When it’s time to develop the next level of leadership for your
10 practical ways
to refresh your soul
ministry
Error! 1 Timothy 3:1–7
By Skye Jethani
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not only Facebook and Twitter that take up our time. Even ministry books can have negative effects. While
lk. Regularly taking a long walk can quiet your soul and help you draw near to God. Many pasto
g walks to internalize their sermons and prepare their souls to preach.
aily offices. In the early centuries, Christians gathered at designated times during the day for pra
er times, known as "offices," are still practiced by many believers today. With the aid of a praye
can pray alone knowing that others across the globe are sharing in your prayers at the same time
ople are always clamoring for our time and energy. Learning to say no, even to good ministries
es, will give the soul room to breathe and find rejuvenation.
media, evensome
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books. The amount of information available today is never-ending. But i
of them out of their successful groups and move them to the new levels. It will eat at you because they
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Exercise.
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pastors
told
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regular
exercise
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the
health
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soul
as
well
as
the
body.
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and allow
itbe
tohealthy
inspirewithout
your own
prayers.
stay
together
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implementphrase
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research
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rely
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begin to change. Your main job at this point will be to pour your heart and soul into your
toowill
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s shown thatcoaches
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word cheers it up.” The proverb does not specify whether the benefit is for the heart that receives the good
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ayou,
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Zander, pastor
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at Bay Marin
Community
Church
thanking
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write
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person
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of
gratitude
and
encouragement.
The
exercise
might
leaders
lead,
which
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the
freedom
to
fail.
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know
it’s
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Novato, California, visits his director, Father Tom, once a month. "Just the discipline of going to him and
bring
cheer
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hearts.
become
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submitting to his insights has been a rich experience for me," Zander says.
e leader says, "After a difficult Sunday at church I like to come home and watch my DVD
of Tom and Jerry
cartoons. The slapstick humor helps me fight the temptation to take ministry, o
—BILL EASUM AND JOHN ATKINSON; adapted from Go Big with Small Groups (Abingdon, 2007); used with
1.
What
positive
experiences
have
hadChurch
with these
Meditate
on the Lord's
Prayer.
Theyou
Eastern
has aactivities?
tradition known as hesychasm. This is the practice
seriously." permission.
2. Which activity would you most like to make a regular part of your week?
of repeating a short prayer, such as the Lord's Prayer, over and over. Try sitting in silence for five minutes, and
say would
the Lord's
aloud.
center your thoughts
or phrase
and
allow
3.then
What
youPrayer
have reflectively
to do in order
to Afterward,
regularly participate
in someon
of one
the word
activities
listed
above?
Discuss:
it to inspire your own prayers.
ritual director.
Not
not quite
coaching,
a spiritual
director
offers something els
1. What
can exactly
I do to start therapy,
identifying coaches
and shepherds
now so that
I don’t become
overwhelmed?
—SKYE
JETHANI
is
the
executive
editor
of
Leadership
Journal;
copyright
2007
by
Christianity
Today.
This
article
2. Begin
Whataspecific
qualities
we look
whenleaders
selecting
coaches
and their
shepherds?
hobby.
When
we should
asked pastors
andfor
church
howformation
they refresh
many
said theyCommunity
rely
view of your
soul.
Dieter
Zander,
pastor
of
spiritual
atsouls,
Bay
Marin
Church
originally
appeared
in Leadership
Journal.
on a hobby unrelated to ministry. Some hobbies were highly physical, like surfing or rock climbing. Others
lifornia, visitswerehis
director,
Father
Tom,
once
a©month.
"Just
thepoetry.
discipline of going
to him and
more
contemplative
and creative,
like model-building
or painting
or writing
From S
G
.
2008 Christianity Today Intl
page 17
www.SmallGroups.com
to his insightsWrite
hasanbeen
a rich experience for me," Zander says.
encouraging letter. Proverbs 12:25 says, "Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word
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cheers it up." The proverb does not specify whether the benefit is for the heart that receives the good word or
the heart that gives it. Take time to reflect on a person who has blessed your life and ministry. After thanking
God for him or her, write the person a letter of gratitude and encouragement. The exercise might bring cheer to
n the Lord's Prayer. The Eastern Church has a tradition known as hesychasm. This is the prac