Getting Things Right (Part 5)

Getting Things Right (Part 5)

The vision of the church should be something that the church can live into. 

-It doesn't necessarily it has to be all figured out, but it must be flexible enough so that how it is lived out can adapt and change with the changing needs of the community. 

The strategy isn't about what we are going to do, but how we were going to go about doing things. Everything we do must first be from the perspective of hospitality, how we nurture spiritual growth, and our willingness to commit.

-As a church, it isn't about reviving or redeveloping a dying or struggling church. It's about being relevant in one's community and visibly living out Christ's presence in your neighborhood. 

a. Moving from the mindset of revival to relevance is vital to determining the future of the church. 

Revival can put the congregation's focus inward to think about what to do to increase membership, increase tithes, and build the church back up to where it used to be. Relevance is about figuring out the current identity and gifts of the church now and matching that with the needs of the community. 

b. Relevance is not about survival, but about recognizing no matter the size of your congregation, Christ is calling you to use your gifts in a particular way for a particular reason and season. 

Sometimes, this does lead to a revival of the church in energy, in numbers, and in significance. Sometimes, it means recognizing that the ministry of the church exists beyond the actual existence of your congregation. Maybe it is time to bless other ministries or new church developments with your church building or financial assets. Maybe it is time for the legacy of your church to live on through the ministry of another. Being relevant causes us to not be selfish about what we want, but to also look at what Christ is calling us to do in ways we never could imagine possible.

We must be constantly in prayer. It may seem obvious, but in order to discern the direction where Christ is calling, a faith community needs to be in constant prayer for guidance, strength, and faith.

It isn't easy being a part of a church that is struggling for relevance for whatever reason, but there are unique gifts that a struggling church can offer. It just takes a willingness to step out into the unknown, a commitment to change, and an acceptance to give up the things that may be holding your congregation back from doing something only God knows.