Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 5: Plans

Somehow when we consider our finances, or education, or career plans, we have no trouble being intentional and putting a strategy in place to help us make progress. But with our families, and with our churches, too often we let things go on autopilot. When we do, we almost guarantee that we will drift in the wrong direction. If you’re not progressing, you’re automatically regressing.

With this series we have been advocating a simple approach to ensuring that we continue to move forward, specifically here with reference to our local churches. Using the Scriptures as our principled guide, we begin with an understanding of our purpose as a church. From purpose we move to values. Then vision. Then goals. With each of these areas, we move from talking about universal ideas (every church’s purposes) to a more specific identity (individual church plans).

Plans

In the last post we described an approach to goal setting that requires faith in God’s promises and character. Now with faith-filled goals to set parameters, plan now and re-plan regularly to meet the goals the Lord has helped you to set. The next logical step is to ask God to help you meet your goals by planning your church’s life.

Design a progress plan that will help direct your church in meeting your God-given goals. Again, if a vision is in place and goals have been set, this task is simply placing items on our calendars and in our budgets to make sure they happen, if God grants them. There are all kinds of ways to do this effectively, and my intent here is not to promote one particular style of developing strategic plans. However, there are a few ideas from the Scriptures that are particularly helpful.

First, pastors need to be leaders, but not blindly. They need to be faithfully diligent (see Romans 12.8), and humbly seek wise advice:

Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
(Proverbs 15.22, HCSB)

Also, I think that plans should be important, but held loosely. We all need to shift things around on the fly, because there is no way to predict the future. So expect the unexpected. This means having a balanced understanding of God’s sovereignty and our responsibility. In the last post we looked at Proverbs 16.9, but take a look also at 16.3 (HCSB):

Commit your activities to the LORD,
and your plans will be achieved.

In other words, be faithful to make plans, but also entrust them to God, who will act according to His pleasure and our good.

There are of course some practical and perhaps obvious (but sometimes overlooked) ideas, like weekly meetings and planning as far in advance as possible. But equally important are mid-course corrections, as circumstances change. To help do this, many wise leaders schedule one or two staff (or volunteer leadership) progress getaways per year to check the status of their goals and vision (even though most folks call this type of session a “staff retreat,” that name seems counter-intuitive; one pastor calls it a “staff advance”—I prefer “progress getaway”; regardless of what you call it, do it).

I’m no expert, but I know that these strategies need to happen regardless of church size. It may seem easier to do in large churches. But these practices can and must be used anywhere. As a small church pastor, I can seek the advice and agreement of our deacon team. And we can certainly schedule time away together to plan for our church’s progress.

Purpose, values, vision, goals, plans. A general-to-specific approach that is biblical, and that will help us keep progressing toward who God has called us to be, and what God has called us to do.

[This is part 5 of 5 in the series, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here are the previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 4: Goals

In writing these posts on strategic thinking for progress in our churches, it has crossed my mind more than once that there have been many, far more eloquent and astute thinkers to write about these ideas. So in adding my two cents, I’m essentially encouraging my church and any who read here that this type of intentional strategy is absolutely necessary to move us forward to where we need and want to be. There are certainly great resources available to help you think through effective goal setting.

Goals

Previously we looked at developing a godly vision. Now, with a godly vision guiding you, set realistic goals for what you pray your church will become by God’s grace and ability. This is the next logical step: Ask God to help you establish legitimate, measurable, attainable, faith-filled goals.

By legitimate I simply mean reasonable. God may choose to work miraculously on your behalf, but your mid-term goals shouldn’t bank on the miraculous. Don’t illegitimately presume upon the grace of God. Your goals should also be attainable, but that doesn’t mean without faith. In fact, without faith it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11.6), and whatever is not done from faith is sin (see Romans 14.23).

How can our goals be full of faith? On one hand, there are times when God’s vision for you will be bigger than your expectations (or goals) for yourself:

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— (21) to Him be glory.... (Ephesians 3.20-21, HCSB)

In those cases, follow Him in full faith that He will accomplish whatever He promised, just as Abraham learned to trust through near-unbelievable circumstances (see Romans 4.18-22).

On the other hand, there are times when it is as thought God is silent on a particular concern. It is in those times when God does not give specific answers that we must obediently follow His principles, again, in faith. So in goal setting, whether God seems to give specific paths or not, He requires our faith.

Either way, think of your goals as intermediate steps to obediently fulfilling God’s longer-range vision for you, your family, or your church.

What does it look like to set clear goals? I think a couple of examples from Paul’s life are instructive. Paul had set a goal of going to Rome. He was determined to get there. He wrote to them and expressed that desire (see Romans 15.20-32). Eventually he got there, but not by taking the path he had hoped: he was taken as a prisoner. In another instance, Paul had clearly communicated his intention (goal) of going back to Corinth, but when he was unable, he wrote a brief explanation to let them know he was sincere and not fickle (see 2 Corinthians 1.15-18).

Goals are to be put in place to act as reminders of a larger direction and directive. We’re following God, who always puts our steps in order:

A man’s heart plans his way,
but the LORD determines his steps.
(Proverbs 16.9, HCSB)

In the final post, we’ll talk about plans to accomplish the goals.

[This is part 4 of 5 in the series, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here are the previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 3: Vision

Can you imagine the end of your life? Most people probably don’t want to do that. But I mean it in the best possible way. Imagine that you have reached old age, and that you are satisfied and content with the way your life and ongoing legacy have turned out.

It’s what I affectionately call the rocking chair moment: You’re near the end of your life sitting in cozy chair with your favorite coffee or tea, and you’re thinking through all that God has done in and through you. Again, imagine that things turned out the way you would want them.

Can you imagine that scenario? Now ask yourself: What would have to happen in order for that life reflection to be a satisfying one? How would you have treated your spouse, or what would you have done with your single life? Your children? Your career? Your finances? Once you think through what that would look like, what would you need to do in the next 30 years in order to get there? The next 20? 10? What would you need to do now in order to get there?

Now apply that to the church. What would we need to do in our churches to get us where we would want to one day be? We would probably come up with ideas that are different than what we’re actually currently doing on a weekly basis.

We have been looking at principles for progress in the church, and have noted that making progress requires intentional and strategic action. In the previous post, I mentioned that after understanding God’s purpose for the church, every local church should agree upon mutually held values. Once values are agreed upon, it’s time to start thinking about God’s vision for your church.

Vision

With godly values in place, develop a church vision for what you pray your church will become by God’s grace and ability. The next logical step is to ask God to show you what our church can become—for His glory.

Think of your vision as God’s guiding work to make you into what He has already planned. Notice how the KJV translates Proverbs 29.18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish….” We can see that the proverb is saying that when there is no guiding, agreed-upon principle, people throw off any restraint and recklessly do whatever they want.

But there’s more. The word behind what was translated vision has the sense of revelation. In other words, we need to hear God’s desire and plans, and then build our lives around that. The second half of the verse makes that clear. Here it is in the HCSB:

Without revelation people run wild,
but one who listens to instruction will be happy.
(Proverbs 29.18)

So vision does involve dreaming up big plans, but not without the revelation and instruction of God, primarily through His Word, driving the dreaming. How do we do it? I think Paul gives us an idea of that in Philippians.

For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. (19) Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, (20) but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3.18-20, HCSB)

The answer is that we start to dream and cast a vision for our churches as citizens of heaven. I think there is an interesting play on words in verse 20 above. Certainly it is true that the Savior for whom we wait will come again from heaven. But Paul was also addressing their (and our) mindset as citizens of heaven. Our thoughts should be there. So while we wait for Him to return, through heavenly thinking it’s as though the work is already accomplished, and as though we wait from there for Him to finalize the work down here.

In other words, take a heavenly view of life now.

Outline a vision based on lasting, godly values. Ask:

• What type of church will we be?
• How will we spend our funds?
• How can God use us in the coming months…years?
• What can we be doing now to prepare ourselves for Him to work in and through us?

When we do so, we’ll be casting a lasting vision for ourselves, our families, and our churches, that is driven by His purposes and shaped by His values. Next time we’ll look at setting goals.

[This is part 3 of 5 in the series, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here are the previous posts: Part 1, Part 2.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 2: Values

It’s always fun talking to young couples just before marriage, and asking them about their value system. Most people tend to think they don’t officially have an actual system of values. But the facts are otherwise. We all have and use a value system whether we know it or not. And it affects everything else we do, so it is vital in young relationships to talk about values and establish an intentional forward-thinking strategy.

In the previous post we began talking about making intentional progress in the church, and how that must begin by understanding that our purpose comes from God through His Word, or we’re not the church at all. If we understand God’s purpose for all local churches, we can begin to see our church’s unique identity by building our church life together on strategic, stated values.

Values

Again, as with purpose, these are derived from Scripture, and it is the next logical step: to determine our mutually held values, based on God’s Word.

And as before, the Bible is clear about values that fade versus values that last:

Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. (14) But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. (15) Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (16) For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. (17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. (James 3.13-18, HCSB)

To make progress in our churches, we start with knowing God’s purpose(s) and then begin to define who we are by what we value. The above paragraph from James makes it obvious that there is a profound difference between the type of wisdom we get from the world as contrasted with what we receive from heaven. Worldly advice is even described as demonic in verse 15.

Progress requires intentionality. We must be strategic by the Holy Spirit’s power. And we must therefore ask the tough questions to ensure that we are being driven by God’s Spirit. Is our church carefully navigating the demands of ministry with an eye for what God desires from us? Do we value the things He values? Or are we just floating along without any real direction?

Real change in value systems starts with individuals, and then families, and then the church together. So ask yourself: Are my values…

• Physical or spiritual?
• Temporal or eternal?
• Earthly or heavenly?

In a family, these types of questions become important in practical ways when it’s time to decide on a newer vehicle, or on how many meals you eat out, or on how to spend that extra time on Saturdays. It helps us to actually think about daily decisions that add up to a value system.

On the church level, it could just change the direction of your church.

Ultimately I have to ask myself, are my values from the world or from the Word? Next time we’ll talk about vision.

[This is part 2 of 5 in a series titled, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here is Part 1.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 1: Purpose

I like to talk about progress. This blog is named for our forward walk with Jesus. But when it comes to the church, too often we think we can float along, without any real direction or effort. We like to drift. The problem is that when we drift, we automatically go backwards. The sobering truth is, if you're not progressing, you're automatically regressing. So my desire for my church is to be intentional about being healthy and growing the way God intends.

Progress in the Local Church

Over the years, I have been fascinated with how many models and approaches there are to being and doing church. I love being a student of the Bible regarding the church, and I can’t help but watch as church models come and go, even within my lifetime.

More interesting is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I’m thankful for the idea that our methods must change while our message must not. We are here to uphold the gospel. So when it comes to being the church, it matters not only what we do, but how we do it.

There are all kinds of advice out there telling us to how be relevant and stay relevant as culture shifts. There are also plenty of advocates to teach us how to lead and maintain a healthy, growing church in the midst of changing times. Ultimately what matters are the principles that God has clearly outlined in His Word. If we desire to be His church, which He even calls His bride, our local churches’ existence will be based on His principles and driven by His purposes.

The Bible teaches basic principles regarding how to be intentional and strategic in making progress as a healthy church. In fact, plenty of church leaders use these ideas to equip their congregations, although the wording and order may vary. Today we will look at the primary consideration: our purpose in being the church.

Purpose

God’s Word has much to say about the purpose of the church. The New Testament is rich in these concepts. And the bottom line is that if we don’t understand what we are to do, and the reason why we’re doing what we do, then nothing else matters. Our churches have to be driven by what Jesus has said are His purposes for His church, or we’re not Christian communities.

Many have described these purposes or functions of the church. Some have a list of seven items, others have three, but there is general agreement on the basic functions of what the church is supposed to be about. They include evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, service, and worship. Some list prayer separately; I would maintain that prayer supports each of these purposes.

These functions of the local church are taught in the Bible, and specifically, we see them in the Great Commission, and what Jesus Himself called the Great Commandments.

Here’s the Great Commission:

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. (18) Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations [Evangelism/Missions], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit [Fellowship/Community], (20) teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you [Discipleship/Teaching]. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.16-20, HCSB, notes added)

And the Great Commandments:

And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: (36) “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
     (37) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind [Worship/Exaltation]. (38) This is the greatest and most important command. (39) The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself [Service/Care]. (40) All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22.35-40, HCSB, notes added)

Again, these five basic ideas are all over the New Testament. But to miss any of them makes us an imbalanced, unhealthy church.

These functions of the church are our purpose. It’s why we are the church. Next time we’ll move forward to consider our set of values.

[This is part 1 of 5 in a series titled, Principles for Progress in the Church.]

Believers Participate in Baptism

There will always be some disagreement among Christians about what baptism really is.  Since I am new to my church, it seemed wise not to assume that everyone in our Baptist congregation has been baptized, or that everyone completely understands why we do it.  So I preached about baptism—why we do what we do with regard to this ordinance of the church.  Many have skillfully written about the necessity and purpose of baptism.  But for my own church and those who may later join the membership, and for anyone it might help, I thought I would publish the brief notes here.

For all biblical Baptists, the most important idea regarding baptism is that baptism will not and cannot save you—or bring you into fellowship with God.

The Bible is absolutely clear that fellowship with God cannot be earned, neither by baptism nor any other work.  Fellowship with God must be accepted by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (a basic Protestant belief that is taught in the Scriptures).  The Apostle Paul, who clearly could have emphasized baptism if he had wanted to, chose instead to diminish the role of baptism in his ministry, out of the concern that someone might misunderstand either the gospel or his authoritative preaching:

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect (1 Corinthians 1.17, HCSB).

So if baptism doesn’t save us, what is it and why does it matter?  Why and how do we practice baptism, and why is it only for believers in Christ?

Baptism is an ordinance for believers in Jesus, as a picture of our faith.  Here are five quick points to describe what baptism is, and why we participate in it.

Imperative

We participate in believers’ baptism because of the imperative from Jesus.  In the Great Commission (Matthew 28.18-20), Jesus commanded that the church baptize believers.  Ultimately this imperative or command from Jesus is to the church.  He was saying that we must baptize those who come to faith in Him.  Those who don’t want to participate in baptism are causing the church not to fulfill its commission from the Lord.  Why?  As part of His commission to the church, it is a demonstration to the world that you believe in Jesus.  To avoid baptism is to deny His command, and a rejection of His imperatives equals a rejection of Him (see John 14.15).

Instruction

We participate in believers’ baptism according to the instruction of the Scriptures.  The Bible clearly instructs, even from the beginning as John the Baptizer baptized Jesus, that baptism was and is a picture of repentance and faith in Jesus and His work (see John 1.25-34).  By being baptized, Jesus validated John the Baptizer’s message of repentance and faith, although Jesus didn’t have anything to repent of.  So for all those who are baptized now, we look backwards to the picture Jesus painted for us, and as such we are saying that our repentance and faith are wrapped up in what Jesus already did for us, not through anything we could do (see Acts 19.4).  This is also why we don’t baptize infants, since they cannot yet cognitively express repentance and faith in Jesus.

Immersion

We participate in believers’ baptism by immersion for its symbolism.  Not only does the term to baptize mean to immerse, or to be dunked under water, but also there is a far greater reason why we practice baptism by immersion.  Again, we follow after the pattern of Jesus who went down into the water (see Matthew 3.16-17).  But we also do it primarily because baptism by immersion is a great picture of death, burial and resurrection.  Rather than signifying cleansing, baptism points to our death, burial and resurrection with Christ.  Spiritually speaking, we die with Him, and we are raised with Him.  In water we see a demonstration and illustration of what is taking place, but the real ministry is in our hearts (see Colossians 2.12).

Identification

We participate in believers’ baptism for its identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Just as above we mentioned that immersion is a symbol of the real death and resurrection of Jesus, therefore also by identifying with Him, it means that in Christ we benefit from His accomplishments.  If Jesus conquered death, we in Christ conquer death.  If He conquered sin, we in Christ conquer sin.  If He lives a victorious life, we in Christ have a victorious life (see Romans 6.3-4; Galatians 2.20).  So because we identify with Christ in His death and His resurrection, He takes our sin off of us, and he puts on us His righteousness.  We can put off the old way of life, and put on a new, victorious one (see Galatians 3.27).

Initiation

We participate in believers’ baptism as an initiation into the church.  When someone identifies with Christ as described above, it also indicates his or her initiation into the church of God in Christ.  Even in the Great Commission, the act of baptism marks those who are baptized as members of a group—the ones who belong to Christ, His church.  Scripture also speaks of caring accountability and discipline for those included in the church, and baptism acts as a visible seal of faith, showing the members as those who identify with Jesus.  We are all spiritually baptized into one body in Christ, and water baptism reflects that spiritual baptism into Christ and His church (1 Corinthians 12.13).

Ultimately, we participate in baptism for believers because we know and love Jesus, we live for His glory, and it marks us as His.

God Is Still Faithful

A couple of weeks ago brought some highs and lows for our family.

First, a major high point.  Monday that week marked our son’s third birthday.  We continue to be blessed by the amazing gift that God has given us in Luke.  Like every child he has his rough moments, but overall he is the sweetest, funniest, cutest little guy I know—and shouldn’t every dad say that!  But I think it’s true.  We had both sets of grandparents in town as well as two of his aunts, and other dear friends from out of town as well. 

We were expecting to close on the sale of our house on his birthday.  We didn’t plan it that way, but that was how the timing fell out.  However, in the height of our joy with his birthday weekend celebration, we got word on Friday afternoon that there was a problem with the sale due to a fence encroachment issue that neither we nor our neighbors knew about.  So we didn’t close on Monday.  In fact, a lot of the weekend and Monday and Tuesday were filled with a flurry of emails and calls and legal agreements and rewritten agreements and on.  It was a little struggle, and a little stressful for a bit.

Then on that same Monday, we received an email that the 34-year-old husband of one of Amy’s oldest and dearest friends had gone into cardiac arrest, that they had revived his heart, but that he was in CCU without any real idea of what had gone wrong.  At first, their family thought that he would not make it—he had even said his goodbye to her.  Amy and I love this family dearly, so this whole episode struck us deeply, and she prepared plans to drive the five-plus hours to see them and help in any way she could.

Throughout these events and others like them, our trust in God’s goodness and providence doesn’t waver—but we sure don’t always understand it.  In the midst of back-to-back types of difficulties, sometimes people offer words of encouragement like: “God is faithful—He’s going to sell that house for you, I just know it.” Or, “God is faithful—I just know He’s going to pull your friend through.”  Although extremely well intentioned, ideas like these miss the mark on God’s faithfulness.

Even if God doesn’t sell your house, He is still faithful.  Even if God doesn’t heal your friend, He is still faithful.  Even if God doesn’t spare your life, He is still faithful.

God’s word is clear about who He is and what He does.  God makes promises, and then keeps His promises.  His faithfulness is often described in terms of promise and fulfillment.  In fact, the entire Bible has been aptly summarized as promises made (Old Testament) and promises kept (New Testament).  Here are four quick reminders about the faithfulness of God.

1. God’s faithfulness is shown as essential in His character.

The Bible teaches from cover to cover that He is faithful, both in spite of and because of our circumstances.  Simply put, it says God is not like us—He is faithful:

God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind.  Does He speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?  (Exodus 23.19, HCSB)

2. God’s faithfulness is shown by example in His consistency.

Even when we waver through unbelief, God is proved to be true.  Our periodic unbelief marks us as “liars” contrasted against the backdrop of God’s faithfulness:

What then?  If some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God’s faithfulness?  Absolutely not!  God must be true, but everyone is a liar…  (Romans 3.3-4, HCSB)

3. God’s faithfulness is shown by pattern to be constant.

Not only is He consistent in each instance, but He is described as constantly faithful.  He remains faithful:

This saying is trustworthy:
For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
if we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself.  (2 Timothy 2.11-13, HCSB)

4. God’s faithfulness is shown as redemptive through His plan’s completion.

What we humans often lose sight of in our problems is that, for those who call upon the name of the Lord, we will ultimately have victory in Jesus.  God does care about our relationships, health, and provisions.  But regardless of our money or health or relationships, His faithfulness will complete His redemptive plan and will bring us into His presence—the greatest gift of all:

And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our forefathers.  God has fulfilled this to us their children by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” …Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you…  (Acts 13.32-33, 38, HCSB)

In God’s great providence, our house sold two days later, and our friend was diagnosed three days later not with a heart problem, but with a nerve problem that has been treated with a pacemaker.  God is good, and He is faithful.  But He would still be faithful if these things hadn’t turned out the way we hoped.

It’s reassuring to know that, regardless of what we think about our circumstances, God is still faithful.