Have you noticed how many things have gone retro… clothes,
cars, furniture, appliances.  Vinyl
records are making a comeback.   I wish I
had kept my leisure suits because I am sure they will return soon! Maybe even
my bell bottom pants I wore in college.  Some
are nostalgic and want to return to the good ole days when church attendance
was up and life seemed much simpler.   This
retro thinking reminds me of how we sometimes view discipleship.

We go to all the new conferences, seminars and read the
latest books to get a grip on how to more effectively grow our churches and
make disciples.  Nothing wrong with that,
but everyone seems to be looking for the discipleship silver bullet; that one
easy step that will propel our church forward and solve all our problems.  Maybe, something from the past was lost.  We debate Sunday School versus small groups,
traditional music versus contemporary, deacons versus elders, using hymn books
versus projectors, and on and on. 

The truth is the Lord can bless any church He chooses to
bless regardless of their music or methods.  
1 Cor 3:6 says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.”  NASU 
“makes things grow” NIV “God gave the increase” KJV  “God gave the growth” HCSB

The single factor I’ve observed in churches that are growing
is the fact that they are committed to “make disciples.”  They constantly celebrate baptisms and spiritual
victories in the lives of their members and other lives that their members
touch.  They are not doing church but
being church.  The members have been
equipped, trained and released to do ministry. 
All feel called to make disciples and all are using their spiritual
gifts to make a difference in their churches and communities.  This is not rocket science.

My observation is that discipleship happens best in small
groups with someone who loves the Lord and loves people and is willing to spend
some time and energy helping these people grow in Christ.  Jesus modeled this with His disciples.  We cannot improve on His Message or His Model
for doing discipleship.

We need to retro back to the first century. 

I believe it was Will Rogers who said, “Nostalgia is not
what it used to be.”  I do wish I could
wear my bell bottoms again.

Keep the Son in your Eyes,

Mike James

Could it be that churches (we as leaders) are chasing after the next fad, and attempting to stay on the cutting edge to such a degree that we are failing to do the basics well?

Could it be that we are so busy attending conferences and reading the latest “how to” book in order to find the next new trend that we have missed God’s purpose for the church we serve?

As I look on my shelf I have…comeback church, transformational church, purpose driven church, transforming church, connecting church, new kind of church, essential church, simple church, total church life, comeback church, organic church, and on and on.

If new books were the key we would have won the country to Christ 30 years ago.  I have nothing against books that help us see what God is doing in a particular context or that really probe our thinking but is the future of your church in the next new book? 

A few questions…

1.  Should the church mimic the culture in order to reach the people in the culture?  In other words do we change music style, dress, and even the architecture of our buildings in order to be more seeker friendly?   Is that the key?
2. Do we find another pattern, strategy, methodology from a highly successful church and simply transpose (or impose) that strategy upon our congregation?
3. Do we really believe that the Holy Spirit could lead our church on a new path and direction that is different than any other church in our city for His glory?
4. Is God blessing only one particular style of worship or ministry or model or preaching style or congregational setting?

There are no silver bullets to growing a healthy church.  There are many bullets that could be aimed at you if you ask the right questions.

I have served churches that averaged 60 in worship to 2,800 in worship.  Like many of you I have attended my share of conferences and seminars.  I have all the notebooks on my shelf as evidence. Again I am not anti conferences but there has to be more.

I think many churches are not even asking the right questions. 

1. Is your church seeking God’s specific will for your future?
2. Is prayer the main way your church and church leaders hear the voice of God or does it have to come through the latest trendy book?
3. Are you attempting to fulfill the Great Commission?   Being a true great commission church should be our aim.  Two parts-Evangelism and discipleship.  We must win the lost and disciple the saved so that we can win the lost and disciple the saved so that…

Bill Hull writes about a change in his ministry direction several years ago.  He shared with his congregation that the Great Commission is more about depth than strategy, and being spiritually transformed is the primary and exclusive work of the church…believing the right things is not enough—being a Christian means actually following Jesus. We don't drift into discipleship or amble our way half-heartedly down the path of obedience. It is a choice.

He went on to say this, “When I changed from a strategist to a shepherd, when my teaching was filled with love rather than data, the congregation began to melt. They sensed that something prophetic was happening, and it changed our church.”

Could it be that we as pastors have ceased being pastors (shepherds) and feeding the flock from the Word because we are now strategists in church growth, CEO’s seeking to lead a spiritual organism with a business model?

Could it be that we have forgotten who founded and ultimately blesses and grows the church? 

We need to remind ourselves of the truth of Matt 16:18 where the Owner of the church said, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Make no mistake; Jesus is capable of building His church.  Sometimes we need to just get out of the way and allow Him to lead. 

Could it be we are seeking to build the church but on the wrong rock?

Keep the Son in Your Eyes,

Mike James

Have you noticed how many things have gone retro… clothes, cars, furniture, appliances. Vinyl records are making a comeback. I wish I had kept my leisure suits because I am sure they will return soon! Maybe even my bell bottom pants I wore in college. Some are nostalgic and want to return to the good ole days when church attendance was up and life seemed much simpler. This retro thinking reminds me of how we sometimes view discipleship.

We go to all the new conferences, seminars and read the latest books to get a grip on how to more effectively grow our churches and make disciples. Nothing wrong with that, but everyone seems to be looking for the discipleship silver bullet; that one easy step that will propel our church forward and solve all our problems. Maybe, something from the past was lost. We debate Sunday School versus small groups, traditional music versus contemporary, deacons versus elders, using hymn books versus projectors, and on and on.

The truth is the Lord can bless any church He chooses to bless regardless of their music or methods. 1 Cor 3:6 says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” NASU “makes things grow” NIV “God gave the increase” KJV “God gave the growth” HCSB

The single factor I’ve observed in churches that are growing is the fact that they are committed to “make disciples.” They constantly celebrate baptisms and spiritual victories in the lives of their members and other lives that their members touch. They are not doing church but being church. The members have been equipped, trained and released to do ministry. All feel called to make disciples and all are using their spiritual gifts to make a difference in their churches and communities. This is not rocket science.

My observation is that discipleship happens best in small groups with someone who loves the Lord and loves people and is willing to spend some time and energy helping these people grow in Christ. Jesus modeled this with His disciples. We cannot improve on His Message or His Model for doing discipleship.

We need to retro back to the first century.

I believe it was Will Rogers who said, “Nostalgia is not what it used to be.” I do wish I could wear my bell bottoms again.

Keep the Son in your Eyes,

Mike James (blog- 28nineteen.org)