From time to time…in every arena of life there is a time for a “gut check.” Every one of us experience it—but I think this is especially true in ministry. Here are five questions I often use for a personal gut check…
#1 - Am I Listening To The Voice of God?
I had lunch with a pastor once who was curious about the success of NewSpring Church. During the course of our time together he asked me, “How do you make the really important decisions around here?” I told him, “I just try really hard to hear the voice of God.”
He looked at me with an extremely confused look on his face so I continued, “I think one of the most important things a person can do is spend daily time with the Lord and seek His voice.” He then gave me a “isn’t that sweet” sort of look and we moved on.
I've said it before at Unleash—Leadership is as easy as listening to God…and my job as a leader is to listen to and obey His voice—not some committee of really frustrated men who never seek the face of the Lord but feel they are somehow qualified to lead His church.
Scripture says in Isaiah 2:22 that we are not to fear man, but the Lord. Pastor—what is it that the Lord is telling you to do that scares you to death because you know “they” will not approve? Listen to the voice of God because…He is Sovereign…they are not!
#2 - Am I Taking Risks?
The thing I never want to do here at NewSpring is begin to play it safe. Starting this church was a risk, moving to the Fine Arts Center was a risk. Moving to this facility was a risk. AND…the next steps the Lord is leading us to take is a risk.
I never want to be one of those leaders who merely say, “Well, you know, I am praying about it!” Christians often use prayer as an excuse for inactivity…and because it sounds spiritual no one can argue.
I laugh when I read I Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. In reading that story it is clear in I Samuel 17:16 that the Israelites were held in bondage for 40 days by the giant. I am sure they prayed for God to remove the giant…maybe they sang songs to God about what a giant killer He was…or better yet, they began Bible studies on how to kill a giant. BUT—it wasn’t until David walked down into the valley and cut off his flippin’ head that people were set free.
David took a risk. What is the risk that God wants you to take—but you refuse?
#3 - Am I Understanding How Big God Is?
On my journey through Scripture I am understanding more and more how HUGE God is…and how much more He desires to do.
One of the problems with the modern church is that we limit God. I remember once after a service here at NewSpring where 50 people gave their lives to Christ a young lady went to have lunch with her family and told them all about the service. Her grandmother actually said, “That’s not of God—I’ve been in church all my life and have NEVER seen anything like that—those things just don’t happen!”
WHAT?
Why does the church limit God when Jesus said what He did in John 14:12? Why can’t God grow a church like He did in the book of Acts? Why can’t entire communities be transformed? Why can’t we see things happen in our time that happened in Scripture? Is He not the same God?
God is so much bigger than your greatest fear or obstacle!
#4 - Am I Surrounding Myself With The Right People?
One of the privileges I have here at NewSpring is working with an unbelievable staff. As I have said before—we are not the most “professionally trained” people on the planet; in fact, we only have a handful of people that even a seminary degree on the entire staff. All we have is a bunch of common men and women who are in love with Jesus and also love seeing people meet Him! (Sort of like Acts 4:13)
AND—everyone here believes that God CAN DO AWESOME THINGS. When I shared with our staff that I feel NewSpring will one day have over 100,000 people attending every weekend through our multi-site venues—our staff nearly went through the roof!!! We believe God for awesome things!!!
Oh yeah…one more benefit of not hiring the “professionally trained” is that, because they are from the market place—they KNOW how to connect with those who are disconnected from Christ.
AND also—no one here has their own agenda…they are sold out to the vision of this church. Folks—you either have vision or division…and God works through one and not the other!!!
#5 - Am I Giving It My Best?
I was reminded the other day when reading Ecclesiastes 9:10 that I am called by God to give my 100% absolute best in all that I do.
One of the temptations of ANY pastor of a growing ministry is to slip into cruise control and “take it easy.” AND maybe that works for some people, but I just can’t. God hasn’t called me to go at 50%...nor has He called me to pursue a ministry with a “that’s good enough” philosophy. I figure if God gave His very best for me by sending Jesus to the cross…I am called to offer my very best back to Him.
(If you REALLY want to see how God feels about leftovers—check out Malachi 1:6-14!)
As a husband, father and leader I am to give it my best in all that I do. That doesn’t mean that I am perfect…heck, I am FAR from that, but…it does mean that all that God has called me to do that I should embrace and do with all my heart…knowing that He will make up the difference!