Grow your ministry. How?

I read an article recently entitled "7 keys to growing your ministry." It was what I consider to be fairly typical MBA verbiage in Christian veneer. Like, "Define your taget," or "Describe your future."

What follows are comments about the article by a guy named Mack and me. What do you think?

by Mack (not verified) on December 18, 2006 - 10:16am
Excellent List – when all these things are in line and or aware of all you need is the willingness and acceptance of the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish anything.
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by doug (not verified) on December 20, 2006 - 7:39pm
The first comment written by "Mack" sums up the subtle weakness that is inherent in this approach...

"Once you have these things in place, then all you need is a little Holy Spirit good luck, and BAM!! You've got yourself a growing ministry."

Ironically, the early church (often used as the poster-child of church growth and mega-churches in general) had never been trained in these 7 keys. They were simply unschooled fisherman who knew Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit. Growth happend suddenly and spontaneously and with supernatural power.

What a difference from now... when our focus is on growth not God, strategies not prayer, and more bodies in the pews rather than preaching an uncompromising message. I'm not sure that Peter was preaching a seeker-friendly message on that famous day when so many were saved.
I, like Paul, say that if some are saved through this largely human effort, glory to God. However, do we really need to settle for this? Are we really nothing more than IBM with a spiritual slant? Do we need Christian "Peter Druckers" to tell us how to make it happen?

I am afraid that much of our church programs and efforts and good works will be burned as wood, hay, and stubble on the last day.

Generally speaking, living things grow. (At least when they're young.) However, the inverse of that is not necessarily true. Because something is growing does not mean it's alive. You can add as many bones as you want to a skeleton and it still doesn't bring it to life.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.
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by Mack (not verified) on December 23, 2006 - 11:40am
Doug - The early church was a frightened hiding group until the Holy Spirit came upon them. If you have prayed and believe all of those things in the list are in line and you step out in faith believing the Holy Spirit is leading you what ever happens all things will work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His will. What is it you want to substitute for the Holy Spirit?
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by doug (not verified) on December 25, 2006 - 4:57am
I wasn't saying the Holy Spirit needs substitution. I was saying that we have substituted other things for the Holy Spirit. Too much of the church has put their faith in the right "strategies" versus the power of God.

It's the priority I am most concerned about. Do we seek the best strategies and then ask God to bless them? Or do we seek God and let the strategies be born of him.

I'm all for innovation. But wHere are we really putting our trust? How much time do we spend in prayer and fasting for the power of God to fall versus adopting whatever the latest corporate marketing or management theory happens to be.

I think the church can easily become more American than Christian.
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