Growth?

How many ways can you grow?

As I continue to serve and lead our community (Mosaic) I find myself asking some questions about our immediate future:

-how can we have more influence over our city?

-how can we honor the Creator in more ways?

-how can we create environments where others trust us with their resources (finances, time, talents, etc..)

-how can we help others move through difficult areas of their character development?

-how can we hear His voice more clearly?

If you are starting a new church, leading an organization or simply helping others find hope, you will need to have a good way to measure success.  But old school measurements of success may not work in the 'new world.'

So, what are your thoughts?  What encouragement can you give me as I help lead our people?  And what are needing help with in the area 'growth?'

Comments

[James Williams]

Steve:

Regarding the lost:

I have seen programs and outreach initiatives come and go. Some have reaped large numbers of new converts and returning prodigals, and some, not so much. One thing is for sure: there is no formula for meaningful growth. All we can do is fall back onto ideas modeled for us in Scripture. Jesus healed, provided food and water, and taught. He sent out the 70 and told them to do the same. We are to find the needs of the people in our city, and meet those needs, and then good things will happen.

The above paragraph is general in tone, but I have one specific: believers should tip generously. I have known a lot of waiters and waitresses, and Christians have a lousy reputation in the restaurant industry. If you go out to eat, and you make it obvious you are a believer (wearing t-shirts with christian messages, praying before eating, being dressed up on a Sunday at 1:00), then be a big tipper. You might say "but the service is bad, and a tip is not deserved", and I would answer to you: "exactly!" That's the Gospel: Jesus generously gave His life to those who didn't deserve. Big tipping is a way to model the Gospel to a group who has developed a very negative idea of those who follow Jesus. This is something we can change without an organized effort, without a sign-up sheet, without a website to make it happen. The Gospel is words combined with actions. Let our words and actions speak to the people God brings into our lives, starting with those He directs to our tables.

Regarding those not lost:

You can see growth among believers, as well. Scripture models this for us in many ways, but I would argue that it boils down to authenticity. People will grow spiritually when they get past the fake smiles, the "I'm fine. How are you?" mini-conversations, the superficial chit-chat. They can tell the difference between social and relational, and they want relational. Leaders have some influence on this, for sure, but ultimately, the leader can only create a climate where authenticity is encouraged. It's up to the lay people to exercise that authenticity, and when that occurs, growth will happen.