Using Hebrews 13:20-21 as a key text for developing a church mission statement. Helping the congregation to depend upon God to equip them with everything good for accomplishing His will.
Podcast version here
Hebrews 13:20,21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Our wee church is trying to work out a mission statement for the coming years. Our elders, who are the spiritual leaders in our congregation, are wrestling with decisions that will affect the long term mission and effectiveness of Erin church in the community. It’s not an easy task and a lot of prayer, preparation and pondering will have to be experienced before we can present an overall plan to the congregation.
Like most churches of our age, we are committing a lot of our resources to the upkeep and renovating of the building. The present sanctuary will be 55 years old in 2010 and whilst that is not old in European terms, the extremities of the American weather mean that the church ages a lot faster. I’d like us to be able to completely modernize the whole building in one stage, but I know that just isn’t possible. Unless we have a hidden multi-millionaire in the congregation, it’s going to take us several years to complete the job.
In the meantime, we’ve ministries and missions to undertake, support, and accomplish. That’s where we rely upon God as a congregation, just as the Hebrew Christians did in Paul’s time. As long as we are willing to continue doing the work that is pleasing to God, then He will equip us with everything good for accomplishing His will.
I guess that’s how we’ll eventually come up with a strong mission statement that will reflect what God wants. Currently, we‘re talking about being a church that equips its members to make an impact for Christ in the community. If this is God’s will and we are faithful to this mission, then He will ensure that we have everything we will need to complete that task. And that’s what makes this phase of the church’s life exciting to me – we’re becoming a church that utterly depends upon God’s favor, and not upon our own strength, power, or esteem.
Perhaps you’re in a church that is facing financial difficulties or wrestling with its identity. Maybe you’re hesitant about what lies ahead and don’t know where to begin turning things around. I’d start with the promises of God that are found in these two verses from Hebrews and lay the foundation of future ministries and missions at your church upon these words: “May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we want to be effective witnesses and productive churches for You, so that Your Kingdom may expand in our community. We worry about stuff like money and staff, bills and salaries. Help us to rely upon Your Father to grant us every good thing to accomplish His work. Engage our people in yielding to the Spirit and seeking God’s will. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Short daily devotions for busy Christians and Church meetings
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mission. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Ineffective & Unproductive - Why we need to close small churches
Podcast version here
2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are two things that most pastors fear for the churches that they serve: that the congregations become ineffective and unproductive. Over the last thirteen years, I’ve watched small unproductive and ineffective churches drain the pooled resources of our Presbytery and denomination year after year without any change to their status. And when Presbytery threatens to pull its resources from them, they become church tyrants monstrously opposed to any interference to their non-existent mission to their local communities.
Most of the time, these small churches are manipulated by one or two strong families who believe it is their divine right to keep the congregation the way it is. They firmly possess all the power, property, and prestige that the church has, sucking its life away by their refusal to let go.
Take, for example, a church in our town that has a beautiful sanctuary, which can seat at least three hundred people, but only has about twelve people worshipping each Sunday. An approach was made to the Session by the local Korean Presbyterian church to combine their congregations in order to redevelop the building and bring life back into the church. At first things seemed to be going well, and then when an agreement was almost made, the twelve member church refused to finalize the process. Rather than bring in hundreds of new Korean church members with their families, they backed out and decided to remain small. Eventually, the church will fall into major disrepair, become dilapidated and die. The congregation is both ineffective and unproductive. God will surely not bless such an out-of-touch-with-reality community.
It’s about time we held our smaller congregations accountable for their lack of mission and purpose, ministry and vision. There’s no good reason to sustain them if they are not willing to make the necessary changes. Let’s not let nostalgia and rooting for the under dog get in the way of Christian practicality and Presbyterian polity. If they will not grow, they need to go.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You hold us all to be accountable for what we say and do on behalf of Your Kingdom. You call upon us to go out into the world, making disciples of all the nations and baptizing people in Your Name. Bless our churches with a great desire to increase Your Kingdom in the communities where we reside. Close those churches who impair Your work by just wanting to coast along and do nothing effective or productive. In Your Holy Name, we sadly pray. Amen.
2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are two things that most pastors fear for the churches that they serve: that the congregations become ineffective and unproductive. Over the last thirteen years, I’ve watched small unproductive and ineffective churches drain the pooled resources of our Presbytery and denomination year after year without any change to their status. And when Presbytery threatens to pull its resources from them, they become church tyrants monstrously opposed to any interference to their non-existent mission to their local communities.
Most of the time, these small churches are manipulated by one or two strong families who believe it is their divine right to keep the congregation the way it is. They firmly possess all the power, property, and prestige that the church has, sucking its life away by their refusal to let go.
Take, for example, a church in our town that has a beautiful sanctuary, which can seat at least three hundred people, but only has about twelve people worshipping each Sunday. An approach was made to the Session by the local Korean Presbyterian church to combine their congregations in order to redevelop the building and bring life back into the church. At first things seemed to be going well, and then when an agreement was almost made, the twelve member church refused to finalize the process. Rather than bring in hundreds of new Korean church members with their families, they backed out and decided to remain small. Eventually, the church will fall into major disrepair, become dilapidated and die. The congregation is both ineffective and unproductive. God will surely not bless such an out-of-touch-with-reality community.
It’s about time we held our smaller congregations accountable for their lack of mission and purpose, ministry and vision. There’s no good reason to sustain them if they are not willing to make the necessary changes. Let’s not let nostalgia and rooting for the under dog get in the way of Christian practicality and Presbyterian polity. If they will not grow, they need to go.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You hold us all to be accountable for what we say and do on behalf of Your Kingdom. You call upon us to go out into the world, making disciples of all the nations and baptizing people in Your Name. Bless our churches with a great desire to increase Your Kingdom in the communities where we reside. Close those churches who impair Your work by just wanting to coast along and do nothing effective or productive. In Your Holy Name, we sadly pray. Amen.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
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