Tripp Atkinson

Pastor, Speaker, Consultant

Christian Living

The Most Important Person You Lead

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“You are the most important person you lead today.”

That can’t be true, can it? It sounds a bit selfish, maybe even arrogant. Certainly I’m not more important than my kids, or my spouse, or the ministry I lead. I may be the leader of a team, but I’m called to humbly serve that team. After all, isn’t servant leadership about making yourself the least important person in the room?

Jesus Christ was the ultimate servant leader. But Jesus also demonstrated an important principle… I must lead myself well if I’m going to serve others well.

I must lead myself well if I’m going to serve others well.

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Jesus’ Model for Self-Care

Commissioned with the most important mission and ministry in history, Jesus was certainly driven and busy. But even with people pressing to get to him with needs, Jesus repeatedly took time to withdraw from the crowds.

Jesus was divine, yet he was also human and had legitimate human needs. Though completely dependent on his divine nature to lead and empower his earthly ministry, he cared for the physical realm through which that power and ministry flowed.

After ministering to the crowds, Jesus made a practice of withdrawing and refueling before he poured himself out again. Jesus practiced and modeled good self-care. He didn’t hide his physical or emotional needs, but asked his friends for support. While Jesus’ life certainly involved rigorous service, sacrifice, and suffering, it also involved self-investment and self-care. By making it a practice to invest in himself, he was better able to humanly care for those whom he was called to lead.

The most important person you lead really is yourself. Through investment in yourself, you are able to best lead others. A spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy you honors God and best fulfills the incredible calling God has entrusted to you.

Consider those in your life you would think of more highly than yourself. Don’t you want the best for them? Don’t they deserve the best you?

Lead them well by leading yourself well today.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. – Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Good self-care begins with self-awareness of your comprehensive health.

All of You: Why Your Comprehensive Health Matters

You matter to God.

In fact, every domain and aspect of your life matters to God.

The apostle Paul notes God’s holistic concern in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.  God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

God wants to impact every area of our lives, and he wants us to use every area of our lives to love and glorify him. When questioned about which commandment is greatest, Jesus responded,

The most important commandment is this: “…you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.  – Mark 12:29-31

God loves all of you, and he want you to love and honor him with all of you.

Comprehensive health matters because we are to love and honor God in every aspect of our being, relating, and doing.

What is comprehensive health?

Comprehensive health, or holistic health, refers to one’s wellness in each area, or “domain,” of life.

While there are several popular models used to divide life into domains, I find the model developed by Michael Hyatt to be most helpful. Hyatt identifies ten interrelated life domains, grouped together into larger domains of “Being,” “Relating,” and “Doing,” as follows:

BEING
– Spiritual: Your connection with God
– Intellectual: Your engagement with significant ideas
– Emotional: Your psychological health
– Physical: Your bodily health

RELATING
– Marital: Your spouse or significant other
– Parental: Your children if you have any
– Social: Your friends & associates

DOING
– Vocational: Your profession
– Avocational: Your hobbies & pastimes
– Financial: Your personal or family finances

Hyatt stresses the interconnected nature of each domain. For example, job stress can impact our physical and emotional well-being, strain our family relationships, and isolate us from friendships. Lack of health in one domain can quickly erode well-being in a number of other domains.

Because of the interconnected nature of each domain, it’s imperative to understand each domain and constantly assess our health in each area.

 

 

Your comprehensive health matters because…

 

1) It honors God.

Simply put, we were created to honor and glorify God (Isaiah 43:7, Romans 11:36, Colossians 1:15-20). 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Comprehensive health is really a matter of stewardship. The apostle Paul reminds us that we do not belong to ourselves. Everything we have, even our own bodies, were given to us by God and belong to God.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

How we use our bodies, minds, talents, and resources is all a matter of stewardship. As we are good stewards of each domain, we honor God.

2) It impacts your witness.

In his final moments on earth, Jesus reminds his followers of their mission: “…And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…” (Acts 1:8). We are to be witnesses for Christ, not only in word, but in example. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus clarifies that part of that mission is to “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” If we are to teach everything Jesus commanded, that includes teaching on finances (Luke 10:29-37, Romans 13:6-8), marriage (Matthew 19:4-6), friendship (John 15:12-17), and rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus had much to say about being, relating, and doing.

Ultimately, our lives are to be a reflection to the world of what Jesus thinks about identity, relationships, and how to experience abundant life in him. All of this points to the most important message at the heart of our calling:

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” – 2 Corinthians 5:20

3) It impacts your service.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” There is no doubt that we were created with purpose to honor and serve God well. Our health in each domain impacts the quality and longevity of our service. For example:

  • Spiritual health leads to an awareness of the leading of the Spirit of God and the bearing of spiritual fruit.
  • Emotional health leads to greater emotional intelligence (an awareness of our emotions and those of others) with which we can better empathize and care.
  • Physical health leads to wellness and more energy to serve well.
  • Financial health paves the way for increased generosity to meet needs.

Because the health of each domain impacts the others, if we desire to serve well we need to be intentional about each aspect of our health. Comprehensive health is a big deal because it impacts how we honor, represent, and serve God.

Comprehensive health is a big deal because it impacts how we honor, represent, & serve God.

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It is at the heart of the Great Commandment to love God with everything we have. What greater motivation is there to get moving on the path to holistic health?

 

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.  – 3 John 1:2

 

I want to help and encourage you in your journey to comprehensive health.  Click the image below to check out a resource that can help you win.

Remember, you are the most important person you lead today. Honor God by leading yourself well!

Your 5 Best Ministries

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I see people all the time searching feverishly to find their perfect place of service. Some people refer to this as their “best ministry.” Maybe the Worship Team audition didn’t go as planned (you’re not sure why – you sound GREAT in the shower) and your one night on Tech Team ended with the fire alarm going off. Perhaps you are discouraged and thinking you may never find your “best ministry.”

It is certainly great to understand your giftedness, abilities, and passions, and use them to serve the local church. Unfortunately, in this search, people sometimes miss their best ministries right in front of them.

Check out these five things that could actually be your best ministries…and be sure not to miss the last point!

– Friendship

What?! Friendship is a ministry? Yep.

Think about it:
Has there ever been a time you felt alone and someone unexpectedly befriended you?
How did that make you feel? What did that do for you?

The Bible describes the beauty and value of friendships…

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” – Proverbs 27:17

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” – Ecclesiastes 10:9-10

We were created to live in community, so healthy friendships is something we all crave…even the people that pretend to want everyone to leave them alone. Because of this, simply befriending someone could be a life-changing experience for them!

While it is great to have a few close friends that can be your source of strength, encouragement, and accountability, let’s not miss the opportunity to have meaningful relationships with a lot of friends. Don’t miss the opportunity to change someone’s life by reaching out to them.

Consider the implications of reaching out to someone, according to Matthew 25:37-40,

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

So as we reach out to others, God is honored.

Can we agree that befriending someone is something easy and meaningful we can do?

– Prayer

Prayer is not only the single greatest untapped power that is available to every Christ-follower, but it is also an incredible ministry. Have you ever had someone tell you they were praying for you, and you believed them? How did that make you feel? I bet you felt incredibly loved and valued that someone took the time to petition the Creator of the Universe on your behalf.

And you know what else? Prayer makes a difference.

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.” – 1 John 5:14

Consider the reality of that. God. Hears. Us. God wants us to pray to him and he hears us. Scripture urges us to use this privilege to pray for others.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.” – 1 Timothy 2:1

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” – James 5:16-18

So prayer is powerful. Praying is something you can do. And praying for others really does make a difference.

What types of prayers should we pray for others? Would you say praying for others is something meaningful you can do?

– Invitation

We all love to be invited to things. Invitations communicate that you are wanted, valued, and appreciated. Did you know that a simple invitation can be life-changing? Consider this:

Nearly 90% of new church attenders come to church because of a personal invitation from a friend.

I could tell you story after story of students whose lives have been change as the result of a simple invitation. How easy is it to invite someone to church, a movie, or a small group!? Your invitation could make all the difference in the world to them.

Just recently I baptized an incredible high school student who told me her life was changed by an invitation to a Wednesday night Gathering at Sugar Hill Church. She had never been to church in her life and she came that night and felt such love and acceptance, that she came back the next week. She has been coming every week since for the past year. (More of her story later…)

An invitation to church is pretty easy. There are other life-changing invitations we can make that include an invitation to explore faith more, to trust Christ, or to be bold in living one’s faith.

What are some life-changing invitations you can make this week? Would you say that giving a personal invitation to someone is something you can do?

– Conversation

How many conversations do you have a day? What percentage of those would you consider to be “meaningful” (about more than just sports, weather, gossip, etc.)? Consider how many “good friends” you have that you never have meaningful conversations with. (Why is that?)

In a world where “communication” is largely texts and tweets, people hunger to be heard and to have meaningful conversation. In a society of soundbite communication, people long to be understood.

Here is the problem with that… we were created to live in community where we can know others and where we can be known. This is why a simple meaningful conversation with someone could be life-changing for them.

What could make a conversation meaningful?

– Simply asking questions following an event or small group.
– Continuing a serious conversation.
– Bringing up spiritual matters.
– Asking someone their thoughts on things that matter most in life.

Remember the student that was invited by a friend to church and felt so accepted that she came back? Over the following weeks her friends would have conversations with her about what she was hearing and learning at church. These friends (for the first time) were having meaningful conversations about faith, God, and life. Several months after she first came, this girl trusted Jesus, was baptized, and is growing so much in her faith! A year later, she is leading worship and is making an incredible difference for Christ.

It began with an invitation followed by conversation.

How can you have a conversation this week that could be life-changing for a friend?  Would you say that having meaningful conversations is actually possible?

– Disciple-Making

I know what you may be thinking, “Wait a second…making-disciples? All of the other things were pretty easy, but I can’t make disciples.” Well before you stop reading, check out this NEWSFLASH:

If you are doing the above things with intentionality, you already ARE doing disciple-making things.

It’s true.

Perhaps this is hard for you to believe because you have these ideas that “disciple-making” is reserved for the spiritually elite. For so long, I used to think that making disciples sounded like really hard work and required the following:

– Seminary degree.
– Thick, like really thick Bible.
– A fancy journal (not from Walmart, but from Lifeway or something).
– Commentary set (from a dead guy with weird last name).
– Deluxe hi lighter set.

Well, contrary to perfectly staged social media posts, discipleship is not limited to an artsy landscape that includes coffee, books, thick Bibles, highlighters and a fake leather-bound journal.

Now it may include those things, and certainly some of those elements are very important (Bible = very important, hi lighters = just fun.), but that is not the SOLE picture of discipleship.

Jesus repeatedly gave us great examples of discipleship in how he related to others. Throughout his ministry, we see Jesus:

– Reach out to others (befriend)
– Meet their physical needs
– Engage in meaningful conversation focused on truth
– Invite them to walk with him.
– Model for them a life that honors God.

I’ve got news for you… if you can intentionally build relationships, pray, invite, engage in meaningful conversations, and walk with others, you can make disciples!!!

Let’s get over our fear of making disciples and be about the greatest mission that Jesus gave each of us in Matthew 28:18-20,

“‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” – Jesus

And as you are about the work of doing these things, don’t miss the incredible promise Jesus gave us,

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

That’s great news!  Consider this:

Perhaps your “best ministries” happen moment by moment as you simply live in the reality that Jesus has not only called called you, but also empowered you to change the world as you abide in him.

Maybe disciple-making is not something to be feared, but something that happens organically as you intentionally live in this reality.

Perhaps you have been dabbling in your best ministries without even realizing it.

And perhaps these best ministries, empowered by Jesus, might just change the world!

Have fun today living that out.

 

*I really appreciate all those who take the time to read this blog.  If you like it, please share.  You can get content delivered directly to your inbox by clicking HERE and entering your email address in the subscription box.  (You can totally opt out at any time if my blog becomes lame.)  Thanks!

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Group discussion starters:

– Friendship

How many friends do you have?
Has there ever been a time you felt alone?
Have you ever had someone unexpectedly befriend you? How did this make you feel?

– Prayer

How often do you pray?
What do you mostly pray about?
How have you felt when someone told you that they were praying for you?

What types of prayers should we pray for others?

– Invitation

How many of you like being invited to things?
What’s the greatest thing you’ve ever been invited to be a part of?
How did you feel when you were invited?

What are some life-changing invitations you can make this week? (Church, camp, etc)
What are some creative ways you can invite others to these opportunities?

– Conversation

How many conversations do you have a day?
What percentage of you conversations a day would you consider to be “meaningful” (about more than just sports, weather, gossip, etc.)?

How can you have a conversation this week that could be life-changing for a friend?

– Discipleship

What do you think that “making disciples” looks like?
How hard do you think this may be?

What is the great news (and promise) from Jesus regarding making disciples?

Move On… (Getting past the WHO's & WHAT's that rob you of God's best)

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*The following is an outline from a message to High School students on HOW and WHEN to move on from those things that keep us from God’s best for our lives.

Summary:  If you want God’s best for your life, you’ve got to move on from the things that rob you from experiencing it.  Sometimes you need to move on from a WHO, other times it’s a WHAT.

 

Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Sometimes you need to move on from a WHO
– Relationship
– Friendship
– Someone who hurt you

Sometime you need to move on from a WHAT
– Past
– Guilt / Shame
– Pain
– Lies
– Abuse

 

Here are some keys to knowing WHEN to move on:

 

1)  Step back and look at the big picture.

  •  Evaluate where you want to go
  • Is your current situation, life choices, relationships pointing your life in that direction?
  • What people or things are holding you back?

 

2) Make decisions based on truth, not feeling.

  • Feelings change, truth does not.
“Don’t sacrifice your future on the altar of monetary feelings.”
  •  Seek wisdom from someone who loves you & wants the best for you.

Proverbs 27:6 – Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

  • Meditate on truth.  “The truth will set you free.”

 

3)  Clarify the WHY.

  • The WHY is bigger than the WHO or the WHAT

 

4) Commit to action.

  • Make sure that the plan is:
    – Specific
    – Accountable

 

HOW to move on…

 

  1. Receive God’s forgiveness, then give it  (to yourself & others)

– Receive it.

1 John 1:9 – But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Ephesians 3:17-19 – Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Psalm 103:11-12 – For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

– Give it.

Colossians 3:13 – Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Unforgiveness doesn’t punish the other person, it punishes you.

A Few Words About Sexual Abuse

  • God understands your pain & cares
  • It is in no way your fault.
  • You are not alone.
  • Help is available.
  • There is hope & healing is possible

 

2)   Look forward, not back.

– The past is over.

Philippians 3:13-14 – …I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

If you run towards all God has for you, you distance yourself from your past.

1 Corinthians 9:26 – “So I run with purpose in every step.”

– Don’t limit the power of God.

Ephesians 3:20 – Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

 

3)  Treasure God’s grace; don’t cheapen it.

Romans 3:8 – And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

 

4) Live in truth.

– Don’t hide.  (Your sin or from people)

John 3:21 –  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.

– Immerse yourself in God’s truth

2 John 7-11 – I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.  Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.  Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.  Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

You can’t control the things that hurt you, but you can replace them with truth.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

 

5) Celebrate freedom / healing!

Psalm 32:1-2 – Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!  Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

 

Notice the key through it all…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  – Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Takeaway (The 140)…

 

140:   Don’t let anything rob you of God’s best for your life.  The WHY is greater than the WHOs & WHATs that would keep you from it!
#questionit

 

TAKE IT HOME:
  • What people or things tend to rob students of God’s best for their lives?
  • How do you know when to move on from someone or something?
  • As you move on, what does it mean to live in truth?
  • What steps do you need to take today to move towards God’s best for you?

 

*For more resources and encouragement, click here.