Get a Handle on Reality

Any normal pastor would agree that they would love to have some kind of handle on the reality of where their church is spiritually. Measuring a person's spiritual health is such a difficult thing, and if done with the wrong motives can actually be a very destructive thing. But as a pastor, it's important to be able to gauge the effectiveness of your discipleship programs. Are they doing what we think they're doing? Pastors can take a guess or just hope they are, but unless you have visible proof, it's very difficult to have even a grasp on the reality of your church's spiritual health. And while you can't really gauge a person's spiritual health because it's such an intangible thing, you can measure how many people are placing themselves in a healthy discipling environment (small groups, Sunday School, etc.).

Here's a few questions to ask yourself to see where your church is?

* What does an individual in your church do to be discipled? Is their a program or process to walk them through a journey of discipleship? If not, you might want to work on that.
* What percentage of those that attend your church on a Sunday morning are going through your discipleship process? You will never have 100%, but a healthy percentage is 50-60%. Don't get discouraged if you're well below this percentage. The big thing is that you're actually looking at the number. Part of grasping the reality of your church's spiritual health is measuring. Looking - not assuming.

Reaching People By Whatever Means Necessary

"The sacred page is not meant to be the end, but only the means toward the end, which is knowing God himself."
-A.W. Tozer

As I read this quote, it made me think what means are we using to help people know God himself - to know the person of Jesus Christ? Are there means we haven't even thought of yet? I think so.

A few weeks ago, I was walking through the mall past Hollister and then Abercrombie and Fitch and if you've ever walked by either of those stores there is one thing that will always hit you as you pass by...the smell. It's not a bad smell, but actually a very welcoming, almost cool fragrance. It got me to thinking, which can be dangerous. In the church world, we use three and often four of our senses very well to communicate the love of Christ:

>Sound: We regularly proclaim the Truths of Scripture and proclaim God's goodness in worship.
>Sight: We use lights, screens and other tools to help those within the church engage in worship and the message.
>Touch: Depending on your church, the love of Christ is communicated through a firm handshake or a loving hug from a greeter or friend.
>Taste: Many churches actually excel at this one more than any other. Two words: Pot-Luck. Enough said.

The one sense I have never heard of a church using is the sense of smell. Yes, I said smell. You might think this to be crazy, but if God desires we worship Him with all our being (that being all of our senses), how could a church use the sense of smell to direct people to Christ? Would it be pumping a fragrance into their sanctuary or foyer?

Tell me what you think. What are some creative ways we could use the sense of smell in the church? Or what are other creative ways to use the other four senses?

Compare or Compel

In today's Information Age, it has become increasingly simple to see what churches around the country are doing. We have more contact with people and churches than ever before. We are able to see what the best and biggest are doing every week! We can research innovative churches like Lifechurch.tv, National Community Church, or NewSpring. We can watch services from some of the country's largest churches like Lakewood Church, Saddleback Church, or Willow Creek Community Church. These are exciting days!!
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The one problem that arrises, however, with this access to such incredible information is what we do with it. For many pastors, their goal is to be the next Mark Batterson or Joel Osteen. They long to see there church become Lifechurch or Saddleback. As great a vision as this is, it's not really a vision for your community. This week I've been reading about King Solomon in 1 Kings. His story is an amazing one. He is the one chosen to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. He is able to do something that no leader of Israel had ever done up to that point - to build a restingplace for the glory of the Lord. After reading about this incredible feat, you're hit with stories about how Solomon's Palace was even more spectacular than the Temple of God and of his incredible riches and his many wives. Finally, in the middle of 1 Kings 11, God makes this statement to him:

"11 Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."

Solomon became so wrapped up in his status and how he measured up to other kings around the world, that he had lost focus with what was really important. Consequently, God removed his hand of blessing from Solomon. As incredible as many of the churches I listed before are, God has not called us to be Craig Groeschel or Rick Warren. When the great churches of our country become our standard or measuring stick, we have completely missed the mark already. We have to get on our face before God and hear what God has for our community and our church! Go ahead - research the churches around the country that are on top of their game, and learn from them. But don't compare yourself to them. They are what they are because they are reaching those God has called them to. You need to be what God wants you to be to reach your community. Don't compare, but in seeing what they're doing, let it compel you to greater levels of excellence and creativity. Let it inspire you!! What do you think?