We are falling behind. Year after year, the population growth of our country outpaces the ability of the church to reach new people. While our population grows, over 3,000 churches close their doors every year. Simply put, we are not keeping up. Difficulties are not new. The church in every generation has faced tremendous challenges. These challenges have called for bold responses. In the 1950's and 60's, it took the courage of a few to change the racial attitudes of the country. In Nazi Germany, a bold underground movement sought to remove Hitler. Challenges are nothing new to people of faith. Fortunately, we do not fight in our own strength alone. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit provides us with courage, tenacity, and boldness. We have access to all the resources of heaven. Our God stands ready and willing to work on our behalf. As a church, we…
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Over the years I have taught a "Discovering Your SHAPE" class at several different churches. It's always one of the most enjoyable classes I teach. In it we discuss how God has created our unique SHAPE: Spiritual gift Heart Abilities Personality Experiences Of these five form factors, our experiences are the most fluid. In other words, the others are -- to some extent -- fixed. They may modify through the years but remain relatively the same. Our experiences, however, are always happening. Life throws us a curveball. Jobs change. Neighbors move. The economy crashes. The economy returns. Presidents get elected. Kids grow up and get married. Grandkids are born. Life happens. And with each new experience, God is adjusting our SHAPE. In some cases, we may have a pattern of experiences that is preparing us to serve in a particular way. At other times, it only takes one experience to…
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I've been a fan of business author Jim Collins for many years. As a pastor, I read his books and baptize them for use as a church leader. He's probably best known for Good to Great, a book that examined how good companies became great companies while their competitors failed to do so. Two years ago I read another of his books: "How the Mighty Fall". In this book, Collins outlines the stages of decline that mark the downfall of a great company. It's a fascinating read. I believe it's also a must read for anyone in leadership. The moral of the story is this: successful companies, or organizations, or churches can fall from their perch if they fail to identify the stages of decline. The Five Stages of Decline The Hubris of Success. Success can insulate leaders from the best ideas because the new ideas don't fit with…
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"Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides." -- Margaret Thatcher, former British Prime Minister
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As a kid in elementary school, I loved to reenact pro wrestling moves with my friends on the playground (and even managed to save enough of my allowance to buy the best Adidas wrestling shoes out there). An elbow smash here, a flying drop-kick there. All we were missing was a turnbuckle. But I never seriously thought about becoming a pro wrestler. In fact, when I arrived in high school, I never thought about joining the wrestling team. The thought of wrapping my arms under someone's sweaty arm pits was not too appealing. Plus, the guys I knew jogged between classes wearing garbage bags designed to sweat off the last pound or two. Not for me. But the day I gave my life to Jesus was also the day I signed up to be a wrestler. When the apostle Paul describes the nature of the Christian life, he does so…
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