Q&A: Discipleship, Family & Priorities

Haven’t been blogging much lately. I’ll blame it on too much travel and too much twitter.
 
Now 42,000 feet above the ocean - flying from Sydney to Singapore with time to kill, so here come the blogs…
 
Got the following email questions after 3 days training 800 Australia Christian Church (the movement formerly known as AOG) on “discipleship-based church growth.”
 
QUESTION 1:
Hi mate, just finished the ACC conference with you yesterday. Loved it. You mentioned 24/7 discipleship, after the small group was conducted. At the risk of asking a stupid question, what is that?
 
ANSWER 1: What I think I was trying to say is that the small group meets once a week for 60 minutes, but discipleship is 24/7. Meaning that the 60 minute small group meeting is merely the catalyst or the starting point for the discipleship process. While much can be accomplished in that 60 minutes, real discipleship takes place in real life situations as we do life together.

 

QUESTION 2:
Also, the HARDEST thing I face is family in ministry. You said that the church was at best 5th on your priority list. Possibly another stupid question but what strategies have been successful in your life to make your family a priority. You would have to be busy so how do you do it?
 

ANSWER 2: I probably meant to say that church is 4th on my priority list. Here’s the list:

1. My relationship with God

2. My relationship with my wife

3. My relationship with my 3 sons

4. My church/ministry relationships

You are correct to say that maintaining priorities is difficult. But if priorities are not well thought-out and clearly written, then they are impossible to keep. So, I say the best way to keep proper priorities is to write them, then tell everyone. There is a build it accountability system when we go public with our priorities, especially when we prioritize family.

As always, I totally enjoyed my time with my Aussie mates. Can’t wait to return.

More Q & A coming later...

Comments

[Chette]

Hi Pastor Steve,

God bless you! And I pray that God’s travelling mercy be upon to you. You’re doing a great thing for the glory of God.

I have experienced the “Ministry” before “Family” thing. And I agree it’s one of the biggest problems that other youth can testify. But as I continue to attend VCF here in Angeles City, I have realized that Family should come first before ministry. Before Jesus started His ministry, He first spend His 29 years with His earthly family and it build His integrity and Testimony.

Now I can see it... Pastor… that once you prioritize your family then ministry with the community, your ministry will prosper but once you prioritize your ministry with the community, then your family… everything will suffer.

Also I have learned that a good way to bring your family towards God is not just through speaking or sharing or preaching… They look at our testimony.

Thank you for this Post Pastor!
God bless you and your family!
God bless VCF and Every Nation Churches ^^