Key points from a study done on burn out:

1. Being on call 24/7 - feeling like you have to always be available
2. Trying to please everyone and solve everyone’s problems
3. Poor social networks - you don't make yourself available to environments of refreshing (you’re always serving/leading and never in service or around people who recharge you) 

Remember:

• Ministry is a Marathon not a sprint - we want you to last and do what God has called you to for a long time 
• Be consistent is more important than starting strong and fading out

We are ALL called to ministry, at every role and position and function within the church. We create, organize, plan, shepherd, administrate, play instruments, mentor, all so that we can BRING ALL PEOPLE INTO THE LIFE, FAMILY, PURPOSE, of GOD. 

Let’s look at a moment in the Bible where the disciples were in the heat of ministry and draw 3 principles from this passage to stay fresh in ministry.  

John 6:6-13  “Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.” 7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” 10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.”

3 Principles for staying fresh in ministry:

1. Remember that JESUS is the source of all ministry (vs. 5)

• Remember we are doing this WITH Him not just FOR Him 
• Remember who called you! 
• Discouragement comes from forgetting the source

2. Remember to keep an OPEN HAND (vs. 8)

• God took what was available and multiplied it.
• God uses what we bring. 
• Comparison is the thief of joy.

3. You are the answer to someone’s need/prayer (vs. 11)

• Everyone needs Jesus and forgiveness. We have the answer to the problem 
• Stay in a place of willingness - “God use me”