It Blogging Project, Week 1 - Where did It come from?

Each week, I will try to post relevant points from each chapter, as well as publicly discuss and answer the questions for reflection found at the end of each chapter. Feel free to join in and discuss your views on It while we're at it. :)


Some highlights from the chapter:

Some churches seem to grow when they have It. Some churches lose It and shrink. Fancy lights, cameras, and projectors don't give a church It. Some churches get It, lose It, and sometimes get It back. Some churches have ministries within them that have It, while other ministries in the same church don't. To quote Craig:

• The good news: if you don't have It, you can get It.
• The bad news: if you have It, you can lose It
  

Some application points in my own ministry:
1. I have worked hard to make sure that my youth group has all the stuff it needs: sound system, projector, decent instruments for worship. I set up a (now defunct) blog. I tried to make sure the youth room looked cool and inviting. Yet it doesn't seem to grow. Growth has only been incremental. Truth is, it is proportionally in line with the number of people at my church. If we just got down to basics - truly leading people to Christ, while leading people into the church - It-ness would take care of itself. Fancy tools give a wow factor - but not an It factor.

2. I know of a church that had It - and lost It. I don't feel right publishing the name of the church - but I can recall a time of growth - there were people constantly visiting - always somebody new. Sometimes they would stay, other times they would not. The church never grew over 100 people. I left the church and I heard that six months later, it closed its doors for good. What happened? The church moved. It got so focused on paying the bills for the new facility, that the focus shifted from reaching the people in that city to reaching into the pockets of the people in that city. Maybe that's not what happened - I'm just a third party viewer, unable to read the minds of those involved. From what I can tell, though, that was what caused the church to lose It.

3. If there has ever been a ministry that does have It, it would be - well - LifeChurch.tv - man! I know it seems like the easy answer - especially because the pastor is the one that wrote this book. From the first week I attended - I knew that it was my new church home. It was an absolute blast being a part of the team there. I think that was a big key in the It-ness - everyone felt like they were a part of a greater whole - everyone had a part to play in the people coming to Christ. Within a year, we had to renovate the facility in order to nearly double the capacity of the auditorium. When I was a part of It, I realize I was both a raving fan, as well as a dedicated worker. All the while, we were appreciated for the part we had to play.


So is that It? I think we've barely scratched the surface on It. Stay tuned for next week's topic: "Some have It, some lack It."

If you don't have It yet, maybe you can find It in It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It.

It - Book Blogging Project

By now, some of you may have heard of the book by Craig Groeschel, It. It is about this certain something that some churches have and some do not. We'll be exploring what exactly It is. Approximately once a week, I will be posting a chapter review. Also, I have a small GoogleGroup discussing each chapter as well. If you want in, email me at .

For now, if you have not read the book, here's some resources online:

Buy the Book - It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It

Buy the DVD - It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It

FREE - Sample chapter and video about It

FREE - 30 minute Podcast message by Craig (right click - save as)

FREE - Study Questions for Podcast (right click - save as suggested)

Book Review by BibleDude.net

Community Service vs Direct Gospel

Something has been plaguing me for some time now. How do we actually affect change in our communities? How do we actually share the Gospel? I’ve read two books on the matter: Bob Pierce: This One Thing I Do, by Franklin Graham and Jeanette Lockerbie, as well as Revolution In World Missions by K.P. Yohannan. Both take diverse views on the matter.

Bob Pierce’s whole mission was action. He flew from place to place, meeting needs. He founded World Vision and Samaritan’s Purse. His whole ministry revolved around doing good for others as a way to open the door to the Gospel. He would many times even risk his own money by writing a personal check from his own account, only to ask the board of his mission agency for approval for the funds afterwards – with no guarantee that he would get it. He even gave guitars to a Muslim school because they needed them. It didn't matter that they might be used for singing Islamic songs - it was a way in to open the door to otherwise closed hearts. He filled needs all over the world - whether or not they wanted to hear the Word. I'm reminded of the old phrase: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

K.P. Yohannan takes a different stance in his book. Here's an excerpt:

“What is the greatest need for people? Is it that they have their bellies filled? Is it that we give them a cup full of rice? No.... their greatest need is to know and be saved by the Living God! Give them the gospel of Jesus Christ and all their needs will be met!”

Throw Jesus at them and they will accept Him and suddenly everything they need will be taken care of. His stance, in one sentence. True, the whole gist of any mission should be the opportunity to share Jesus. If we meet needs all over the world without sharing our faith, we are merely doing community service - not evangelism. There is a bit of truth in making sure that people accept Christ. But what happens to those villages that we evangelize a few years after we up and leave? Are they still worshiping our risen Savior? Have they lapsed into their old ways because their status in life has not been bettered?

You're probably thinking that I'm just here to bash K.P.'s book. I'm not. I'm here to talk about one word: balance. There were two major commands that Christ gave while he was on this earth.

The First:

So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."
(Mar 12:30-31)

The Second:

So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time."
(Mat 28:19-20)

Basically, evangelism comes down to the golden rule and the great commission. Bob Pierce followed the first, K.P. Yohannan the latter. Truth be told, they are inseparable. If we are to effectively reach people. There must be balance between meeting needs and making disciples. Christ did this throughout his recorded lifetime. He healed the sick, lame, and blind. He fed thousands with just a single meal. He met needs again and again, and it opened doors for the Gospel to be shared. In this life, we are to be His hands as feet, as well as His voice to the lost and hurting.

I urge every pastor, youth pastor, leader, or individual that wants to effectively evangelize. Balance it. Meet needs and share the Gospel. Not one, but both. And let God do the rest... ;-)