Who benefits?

   The title of this post is a quote from Karl Marx.  I know what you're thinking, addressing issues of Christianity using the words of a man whose ideas started a movement called communism that in most of its forms has striven to co-opt Christianity at best(Three Self Church - China) to North Korea (click on North Korea on map) where being a Christian often means being sent to a concentration camp or killed, at worst.
  But Marx nailed what we should be worried about.  Who is benefiting from what we do? Communists try to convince the masses that they(the masses) will benefit if communism reigns.  As history points out, that is a lie.  Those that benefit in communism increasingly are those at the top of the food chain.  So, when we say what we do is for others' benefit are we speaking the truth?
  Being focused on the benefit of others when it comes to the gospel, means that we have to deny ourselves many times. It means getting dirty, being tired and inconvenienced.  It means serving others when we would rather be taking a nap.  We all know, deep down inside what it means.
  Jesus' focus was the benefit of others.  The whole purpose He came to this earth was for our benefit.  So that you and I could have forgiveness and freedom from our sins.  He is our example.  We are to be as He was on this earth.  We read of times when He sought rest but felt the need of the people .
  So think about it for a minute. Who is benefiting from your church/ministry? Be honest. I'll answer for myself first by saying, "not enough of those on the outside."  Now it's your turn.  You don't have to tell me, or comment on here for the world to see.  But you do need to answer it for yourself.

Speaking of change

If you knew that twice as many people would show up at your church service, would you be willing to change the service times?

Principles, not methods

   Very few businesses operate in the same fashion that they did fifty or one hundred years ago.  The reason is that times change.  A few are the same as they were ten or twenty years in the past.  The reality is that most successful businesses are constantly changing because the world around us is constantly changing.  Their principles may be the same, but their operations and methods have changed so that they can be more productive and efficient in the business they conduct. How can we let the business world be more effective at reaching people than we are?
   If you are reading this, chances are you are in the same business I am. Namely, reaching hurting and lost people for Christ.  Also, if you are reading this, you have already changed your methods of being able to reach people for Christ. If you came here through a link on Facebook, you are leveraging that technology to stay in touch with and reach out to others in a manner way beyond what you could have 5 or 10 years ago.
  Being open to finding new ways to reach others for Christ is one step. Sometimes, we don't have to completely change our methods but merely enhance them or maybe do a little remodeling. People have been striving to reach people for Christ more efficiently for many years.  Hopefully, you have have as well.  I guess the practical way of looking at it is, if I have the same amount of resources(time, energy, money) what way can I have an impact upon the most people? Or how can I have the maximum impact?  Allow yourself to be challenged by God every day to open your eyes to something new.

Change for the sake of change

  Changing just to be changing is probably worse than no change at all.  What this blog is dedicated to is purposeful and meaningful change.  Changing from one thing to another, simply to not be doing the same thing, but seeing no different results will just wear you out and confuse you. We have got to optimize our personal and church ministries.  That means keeping some things the same, while changing those things that don't work. Have you changed any in the past five years?  How? 

Afraid?

   Are you afraid to do things you've never done? Of course, we all are.  Why?  Because we like security.  But what is security really?  The status quo? What makes us feel secure about the status quo? I think it is because it is what others have done before us and what we have been doing for a long time.
   Too often, we continue in the path we are in, whether it is right or wrong, even when we are not satisfied with the results we are getting because we are too afraid of what stepping outside our comfort box would cause to happen.  Doing what is safe and secure(to us) will not result in lasting church growth, just as it never results in lasting growth in the business world.  People and circumstances in the world around us change, and we must change to meet them at their point of need. If we don't, we risk losing them for all eternity.
   We're not talking here about changing doctrine or morals(unless they are unbiblical). What I mean is that we must change our methods sometimes to those different than what we have been using. Paul said " I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."  Are we willing to lay aside our personal preferences to reach people for Christ?
   The litmus test is this: we have all heard the old tired cliche, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So the question is two part.  One, are you satisfied with your results? More importantly, is He satisfied with your results?
   

I want our church to grow

      All of us want this for our churches don't we? We want to see growth. I personally, want to see great growth, and I hope you do as well. If we honestly examine our history, I daresay many of us are less than satisfied with our growth.  
    At my local church, we have been blessed to have a good increase in our attendance in the past year over the year previous to that. A 50% increase to be exact! We thank the Lord for this, but even at this our total attendance would just amount to a large Sunday School class at many churches. Even this year, I believe we are on track for another 50% increase, but there are many out there that are not being reached by our church and the message of Christ, so I am not satisfied with the growth. I am thankful for what we have seen, but I feel that God has more for us.
       As a pastor, I must face the following:

  When you want something you've never had, then you have to do something you've never done. - John Maxwell,The Difference Maker

      If our church want to reach more people in our community, it is sometimes going to involve us doing things we haven't done before. If we want to see the phenomenal growth seen in the Bible it is going to take some more. It definitely takes the Spirit. The Jesus tells us, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." But we can also do things to be more effective at reaching the lost. God uses the Spirit to draw those to Him, and He uses cultural situations to His advantage. Paul found where large groups of people were and went there and reached them. He found women washing clothes by a river, philosophers gathered together, and oftentimes went to the Jewish synagogues until he was kicked out.
       If we are going to reach people, we have to reach them where they are. If we want to reach more people at our local church, we are going to have to be willing to step outside our comfort zone, and do things we haven't done before. All through the Bible, people were called by God to do things they hadn't done before to see the results that God wanted to bring about.
   Are we willing?

Church ... a business?

Oftentimes, we fail to learn valuable lessons from others, because we feel what they are doing, has no bearing on what we are trying to accomplish. This is especially true among us Christians, whether it be laity or ministers. I mean why would we pay attention to how a successful, secular person or company achieves success? After all, we are spiritual and they are not! Because that is what the Bible does.

Let's look at one story for an example. Luke 18:1-8

 The above link references the story of the widow and the unjust judge. Here the judge admits that he doesn't fear God or man, but is going to give in to the widow's plea just so she won't wear him out. Jesus then explains how this story applies to increase our understanding of God.

 This is one very quick example, but for many more, just read the parables in the Bible. The Bible is full of examples of how we can receive spiritual lessons from the secular, physical world. I challenge you to look at the world around you and ask God to open your eyes to what you are missing that could be used for His purposes.

Is there not a cause?

Over the past number of years, my reading has lead me to various books, blogs, and articles covering a wide variety of topics. Many times I come across concepts in other fields that are widely applicable in the church arena. The topics addressed here will range anywhere from business and marketing to public speaking and serving others, depending on where my reading and thinking take me. My purpose in this is to share those gleanings with anyone who would care to expand their horizons and perhaps learn something that could help their church or ministry.