Saturday, August 14, 2010

Cookie Cutter Crisis

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
- James 1:22 (NIV)


Ministry is not one size fits all. In fact, we see discipleship as a connection rather than coursework and evangelism as a calling as opposed to cold calling. Ministry is about putting your endowed spiritual gifts to work with the talent and abilities that God has afforded you in accordance with other believers to accomplish God's plan and purpose.



We need more doers of the Word. We have too many people searching for a mega-church model and seeking simplistic, bullet-pointed solutions on a PowerPoint or a webinar. God provides us gifts and puts us in position for the work of the ministry. If God can write 66 books of the Bible through the Spirit-led men of the past, He surely can provide the local church with skilled and able Bible teachers and writers to develop Bible lessons and children's programming.


We need to stop ordering the box and get back into the Book. Stop ordering evangelism in a box, VBS in a box, and discipleship in a box. If you discover that there is no relevant materials and resources that speak to your church's needs, pray for God to reveal the way in which you need to proceed. There may exist gifts and talents buried within the pews of the congregation. Pray and see what God wants you to do with His Word.


There is no "one size fits all" solution. There's no short list of quick fixes. We are called to be "doers of the Word." Go on and do as He leads you by His Spirit with what He has equipped and empowered you to do with His Word. Start by dropping the cookie cutter.

No comments:

Post a Comment