Food for thought
I have been reading several articles in a publication I receive that address the idea of renewal in churches. The focus of these articles is mostly on older churches, or those that are dying (not the people, but the churches! 
). Several examples are given of churches who have reversed the dying trend and are now thriving, as well as thoughts regarding the reason for the renewal/death.
In this context, I ran across an article that contained a quote from Howard Hendricks:
I have known churches that focus more on their past than on "dreaming" about what our incomprehensible God is able to do in our world. Those churches were not dead, but practically speaking they had at best "begun to die."
As human beings, we tend to hold on to our memories. As churches, we tend to hold on to "the way we used to do it." Isn't there a problem here? If we hold onto the past to the exclusion of dreaming about God's ability to do great and different things, are we not heading down the road to death? Are we not placing a roadblock in God's desire to use us to accomplish something for His glory?
I would appreciate your comments regarding this issue. I do not believe that Northside is "dying." In fact, I believe that in God's grace we have been given a booster-shot of life. Perhaps that is a result of placing greater priority on God's work today and in the future rather than on the past.
I would hope that at Northside (and other churches around the world), we can forget what is behind, and press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:13). I would hope that we can dream a bit about what our almighty God can accomplish through our willingness. Any takers?
). Several examples are given of churches who have reversed the dying trend and are now thriving, as well as thoughts regarding the reason for the renewal/death.In this context, I ran across an article that contained a quote from Howard Hendricks:
"When your memories are more exciting than your dreams, you've begun to die."I'm not sure of the original context in which Dr. Hendricks spoke, but this statement could be applied in many ways (for example, as individual people). What interested me, though, was placing this quote in a church context.
I have known churches that focus more on their past than on "dreaming" about what our incomprehensible God is able to do in our world. Those churches were not dead, but practically speaking they had at best "begun to die."
As human beings, we tend to hold on to our memories. As churches, we tend to hold on to "the way we used to do it." Isn't there a problem here? If we hold onto the past to the exclusion of dreaming about God's ability to do great and different things, are we not heading down the road to death? Are we not placing a roadblock in God's desire to use us to accomplish something for His glory?
I would appreciate your comments regarding this issue. I do not believe that Northside is "dying." In fact, I believe that in God's grace we have been given a booster-shot of life. Perhaps that is a result of placing greater priority on God's work today and in the future rather than on the past.
I would hope that at Northside (and other churches around the world), we can forget what is behind, and press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:13). I would hope that we can dream a bit about what our almighty God can accomplish through our willingness. Any takers?
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above anything that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
above anything that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
posted by Pastor Jason | 9:35 AM
1 Comments:
hebrews 11:15-16 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Trusting God to have soemthing better than the present is an essential key to faith.
Post a Comment
<< Home