by Rev. Joda Collins
I heard it said by a pastor many years go that "God does not care about your kingdom until you first care about His." While that is a little on the blunt side, I think there is a lot of truth in that statement. There is not one person found in the Bible who was blessed by God long-term who did not show an overwhelming interest in and commitment to the Kingdom of God at some point in his or her life.
Most of us are waiting for the big score in life. We are looking for that defining moment that changes everything for the better. For most of that, that one defining moment will never come. Rather, what defines our life are the things we do day-to-day which combine to create something of value or are the catalyst that ushers in something significant.
Great people, whether it be in art, music, education, politics, areas of faith or anything else, may seem to have become great in a spur of the moment, but great people almost always have a record of consistent commitment that caused their success.
As the man with a broken finger asked the doctor, "Will I be able to play the piano after this finger heals?" The doctor said, "Sure." The injured man said, "That's great. I couldn't play the piano before I broke my finger." How nice it would be if we could become concert pianists as a result of healed broken finger. Talented pianists work at it for long hard practice sessions over periods of years. It is wiser to be in awe of the time and commitment it took to become a talented pianist that it is to be in awe of the piano playing. Most of us could be extremely good at playing the piano if we would give two or three hours each day for 10 or 20 years to the development of that talent.
Church growth is the same thing. A church does not flourish just because we want it to. It takes work and a commitment to consistently do the right things over a long period of time.
First, understand that a healthy growing church is YOUR responsibility and it is MY responsibility.
Here are the basics (not listed any order of importance).
1. Faithful attendance and faithful financial support.
2. Do your best to get along with everyone. Don't be sensitive.
3. Find out what disrupts a church and don't do those things.
4. Find out with unifies the church and do those things.
5. Assume responsibility for your actions or lack of action.
6. Worship. Be right with God. Be a humble person of prayer.
7. Give the benefit of the doubt to others.
8. Be positive. Employ your public self.
9. Speak well of others every chance you get. Keep your mind and your tongue in check. Any sentence that can begin with "I" followed by a negative statement is probably better left unsaid. Check your thoughts. There is probably something amiss in your gray matter.
10. Remember, someone is on the verge of quitting God. Relate to everyone accordingly.
11. Remember, someone is on the verge of joining the Church Relate to everyone accordingly.
12. Remember, someone is on the verge of leaving the Church. Relate to everyone accordingly.
13. Support your pastor(s).
14. Never be critical of your pastor(s) in front of anyone.
15. Identify those that cause division among you contrary in manners contrary to sound doctrine, and avoid them.
16. Be involved. Do your part. You cannot do everything, but you can do something! Do something that contributes to the well-being of the Church unless you are an immature Christian or an immature person. Immature people get involved then get mad as others as an excuse to get uninvolved. Church ministry requires fighting the devil. We do not send babies to war.
17. Do not become jealous or bitter. You are not the center of the world or your church. Others will get more, be more, have more of whatever. So what!?
18. Know your Bible and make a habit of getting to know it better.
19. Add to this list what you think I should have added.
I could list a ton of scriptures to support all of the above, but these are basic realities.
Rev. Joda Collins
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/jodacollins
I make no claim that anyone else agrees with me.
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