A Wrong Focus
But why is getting a crowd our focus? Jesus never suggested that crowds were the goal. He never addresses getting your church to grow. Never. (Charles R. Swindoll)
Reading this quote by Charles Swindoll stunned me.
Other preachers talk about how to do church growth effectively. Instead But Swindoll asks, “Should we do it at all?”
Based on his biblically-based argument? No, we shouldn’t.
Churches can follow Jesus’ example and yet focus on many different types of ministry.
- Evangelism.
- Blessing the homeless and helping those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
- Healing people from occult backgrounds.
- Working with prisoners and their families.
- Running soup kitchens and food pantries.
- Funding missionaries and going on short-term mission trips.
- Making and multiplying disciples and helping people discover their spiritual gifts
- Offering emotional or physical healing.
- Visiting lonely people in hospitals and nursing homes.
We are all called to different to tend different parts of God’s vineyard.
My Spiritual Point
Local churches grow naturally when we offer living water to the thirsty. But a tough thing to remember is that a large church isn’t any more pleasing to the Lord than a small one. Only one thing matters. As a church body, are we obeying God and serving the people He’s called us to minister to?
A successful church follows the Holy Spirit’s leading.
This image came from Pixabay.com
