Is it breakfast time?

For those that have been around me for more than a couple of days, and especially if you have gone to a restaurant to eat with me, you know I LOVE Breakfast.  There is just something about ordering two eggs over medium, biscuits and gravy, hot cakes, or French toast. Then of course you add the bacon and sausage, I know some even like steak or chicken with their breakfast, and of course, don’t forget the hash browns.

To me, breakfast is a food that can be consumed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and never get old.  As I sit here today, I was thinking about my life, and what else have I enjoyed every day as much as Breakfast, and honestly, I can think of only three things.

First, is my own personal relationship with Jesus Christ; it can’t be like the leftovers in the refrigerator or fast-food sausage biscuits driving 60 miles an hour down the road.  It must be personal quality time sitting and enjoying my time reading HIS words, meditating on HIS thoughts, reflecting on HIS love, and knowing that this is the next best thing to being in Heaven with HIM.

Second, is the relationship I have with my family. The time we spend sitting talking, reflecting on the past, and looking forward to the future. The time we share dreams and even heartache. Family is like the comfort food of breakfast; you just know that it is going to be all right

Finally, this is the place I choose to worship HIM. For me, a lot of the joy of breakfast is preparing the plate so that I can enjoy it.  Getting those eggs just right on top of the French toast, with just the right amount of butter and syrup.   Praise and worship are the same way, it is getting everything ready, getting my heart, my mind, and attitude ready to enjoy the celebration that is about to take place as I enjoy his presence.

              I realize that I must be selective if I want breakfast all day, every day, not every restaurant serves breakfast 24 hours a day (Although in my mind they should), and even worse some don’t serve it at all.  However, the reality of my life with Christ is the same, not everyone in my family enjoys breakfast just like I do, and not everyone enjoys talking about my friend and savior Jesus Christ. Not every church is interested in serving up a daily dose of Jesus; they are more interested in serving what is popular this week that the world wants to digest, and they miss so much from that daily celebration.  

Of course, none of this is possible if I don’t really enjoy sitting down and patiently waiting for it all to come together.  When I go to the restaurant I have to be willing to read the menu, place my order, wait for it to come, fellowship with those around me, and pray for God’s blessing.  However, when all that is done it is time to eat.  As Christians, we need to focus not on the earthly breakfast but on the heavenly supper of the Lamb which is coming soon. Have you accepted the invitation to dinner?  (or in my mind breakfast and I bet God makes some awesome Biscuits and Gravy).

Friends, enjoy your breakfast. However, more importantly, enjoy your relationship with Christ and your family daily.

(Post was originally published @ Don Allen Ministries in 2015)

The Lord’s Table …

Within the next couple of weeks, we will celebrate Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday (Easter). We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper with all the respect it deserves.

However, can I be honest, I have become very heartbroken over the years as I have attended church after church and sat in the pew while they serve the LORD’S SUPPER, or COMMUNION, as it is often called throughout the remainder of the year. I recently attended a church that provides the Lord’s Supper every service, so I began timing just how long they focused on the Lord’s Supper when serving it weekly. From start to finish it was no more than three minutes per week. Sorry to offend any pastor that does this, but that is not what Christ expected on that Passover time as he reflected on His coming sacrifice. 

As Christians, we would not ever think of inviting Christ to dinner at our house and serving HIM supper the way some of us serve his Supper in church.  We would never allow our children to simply stand or sit wherever, talking throughout the meal, without truly acknowledging the guests in the house. We would never rush through the meal and move on to the next activity.

I guess I’m one of those old fashion preachers/teachers that spent a lot of time studying Pastoral or Applied Theology and in doing so I remain frustrated.  I think every aspect of the service is important. However, I see pastors and worship leaders put an emphasis on the music, preaching, and half dozen other things which may be important at the time, but not when it’s time to serve the Lord’s Supper.  The speaker stands for the Lord’s Supper and fails to take us to the understanding that the Bible clearly sets the stage for the Lord’s Supper, it is a time of REMEMBRANCE, it is a time of REFLECTION, and most importantly it is a time of REPENTANCE.  

As I view the Bible and history, I see key elements of presenting and sharing the Lord’s Supper.  In my opinion, if you can’t do it every time, maybe it is time to reconsider the priorities of the church and come to the Table when you can prepare to dedicate the proper amount of time.

1)    Introduce the Lord’s Supper/Communion as a part of the Worship Service. (This is not a part of the offering, announcements, or invitation)

 

2)    Explain fully that it is a time of Remembrance, Reflection, and Repentance.

 

3)    Give them a chance to do all three (It is not time to quickly rush the Lord’s Supper, you don’t rush dinner at home)

 

4)    Eat and drink it together, understanding this is a Communal Meal that is shared by the family.

Pastor/friends, I realize that there are dozens of things happening during any given Service. However, Christ stated to his disciple “Do this in remembrance of me”

I don’t know about you, if you rush me through something, I really don’t remember and don’t care. I guess what I am really doing is asking.

“Is it time to slow down, and remember what Christ did at the Cross, not just as we celebrate Good Friday and Easter, but every time we remember his sacrifice in our worship services?

Seven Things that will revolutionize your Ministry to Men!

  Introduction:  

 

As you take the challenge to Minister to Men, you must have your own house in order, you must strengthen and develop your own personal relationship with Christ, and then Minister to Men at their place of Christian Growth. 

 

Understanding that Ministering to Men cannot be an afterthought it must become the central thought of your ministry, it must become the central theme of the church, and you must step up to the plate to change the very culture you live in. When I (Dr. Don Allen) started in ministry in the 1970s the norm was to build a successful bus ministry and the families will flock to your church, have a ministry to women, and the church will grow.  

 

The reality of Men’s ministry is not having men show up on Sunday morning, and serve as greeters, ushers, elders, worship leaders, etc. That is a ministry that is not men’s ministry. Men’s ministry is encouraging, equipping, and engaging men not only in ministry but fellowship with other men.  

 

 

Understanding the Importance of why we Minister to Men? 

 

• “If you lead a child to Christ: 

• 3.5% of their FAMILIES follow 

• If you lead a mother to Christ: 

• 7% of their families follow 

• HOWEVER…  If you lead a FATHER to Christ: 

• 93% of their families follow  

Statistics from Evangelicals Now (July 2003)  

 

 

It is imperative for both the Men’s Ministry Leader and Pastor to share the same vision and bring the Men to the forefront of the church. 

 

 

1. You must settle this personal matter first ….   

I MUST: “Know that I know” I have a personal relationship with Christ! 

• Christ must be real in your life! 

• You have asked HIM to take up residence in your heart! 

 

The question is simple “Have you had a personal encounter with Christ, and know him as your savior? 

 

2. You must have quality personal prayer time with Christ! 

• If I’m honest with myself there is a part of me that is jealous of the Twelve Disciples, and how they had a chance to sit and talk with Jesus one on one! 

• Walter A. Mueller stated … Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude. 

 

Are you not only praying for your family and personal needs but are you praying for your pastor and the men within your church? For their personal encounter with Christ, God is helping them to be the man of God not only in their family but the church and community. 

 

 

3. You must have a structured scripture reading program (devotional) 

• You must have a plan to follow if you don’t you spend a lot of time looking for things to do and not doing anything. 

• An Anonymous writer stated: “Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like trying to eat without swallowing.” 

 

4. You must have an accountability partner that will encourage you and challenge your thinking. 

• You need someone to challenge your thinking, your actions, and your relationships. 

• Understand that as a Men’s leader, this individual is not your wife or girlfriend (she is a major resource to help you), but she can not take the place of a Godly man to help you navigate being a Men’s Leader! 

• An accountability partner is a person who coaches another person in terms of helping the other person keep a commitment. 

 

5. You must have both a strong professional and personal relationship with your pastor! (Remember he is one of the Men you’re ministering to.) 

• I’m very saddened today by the number of men in the church that don’t have a personal relationship with their pastor! 

 

• THOUGHT FOR THE PASTOR … You want your church to grow and effectively minister to men. Get out of the office, and into the fellowship. However, don’t lead fellowship! 

 

• THOUGHT FOR THE MEN … Don’t expect your pastor to do your job; he is there to fellowship, not lead … Grow up and take the challenge to be a Minister to Men! 

 

 

6. You must have a defined and clear Vision & Mission Statement of what God wants your Ministry to Men to accomplish! 

• What do you want to accomplish as a Minister to men? 

• See men get saved 

• See men grow spirituality 

• See men have a good time and have fellowship 

• See men disciple other men 

 

Personal note by Dr. Don Allen here: 

 

I’m scared too many men leaders, have convinced themselves that men’s ministry can only happen within the walls of the church. Saturday breakfast, small groups, etc. Can I be honest, having done men’s ministry now for over 20 years, the most amazing ministry opportunities happen at events outside the four walls of the church, for example, the shooting range, at a men’s retreat, on a mission trip to help another ministry, at the bowling alley, and the list goes on.   

 

Gentlemen, it is time to get out of your comfort zone and minister to men where they are at! 

 

 

Put it in writing and aim to accomplish your goal over the next two years. 

 

7. You must be willing to continue to grow, learn, and develop yourself as we Minster to Men. 

• What are you learning, so that you can share it with the men you lead? 

• Are you reading the writings of some of the great Men’s Ministry leaders to see how they are reaching men?