John 14:12
English Standard Version (ESV)
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, B)’>am going to the Father.
The goal of the church is never for one person to be equipped and empowered to lead as many people as possible to Christ. The goal is always for all of God’s people to be equipped and empowered to lead as many people as possible to Christ.
The Spirit of God has empowered every follower of Christ to accomplish the purpose of God for the glory of God in the world.
Platt, David (2011-04-19). Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God (p. 57). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
The plan for most churches is for the folks in the pews to bring their friends into church and turn them over to the professionals for salvation processing. This isn’t the biblical plan. When Jesus told his disciples they would do greater things; he couldn’t have meant that each of them individually would be more potent that Jesus had been. What He was referring to was the power of multiplicity. Greater works would be done in us because there are more of us, fueled by the Spirit.
The church should be operating just the opposite of the way it typically does. We should be training and equipping the members to go out into the world during the week and make disciples. These new disciples can then join us on Sundays and during the week as we gather to be trained to make further disciples.
Notice how much changes under this model. The members suddenly have a purpose and sense of ownership in the mission of the church. Their job is no longer to sit in the pews and be entertained. There is a purpose for being in church and something to be learned which can be applied during their lives during the week.
When viewed in this light, new criteria have to be applied to church staff. We no longer need the slickest preacher, most rocking worship team, or coolest youth pastor. We need staff who are committed and trained to teach disciples to make disciples. This involves an entirely different set of skills.
The current church model isn’t working. If insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, the modern church is insane. We were promised to do greater things; we’ll never do them unless we change our model. Maybe we should stick to Jesus’ plan.
Be blessed.
Nick
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