Now what are you going to do with it? How is going to that conference going to change the way you do ministry today? I worry that for many, the answers is ‘nothing’. What I often observe is people nodding their head yes as the speaker pours out great information and then pat each other on the back telling each other what a great job we’re doing. We’re afraid to hurt people’s feelings as if it’s unchristian to tell someone they’re missing the mark.

Now don’t get me wrong, a big part of any conference is to encourage one another and we should be building one another up. I submit to you though that just nodding our head as someone talks about how they ‘get it’ and are doing ‘great’ things when you know otherwise doesn’t actual build them up but sets them up for failure later.

I’m not just pointing fingers, I’m guilty of it. I like to make people happy and don’t want to hurt feelings so often I’m the one nodding my head.

How do we break through this? Can I tell you that I think you’re missing the mark and not be a jerk?