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    Special MMI Guest, Craig Groeschel:  The Difference Between a “Good” Idea and a &#8

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    Here’s Craig’s response:

    Todd,

    I love what you’re doing. Thanks for your awesome blog . I read it every day!

    How can a church leader discern between a “good idea” and a “God idea”? That’s a great question. I’ll answer as truthfully as I can:

    Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. Some people seem to have a “direct line” to God. My line often seems to have interference. If a leader isn’t quite sure if they heard from God or just ate pizza too late at night, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:

    Where did the idea originate? Ask yourself, “Was this idea was born in my heart, out of prayer?” or “Am I just copying what someone else is doing?” Most of the ideas I’ve had that really seemed to be “God ideas” came out of time with God in prayer. Don’t misunderstand: borrowing someone else’s idea is fine. It’s occasionally wise, and it can certainly be from God. But I put a lot more confidence in those ideas that seem to come straight from The Source.

    Where’s the faith? Will the idea take faith to pull it off, or can you do it under your own power? God is honored by our faith. If the idea is too big to do without God, then He’ll get the credit when it comes to pass. Most God ideas seem to require faith on our part. (It’s impossible to please Him without it.) smile

    Can I live without it? Is the burden for the idea so big that you’d deeply regret not trying it? When my burden for an idea outweighs my fear of failure, that usually means God is leading me to try it.

    Does it get a mixed reaction? Do some people believe you’ve heard from God? Are just as many people nervous? If you answer “yes” to both, I’m excited for you. Usually, when I think I’ve heard from God, some people seem to confirm that I probably have. Others who are more cautious get nervous. For some reason, this mix gives me comfort. (There’s a lot of wisdom in having a variety of counselors.)

    If it doesn’t work, did you “miss” God?

    If someone believes they heard from God, tries the idea and it doesn’t work as expected, that doesn’t necessarily mean they missed Him. Maybe God was trying to change the person—something that could only come about through a perceived failure.

    I hope that whenever I do “miss God,” it’s because I’m being too aggressive trying to reach people, rather than because I’m being too passive.

    Thanks for your heart for pastors and ministry, Todd!

    Thank you, Craig!  I love that last line.  Take a moment to read it again:

    I hope that whenever I do “miss God,” it’s because I’m being too aggressive trying to reach people, rather than because I’m being too passive.

    That’s my prayer for all of us today!

    Todd


    I am very pleased to be a part of Craig Groeschel's online book tour today! Craig has a brand new book entitled "IT" that I'm really enjoying reading right now. Every once in a while, I read a book that really resonates with me; and "IT" really has. Craig has a way of putting in print some great thoughts and some helpful tools for church leaders that will help improve your ministry. I had the opportunity to ask Craig a question for today's post, and here's what I ask, along with his response:

    Hey Craig… You mention in your book that many churches do not really have a ‘vision,’ and that there’s a huge difference between a ‘good idea’ and a ‘God idea.’ How can the average church leader tell the difference? And what advice would you give to leaders as they determine their ministry’s vision?

    Comments

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    1. Geoff on Mon, September 22, 2008

      Hearing from God is never an easy thing. My ministry started from a burden God planted in my own heart and it is only now really starting to grow. It’s been a long couple years of searching for the words to explain the burden of the heart.


      One thing I appreciate about “IT” is that it is so down to earth and speaks directly to me.


      “IT” has been a tremendous encouragement, “Chazown” was the book that caused me to follow what God planted in my heart!

    2. aoc gold on Wed, September 24, 2008

      Thanks for nice informative view on your article. I really like it very much.

    3. chip on Wed, October 01, 2008

      Another big deal with ideas and implementing something that is “successful” is the passion with which one pursues it.  God can give us an idea and we can be ho hum about it and never have success.  But that is why I like the point made about “can I live without it”.  That is what passion is all about.  While God’s call and equipping fuel our passion, we must exert the energy and make the investment necessary to make it work. 


      Of course, there are those times when we get an idea from God and He so blesses it that we could not mess it up.  Often times we want that instead of working diligently to pursue God’s call, God’s idea and God’s plan and we fail at implementation and then blame God when it doesn’t work!


      God speaks, He calls, He inspires, but He will not do the work nor force us to work hard to accomplish.  I believe that is part of His test for our faithfulness.  The call, the trial and then the blessing.

    4. Jade on Thu, October 02, 2008

      I recently went to a day seminar with Craig as the speaker.  I think this guys is a man of God. I bought the book “IT.”  I have not got a chance to read “It” yet but I look forward to “IT.”

    5. warhammer gold on Fri, November 21, 2008

      There is truely no substitute for quite, still, meditation and talking with the father.  I have his assurance in John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice

    6. wow gold on Fri, February 27, 2009

      not got a chance to read “It” yet but I look forward to “IT.”

    7. cheap wow gold on Fri, February 27, 2009

      One thing I appreciate about “IT” is that it is so down to earth and speaks directly to me.

    8. darkfall gold on Mon, March 02, 2009

      Good idea is from Gods idea.He is the one who enhances our thoughts,the farthest knowledge and wisdom,the spiritual and social aspects.Try to read Bible too.

    9. darkfall treasures on Thu, March 05, 2009

      Good idea is from Gods idea for He is good.


      He is the one who enhances our thoughts,the farthest knowledge and wisdom.


      He is the only source of all good example.

    10. Unblock Facebook on Wed, April 22, 2009

      Music Director, Thanks so much for the encouraging words. I am still praying those prayers almost daily. It is painful as God answers them—but I am grateful for His goodness and breaking in our lives. Harold, I am so glad the book ministered to you!

    11. Ubuntu Howto on Fri, April 24, 2009

      It is an absolutely delightful post. I really enjoyed every bit of it. God really is the Creator and He cares for all of us.

    12. Astronomy Club on Sun, April 26, 2009

      Congratulations to you first. This post is very enlightening. Thanks for sharing those wise notions. All ideas are god’d good ideas.

    13. Twitter Apps on Tue, April 28, 2009

      Thanks so much for the encouraging words.It is an absolutely nice post. I really enjoyed reading it. God really is the Creator and He cares for all of us.will add into my favorities…

    14. Fertility on Wed, April 29, 2009

      Any idea that does good for the others is good ideaand God only directs the origin of such an idea. All good ideas Are God’s Creations in human minds.

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