RISK REQUIRES FAITH

Healthy things grow, growing things change, change requires risk, risk requires faith, and faith keeps you healthy.

Acts 16:5 tells us, "So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew daily in numbers".

The word strengthened is used in Colossians 2:7 where Paul writes, "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught".

What kind of faith was strengthened in the early church?

First there was a courageous faith.

In Acts 4:29 it says, "And now O Lord hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching". Courageous faith is a necessity for healthy leaders.

Secondly there was a generous faith. The early church stopped at nothing when it came to sharing their possessions. There was a clearly a motivation for meeting the needs of those around them.

Third there was a tenacious faith. Acts 14:22 Paul tells the church to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter in to the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.

Finally we see that the church exercised miraculous faith. Acts 2:43 says that a deep sense of awe came over them as the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

It is obvious that exercising our faith is the very thing that makes us strong and vigorous.

(HEALTHY) AND HEALTHY THINGS GROW!

CHANGE REQUIRES RISK

So far I have said that, "Healthy things grow, growing things change, change requires risk". Risk is the X factor in any changes that need to be made along the way. The risk the apostles took was to identify with the message of grace that Jesus introduced into the establishment.

The traditions of the past were being revolutionized by a new relevant message of grace. New wine was being put into new wineskins.

The pharisees tried to do everything they could to stop the progress of the gospel. Threats were made, along with the Roman government becoming more vigilant in stomping out the Way.

Whenever there is change you always risk opposition. Opposition can come in all shapes and sizes , from active to passive. This typically is when the boo birds come out with the "we never have done it this way" slogan. Not only are there always opposers to change but there is a risk of failure with the new direction or philosophy that is enforced. However, without these risks the early church would would have stagnated into oblivion. Praise God for healthy leaders who were willing risk their lives for cause of the Gospel.

Courageous leadership is willing to take a risk. The greater the risk often the greater reward. The greater the risk the greater the conviction of the Holy Spirit must be present.

Scripture tells us to count the cost before we build a tower. I am sure that accounting includes all the risk factors.

What is God asking you to risk as you seek to grow stronger as a leader?

GROWING THINGS CHANGE

A fact of nature is that when things grow they change. Change doesn't often come easy however.

Most resist change because it makes us feel uncomfortable, perhaps insecure, and takes a lot of effort. It is a lot easier to maintain the status quo.

We see how exponential growth impacted the early church as the Greek speaking widows were not being properly cared for. The influx of the gentiles caused a need to change their outlook on circumcision. So logistical and traditional matters were being challenged. Fortunately the apostles were flexible enough and knew how to set their boundaries. It was also exciting to see how the early church had great men of God waiting in the wings to serve.

Change is good for us when we are forced to ask the right questions. Such as:

Are the present ministries being effective in their present state?

Do our ministries align with our vision and values?

Is there a more relevant or effective way to do ministry?

What are some of those modern day changes that affect a growing church?

- Change of influencers. Homesteaders get invaded by squatters. This can be a vulnerable

time in the life of the church.

- Change in polity. Growth can force structural changes to create greater efficiency.

- Change in strategy. Such as two services, small group ministries, etc.

- Changing traditions. Dealing with those sacred cows.

- Change in vision. Setting a new course. Dreaming new dreams.

- Change in leadership style. Maybe more empowering and letting go.

Remember, healthy things grow and growing things change.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A HEALTHY LEADER/CHURCH

If you have been around me much you have heard me say this many times:

Healthy things grow

Growing things change

Change requires risk

Risk requires faith

Faith makes you healthy.

This is what I call the life cycle of a healthy leader, or for that matter, a healthy church.

For the next several blogs I would like to dissect these modules. So let's start with "healthy things grow".

We often use the early church as our picture of health. When you read the book of Acts you see two very profound things taking place. There was incredible numerical growth as well as spiritual growth. In other words we can safely say that the early church grew both in depth and breadth. More than 10 times Luke tells us that the church grew numerically because of the many conversions taking place. It was also critical to the early church to continue to be strengthened. The level of persecution and trials the early church endured required them to persevere and grow deeper. That is why Paul challenged the church in Collosse to be strong and vigorous in the truth so their spiritual roots would grow deep. You read the same thing in Acts 14 where Paul and Barnabas were strengthening the believers so that they would persevere in the faith.

The bottom line is this. In order for any leader or church to be healthy there must be evidence of fruit in two areas. One is that of conversion growth and the other of growing deeper in love with Jesus Christ.

So the question for you and your church is this: Are you healthy? If so, are you growing in these two areas?

SUFFERING FROM INFLATION?

I have seen many preaching pastors that seem to have an inflated view of their skills. Unfortunately too much of our identity is wrapped up in our ability to preach. Therefore it is often a difficult issue to bring up in many pastor's lives. So let me take a risk by challenging you to do a little self evaluation,

1. Have you ever seen people checking out during your messages?

2. Are your too long? (Sometimes more is less and less is more.)

3. Is your message congruent, logical, and systematic so they are easily followed?

4. Are your messages too academic and not practical enough?

5. Is there any evidence of life change as a result of your messages?

6. Are your sermons pointing out the obvious or is there some intrigue that captures both the

immature and mature listener?

7. Is your delivery sort of flat rather than dynamic and captivating?

8. Are your sermons transforming your life?

9. Are your listeners able to connect with you as much as the message?

10. Are you leaving room for the Holy Spirit?

11. Have you done a thorough study of the text?

These are just some questions you might want to give someone whom you trust and know will give you some loving and honest feedback. You also may want to listen and watch your preaching if you haven't done so in a long time. It may give you some clues as to how you can improve. Remember, healthy pastors aren't afraid to ask the hard questions.

Think and Do Christianity

Christianity in America today has become a performance based religion. Our linear mindsets coupled with microwave results have caused an alarming drift from a relationship with Christ. We "born again" Christians have boasted that our belief system is based on a relationship not a religion. However it grieves me to see too many Christian leaders who have fallen into a trap of performance. Our success driven churches have become more enamored with the bottom line than true intimacy with the living Christ.

We Evangelicals have been proud of our loyalty to the scriptures, thus we have had a measure of success in increasing the knowledge of the average person in the pew. Unfortunately most Christians find themselves motivated intellectually to obey what they have learned without taking the time to allow God to cultivate truth in the depths of their hearts. Thus there is no ownership, conviction, or real transformation. The result is, we try and obey what God's truth is telling us without the real inward motivation of the Spirit.

No wonder we are not seeing as many transformed lives. We have bought into a a think and do mentality, skipping the most important part: "the being".

When is the last time you really have allowed God some extended time to have truth penetrate your heart instead of taking the usual bypass?

I thought heart bypass was only in the medical world. Maybe not?