Programs vs Values
programs vs values
By Bruce Bugbee, Right4 Ministries
Are you aware of and using your spiritual gifts like we are commanded to do in 1 Corinthians 12.1? Have you taken a gifts test or two… or more? When you hear about spiritual gifts, does the phrase “been there, done that” come to mind?
As a leader, do you keep wondering why there’s not greater synergy in all the different activities of your church that creates a greater momentum.
Have you been surprised how so many “leaders” and well “connected” people in your church are totally unaware of so much of what is happening in the various ministry of the church?
Seems like the natural default is… communication. We just need more communication.
Let me suggest another more plausible and fundamental possibility. We are leading more program-centered ministries than people-center ministries.
Oh, I know, you are people-centered so that is why you have so many programs. You value your programs.
Consider with me the difference between a program and a value, and how those differences effect not only the success of your programs, but also the implementation of your ministry values.
Why are you not able to establish a sustainable culture of effective gift-based passion-driven ministry? Often, there is confusion about what it is we are doing. I will use the teaching and implementation of spiritual gifts in a church to illustrate.
In too many churches, ministry programs exist individually, or separately from each other (“silos”) for the purpose of successfully accomplishing their own individual purpose.
As a result, what happens in one ministry program has little effect or impact on what happens in another ministry program.
Programs can be described as having three characteristics...
Programs speak to a specific audience
Programs focus on a specific need
Programs last for a specific season
The children’s program is obviously for children, addressing the needs of children, while they are a child. When they’re no longer children, that program is no longer for them. The same is true for the singles program, youth ministry, a new believers’ class, etc. There’s nothing wrong with a program. Programs are good and can meet real needs. But programs are audience, need, and season specific.
So, leaders tend to look for program planners and event coordinators. They are not essentially people equippers. They run programs.
Bur programs are different than values.
In your church, would you say worship is a program or a value? Is prayer a program or a value? What about giving?
I think we could agree, all of these should be a value in every church. We teach on their importance and there’s an expectation that these things will be practiced in the life of every believer, in and through every ministry.
Some churches will send a team to a nursing home to provide a worship service. Why? Because for these churches, worship is a value—and if you can’t come to the church, the church will bring worship to you.
Perhaps you take an offering in your children’s ministry program. If so, it’s not usually because you need their dollar (maybe?!), but rather it’s because you want to teach children the value of regular giving. Giving is a value.
Values can be described as having three characteristics...
Values are for everyone
Values reflect God’s will for His people
Values are to be applied and lived out for a lifetime
Talking, and even teaching about values does not mean you, your team, or church owns the value. Consider what tends to be true when someone truly “owns” a value.
When you own a value…
You are intellectually convinced.
You see the biblical teaching and believe it to be true. You know it is a matter of obedience. There is no doubt about God’s will as stated in His word. It is the right thing to do to honor and please God.You are emotionally persuaded.
This goes beyond your intellect and behavior to reveal your heart. If you’re wholeheartedly (not half-heartedly) committed to this value, then you’ll be able to persuasively speak about it with others. They’ll see your conviction and be energized.You are experientially engaged.
You organize your ministry around it. The way you treat people and do ministry reflects your commitment to the value. You practice prayer, moments of worship, and use spiritual gifts in the ways you do ministry.
If you really own a value, all three of these will be personally evident in your life, ministry, and leadership. Owning one or two of these will not create or implement a sustainable gift-based passion-driven ministry culture. Your people and community will only know more, and maybe do more, but they will not be equipped to be more.
Stated values aren’t always lived values.
Why Is This Important?
Many leaders and ministry teams members see gift-based, passion-driven ministry as simply another program in the church. As such, its impact is minimal and, in the end, it does not shift the overall way most churches do ministry.
Reflection
1. If gift-based, passion-driven ministry isn’t owned as a value, as it is biblically meant to be, where’s the breakdown...
for YOU?
__ intellectual conviction
__ emotional persuasion
__ experiential engagement
for your CHURCH?
__ intellectual conviction
__ emotional persuasion
__ experiential engagement
2. What needs to be lifted up, taught, or aligned to make a more effective gift-based passion-driven a sustainable value in your life, ministry, church or organization?
While programs provide a context and serve as vehicles to communicate and instill values, you must…
Know the difference between your Programs and Values
Know why you and others are not “owning” the values you want and need to build your programs and discipleship models
Know doing gift-based passion-driven ministry is not optional. It is a matter of obedience!
ABOUT BRUCE
Bruce was raised in an unchurched family in southern California. After attending Young Life and the Crystal Cathedral, he received Christ at the age of 19. While growing in the Lord at Calvary Chapel, he responded to God’s call to full-time ministry. Graduating from Westmont College and Fuller Seminary, he led student ministries in several churches in the west and midwest. After serving in the regional office of a mainline denomination, Bruce joined the staff at Willow Creek Community Church where he was Pastoral Care Director, Internship Coordinator and most passionately developed and led the Network ministry.
He published Network, an award-winning equipping resource and a number of other titles in 14 languages (for complete list, see Expanded Bio below). Bruce trained Rick Warren’s staff at Saddleback Church in Network where they developed S.H.A.P.E. Many other churches have been influenced with Network’s integration of passions, gifts and style. Bruce has been equipping leaders and building gift-based passion-driven ministry teams for over 40 years. He is aligning the body of Christ for faithful, fruitful and fulfilling service that is making God famous.