Kids Ministry and Leadership Podcast ACC Kids

Andy Kirk takes us on a road to getting rid of self in a world where self is the 'most important.' Check out this months episode with us.

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Show Notes:
The notion is that as we are called to express the Image of God as we live out the Mission of God
Augustine grappled with a fundamental question that many of us have pondered:
"Who put this will in me?"
The evolution of the self though is a fascinating journey.
Augustine's introspection initiated the concept of the self as a stable, enduring reality that defines an individual.

This psychological perspective, rooted in the concept of self, contributed to frameworks like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and was further developed by thinkers like Michel de Montaigne, who explored the autobiographical self.

19th Century German writer GRENZ asked- “What happens when the concept of the infinite within the finite, on which the self-expressive self relies for stability and overcoming its particularity, proves to be an unstable center?"
Or to say another way “What happens when SELF is at the Centre?”
This crisis gave birth to the postmodern self, characterised by the loss of self and the embrace of its demise.

A famous theologian put it this way-
“The intended working of God’s mission through the world then is ‘the shalom of God outworking by the flourishing of his creation’
This Shalom of God can’t be expressed when self is at the centre as it needs us to reflect and show the love of God

Ron Sider says it this way
“in many crucial areas evangelicals are not living any differently from their unbelieving neighbours.” The consequences of this on our witness to Jesus Christ are incalculable.

PEOPLE ARE OUR PURPOSE
So how do be as leaders balance this notion of expressing the Misso Die or Mission of God as we reflect the Imago Dei or Image of God?
[James 1:22-24 NIV].

1- Self-Control through His Strength:
Scripture:
Galatians 5:22-23
Message:
We need God's Spirit to renew our self-control. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and it's only by walking in the Spirit that we can exercise true self-control. When we depend on God's strength, we can resist temptation and respond with self-control.

2- Self-Belief through His Promises:
Scripture:
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Message:
Our self-belief is renewed by trusting in God's promises. In Isaiah, He reassures us that His presence strengthens and upholds us. When we place our faith in His steadfast promises, we can overcome self-doubt and face the future with renewed self-belief.

3- Self-Esteem through His Unconditional Love:
Scripture:
1 John 3:1 (NIV)
Message:
We need God's unconditional love to renew our self-esteem. His love is lavished upon us, and when we see ourselves as His beloved children, our self-esteem is rejuvenated. We are His, and this truth elevates our sense of self-worth.
4- Self-Worth through His Redemption:
Scripture:
Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)

Message:
Our self-worth is renewed through God's redemption. We are made worthy through Christ's sacrifice, and His grace provides the foundation for our self-worth. When we accept His redemption, we find our worth renewed in Him.
5- Self-Awareness through His Word:
Scripture:
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

Message:
Self-awareness is renewed through God's Word. His Word is living and powerful, revealing the deepest parts of our being. When we immerse ourselves in His Word, we gain insight and self-awareness, leading to personal growth and transformation.

In this months episode Andy will talk all about the next generation, Generation Alpha!
How they think, act and are as well as how all other gens tie in.

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Show Notes:

Psalm 78:4,7-8
We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders...so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.”
Jeremiah 6:1
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
For us right now looking back along the ancient paths to be able to point the future generations in the way to walk
To break it down-
We need to intentionally lead our children and others to the truth of God’s Word.
We need to intentionally show our children and others that they belong in God’s family.
We need to intentionally help our children and others discover God’s divine purpose for their lives.

To help us understand where we are at let’s take a look at where we currently sit with the this unique time in history when 6 VERY different Generations co-exist.
1. We are a dynamic generation.
2. We are a diverse generation.

[WHO IS GEN ALPHA]
Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024, is growing up in a world vastly different from the one most of the older generations experienced.
They are the children of Millennials and are the first generation that we will see in record numbers in the 22nd century.
They are logged on and linked up, known as "digital natives."



[PRACTICAL MINISTRY]
Reaching Generation Alpha for Christ: Nurturing Faith and Well-Being
Integrating Faith into Well-Being
Promoting Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence
Creating Inclusive and Accepting Faith Communities
Fostering a Sense of Purpose
Education on Faith and Spirituality
Environmental Stewardship
Online and Digital Outreach
Promote Prayer and Meditation
Engage with Parents and Caregivers
Modeling a Faith-Centered Life

In this months episode Andy Kirk goes through Transformative Thinking and the need to be in control of what you think. There is so much power in thought and this will help you greatly.

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Show Notes:

Our mental processes operate on a fascinating ratio: 80% subconscious and 20% conscious. While this intricate dance between the conscious and subconscious realms shapes our thoughts, it is the 80% submerged beneath the surface that guides our words and actions.
"We act in accordance with what resonates in our internal dialogue."
Proverbs says - "As a man thinks in his heart (subconscious), so is he."
This word Heart in Hebrew is 

LEVAV
+ Levav means
-Seat of thought- (Where your thoughts originate)
-Intention- (When we say "That guy has a good heart")
-Feeling- (Where your emotions originate from)
-Inclination/Disposition
-INNER SELF
SO OFTEN OUR VOICE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN GOD’S VOICE IN OUR LIFE
UNLESS WE SURRENDER

-Seat of thought- (Where your thoughts originate)
Intention- (When we say "That guy has a good heart")
- Feeling- (Where your emotions originate from)
-Inclination/Disposition
- INNER SELF
One of the biggest illustrations of this was when 12 spies returned in the book of Numbers and used a phrase “We are like grasshoppers in our own mind”…..


Remarkably, the conversation within ourselves is four times more rapid than external dialogue—an inner symphony shaping our responses and steering our actions.
Jesus, a master communicator, faced opposition not from what he directly spoke, but from the interpretations woven around his words- Essentially what people said to themselves about what He said
This profound insight illuminates the power of perception and the pivotal role it plays in shaping beliefs and attitudes.
For those of us aspiring to foster a transformed community, the key lies in transformative thinking.
In a recent OneHope study named Global Youth Culture, a compelling revelation emerged: Teens who engaged with the Bible just once a week witnessed a remarkable decrease in anxiety, depression, and confusion in identity.

This underscores the profound impact of the Word of God on the well-being of individuals.
Within the framework of a biblical worldview, Christian leaders are bestowed with a distinctive opportunity to shape the subconscious minds of those under their guidance.
Grounding teachings in the timeless Word of God, a concept articulated as "living and active" in Hebrews 4:12, is not merely a religious tradition but a potent strategy for delving into the depths of the heart and mind.
This connection to Scripture is a powerful avenue, resonating within the 80% subconscious thinking of the audience.
It goes beyond words spoken, tapping into the transformative potential inherent in God's truth. As the psalmist declares, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105), affirming the guiding and illuminating power of God's Word in our lives.
Through its living and active nature, it not only reduces anxiety, depression, and confusion but becomes the guiding force that shapes the very fabric of our subconscious minds.
In the words of St. Augustine, "Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."
In the Word, we find both rest and transformation—a testament to the enduring power of God's truth.

In this months episode Andy Kirk goes through People vs Process Driven Leadership. The pros and cons to both and how we as leaders can use them to our advantage in all circumstances.

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Show Notes:

People-Driven Leadership
"People-centric leadership is the cornerstone of a thriving organisation," 
People-driven leaders prioritize the human aspect of leadership, understanding that nurturing a motivated, engaged, and satisfied team is crucial for success. These leaders build relationships, foster trust, and encourage open communication. 
As John C. Maxwell once said, "Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge."
People-driven leadership styles create an inclusive and supportive environment that not only enhances morale but also encourages innovation, collaboration, and personal growth.  
Process-driven Leadership
On the other hand, those who champion process-driven leadership recognize the power of efficiency and consistency in achieving organizational goals. 
Striking the Balance
In the dynamic landscape of leadership, there are potential pitfalls in taking an extreme stance. 
Overly people-focused leaders may struggle with maintaining structure and achieving consistency, while those obsessed with processes can overlook the unique needs and aspirations of their team members.

Building a Culture of Balanced Leadership
Leadership styles do not exist in a vacuum; they are profoundly influenced by the organisation's culture.

In conclusion, leadership is a dynamic interplay between people and processes. 
Effective leaders understand that it's not a matter of choosing one over the other but of harnessing the strengths of both to create a thriving and high-performing team. 

This months episode is an interesting one where Andy chats to us about Spiritual Vibrancy, what that means as well as how anxiety can be tamed through spiritual disciplines.

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Show Notes:
DECONSTRUCTION of the truth
We are living right now where many feel and the world feels we have a right to create or recreate our version of Truth.
DISILLUSIONMENT with our lives
“Never has any one culture had so much and enjoyed it so little”
You can’t have gratitude and anxiety in your brain at the same time 
Let me unpack this further by highlighting some research that explored what it took to create spiritual vibrancy. 
It’s a funny term and it wasn’t exclusive to Christianity but applying this can help shape what we need for breakthrough from - 
DECONSTRUCTION of the truth
DISILLUSIONMENT with our lives
DETACHMENT from others
This pie chart that is broken into 3 parts points towards the 3 things that produces Spiritual Vibrancy in an adult according to BARNA Research 
1- TRUST IN AN AUTHORITATIVE TEXT (BIBLE)
2- FAITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (CHURCH)
3- POSITIVE FAMILY EXPERIENCES (FAMILY)
Now whether you are young or old these 3 aspects are the foundation to spiritual vibrancy. 
I am sure we would all affirm this and say that the bible is important, church is important and a happy and healthy home is important but my question and probing today is to explore what we can personally do to help these 3 pieces fit together in our life
This calling is calling us through His word, into a family of believers to be able to outwork who we were meant to be in the context of healthy families
1- TRUST IN AN AUTHORITATIVE TEXT (BIBLE)
The thing that is unhinging this is our response to His word…..
The terms "indicative" and "imperative" refer to two different verb moods commonly used by the New Testament authors in their teaching on sanctification.
Indicative - mood of Certainty, Actuality
Imperative - mood of Command
2- FAITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (CHURCH)
In the 1 Peter 2:5 in the  NRSV reads a little differently, it says, “…Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” 
In other words, there is 2 choices I need to make. 
First, am I willing to build myself on Christ as the cornerstone? (we just covered this when we allow the Word of God to be authoritative in our life as it all points to Christ)
Second, will I allow God to work on my rough edges to be built into God’s spiritual house? 
Living Stones Built into a Spiritual House
Eph. 2:19-22 
3- POSITIVE FAMILY EXPERIENCES (FAMILY)
The third and final part of building Spiritual Vibrancy is a Positive Family Experience 
Let me show you some statistics in the home that may challenge us all……
HOW DO WE BRING THIS ALL TOGETHER??
[1]- The Bible is good and you can read that anywhere
[2]- The Church community is good but you can enjoy that without any real connection with the Word of God or taking it home 
[3]- Positive family experiences can happen external from church and void of the bible
BUT when all done together it brings growth individually and growth to those around us….

On this months ep, Andy Kirk goes deep into Generational Mentality and shows us, regardless of your generation, how we can best setup and help the other generations around us.