Ep 006: 4.5 Myths of Church Growth

#OC15 - Josh Gagnon Breakout Outline - Senior Leader Track4.5 ministry myths that may be holding you back in leadership...Myth #1 - “We don’t have enough ___________” (time, resources, staff, equipment, creativity, talent, experience, backing)Your focus will determine your influence.Limitations inspire innovation.Excellence isn't doing it the best, excellence is doing the best with what you have.What if your staff talked more about what you do have than what you don’t have?You have all you need… "right now"WHAT IS IT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON’T HAVE? What excuses have you been making? What excuses are you allowing your team make? Have you become comfortable blaming where you're at as a church on what you don't have as a leader?Myth #2 - “It worked there, it will work here.”What works in the South will not work in New England and what works for one community may not work for another….WE CAN’T IGNORE THE CULTURE WE LIVE IN in attempts of reaching that culture. THE CHURCH BECOMES SHALLOW IN ITS METHODS WHEN WE COPY.We can move too far in front of culture…One size doesn’t fit all and neither does one style.Some ministries are simply trying to copy success and as a result have lost their unique vision…MAKE EFFECTIVENESS YOUR HIGHEST GOAL.WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT THE CULTURE YOU LIVE IN ISN’T RECEIVING?Myth #3 - “It will work itself out” (I don’t have to deal with that staff issue, I don’t have to fix that volunteer conflict)Just because a problem seems to go away doesn’t mean the conflict doesn’t exist and the problem won't reoccur.Passive leadership never leads to movement….it leads to an idol organization.A leader's constant companion is pain…avoiding conflict is the hope that we can avoid pain.WHAT DECISIONS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT YOU ARE AVOIDING?Myth #4 “They don’t like change” (they won’t want to change the seats, they won’t change the music style, they won’t change facilities, they won’t change methods, curriculum, that ministry)The goal of being effective has to trump the desire to stay the same. AS A LEADER we cannot choose to avoid change over being effective. AT NL,C WE HAVE A CULTURE OF CHANGE….the only thing I know will be the same 10 years from now is that we will be worshipping Jesus.Change communicated correctly can inspire change...instead of only focusing on what you are changing explain the why behind the change.The willingness to change doesn’t erase the need to plan...it just gives the leaders in the organization a gap to grow. An organization that allows no change ultimately is expecting to hire perfect people.WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU BEEN AVOIDING? DO YOU HAVE A CULTURE THAT RESISTS CHANGE? Myth #4.5 “I don’t have what it takes to ________” (break this lid, build the right team, start that campaign, transition this church, release someone who doesn't fit on the team, to change, have that talk, etc)2 Corinthians 12:8-10: Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.HAVE YOU LOST PART OF YOUR DREAM BECAUSE GOD'S TIMING WAS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS?