Much Bigger

Do we recognize that we are part of something that is bigger than us? If we realize that our efforts are not about our own personal kingdom, but are an investment in the growth of God's great Kingdom, it changes our motivation. No longer do we sit with arms folded in resentment when the music is too loud. Generations will start to appreciate the history of Christianity (music, traditions, etc.) instead of so quickly casting it aside for the sake of something new. Moving to a new service isn't about an inconvenience, but providing an opportunity for new people to connect to the fluidly changing & growing body of Christ. We don't become consumed with the idea of being the biggest church on the street, but pray earnestly for all of God's Church to grow quickly.

When the spotlight moves from us to God it changes the culture of the Church. It's no longer OUR church, but HIS. We can attempt to deny this truth and watch a man-made organization collapse (and it will) or embrace the reality that we are part of something that is much bigger than us and watch it flourish.

Catalyst Thoughts

I was in Atlanta at NorthPoint Community Church on Monday for an event called Catalyst One Day. It was led by Andy Stanley & Craig Groeschel (two godly pastors and leaders) and was a stimulating day of teaching on developing the culture of a church. It's going to take a while to process everything I heard and determine exactly what to do with it, but here are a few thoughts:

• To create a healthy, dynamic culture you need healthy, dynamic people.
• You have to manufacture ways of assessing culture to keep it new.
• If we care about our mission, we have to focus on productivity-this means we have to look at our culture.
• Healthy cultures never happen by accident. They are created.
• The number one force that shapes your culture is your values.
• If things aren't as they should be change them.
• Vision leaks & culture drifts. That's why constant attention to both is vital.
• You can have high control & low growth or low control & high growth.
• Leverage your authority for the good of other people.
• The local church should be the best place to work. 
• Your personal glory is too small a thing to live for. Attach your glory to the church.
• Are there things you are believing about yourself that weren't spoken to you by God?
• We can't overcome the problems we can't identify.
• Our church needs our leadership more than our "preacher-ship."

Whose Church?

What do we really want our church to look like? What is it that we want the church to be known for? What kind of culture do we want to have? What reputation in the community do we strive to see our church have? I am pondering these questions this morning as God continues to work in my own heart.

I wonder what most of us focus on when we think about "our church." Do we get caught up in how the church sings the songs that we like and make us feel comfortable? Is our mission to keep up programming for those that have already declared allegiance to Christ? Do we get focused on how our own needs are met? Is our concern how we maintain things because "that's the way we've always done it?"

Perhaps our biggest struggle is that we have become so consumed with what we want our church to be that we have forgotten that it doesn't belong to us to begin with. When we realize that the Church is God's designed instrument to glorify Him and reach the world it changes our perspective. It shifts our priorities from making us comfortable to pushing us to honestly seeking His direction and then obediently following through with it. When we see that we are not the owners but workers for the High King of Heaven, our greatest objective is to achieve what He has designed for us and not the fulfillment of our own selfish desires.

Now that's a Church that even the gates of Hades can't stand against.