Here's the second part of my thoughts about "keeping it simple". The first had to do with personal life, this one about principles for keeping life simple.
When it comes to ministry in general, but specifically at the LifeHouse, here are some principles to keep it simple and focused.
- Just because we’re doing more ministry doesn’t mean that more lives are being won to Jesus or more hearts are being transformed. I’ve been a part of churches and put in way too many hours doing church with very little actual fruit to show for it. I want to find the ministry with the greatest return. That’s why we don’t have to do more than we’re doing. So what if we feel guilty for not doing more. Besides, how much do we actually need and can actually apply every week. If everyone of us at the LifeHouse applied the one “Big Idea” we present on Sunday mornings to our lives every week, we would literally have the most mature church in the world. Less is more. We don’t need to keep piling on more stuff, just make what we’re doing most effective.
- Find it in the Bible. When I speak with people challenging the way we do church at the LifeHouse or defending the way their church operates (I’m talking about other pastors and leaders), I’ll usually default to the Bible. Something like, “can you show me that in the New Testament?” or “We’re just trying to live out today what we read in the Bible?” or “If the disciples were alive today, what would the churches they pastor look like?” Our focus must be what God’s called us to do and be, and keep it centered on biblical truths.
- Remember our Cause. We have a very clear purpose for living out the life of the church and ministry (especially Matthew 28:18-20 and 22:37-40; Acts 1:8; also see Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35). This is the determining line between what we say “yes” and “no” to. If it lines up with our Cause (the Cause of Christ), then great, let’s go. If not, oh well. We’re sorry, we can’t do everything for everybody. I’m convinced that the reason a lot of churches get caught up in a lot of less effective endeavors and waste God’s resources and people’s energy is that they’ve forgotten why they do what they do. When the Church loses sight of where she’s going, then she wanders aimlessly in a variety of “good” but not great directions. Keep focused on the Cause. Never lose sight of the “why.” When I read the above passages, I’m reminded of how “simple” church was in the New Testament. How organic. How relational. How vibrant and contagious. It was about living life together and growing into devoted Jesus-followers, not about the program of church.
- Who cares what you think. The bulk of criticism about any church, but personally regarding the LifeHouse, comes from people who never serve, have very little Kingdom impact, and give nothing or very little financially. I think these people see there ministry as that of criticism. We only have so much energy and passion (yes, even me) and I don’t want to waste it dealing with these people. Even other pastors who will criticize or critique us, I just ask them, “So what are you doing for the Kingdom of God?” Usually, they’re criticizing to justify their own shortcomings or insecurities. Meaning, they’re not doing it, so rather than kicking their own butt, they’ll find something wrong with what we’re doing to justify why we’re not really as effective as they previously thought. The people I’ll listen to are those who do the following: give, serve, invite friends, and participate regularly.
- Wait until the need cries out. Don’t start new ministries or programs until there is a cry for a need to be met. If the over all effectiveness of the church community is hindered by the lack of ministry then it’s time to consider doing more ministry. When there are people who are crying out for a ministry, and we have the leaders to lead that area of ministry, then we’ll develop a plan and launch that ministry, i.e. no point in having a deaf ministry at the LifeHouse if we have not deaf people attending.
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