A great presentation by Simon Sinek that really ties in with the video in the previous post on education. This is a secular video about moving people to buy a product but the rationale of how people are inspired to move to action and where behavior comes from is helpful in how we present any sort of important information. It is worth every 18 minutes of your time to watch this or else I wouldn’t post this. Thanks to our youth minister Joel for pointing this out to me.
Changing the order:
So why is this video important? A good place to start after watching this, right? It is important because we often assume if we present the appropriate information and facts that people will automatically be moved to change. But maybe there is another starting point – same information, same truth/facts…just starting from a different place. Let’s say you want to do a class on worship. You lay out the acts of worship, the scriptures that mention them and how we do it today. What is missing? The why is missing. If we first motivate people to remember how loving and powerful and graceful and worthy our God is of praise they will respond with, “What does that kind of God want from me?” Well, here is how the early Christians responded, those who were eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ responded like this…why? Because this is how they knew to worship based on their heritage but also because it makes sense that if one experienced the resurrected Lord they would pray. They would sing worshipful songs. They would commune as he asked them to do in order to be with him in spirit once again around the table. Same scriptures. Same facts. Different starting place that moves the heart and mind. I think that can work.
Changing Advertising:
This also changes the way we advertise things within the church. I have been feeling this for some time but this video finally fleshed it out for me. I have seen over and over again that people won’t come to something if they don’t know why they are supposed to be there. We assume that they should know why or that if the doors are open that is why enough but it isn’t. One of the things our 20s & 30s are going to start doing this week is greeting at the front doors Sunday morning. Why? A couple of reasons – We have a lot of young people and young families and we want visitors to see that. We also want our generations to get more connected and this is a chance for them to meet people and be seen by people not in that ministry. Here is the problem. I would typically advertise this by letting them know we need a few of them to greet on Sunday. I don’t always connect the why to this. I just tell them what and sometimes tell them how. But rarely do we give them why. Instead it makes more sense to start with the problem (insulation within the ministry and disconnection from older Christians and visitors) so they see why it is important.
He also has a book I haven’t read but it looks interesting – Start with Why – How Great Leaders Inspire People to Take Action
0 Responses
Don’t you think it is the preaching of the Word and the conviction by the HS that calls people to various personal ministries and use of God’s spiritual blessings? It is God’s calling, not General Electric.
Why would you go to the world’s method when God is sufficient. It is now the Church of “salesman leadership training “
Gina,
I don’t mind if you have questions. I don’t mind if you have concerns. I don’t mind if you want open dialog on a particular subject. We do that all the time here. In fact I just had a great dialog on a previous post that was cordial and loving and while we didn’t completely agree in the end we still cared for each other and respected each other. So it happens here all the time.
But here is what I do mind. I do mind when someone makes it there mission to go through my posts and poke at them all and expect me to get back with them like I have endless time to give them all the attention I can muster to address each and every thing. I expect 99% of the people who read this blog disagree with things from time to time but no one else spends all their time poking and pulling at those scabs. That seems to be your mission at the moment. I just don’t have the time to address all your concerns. So if that doesn’t suit you then maybe this isn’t the place for you. Sorry about that and I want you to know that I say that as kindly as I know how, speaking the truth in love. God bless
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
I’ve actually only commented on 2 of your posts. I don ‘t expect you to spend most of your time responding unless you want to
I consider the Rob Bell discussion interesting but if you find my inquires “poking and pulling at scabs” ? I’m not sure what you’re talking about since I’ve not been rude. Perhaps you don’t welcome a more in depth discussion with someone who goes to God ‘s Word to see if Bell or other emergent or post modern writers seek Gods truth rather than their own vain imaginations. I was actually surprised you answered me so quickly. I don’t expect a quick reply. perhaps only when you ‘re in the mood – might be never.
I just think you made a strawmans argument because what you are claiming I do, I didn’t
Gina,
I don’t at all mean to come across as disrespectful to you. All I know is I have gotten 9 comments from you in roughly the last 24 hours that have implied that I take things out of context, don’t have a true view of the gospel, point out things you call “absurd”, that anyone else pretty much has an inferior take on things than you do, said I didn’t respond to your points when I did, questioned whether or not I am seeking biblical truth (have you read my blog?)…you have basically said that until I can prove I understand your view of the gospel that I “would not even understand your critique of Bell” – what does that even mean or imply? You have told me that I am going after itching ears. Do I need to go on?
Should anyone wonder why I thought you were coming across a little strong here? I am glad to have a cordial conversation on these things but it is important that we assume the best from one another and give each other the space to answer. Best wishes…Matt
I appreciate the thoughts on the video. I see that people are more and more harried and distracted and flat worn out. If we communicate the what and even the how without a compellling why – it ends up just being consumer choices. One thing that I am seeing more and more is the gospel points most fully to a why instead of a what or how. AND if we do not focus on the why or assume people already get the why – we will miss those people! Both our members and those who are not following Christ.
If I have heard it once, I’ve heard it 1000 times. People raised in church talking about following rules growing up (the what) with limited why and a poorly developed why (to please parents, to be good, to go to heaven.) Jesus comes and talk about freedom and LIFE. Not rules but relationships that transform the world.
Just think about our assemblies. Do we believe that God will be present when we assemble? Do we arrive witht the WHY of seeing and experiencing the God of heaven and earth? That changes me. So every time we gather together we must come up with creative ways to not only invite God in, but more accurately invite our hearts to witness His presence and thereby give Him glory.
I make far too many assumptions about why!! Thanks for sharing.