- The Leader Letter
- Posts
- First World Problem
First World Problem
Jacob Schmelzer
July 22, 2023
FIRST WORLD PROBLEM.
nounSlang: Usually Facetious. (From
a fairly minor problem, frustrating situation, or complaint associated with a relatively high standard of living, as opposed to the more serious problems associated with poverty:
Using the phrase first world problem is usually a joke when something minor happens that really isn't that big of a deal and contrast with the real issues people face all over the world in developing countries.
But today I felt the Holy Spirit speak that phrase to me as I was reading a book about discipleship.
Because as an American pastor in the most affluent and powerful nation on earth we have a real “first world problem” and it’s not a joke.
We don’t know how to make disciples.
Before making excuses or arguing with that statement just sit with it for awhile.
Mull it over.
In the developed, first-world church are we making disciples like the early church? Or even more importantly like the church is in the developing world?
I sat down with an apostle from India a few weeks ago that has 100,000 Christians in his movement…out of his ONE church that he started in 1973. Now they plant a church every week. They know how to make disciples.
They know how to make disciples in the Philippines.
They know how to make disciples in South America.
Get my point?
The American (and UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, etc) church needs help.
In his excellent book “Building A Discipling Culture” Mike Breen says,
“Many of us serve in or lead churches where we have hundreds or even thousands of people showing up on Sunday. But we have to honestly answer this question: Do their lives look like the lives of the people we see in Scripture? Are we just good at getting people together once a week and maybe into a small group, or are we actually good at producing the types of people we read about in the New Testament? Have we shifted our criteria for a good disciple as someone who shows up to our stuff, gives money, and occasionally feeds poor people?”
While I don’t propose to have all the answers I’m committing myself and our church to a couple of key actions.
1) Be humble and learn from those who know how to make disciples.
I want to sit at the feet of brothers and sisters from developing nations and learn how to make disciples. It’s time that financial resources, buildings, and church attendance stopped being the key metrics for success in the church.
What if our conference speakers, authors, thought leaders, and spiritual heroes were those that best exemplified the humble, relational process of discipleship?
I know we can do this in the USA and developing world. And there are certainly things we can teach and add to the conversation. But some humility is in order.
2) Stop measuring success by the wrong metric.
I love talking about church growth. Numbers are people that Jesus died for. So don’t hear the wrong thing here. But to truly impact cities, states, and nations we can’t just focus on bigger churches.
We need multiplying churches.
And that comes from making disciples.
3) Invest more in multiplication than addition.
Put your money where your mouth is, right?
This year we’re planting a church and our heart is to keep it up!
We’re going to let our resources flow to kingdom expansion rather than better programs or even church growth for our church alone.
Just a couple shifts…hopefully that gets your gears turning!
Well, that’s all I have time for today…
Be blessed!
Talk soon,
Pastor Jake
How We’re Helping Churches Get The Employee Retention Tax Credit (avg. $18,000 per employee)
Right now I’m helping churches get connected with a firm that assists them determine their eligibility for the ERC tax credit. The average check to the church we’ve seen is $18,000 per employee. Incredible right? It’s already been a HUGE blessing to hundreds of churches across the US. But there is a TON of misinformation, misunderstanding, and even scams out there so getting the right help is important. If you’d like more information please reply to this email with the phrase: ERC HELP and I’ll followup with you.
Free Resources
Here’s a couple of cool FREE resources I’ve come across that I wanted to share with you!
Want to write, publish, and profit with your own book? This will show you the process.
Wave goodbye to poor money mindsets! Here’s how to think like a millionaire. Click here to get “Millionaire Habits” free.
What’s this Bloom guy up to? Find out how to lead a healthy, wealthy, and high performing life right here.
The Pour Over: Politically neutral, Christ-first, news source.
The biggest news of the day, summarized in a way you'll actually understand and enjoy, paired with brief Christian perspectives.
Eat God’s Way: FREE Newsletter
Daily encouragement to ditch the Standard American Diet, get healthier & happier, and save money on groceries... without giving up the foods you love or spending all day in the kitchen!
Click here to get it. (page might take a few seconds to load)
Telling better stories means being a better communicator and inspiring people to change and grow!
Recommended Tools:
Here are some of the best tools I use for business and ministry!
1) Email Newsletter Software - Beehiiv
Want to start your own newsletter? For church communication, leadership development, discipleship, or something else? Beehiiv is my go-to tool. I use it everyday and it works great. Totally FREE up to 2500 subscribers!
2) Group Software - Skool
Skool is hands down the simplest, easiest, and BEST group software available right now. I use it for UpLevel Leader coaching and it’s fantastic. Community. Classroom. Calendar.