What we measure determines what we think success is.
Most churches still tend to measure by the ABCs:
ATTENDANCE, BUILDINGS and CASH (Offerings)
These are useful, but not optimal – or even biblical!
Being BIG, WEALTHY and INFLUENTIAL does not necessarily mean a church is healthy (as we have seen so graphically and too in recent years).
HOW Does God measure success?
We find ourselves in times of great turmoil and unrest.How should we respond to such challenges? What can and should the church do?
It’s not just about me dying and going to heaven. The gospel is God is showing up here and now in broken places, in hard times in lives, in sickness… this is what the kingdom looks like. For everyday people in all sorts of ways!
Don’t limit yourself by your personality.
Be and believe He’s right in what he says about you! Either he’s right or you are.
There are no limitations when we agree with who He says we are!
Discover who you are in Christ – and act like it.
‘What God gives you is his gift to you, what you do with your gifts is your gift back to him.’ Dave Holden
We are not meant to come to church and have the pastor tell us what to do.
We are to come and tell the Pastor what God is doing!
Will we have bottlenecks, or wildfire?!
The leaders are necessary if they are there to provide guidance and support and discernment- but all through the week God should be breaking out through everyone. We need the Holy Spirit most of all!
The commission was directly given to the apostles but indirectly given to the ecclesia in every generation. After the early apostles died, the commission remained – and so does the authority, until it is fulfilled it will remain in force.
So they had a commission and were sent to fulfil it. In their generation the church grew like crazy and changed everything, everywhere. We have the same commission and we are sent to do it. That’s the key, they went, because they were sent. That’s an apostolic church.
James says “Elijah prayed prayers…” That means God gave him words to say. Don’t pray your own prayers. Wait on the Lord to hear what he will say – and you’ll see heaven’s results.
INTIMACY with Jesus.
PROXIMITY to Jesus and
DEPENDENCY on him.
SHUT THE GATES!
It’s struck me as this year opens up like never before just how good the good news is that it really is possible for me and you to be more and more like Christ.