Craig Groeschel gave a great talk at last year’s Leadership Summit called, “How Leaders Can Get IT And Keep IT!” Our Elder Board watched the DVD at our last meeting. Our staff will be watching it at our next meeting. We are being challenged to answer this question, “Does Grace Church have IT? If NO, how do we get IT? If YES, how do we keep IT?” Groeschel gives four qualities of ministries that have IT.
Ministries that have IT have a laser focus!
In order to reach people that no one is reaching, we have to do things that no one is doing. But to do things that no one is doing, we can’t do things that everyone else is doing.
What is Grace Church doing that we need to stop doing?
Ministries that have IT see opportunities where others see obstacles!
We have everything we need to do everything that God wants us to do.
God often guides us by what He doesn’t provide.
What is God trying to show Grace Church through our greatest limitation?
Ministries that have IT are willing to fail!
Ministries that don’t have it tend to play it safe.
Failure is a necessity.
Failure is often the first step into seeing God.
What has God called Grace Church to do that we are afraid to do? When are we going to do it?
Ministries that have IT are led by people who have IT!
I need to have IT for my ministry to get IT.
I can’t be a full-time pastor and a part-time follower of Christ!
If I don’t have IT, what am I going to do to get?
Does Grace Church have IT? If NO, how do we get IT? If YES, how do we keep IT?
Ministries that have IT have a laser focus!
In order to reach people that no one is reaching, we have to do things that no one is doing. But to do things that no one is doing, we can’t do things that everyone else is doing.
What is Grace Church doing that we need to stop doing?
Ministries that have IT see opportunities where others see obstacles!
We have everything we need to do everything that God wants us to do.
God often guides us by what He doesn’t provide.
What is God trying to show Grace Church through our greatest limitation?
Ministries that have IT are willing to fail!
Ministries that don’t have it tend to play it safe.
Failure is a necessity.
Failure is often the first step into seeing God.
What has God called Grace Church to do that we are afraid to do? When are we going to do it?
Ministries that have IT are led by people who have IT!
I need to have IT for my ministry to get IT.
I can’t be a full-time pastor and a part-time follower of Christ!
If I don’t have IT, what am I going to do to get?
Does Grace Church have IT? If NO, how do we get IT? If YES, how do we keep IT?
12 comments:
Since I'm to lazy to read the book :-) Could you explain what IT is? Thanks.
Paul
Sorry, Paul. I'm not sure I can define "IT" in simple words. Maybe reading the book would be a good New Year's Resolution for you!
If we are to discuss what it looks like for a church that has "IT", we should start with this basic truth: That God has pledge His Spirit's presence wherever the Word is proclaimed in all it's fullness and the sacraments are properly administered. The church has "IT" when a body of believers are gathered by the Spirit through the Gospel Preached, and the Sacraments administered as God's means of grace.....and this same body of believers are constantly reaching out to the lost (both friends and neighbors) with the true gospel in love. The church that has "IT" is also constantly pointing both believers and unbelievers to Christ, keeping Him central in all we say and do.
John
Thanks for your thoughts, John. By the way, as a Broncos fan how do you feel about Mike Shanahan getting fired? Who would you like to see his replacement be?
I'm a Shanahan fan. I have mixed feeling about his job lose. Out of all the names floating around for his replacment, my choice would be Bill Cowher. Never liked him much with the Steeler's, but I think he's a good coach. We'll see what happens. I guess the Browns are in need to? Any thoughts or predictions for your team?
John
It appears that Cowher has dismissed thoughts of Cleveland or the Jets...I could see him going to Denver. I can't figure out why the Browns are talking with the Jets old coach that they just fired. I heard last night that the University of Iowa coach may tbe the next Brown's coach. I'm not sure I like that idea either. Who knows, maybe Shannahan will end up in Cleveland. Wouldn't that be a hoot?
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Maybe the issue isn't about what "IT" is, it is "WHO". Does a (visible) church "have HIM"?
Revelation 3 - To the Church in Laodicea
14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Soli Deo Gloria...
Corey,
I think it is possible for a church to have HIM but not have IT. You won't understand what is being meant by IT without reading the book.
Pastor Scott,
I'll try to elaborate on my context of the term "have HIM"...
Back on August 21, 2008, Christianity Today ran an article entitled, "Craig Groeschel tells churches how to 'Get It and Keep It' " Here is an excerpt from that article:
--------------------------------
You can name today the churches that have 'It', churches that had 'It' but lost 'It', and some that do not have 'It', the LifeChurch pastor said at a recent leadership summit.
So what is 'It'?
"The answer is 'don't know'," Groeschel said as he addressed thousands of leaders at Willow Creek Community Church. "Honestly, I'm not totally sure."
'It' has a lot to do with the Holy Spirit, Groeschel believes, but that is not everything.
What he does know is that organisations that do have 'It' possess seven qualities. They include a "laser focus", the ability to see opportunity where others see obstacles, having a willingness to fail, being led by people who have 'It', and having unmistakable camaraderie.
Moreover, 'It' is not a system or model, nor is 'It' something that can be created, copied or manufactured, he says. God makes 'It' happen.
And when churches have 'It', they see transformed lives but at the same time, those churches with 'It' attract critics, many of whom misunderstand what they are all about.
----------------------------------
Maybe a bit oversimplified, but Pastor Groeschel's own (possibly edited) words - 'It' has a lot to do with the Holy Spirit, Groeschel believes -
sounds to me like an attempt to contextualize what Sanctifying Grace is...
It could be an interesting study to see how the "IT" discussion in Pastor Groeschel's book compares to commentaries of the Reformers pertaining to the Doctrine of Sanctification, as presented in Scripture; including a thorough exegetical analysis of how Jesus Christ critigued the 7 churches mentioned in Revelation...
Thanks for your willingness to have this open forum...
Soli Deo Gloria
Corey, I'd be careful in drawing conlcusions from a portion of a small article without reading the book. It's too easy to take a small portion or one comment out of context. The book would be a good read for you and give you the comment in its full context.
Blessings, brother.
"Corey, I'd be careful in drawing conlcusions from a portion of a small article without reading the book."...
I concur; hence my comment, "It could be an interesting study to see how the "IT" discussion in Pastor Groeschel's book compares to commentaries of the Reformers pertaining to the Doctrine of Sanctification..."
Yours in Christ...
Philippians 2: 1-18
Christ’s Example of Humility
----------------------------
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Lights in the World
-------------------
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
I'm a little over 2/3 of the way through this book by Craig Groeschel. While there have been some helpful insights along the way, including a very funny sense of humor, with a clear and convicting passion for lost people, I just can't help thinking this is just "pragmatism" repackaged? The "means of grace" I mentioned earlier (Preached word and sacraments) was completely missing from the book up to this point. That would have been a biblically faithful starting point in the discussion of a church that has IT, because those are the means God gave us for calling a people (believer and unbeliever) to Himself. Instead the book focuses on being "innovative" in ministry to reach people that are far from God. In other words, try different things until you find one that works for you and your church ministry. One of the best definition of IT came from an Ed Young quote on the back cover of the book; "IT - that unexplainable attraction that draws people to church". The ideas laid out in this book are more or less philosophical conclusion drawn from experience and experiment, rather than on biblical exegesis. This should at least raise some concerns for us and call us to be Bereans and go back to Scripture to see if these things are true.
On a football note, I would not at all be disappointed with Eric Mangini. I always thought of him as a great defensive coordinator and he may very well be a good fit as head coach of Cleveland. At this point, I cheering for Philly to win the Super-Bowl!
Post a Comment