HEALTHY CHURCH: Keep Moving Forward

         I once heard someone ask a pastor what he thought was the hardest part of pastoring. His response? “Watching people once active, passionate and on fire for the Lord who sit down to never get up again.” I Cor. 4:2 (ESV) says, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Paul also challenges us in II Tim. 3:14, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” Are you, as a leader, continuing to be faithful in the work of the Lord? Has your church sat down on the mission of God and not gotten back up yet?

      It can be different. You can get back up and begin advancing the mission of God forward once again. Your church has been called to “continue,” not to sit down and drift along uncommitted to God’s mission. Because of who God is, you can be confident that if your church is stuck, He can unstick you. If you value God’s call on your life and ministry, that value can impact how you fulfill that calling. In Leading Leaders, Mac Lake stated, “Values aren’t what you do, but they impact the way you do things.” If they are truly values, the right values will always lead you to the right behaviors.

      Have you ever written down your values? Biblical values are the principles that determine how you and your congregation will live. Values decide how you will invest your time and energy. They determine practices, and your practices carry out the goals you are working toward. Your values shape and mold your priorities. When they are clearly written down, they serve as a filter to help you determine what you will and will not devote your efforts to. Another way of viewing values is to see them as the “rules of the road” for you on your journey to obeying His calling and fulfilling His mission.

      In The Multiplication Workshop, Dave Devries said, “Values reflect a person’s unique beliefs, core convictions and guiding principles. These values will guide ongoing attitudes and behaviors. Values are often unwritten assumptions that guide actions. In any situation, values are confirmed by actions, not just by words. Values are more about deeds than words. Core values should be able to be expressed in terms of acceptable and unacceptable behavior.” What are your values? How are those values being demonstrated? What values do you talk about, but there is no evidence that they really are your values?

      In The Leadership Challenge, James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner stated, “Values help us determine what to do and what not to do. They’re deep-seated, pervasive standards that influence every aspect of our lives — our moral judgments, our responses to others and our commitments to personal and organizational goals. Values set the parameters for the hundreds of decisions we make every day.” Values help you make day-to-day decisions. Values are not what you “say” but what you are actually “doing.” That is what you really value. James 1:22 (ESV) states, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only…”

      Getting a church up and moving again is a great challenge, as it involves living out what they say they value. Determining values is imperative in developing a process of godly movement by discerning what He wants you to do, executing His plan and remaining surrendered to His direction. In The Church Revitalization Checklist, Sam Rainersuggested the following questions in these areas:

      • Priorities — How do you determine what is most urgent?

      • Pace — How fast can you lead change?

      • Perspective — Are the church’s expectations properly aligned?

      • People — What is your true capacity to move forward?

      Sam continued, “You have the exact people and resources you need right now to begin accomplishing God’s goal for your church.” In Experiencing God Day by Day,on Aug. 3, Henry and Richard Blackaby discussed Caleb: “If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God’s power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things in your life that can be explained only by His mighty presence.” Do your values demand a total dependence on an all-powerful God? Are you following His leadership courageously?

      Sam Rainer asked four very important questions about the culture of your church:

      • Is your church engaged or unengaged with the community?

      • Is your church willing to change, or are your people entrenched in how things have always been?

      • Is your church hungry or desperate for a solution?

      • Is your church stable or on life support?

      After priorities, the next step toward movement and momentum is the pace of the change required, which involves speed. Now, you are focusing on your capacity for change, which concentrates on the people God has given you. They are the greatest assets in your ministry.

      Who has God given you for your church to flourish? Do not be looking elsewhere, but instead accept Sam’s challenge, “Love the congregants you have now, not the ones you wish you had.” Who do you need to be focused on to disciple and mentor? In While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks,Dr. Timothy S. Laniak said, “Leadership is never reducible to an individual. It is a shared dynamic in any community or organization.” God did not create us to make this journey alone. The self-made man is an American myth and not biblical. What do your people need to know? Are you willing to equip and empower them?

      Working with your people and increasing their capacity requires building a communication culture. How will you connect their spiritual gifts with their specific assignment? How will you develop and equip those God has given you to complete the mission He has given you? Are you committed to the future by passing the baton through the multiplication of disciples, leaders and churches?

      Spend time thinking and praying through priorities, pace, perspective and the people who determine your capacity. Write down 5-7 non-negotiable values. Now, how will you and your church demonstrate those values daily?