Bogged Down in Ministry?

One of the things that I’ve discovered in “full-time ministry” is that it is easy, even as a leader, to get bogged down in ministry. We find ourselves so inundated by the mass of mediocre amusements that we can get lost in terms of the big picture. There’s a verse in Proverbs that reads, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained. But happy is he who keeps the law.” (Proverb 29:18).

What happens to the people when there is no vision? And what is the contrast – those who have God’s vision are what?

A thought occurred to me. When a church gets bogged down in ministry – and loses focus on its goal or its “vision” – it becomes “unrestrained.” And that, I think, not even in an evil way, but in a “let’s see how many irons we can get in the fire” sort of way. I think one of the things Crossroads struggles with is a lack of restraint when it comes to the development of ministries. We have MANY ministries, but we don’t have MANY that we do in a superior manner.

I think it’s time to whittle our ministry down to those that are really focused on the VISION.

I think of the time the apostles, as leaders, had to whittle some things away.

“So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. The statement found approval with the whole congregation…” (Acts 6:2-5, NAS)

What things do you see the apostles doing that illustrate great leadership? Why do you think they included the whole congregation? What was it that the apostles had a “vision” for in terms of their own responsibilities? How do you think the leaders of a local church can follow in these steps?

Any thoughts?