Relatioship and The Minister

Personal Relationship

Ministry is a “people business”

The work of the ministry is defined by the needs of individuals, and the focus of ministry effort is upon the good that God desires among the people He has created.

Ministers must become experts in relationships.

You must succeed in your own relationships as well as aid others in their relationships.

HOW RELATIONSHIPS AFFECT OUR LIVES

Relationships are vital to ministry.

Whether you are a pastor, a church staff member, or serve as a leader in any area of church ministry, cultivating strong relationships is a necessary investment.

Relational-less ministry is both ineffective and harmful.

It is ineffective because if we look at ministry only as a checklist, we may fulfill action-item duties, but we’ll not influence lives.

It is harmful because it leaves the leader without one of the key resources to sustain faithfulness and accomplish their calling.

The Physical Effect

We are all aware of the physical effects of stress and interpersonal tensions.

Interpersonal Relationships provide an emotional climate where people can:

Express themselves without self-consciousness

Feel a sense of belonging

Receive nurture

Gain affirmation and guidance

Access new relationships and information

Is it better to eat cookies with good friends or eat vegetables alone.?

The Emotional Impact

Relationships are a key factor to psychological or emotional health.

Whether you consider yourself a social butterfly, drawn to one-on-one interactions, or prefer your own company, there’s no denying that the quality of your personal relationships affects your levels of happiness, well-being, and physical health.

Relationships, whether social or intimate, make people happy. They constitute a vital part of well-being as we are wired for connection.

The benefits of social connections and good mental health are numerous.

Studies have found that healthy relationships and good mental health can contribute to lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships.

However, feeling lonely, or perceived social isolation, is different from actual social isolation.

For instance, you could be surrounded by people and engaging in conversation but still feel lonely, although technically you’re socially connected.

It’s important to recognize that loneliness is different from solitude.

Feeling lonely is a problem, but being alone may not be a problem at all.

Many people live alone and have happy, fulfilling lives.

When troubled people feel threatened or frustrated with their relationship skills, they cannot think clearly and are more prone to say and do things that they later regret.

The Social Dynamic

Describe a conflict you have observed within the church, and explain how that conflict affected those involved?

The social effect of interpersonal stress can bring about various responses, including verbal aggression, violence, withdrawal from others, and the breakdown of relationships.

Relationships are social. People relate to other people and so impact them positively or negatively.

The minister must learn to handle to handle relationships with grace and dignity.

Briefly let us go over how to manage conflict as leaders.

I say briefly because later this year you’ll go more in depth with conflict management.

Anticipate Conflict

Address Conflict Intentionally

Resolve Conflict Appropriately

Accept Mixed Outcomes

Move On

https://research.lifeway.com/2019/11/18/5-principles-for-managing-ministry-conflict/

The Effective on Our Spiritual Life

God intended for us to live in perfect relationship with Him and with others in His created order.

Disobedience results in a broken relationship and alienation from God.

With separation from God or from each other, people stop growing emotionally and spiritually.

Maintaining the Minister’s Personal Relationships