http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/01/sermoncentral_ar
The folks at SermonCentral are gracious enough to publish some of my articles. In this one (out earlier today), Mike Dodson and I talk, "Getting Ministry Traction Instead of Just Spinning Your Wheels."
I serve on the Advisory Council of Sermon Central and I have been working on a plagiarism post that relates to their "Preacher's Pledge"... more on that soon, but this will be a busy week of research related materials, so it may be later in the week.
Here is an excerpt from today's article:
Remember that church revitalization is a spiritual endeavor.
It’s not about the latest programs, methods, models or techniques. Remember what Paul said, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6, NIV).
This principle was confirmed in a huge way in our study of Comeback Churches. According to Comeback leaders, the key to making a comeback was this - “renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the church.” That was the highest-rated single item in the study. How simple and basic is that!?
But are we really, truly focused on Jesus and his mission for us? Or do we allow many other things, even many good things, to get in the way of a pure and sincere devotion to Jesus and his mission for us-sending us out into this world as his disciples, his missionaries, his witnesses?
Multiple things can get in the way of churches being able to maintain and develop real spiritual vitality and passionately pursue Christ’s mission:
Self-focused leadership and churches
Being under God’s hand of discipline
Lack of exercising a radical faith and reliance upon God
Doing instead of being the church
Watering down or not proclaiming the Gospel
Distracted from being in love with Jesus first
Ineffective disciple-making
Irrelevant ministry
Pride in our way of doing things
Take some time and reflect on these things regarding your ministry context. Ask God if any of those things are true in your life or the life of your church. Remember that God has made a simple way for us to get things right.
