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Category: Catalyst (Page 2 of 26)

A catalyst is one that sparks something. The catalyst speaks from experience and enables others to move forward more freely. These articles are written to act as a catalyst in your life.

People Movers

August 29, 2024 / / 0 Comments

My plane arrived in Baltimore on a Saturday evening. I had a small enough window of time to make my connection for my flight home that I was a little concerned about the distance I had to travel to my new gate.

As soon as I deplaned, I made my way into the concourse and saw my new gate number. A10. Not bad if I was in the A concourse I thought. Considering I was the farthest gate in C concourse and I had about 25 minutes to get to my gate, I decided to make every opportunity possible to use those cool people movers.

You know what I’m talking about right? The floor moves in the same direction you’re already going so that you can maximize your travel speed and efficiency getting to your gate closer to on time than not. Well it helped my moving with purpose to become even more speedy than I normally am. You guessed it. I’m the guy who walks my normal speed on these suckers. Why not double my speed!?!

Well the other day I got to thinking about those people movers. What a great idea. They take me where I’m already going. They just do it more efficiently and with less friction than if I were to walk there myself.

The reason I was in the airport was because I was spending time with some new and old friends who all work for the same network to which I’m connected. We’re called the FiveTwo Network and we are a group of Jesus-loving people who help churches move toward a thriving future.

It’s like being people movers but for churches.

We’re not taking you somewhere that you’re not already going. The church has pretty clear directives. We don’t bring the teachings of the church, you should have that locked in already. We don’t tell you how to do church either. That’s based on your context, congregation and church affiliation. We are simple people movers, moving you in the direction you’re already going.

Through a series of questions and onsite visits along with an immense amount of time digging through information we receive from you, we find out where you’re headed. Then we fire up that cool people mover and off we go. Together. In the same direction.

It’s super rewarding to see a church move from acting like they’re stuck in airport traffic in a busy concourse to watching it start to thrive. New programs. New ministries. Sometimes new staff. New people. New budgets. More people engaged in the same mission. Same church. Same teachings. Same Jesus. Just everyone moving in the same direction together.

The idea is simple. You don’t have to do it alone. And frankly you don’t have to come up with it by yourself either. There’s a people mover (for churches) that’s already been created that is able to help more efficiently and effectively move the local church in the direction it’s already going.

Ok so full disclosure here. If your church is moving in a direction that’s not biblical or just unhealthy, we’ll certainly let you know and can offer some help with that as well.

But more often than not, we’re already going in the same direction you are because our values are Jesus’ values. Our goal is all about growing Jesus’ kingdom by helping churches find hope and health and letting them thrive in an ever changing culture.

Well, I got to my gate with time to spare. Mostly thanks to the people mover (and a little help from a flight delay- just in case you’re curious planes need pilots or they don’t go anywhere).

If you’re in need of a people mover for your local church, let me know. We’re all about helping churches move more efficiently and effectively toward a thriving future.

Dream Big or Die Trying

August 28, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Never let your memories be bigger than your dreams. This quote, often attributed to American businessman and author Doug Ivester, strikes at the core of what it means to live a life of faith. If you’re clinging to the past, reliving your glory days in church or in life, you’re missing the point of the Gospel. Your memories, no matter how blessed, should never outshine your dreams.

God didn’t save you so you could sit comfortably reminiscing about what He’s done in the past. No! He saved you to be a vessel for His ongoing work, to dream bigger and aim higher. If your best spiritual days are behind you, it’s time to confront a harsh truth: you’re spiritually stagnant. And that’s not just disappointing—it’s a betrayal of the calling God has placed on your life. We’ve been saved from our sin, for an eternal future. There has to be a past, present, and future to our faith lives.

The Coffin of the Past

We love to get cozy with our memories, don’t we? Remembering those mountaintop experiences, the powerful moments when God moved in undeniable ways. But comfort can quickly become a coffin. When you prioritize your memories over your dreams, you’re choosing to live in a tomb of your own making, ignoring the fact that God is the God of the living, not the dead.

This isn’t about dismissing what God has done; it’s about recognizing that He’s not done yet! Your past should inspire you to press forward, not hold you back. If you’re stuck in yesterday, you’ll never be ready for what God wants to do in your life today, much less tomorrow. The past should ignite your faith, not extinguish it. If you’re not pushing forward with the dreams God has placed in your heart, you’re sliding backward.

We must be careful of small dreams—those tiny, comfortable aspirations that sound safe. They don’t stretch you, they don’t require much faith, and they don’t really demand that you rely on God. But that’s exactly what makes them dangerous. Small dreams breed complacency. They lull you into a false sense of security that has nothing to do with the bold, radical faith that Jesus calls us to live.

And even worse, small dreams are contagious. They spread through congregations like a virus, turning vibrant communities of faith into museums of past glory. But God didn’t call us to play it safe. He called us to step out of the boat, to walk on water, to move mountains. A life of small dreams isn’t really living by faith—it’s merely existing.

The Fear of Failure

Let’s face it: most of us are afraid of dreaming big dreams because we’re terrified of failure. We’d rather play it safe than risk the possibility of falling short. But playing it safe is the surest way to guarantee that you’ll never see the fullness of what God has in store for you. If you’re not willing to risk failure, you’re not really living by faith. If you can accomplish it without God’s intervention, then you’re not living in the wildness of a Jesus filled life.

Failure is not the enemy; it’s often the very thing God uses to shape us, to refine our character, and to draw us closer to Him. Every time you fail, God’s grace is there to pick you up, to teach you, to propel you closer to the dreams He’s given you. But if you’re too scared to dream big, you’ll never know the joy of seeing God move in ways that only He can move. Think of Peter walking on the water. If Peter did what Peter could do, he never would have gotten out of the boat. But seeing the bigger dream Jesus had for him, Peter was able to get out and stroll across the sea (until he stopped looking at Jesus and looked to comfort again instead).

If your dreams don’t require God’s intervention, they’re not big enough. If your goals don’t make you fall to your knees in prayer, begging God for guidance and strength, you’re not aiming high enough. We need to set goals that make people question our sanity, that force us to rely on God like never before. That’s where the miracles happen. That’s where faith comes alive.

Dream big, or don’t bother dreaming at all. Dream big, or resign yourself to a life of spiritual mediocrity, where your memories are your only source of comfort. Dream big, because God has promised to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

So, what’s it going to be? Will you let your memories dictate your future, or will you dare to dream bigger than you ever have before? The choice is yours, but be warned: choosing to live a life where your memories outshine your dreams is choosing to settle for less than what God has planned for you.

We need to wake up. Dream big. Step out in faith. And don’t stop until our memories are nothing but stepping stones to something far greater that God is doing in our lives.

Imagine That!

August 14, 2024 / / 1 Comment

If You Can’t Imagine It, You’ll Never Accomplish It – Albert Einstein.

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, wasn’t just talking about complex theories when he said this. He was tapping into a core truth that many overlook in their day-to-day lives: the power of imagination. It’s not just a child’s plaything or a daydreamer’s escape or that ride at Epcot with the purple dinosaur. Imagination is the starting point for every significant achievement in human history.

The Birthplace of Reality

Before anything can become reality, it first has to be imagined. Think about that for a moment. Every innovation, every breakthrough, every great work of art or architecture—began as a thought, a vision, a spark in someone’s mind. If you can’t see it in your mind’s eye, if you can’t picture the outcome, then what exactly are you working toward?

You see, the problem with most people isn’t that they lack the ability or resources to accomplish great things. It’s that they lack the vision, the imagination. They’re stuck in the mud of reality, afraid to lift their eyes and dream of what could be. And that’s a tragedy because imagination is a muscle. If you don’t use it, it atrophies. But if you exercise it, if you stretch it and push it beyond its comfort zone, you’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of.

We live in an age where creativity isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. The old ways of doing things are crumbling, and those who can imagine new possibilities are the ones who will thrive. If you’re still relying on rote memorization, following the same tired routines, or sticking to the “this is how it’s always been done” mentality, you’re already behind.

Creativity is the currency of the future. Innovation doesn’t happen without it, progress stalls in its absence, and leaders emerge from it. The world is crying out for fresh ideas, for new solutions to old problems, and for individuals bold enough to imagine what others can’t see.

Stop Playing It Safe

Here’s where it gets real. Playing it safe is the fastest way to mediocrity. If you’re not willing to step out of your comfort zone, if you’re too afraid to take risks, then you’re sentencing yourself to a life of the ordinary. And let’s be honest: the world doesn’t need more ordinary.

Do you want to leave a mark? Then you need to be willing to dream bigger than you ever thought possible. You need to tap into the wild, untamed parts of your mind where creativity and imagination run free. Stop worrying about whether or not it’s practical. Practicality is overrated. The Wright brothers weren’t practical when they imagined humans flying through the sky. Steve Jobs wasn’t practical when he envisioned a world where technology was intuitive and accessible. They were visionaries. And guess what? Visionaries change the world.

Imagine the Life You Want

This isn’t just about business or innovation either; this is about your life. What kind of life do you want to live? Can you imagine it? Can you see it in vivid detail—the places you want to go, the things you want to achieve, the impact you want to have?

If not, you need to start there. Spend time each day imagining the possibilities before you. Get specific. Picture yourself in that future reality. Feel it, taste it, breathe it in. Because if you can’t even imagine it, how on earth are you going to accomplish it?

Don’t wait for permission to dream. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to start creating. The perfect moment is a myth. The only thing that matters is that you start, right now, using the greatest tool at your disposal—your imagination.

Make Imagination Your Superpower

Albert Einstein wasn’t just a genius because he was smart; he was a genius because he allowed his imagination to soar. He saw beyond the immediate, beyond the obvious, and dared to dream of what could be. And that’s exactly what you need to do if you want to accomplish anything meaningful in your life.

So, what are you waiting for? Stop limiting yourself to what has been and what is. It’s time to start imagining what could be. Your future is as bright as your imagination allows it to be. Dare to dream, dare to create, and most importantly, dare to imagine a world where your vision becomes reality. Because if you can’t imagine it, you’ll never accomplish it.

No More Apples

August 13, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Think you’re just an apple in a basket, waiting to be picked or discarded? Wrong. You’re an orchard in disguise, brimming with potential that could feed nations, change lives, and alter the course of history—if you’d just wake up to it.

I recently heard the line Within every apple there’s an orchard. I did not come up with this and its origin is unknown, but I feel there’s power in this thinking. This isn’t just a feel-good quote to throw on social media and forget. It’s a battle cry, a declaration of war against mediocrity, and a direct challenge to the excuses you’ve been feeding yourself for too long.

The Apple Mindset

Too many people are stuck in the “apple” mindset. You know the type. They see themselves as small, ordinary, just trying to get by without making too much noise. They’ve bought into the lie that they’re just one in a million—replaceable, forgettable, insignificant.

But here’s the truth: you’re not just an apple. Inside you is the seed of something far greater. You have the power to grow, to expand, to become an orchard—a force of nature that can produce fruit for generations to come. The potential within you is limitless, but it’s useless unless you recognize it and do something about it.

We can’t stop there either. If you’re a Christian, this concept hits even closer to home. Within every Christian, there isn’t just potential for personal growth—there’s the potential to build a whole community of faith. Just like the orchard in the apple, there’s a church, a body of believers, a thriving community within you waiting to be cultivated.

Too many Christians walk around with a small vision, thinking that faith is a private matter, something personal and contained. We treat ministry like it’s something we can hire someone else to do for us. But the truth is, Christianity is meant to be lived out…in community…by everyone! Your faith isn’t just about you; it’s about the people where you live, work, and play.

Your faith isn’t meant to stay locked in the walls of your heart or the pews of a church. It’s meant to grow, to spread, to multiply. Just like an orchard starts with one apple, a thriving community of faith starts with one believer—one person willing to plant seeds of love, kindness, and truth in the lives of others.

Stop Settling

The problem is, most people settle for the apple when they could have the whole orchard. They settle for a paycheck when they could have financial freedom. They settle for good when they could have great. Why? Because they’re scared? Because they don’t believe in themselves? Because they’ve been conditioned to think small.

You need to start thinking like the orchard, not the apple. The orchard doesn’t just survive—it thrives. It doesn’t just exist—it expands. It takes up space, it demands attention, and it produces more than enough. The orchard is the picture of abundance, and that abundance is within your reach. It’s easy to see the limits of scarcity but Jesus took our scarcity and showed how abundant it truly was.

How to Cultivate Your Orchard and Your Community

I know I poke holes in status quo a lot on here. So here are some practical steps for shifting that focus. How do you tap into this orchard within you? How do you break free from the apple mindset and start living up to your true potential—both in your personal life and as a follower of Jesus? Here are a few thoughts:

  1. Imagination: First, you need to see the orchard. You need to believe that there’s more to you than what meets the eye. You need to imagine what life could be if you stopped settling and started striving. As a follower of Jesus, you need to see the community within you and believe that your faith can impact others.
  2. Farming Framework: Understand that the orchard doesn’t appear overnight. It takes time, effort, and patience. But it all starts with the seed—your potential. Nurture it, protect it, and watch it grow. In the same way, start small in your own circle—share your faith, serve others, and watch as your impact multiplies. Look at the relationships that already exist in your life. Why do you think God put those people here at this moment?
  3. Nike: Stop waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect opportunity, or the perfect conditions. Just Do It! Start planting today. Take action, no matter how small, toward your goals. Every seed you plant today is a tree that will bear fruit tomorrow. Don’t just attend church—be the church. Get involved, serve, and lead. Move from observing the faith in others and start owning the faith in you.
  4. Perseverance: Don’t give up when things get tough. Orchards face storms, droughts, and pests, but they survive because they are deeply rooted. Be resilient. Stay the course. In your faith, hold on to God’s promises and continue to sow seeds of righteousness, even when it’s hard.
  5. Harvest: Finally, don’t be afraid to reap the rewards of your hard work. When your orchard starts to bear fruit, don’t apologize for success. Share it, enjoy it, and let it inspire others to cultivate their own. As a Christian, celebrate the growth of your community and continue to foster the faith in others. Raise up new leaders and begin leaving a legacy of discipleship for those that will come after you.

You can sit there and let life pass you by, or you can realize that you’re carrying an orchard within you. You can choose to stay small, or you can unleash the abundance that’s been inside you all along.

Don’t let another day go by without tapping into your true potential. Don’t waste another minute thinking you’re just an apple when you could be so much more. The world needs your orchard—it needs what only you can provide.

And as a Christian, remember that your faith is the seed of something far greater. It’s the foundation of a community, a church, a movement. It’s time to stop thinking small and start cultivating the orchard within you.

Within every apple there’s an orchard. It’s time you start believing it.

Square Pegs in a Round World

August 12, 2024 / / 1 Comment

Ever feel like you’re the odd one out? Like no matter how hard you try, you just don’t fit into the mold everyone else seems to slide into so easily? Welcome to the life of a square peg in a round world. And guess what? That’s not just okay—it’s freaking fantastic.

I recently received this pen and immediately my mind started racing. There’s power in being a square peg or in this case pen. This thing won’t roll off my table. It won’t get lost under my desk. But more importantly it’s different which means it reminds me a little bit of myself.

Let’s get one thing straight: fitting in is overrated. And this is coming from a guy who used to bow to the masses and care what the world had to say. I was soft around the edges and tried to fit in and never stand out. But that is no longer who I am. There’s too much to lose by giving in to the powers of culture and society.

Society loves to push this idea that you’ve got to blend in, conform, and smooth out your edges to fit the round hole the world has carved out for you. But what if those edges are what make you, you? What if shaving them off means losing the very thing that makes you unique? Too many people spend their lives sanding down their differences just to be accepted, only to wake up one day and realize they’ve become a dull, lifeless version of themselves that looks like just about everyone around them!

And for what? A fleeting sense of belonging? Totally not worth it.

Standing out because you’re different isn’t a curse—it’s a blessing. It’s your golden ticket to a life that’s unapologetically authentic. So what if you don’t fit in? Who wants to be a carbon copy anyway? Square pegs don’t just follow the path—they carve out new ones. They push boundaries, sometimes break the rules, and even redefine what’s possible. Being a misfit means you’ve got the guts to be true to yourself in a world that’s constantly trying to make you someone else.

The beauty of being a square peg is that eventually, you find your people. The ones who aren’t interested in fitting into the round holes either. You know, the ones who don’t just tolerate your differences but celebrate them. When square pegs come together, they form a tribe that’s unbreakable. A community of people who get it—who get you. And let me tell you, there’s nothing more rewarding than finding those who stand out just like you do. It’s like finding a breath of fresh air in a world that often feels suffocating.

And here’s the kicker: when you embrace your square-pegness, you give others permission to do the same. You become a beacon for other misfits, showing them that it’s not just okay to be different—it’s powerful. Your willingness to stand out becomes a rallying cry for those who’ve been hiding their true selves, afraid to let the world see their sharp edges. You become a leader, not by blending in, but by standing up for what you believe and standing out no matter how much the world around you tries to shave your edges down.

So, stop trying to fit into a mold that was never meant for you. Stop sanding down your edges just to squeeze into a place that doesn’t appreciate your true shape. Own your square peg status. Embrace it. Because when you do, you’ll find a world full of other square pegs who are ready to stand out with you.

And trust me, that’s a world worth living in.

Be bold. Be different. Be the square peg that refuses to fit in.

It’s Not What They Told Me

August 9, 2024 / / 2 Comments

From the time I was in 6th grade it’s all I wanted to do. Most boys at that age wanted to save the world by being police officers or fire fighters or even join the military. Not me. I didn’t see myself fitting those roles. For me all I ever wanted to do was what I do right now. But all too often it’s not what I was told it would be.

Many joke about it being nice to only work one day a week. Others sit back curiously wondering what it is that I really do. Still others really just don’t care as long as Sunday goes ok and I’m there when their emergency hits. But all too often it’s not what I was told it would be.

No one told me the weight I would have to carry. No one told me the microscope people would put me under. No one told me that real, caring, life-giving friendships would be hard to find, if not downright impossible at times. No one told me how much it would hurt some days, only how rewarding others would be.

You see I knew that I would be there when the phone rang. I knew that I would be there when you were at your worst. I knew that I’d see some dark and somewhat terrifying things. But all too often it’s not what I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget the feeling of holding her hand while she struggled for her final breaths. Pushing down tears of my own because I cared for her more than I could let on. Swallowing hard so I could speak coherently to provide some form of comfort to you as you now say good bye, all the while saying goodbye quietly myself. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget cleaning up after him when he thought there was no other way out. Seeing someone I cared about end it all that way and try to preserve his dignity by quietly carrying the demons that secretly broke him. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget sitting there as you broke into so many pieces. I wanted to help put it together but I was powerless. All I could do was sit, pray, and be a shoulder you could cry on. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget when in a moment of rage you threw the tissue box at me across my desk. You were angry with something or someone but I was the easiest target because I was there. Or the time I was belittled and cursed at for doing my job because you assumed my intent – all this by those who care and without apology nonetheless. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I could list countless moments that caught me off guard. Relationships that broke fast enough to give anyone whiplash. I could gripe and moan and complain but that’s not who I am.

Some of you will think this is a cry for help, but it’s not that at all. Others will think he’s just being a baby stop complaining, but that’s not it either. The greater point is this. We’re people. It’s really that simple.

I talk to a lot of pastors in my role these days and there’s so much hurt that could be avoided. Offenses given but no apology offered. Those moments provide lasting hurt. Many of us have scars that we see daily but will never reveal to anyone. We’re people. It’s really that simple.

Your pastor isn’t superman. He’s not invincible. He breaks. He hurts. He remembers every single one of those moments. Each of those scars he’ll carry to his grave. He’s not doing it for accolades or praise. He’s doing it because he cares. He cares for you. And sometimes caring means he has to say and do some things you don’t like. But we’re people. It’s really that simple.

It often isn’t what I was told it would be. But I don’t do it for me. And to be honest I don’t do it for you either. The real reason we carry these scars and walk with these weights is because we were called to this work. No other reason would be strong enough to keep us anchored this long.

You can question the outcomes or even the steps we take. You can dislike the way it makes you feel. But just remember we’re people, it’s really that easy.

I Fear We’re Insane

August 8, 2024 / / 1 Comment

It’s time to wake up. We’ve all heard that insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Yet, how often do we fall into this trap? We cling to traditions, methods, and mindsets that have long outlived their effectiveness, hoping they’ll somehow bring revival. Newsflash: They won’t! It’s time to wake up, shake off the dust of complacency, and start thinking bigger, bolder, and differently if we truly want to fulfill the mission Christ has given us.

The Comfort of Tradition

Tradition feels safe, doesn’t it? It’s that well-worn path we’ve walked for decades, the familiar liturgy, the same order of service, the predictable sermons, the tried and true programs. But let’s be honest—how much of this is bearing fruit? We’re too often wrapped in the warm, comfortable blanket of “how we’ve always done it,” forgetting that comfort isn’t the goal—discipleship is. And discipleship is not the same as pew sitting membership!

Here’s the hard truth: If we keep doing church the way we’ve always done it, we’ll keep getting the same results we’ve always gotten. And let’s face it, those results aren’t cutting it. Look around. Are our churches filled with the lost, the broken, the desperate souls we’re called to reach? Or are they filled with empty seats and stagnant faith? If we want to see change, we need to change first.

Don’t be delusional!

But we’re making progress! is a line I hear from time to time. Sure, maybe your attendance numbers are steady, maybe your programs are running smoothly. But is that the kind of progress Christ called us to? Or are we just busy maintaining the status quo, confusing busyness with real kingdom impact?

I don’t want to burst your bubble here but true progress isn’t about keeping the church doors open. It’s about opening the doors of our hearts and minds to new ways of reaching the lost, discipling believers, and transforming our communities. It’s about stepping out in faith, even when it feels uncomfortable and even dangerous, and trusting that God will meet us in the unknown.

If we’re not constantly evaluating and adjusting our approach, if we’re not willing to disrupt our routines for the sake of the gospel, we’ll find ourselves far from the vibrant, living body of Christ we’re meant to be.

If your goal doesn’t need God, it’s not big enough.

Thinking bigger isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a divine mandate. We serve a God who is infinitely creative, who specializes in doing new things (Isaiah 43:19). If we’re not willing to think bigger, to dream beyond our current limitations, we’re limiting God’s work in and through us. And frankly we’re dreaming man size dreams in a God sized world.

Ask yourself—and your church—some tough questions. What have we been avoiding because it feels too risky? What traditions have we clung to, not because they’re effective, but because they’re comfortable? What new methods, new ideas, new visions have we dismissed because they didn’t fit our comfortable way of doing things?

God is calling us to break free from the mold, to challenge the status quo, and to step into a new level of faith. If we’re not willing to do that, we’re not just stagnating; we’re disobeying the call to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

One small step for man…

The unknown is scary. It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff, wondering if you’ll survive the leap. But here’s the thing: The church isn’t called to play it safe. We’re called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). And faith doesn’t thrive in the familiar; it grows in the unknown. When those men stepped off the shuttle for the first time, it was the largest small step anyone could ever take.

Every time we choose comfort over calling, tradition over transformation, we’re choosing to stay small. But when we take a step of faith, when we’re willing to leave the safety of the boat and walk on water, that’s when we see God move in miraculous ways.

If we keep doing church the way we’ve always done it, we’ll keep getting the same results we’ve always gotten. But if we’re willing to think bigger, take risks, and to embrace the unknown, we’ll see God do things we never imagined.

The church doesn’t need more people who are content with the status quo. We need committed disciples who are willing to challenge the norm, to dream bigger dreams, and to step out in bold faith. Stop settling for the same old results. Start living out the kind of radical, world-changing faith that Jesus modeled.

Because the only thing that’s truly insane is thinking the church can stay the same and somehow, magically, fulfill its mission in a changing world.

Renovating the Church

August 6, 2024 / / 0 Comments

So it’s time for some tough love. The church is facing a crisis not because the message of the Gospel has lost its power, but because we’ve gotten too comfortable with the way we’ve always done it. Imagine the Church as a house. The foundation and framing—the Word of God and the core principles Jesus laid down—are solid. But let’s be real, some of the internal walls are blocking the flow, making the place feel stuffy and uninviting. It’s time for a renovation. Let’s tear down some walls, open up the space, and let the fresh wind of the Spirit breathe new life into our congregations.

Leave the Foundation

First, let’s be clear: we’re not touching the foundation. The Bible, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the love of God—these are non-negotiable. They are the bedrock upon which our faith stands. But just like a house built in the 1950s, our systems—the way we do church—need updating. We’re talking about moving some walls around to create a space that works for today’s world, which is vastly changing day after day.

We often do one of two things when we starting talking renovation. We mess with the foundation, which is NOT what we’re talking about. We are not talking about changing the structural elements of the faith. And we’re also not just looking at putting a new coat of paint on the walls or adding a few pictures and moving the furniture. The change needs to be significant enough to make a difference but not detrimental to the structure of who we are.

Outdated Systems, Outdated Mindsets

For too long, we’ve clung to traditions that no longer serve their purpose. Programs that once brought life are now lifeless. Ministries that once thrived are now just going through the motions. It’s like living in a house with a beautiful exterior but a cramped, dark interior. It’s time to knock down some walls!

When my family and I moved to our current home, we loved the outside. We loved the quality of the build. We loved the fact that it wasn’t a new build and had some great character. But we also knew that the way it was divided inside wasn’t going to work for us for long. The kitchen was pretty tiny and totally separate from all living spaces. You were pretty much in a dungeon when cooking. We like to entertain and this layout was not inviting at all. So we knocked out some walls. They no longer served their purpose. They were obstructions to a way of life that would allow us to welcome people to our home and have great conversations around food and fellowship.

I’m not going to tell you what walls need moved in your context. That’s not up to me. I don’t know your culture. I don’t know the values of your congregation. I don’t know the way the people in your community receive the best. What follows are a few ideas of some walls that might need to be taken down or relocated. Starting with a solid set of core values and extremely clear mission/vision make this process way easier! If this is something you need help navigating hit me up! I have access to some proven strategies that provide immense clarity and unity in a congregation when it comes to values discovery and a great way to look at vision.

Walls to Consider

  1. Worship Services: Do the times, styles, length of the services hinder people from connecting? Do you use language people understand? Is the message clear and concise when communicated? These are just a few questions to address when looking at the walls that our worship services put up for people new to the church.
  2. Community Engagement: The church isn’t a building; it’s a community or family to use a more biblical image. We need to move the walls that separate the people inside the church from the rest of the world. Host events that serve the needs of your community, be present in local schools, and partner with other organizations. Show the love of Christ in tangible ways. What parts of the way you approach ministry are hindering people from connecting to the life-giving message of the Gospel? Those walls probably need to come down.
  3. Discipleship: Sunday school is great, but it’s not enough. It’s time we create more intimate settings for discipleship. Small groups, mentorship programs, and discipleship triads can deepen faith in ways that a large group setting just can’t. Move the walls that keep people from forming real, authentic relationships. This is a hard one because for many congregations, Sunday School is the way it’s always been done. Asking a church to rethink their Sunday School approach is received like you just asked them to burn down the worship space. Sunday School worked when it worked, but is it still working? Maybe it is, and if so great! But if not you might need to take that wall down.
  4. Leadership: The old model of a single pastor doing everything is unsustainable. It’s time to move those walls and share the load. Empower lay leaders, encourage team ministry, and build a leadership structure that supports growth and innovation. Boards and committees often stifle the movement of the church locally. Tying decision making to meetings stops movement. Widen the lanes of authority so the people doing the work can make decisions. Which means we also have to let people do the work! Completely professionalizing the ministry has become a huge wall that is stopping the spread of the gospel in many communities. This wall is one that in many contexts really needs to be addressed.

Embrace the Change

I know mixing metaphors is a bad idea but I’m going to do it anyway. If someone in Texas needs a hole dug on their land, it’s not going to help them if I dig a deeper hole in Ohio. When we double down on the way we’ve always done it, it’s like digging a deeper hole to help someone far away. Instead of digging a deeper hole, we need to find a way to get to where they are or at least get them a better shovel so they don’t have to dig with their hands.

I know renovating a house is messy, inconvenient, and often frustrating. But the result is a space that feels like home—a place where people want to be. The same goes for the church. Change is hard. It will upset some people. But staying stuck in outdated systems is not an option. We must be bold, courageous, and willing to take risks for the sake of the Gospel.

Friends, it’s time for a renovation. The foundation is firm, but some of the walls need to move. Let’s create a space that reflects the dynamic, life-giving power of the Gospel. Let’s be a church that not only honors the past but also embraces the possibilities before us. The world is waiting. Let’s show them what a renovated, reimagined church looks like. It’s time to get to work.

Two Key Questions

July 30, 2024 / / 0 Comments

There are two key questions that we all need to consider. We love to answer one but often fail to even consider the other. Now I could string this along and really agitate you but that wouldn’t be nice, so here are the two questions. Then we’ll talk about them.

Are we going to believe Jesus? And are we going to obey Jesus?

The first one seems to be the easy one. We don’t really have a problem with this question. We’ll read our bible and go to church. We’ll say we love him and value how much he loves us. We’ll teach the stories in the Bible to our children and read them to our grandchildren.

Believing in Jesus isn’t really a hard thing, especially for those who call themselves Christians. After all it’s kind of what being a Christian is about right?

I’m going to push back on that a little as we look at the second question. I don’t think believing Jesus is the crux of being a Christian. I think there are people who believe Jesus and yet don’t really get it. Believing is part of the equation but it’s not the point.

One of my favorite bible verses is from Matthew 28. It’s been called the Great Commission by church goers for centuries. It’s the passage where Jesus commissions the disciples and the church to make disciples. We split hairs over which words in the great commission are command style words, imperatives for all you grammar people. Is it supposed to be go and make disciples or while you are going make disciples? That’s a really good question but I don’t think that’s the point either.

One command in that verse is to make disciples. The rest of the verse is really about where and how we go about doing it. This is where we move to our second question – are we going to obey Jesus?

Believing Jesus is one thing, but obeying is a totally different ball game! Remember that great commission thing? Going into the world, make disciples of all nations…yeah read on just a few more words. Jesus goes on to say how we do this.

Not only is there this whole baptism thing, which we won’t spend time on here, but then there’s the next phrase. Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. It’s right there – obey. It’s not teaching them to know all that I have commanded. He didn’t tell us to memorize large chunks of the Bible, although that isn’t a bad thing at all. It’s just not the point. The point is to teach them how to obey what the Bible says.

Obedience to the message of Jesus is what the life of the Christian should be all about. And our lack of obedience to the message of Jesus is often what gets the church in some hot water in the world. Another way to say this is that people rarely have a problem with Jesus. It’s Jesus’ people who are the problem.

I have plenty of friends on Facebook who are pretty open about their stance against Christians. What I think is so sad is the things they’re upset about are things Jesus would likely be upset about too. So often the way we live out our belief is a turn off for those who don’t really know the heart of Jesus.

The question about belief is important. For sure you need to believe the things of Jesus! But if you’re going to say you believe it, then you had better start acting like it has made a difference in your life.

You can’t half way the Christian life. It doesn’t work that way. Jesus says in the book of Revelation that either be hot for him or cold against but lukewarm (aka halfway) is vomit worthy. Yup Jesus is NOT ok with the lukewarm Christian because they aren’t really his followers!

One place where I see this belief but lack of obedience on full display is when we judge the world around us while we have our own baggage that needs addressing. Jesus talks about that too.

He says that we should take care of the boulder in our own eye before trying to nit pick at the speck in our brothers eye. Look there are problems in the world all around us. There’s no questions about that at all! But if we spend time working on the way we obey the message of the gospel and the teachings of Jesus, then we won’t need to worry as much about what words we have to say when talking about our faith. They’ll just see it right there in full frontal form.

So the two questions we all need to address – Do we believe in Jesus? And equally important are we going to obey the teachings of Jesus? This is a really great place for the follower of Jesus to start.

Discovering Your Passion

July 26, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Let’s cut through the fluff and get to the point. If you want to discover your passion, you have to dive headfirst into the chaos of your own life. Stop waiting for some magical moment of clarity to slap you across the face. Passion isn’t going to stroll up and camp out on your front porch. No, passion is often more like a wild beast that you have to hunt down, wrestle to the ground, and claim as your own. Here are a few steps to track down your passion.

Get Real

First, quit lying to yourself. Stop pretending things are great if in reality you feel like life is sucking your soul dry. If you’re more excited about your coffee breaks than your actual work, it’s time to wake up. Be brutally honest. What makes your heart race? What lights a fire in your belly? Dig deep and face the uncomfortable truths about what you really want. This isn’t the time to be nice; it’s time to be raw and unfiltered.

Get Uncomfortable

Your comfort zone is your enemy. It’s a cozy prison that keeps you from exploring your true potential. Smash through those walls. Try new things, even if they scare the heck out of you. Take risks. Sign up for that salsa class, join a hiking club, or start that side hustle. The point is to push yourself into unknown territory. Growth doesn’t happen in the safe, predictable zones. It happens when you’re on the edge, teetering on the brink of something new and terrifying. You need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable if you’re going to live out your passion.

Embrace Failure

Get ready to fail. Seriously, failure is your best friend in this journey. Every failure is a lesson wrapped in grit and discomfort. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough. It’s been said that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the lightbulb. And WD-40 is actually the 40th try! Let that sink in. Success and passion are often found on the other side of failure. So, stumble, fall flat on your face, and get back up. Each failure is a stepping stone towards discovering what truly ignites your passion.

Listen To Your Inner Jiminy Cricket

You know the conscience in the Disney classic Pinocchio. Let your conscience be your guide. Well it’s time to cut through the noise of other people’s opinions. Everyone and their grandma will have an opinion on what you should do with your life. Sometimes you need to simply block them out. Tune into your inner voice, that gut feeling that tells you what excites you. It’s not always going to make sense to others, and that’s okay. This is your journey, not theirs. Trust your gut. You know more than you think.

Move Already!

Dreaming without action is just a waste of time. You can sit around fantasizing about your passion all day long, but if you don’t take steps toward it, you’re just blowing smoke. Start small if you have to. Read a book about something that interests you. Attend a workshop. Network with people who are already living your dream. Every little action builds momentum. Before you know it, you’re not just dreaming; you’re doing. Sitting around won’t move you toward your passions unless your passion is sitting on the couch? There’s no couch sitting games in the olympics so get up and get moving toward your goals! They won’t accomplish themselves.

Assess and Adjust

Regularly take a step back and reflect. What have you tried? What worked? What didn’t? Adjust your course accordingly. This isn’t a straight path; it’s a winding road with detours and roadblocks. Stay flexible and adapt. Passion evolves, and so should your approach. Keep refining your direction based on your experiences and insights. Regularly slowing down to see where you’ve been and what you’ve tried will help hone your approach for the next steps toward being who and what you are called to be.

Know Your Surroundings

Energy is contagious. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about their lives. Their enthusiasm will rub off on you. Seek out mentors, join communities, and engage with people who inspire you. Ditch the naysayers and energy vampires who drag you down. It’s been said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so choose wisely.

This is why people struggling with addiction will surround themselves with others who are farther ahead on the journey than they are. This is why people who want to get fit generally start in a gym. Being around people with similar passions is super helpful! But being around people any passion that causes them to get excited is contagious! Be careful you just might become and excited person yourself.

Never Settle

Finally, never settle for mediocrity. In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins says that the greatest enemy of great is good. Don’t settle for good enough when great is within your grasp.

Life is too short to live someone else’s dream or to half— your way through it. Demand more from yourself. Strive for excellence in everything you do. Push yourself to go beyond where you were yesterday. This isn’t a competition with the world around you. It’s a competition with the complacency within you. When you settle, you betray your own potential. Keep pushing, keep striving, and never, ever give up.

Discovering your passion isn’t a one-time event. It’s a relentless pursuit. It’s a journey that requires guts, grit, and an unwavering commitment to living life on your own terms. So get out there and unleash the beast within you. The world is waiting and it needs your passion.

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