY UNIVERSITY.  It is only $75 for an entire year of training!