Help write my new book and provide me feedback on this article. Please comment at the end after reading this article! – Kent
How should we do church? What should church look like? If Jesus was physically doing ministry here, today, what would it look like?
Over four decades, I’ve consulted nearly two-thousand churches in one way or another. Several have been in-depth work with churches: churches of different denominations, families and fellowships—different brands, different sizes, and different locations. They have a few things in common. For example, I’ve come to the firm conclusion that most churches are caught in the tyranny of busyness.
Here’s how it happens. Good people recommend nice ideas. This occurs year after year, piled higher and higher. The weight bogs the church down, diminishes the effectiveness, robs the power of focus. What we need is laser Christianity.
Jesus said it clearly: He is the light of the world. Light, diffused, is attractive. It’s attractive like moths are drawn to a porch light.
Focused light, is called a laser beam, and it has the power to break through walls. If the church is going to reach a secular population, these walls must come down. Focus comes by elimination.
I’ve come to the conclusion that most churches should do less, not more. Probably one-third to one-half less than what they’re doing already.
Recently, I was re-reading the words of my consulting mentor, Lyle Shaller…who will always be my hero. He’s the one who taught me how to consult churches. Interestingly, Shaller came to the same conclusion, years ago. Elimination is the clue to multiplication.
How do you focus? In John 14:12 (?) Jesus says, “I am on My way to the Father. I’m giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing.” You want to focus on what counts? Do what Jesus did. In this context of John 14, there is an amazing promise: “The person who trusts Me will not only do what I’m doing, but even greater things.”
Why are we so busy in all this other stuff? Could it be we don’t trust Him? Like my friend, Thom Rainer says, we need to simplify church (Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples, B&H Books, June 2011).
Help write my new book and provide me feedback on this article. Please comment below using the form immediately below for private submission and the comment section further below for comments that others may see! – Kent
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