How to have sustainable energy to serve
The tweet and picture above is courtesy of my friend and host Pastor Norman Nakanishi who had me scheduled in five services from 8 am to 8 pm last Sunday. The picture was taken at half point.
The first service was tough since my body's clock was still on Manila's time (around 2:00 am). Straight from Discipleship 2013 last Saturday I flew to Honolulu for a week of meetings with the Every Nation Churches here.
After the last service I was hosted for dinner by some of the pastors. One of them asked me, "how do you stay energized for 5 services in the midst of your travels and still have something left-over to meet with us. Here were some of my responses and thoughts:
1. It's not about preaching it's about the people. Whenever I speak I consider the different groups present. I ask my hosts who they are and try to tailor fit my messages to them. If I know there are young children in the meetings I would add a Disney illustration or something that appeals to them. This way I keep them engaged.
By focusing on people and not the "job" of preaching I am energized as I visualize the impact my message will have on them. I think about the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives as the He breathes on His word that comes out of me.
2. Preach like you are preaching for the first time. Through the years I have trained myself to speak as if I am delivering the message for the first time regardless of how many times I have already spoken.
Energy is dissipated when I feel like I am only repeating myself. The key here is to know that while it is the same message and the same room, the next meeting is with a different group of people. I treat every service as a special meal for the person on the receiving end.
Like a good chef I know that I have to deliver a fresh meal. Each service is a new customer who is expecting the same quality meal of the previous service...and I intend to deliver. Staying focused on the need to deliver something fresh helps to keep me energized. Thinking that person will go home full of God's bread always energizes.
3. Preach like you are preaching to yourself. The last thing that helps me stay energized is I remind myself that I benefit the most from the preaching even though I prepared it.
Interestingly I have found that by taking this posture my messages get richer as more revelation come from the repetition. Instead of getting bored I end up with new discoveries on how to present my message better. Nothing energizes more than hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ again and again in fresh new ways.
The challenge of this process keeps me energized as I remain expectant of not just better ways to communicate but of revelations that lead to personal applications. Applications not just for the people listening to me but to my personal life as well...and that's energizing.
Your personal take-away: As disciple makers we need to be reminded it's not about our preaching but the people. We should treat every opportunity to preach the gospel like we're presenting it for the first time, full of energy. Remember you are just as much a beneficiary every time you share.
Aloha!
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