Wednesday, August 03, 2011

How to Beat Small-Group Burnout


Be sure to take this good medicine for group leaders.

"Moses worked very long, hard days mediating the disputes of God's people (Exodus 18), and then Moses got some feedback from his father-in-law, Jethro: "What you are doing is not good" (Exodus 18:17).

Moses insisted that he was the only one who could serve the people and that the people liked coming to him. Basically, Moses was co-dependent on the people of God. It made him feel good. But, one detail from this account shows why it wasn't good: Moses' wife, Zipporah and his sons were living with Jethro. Moses' busyness for God had separated him from his family. This was not good.

Elijah called down fire from Heaven (1 Kings 18), and then Elijah wanted to die. He started by doing exactly what God had directed him to do. With God's power and direction, Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal. The result was not a big celebration. The outcome was a manhunt, and Elijah was that man. Jezebel wanted his head (1 Kings 19:2). You would think that doing God's work would be rewarded in better ways. Elijah survived for another day, but he was exhausted, depressed and ready to cash it in.

In today's church, you can avoid burnout in ministry. But you need to start before the fuse has burned to the end...." To read more, click here.

Related article: Built to Last

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