I'm sitting on my couch. I'm about to head to bed, but I just finished watching the story of an amazing church and how it began. It's cool, it's current and it's new. Like 2005 new. It's reaching thousands of people. It got me excited! Fired up. But wait...aren't I already excited and fired up? What is going on? Let me try to answer. Maybe for you. Maybe for me. Here goes.
I'm blessed to be at a church that has a story much like the one I just watched. But ours started in 1927 with one man and a passion for the lost. I'm sure it was scary and difficult for him. I'm sure he had to persevere through tough days and tough months. But they reached people. Many people. Over the years, thousands of people. Then our church struggled. I was just a kid, but I'm sure there were many reasons. No one person, or group of people. Just reasons. Whatever they were...it struggled. Period.
But then the ship turned around. I guess you could say a modern day miracle. You see, dying churches don't grow, they die. So what happened? Well, some new philosophies and processes helped a lot. But more than that, a renewed passion for the lost developed. Beginning with the leaders, it trickled down into the hearts of the people. A desire to see new believers began to grow. In turn, the church grew. And it's still growing.
So what's the problem? Why am I not excited? The thing is...I am excited. I'm pumped. Our church is reaching lost people. People are meeting Jesus for the first time. And people are growing in their faith, strengthening marriages, making commitments to serve. People are loving others and allowing God to provide for their needs. Looking forward, I believe our church can reach thousands of people in our area with the gospel. I believe God has put us here for this very time with a tremendous purpose. It's an awesome thing. So again...what's the problem? What is going on in my heart from watching that video?
The problem is...am I living every day focused on reaching thousands? Am I praying like we will change this entire area? Does that dominate my thoughts? Not just cause I'm a pastor, but because I'm a Christian. Am I putting it all on the line for the sake of the Kingdom? Or are my actions telling a slower story...one filled with Him moving in a simple, explainable way. Still good, still God, but slow.
Can you tell I'm trying to figure this out? Are you? Maybe you're reading this like "yeah that's me!!!" You want to make a huge difference and reach tons of people. Me too. And you want to reach people faster. Me too. And I get the whole be where God has you thing. Not everyone is called to reach thousands. Or evangelize their whole block. Agreed. I also get the "doesn't God give the growth" cop out. Yes He does. Agreed. But we live it backwards. We somehow assume that He is not planning on using us that way. And then, we live off of that assumption. An assumption!!! It's not from God, it's from you! It's from me! We work our jobs, live in our neighborhoods, raise our families. We go to a good church, invite a couple people, maybe join a small group. But we expect little, so we get little. Or we expect something in the middle, so we get it. Whatever you think, our actions are all messed up. We need to flip our thinking.
Instead, why don't we let God worry about the results?! Maybe the shift in thinking is this: we live, act, pray, dream, share, serve, and love in a way that whatever God wants to do He can. We plan on lines of people filling a room to hear God's word preached. We share Christ with our whole block. We invite every co-worker to church. I mean, get this: at our recent men's event, 68 guys brought 32 visitors. That's almost 50%! That would be 250 visitors on a Sunday at The Bridge. Wow!!! Maybe you say "but that's a special event." I know I'm saying it right now. But that is my whole point. Or the point God is making to me right now. We've got to stop telling Him what He is allowed to do. What He can do. We must leave results to Him, standing ready to reap a harvest every second of every day.
Why are you holding back?! Why am I?! Unbelievable, unexplainable, unimaginable stories of lives changed are waiting to happen. What can you imagine for The Bridge? Or for your church, wherever you are? Could it possibly be more than the church groove you've settled into?
Let's be done with small goals and quiet clapping. Instead, let's run the race hard with thunderous applause for His glory. Then we can leave the results up to Him. Don't just think about it. Do it. And I will too.
