Three Questions of Ministry

Recently I led a retreat for the leaders of my congregation.  As part of the retreat I had three different discussion and study times.  Each of these times was based on a question.  The questions were derived from concepts put forth by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great. The book is written for the business community and discusses what has caused companies to move from being good to being great.  It is also the basis for the book that Thom Rainer wrote entitled Breakout Churches (see listing in my "Helpful Books I have Read" section).  In Collins' book he makes reference to the "hedgehog concept" which is the idea that for a company to become great, it must focus on the place where three circles of influence connect.  I took Collins' hedgehog concept and adapted it to ministry.

Here are the three questions that I arrived at:

1)  What is your passion?

2)  What spiritual gifts, talents, and skills do you possess?

3)  What is your purpose?

I feel that where the responses to these three questions connect, that is where an individual will find his or her ministry.  We also discussed as a group the importance of continually asking these questions so that as our responses to the three questions change, we continue to adjust our ministires. This concept applies not only to the individual but also the congregation as a whole.

This also provides a basis for us to filter the various ministries, programs, and use of resources that come our way.  If these do not fit in our area of connecting circles, then this is not the time to venture down the path of opportunity.  Collins points out that the "good" companies sometimes get caught up in chasing opportunites or good ideas, and the expend time, energy, and resources in too many places which causes them to reamin in the "good" category but never achieve "great".  I feel churches and individuals do the same thing. 

My hope that this may provide my leaders, my congregation, and you who read this blog, another tool for improving the effectiveness and focus of your ministry.