The “Git R Done” Church
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Sun, November 27, 2005
- Viewed 240
- (57) comments so far
Too bad churches don't go with that mentality. What if we said, lets do it. Lets reach people for Christ. Lets be all things to all people. Lets throw out tradition if it isn't relevant. Lets be real. Lets make a real difference in our communities. Lets really love people. Lets accept them no matter what their background or how they dress or how much or little money they have or what are their sinful patters. Lost people will act like lost people. It is time to get serious church and do whatever it takes, I mean whatever it takes to reach our lost and dying world. This is my one true passion that I am willing to take to my grave!"
So... the question for all of us to ponder this week is, "What if...?"
What if your church did everything they could to reach the lost in your community? What would that look like?
And what is keeping you from getting there?
I find it amazing that most churches I've seen have a rather complicated formula in place to make sure that this type of ministry never has a possibility of ever happening.
Committees halt progress. Some churches have so many committees that nothing ever gets done (except meetings).
Tradition holds many churches back. How many times have you heard, "We've never done it that way before?" (Talk about a leadership killer!)
Ministry keeps many churches occupied. Many of your best workers are right now 'getting tired in well-doing'. Many churches are so over-programmed for in-reach, outreach is just not even a possibility.
But what if?
What if the whole committee structure somehow evolved into a team approach where teams were empowered to make decisions and carry out ministry? What if we stopped doing things just because we've always done them this way? And what would happen if we just stopped doing some ministry programs that just aren't effective; and took that time and energy to reach out to our community?
Dream a little.
What would happen?
What steps can you take today... this week... in 2006... to help make this happen?
What measureable steps can we make today that will help our church 'Git R Done' in the next year?
Reminds me of an old saying that goes (something like this)... "If we keep doing what we've always done; we'll always get what we always got."
It's time to try something new. Let's, "Git R Done!"
Have a great week!
Todd
At his blog "Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee" Kevin Bussey says, "I love the apostle Paul. He was all about reaching people for Christ. He was the first relevant minister after the death of Jesus. Paul said in I Corinthians 9 that he was going to be all things to all people in order that he might win some. He was willing to do whatever it takes! He was like [Larry the Cable Guy], GIT R DONE!
Comments
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Pastor Bill on Mon, November 28, 2005
Good stuff LIZ
All that evangelism would really work and is appropriate in any body.
Does that change the “Be thou Holy for the Lord your God is Holy” 1 Peter 1:16” The text alludes to us being HOLY in all that we DO! Our actions are an indication as to our Holiness, but those same actions without Jesus and His Holy Spirit has a great appearance although the key element is missing.
Would you not agree that the purpose of the evangelist or evangelism is to aid the non-believer to start the “relationship with God.” If the Church is not the “watering hole” where “living water” can be received as it is poured out we have a social event that has the appearance of Church. TOO many pastors are afraid to “preach the Word” because it will cut deep into their offering baskets—and this is a sad state of affairs.
Paul expressed to Timothy (2 Tim 3)that in the last days perilous times would come ... men would have a form of godliness but lack it’s power.” I quote, v5, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”
I do not want to get into the “seeker sensitive vs traditional church” debate. It is the Word that directs us. Are we indeed in that time and have we moved into the period of time where “the form of godliness and lacking it’s power” is a here and now! If not, we are still headed for it - why? Could it be men that have a watered down gospel? My question centers in on what Paul cautioned Timothy about because it is a sign post for us to know when that time has arrived.
Personally, I used pop corn, cotton candy, and hot dogs to get people to the front doors of the church where they were invited in to hear the Gospel. It worked!
I am not against evangelism tools, I am not a proponent of social ministries as a way of life for the church that has everything to do with numbers and little to do with relationship. Good men with great NATURAL gifts of being charasimatic missed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and made a mess out of their ministries and people suffered in the end. What if we had people in our churches looking at JESUS and His Holy Spirit as the Author and finisher of their faith? This works!
Blessings
PB
Pastor Bill on Mon, November 28, 2005
Amen
Behim, Kevin, Wendi, James and Liz
Discussion is great but it should never separate believers from believers!
PB
Evangelist Jeff on Mon, November 28, 2005
Hello everyone…. I’m back….
Yep, It’s Evangelist Jeff and his two cent wisdom.
When I was in the Army we had objectives to meet. The plan came from higher up to our platoon sgt, and platoon leader. It would then come down to us. There were many obstacle’s we had to over come such things like Ponds, lakes, swamps, deep depressions, deep revines, constina wire, mine fields, ambushes and much much more. They would show us were we were and were we had to go and be. So we would plan and stragize with each other as a team. But as soon as we got the plan all laid out and who was going were and what they were going to do. We would say, “Scouts Out, Hoa, Let’s Git R Done.” There was a term we used also, “Move out Smartly, like you have a purpose in Life.” What did we do, we moved out because we had a misson. Jesus gave us a mission “So let’s git r done, let’s move out smartly.” Hoa rah… Scouts out Lord Scouts out….
I’m fired up because of the “Building 429 and Casting Crowns concert on Sat….
Oh yea, I have a question for Liz. I am asking you this in love. Were you insulting Ed and myself or where you patting us on the back? Just wondering…
Keith on Mon, November 28, 2005
Todd, you ask what the church would look like. I believe it would have all the attributes of Jesus Christ; the unrevealed Jesus Christ that we see so differently in the old testament prior to His the limitations that He was encumbered with during His incarnation but spoke about and lived out in His time on earth.
The vision and mission statement was already given to our church from Christ Himself. [Mrk 12:30]
These give the church their marching orders (strategy) and Gods word gives us tactical direction.
We go out to sow seeds; the operative words here are “go out” to sow seeds. We don’t ‘bring in’ to so only one person can sow seed. We bring in the harvest after going out to sow seeds and after we have helped to feed encourage this new plant to grow. Again, we don’t ‘bring in’ branches and wait for the fruit to grow, we must go out to where the young plants are growing and take care of and nurture (love) this young plant so that it can go strong and mature before it can bare fruit.
This church (the individual parts of the body that defines the church ie.1 Cor.12:27-28) will be able to sow more seed covering a greater area than one person who never leaves their garden where they sow their seed; as most ‘churches’ now do with one farmer.
I believe that a majority of Christians today probably would sow seed as described in Matthew 13:3-9 and I also believe the reason the reason why so many Christians don’t sow all their seed on fertile ground is because they are afraid to. No one has ever mentored, taught, or showed them how to sow seed. The JW’s and LDS sure have.
This new type of church would meet in small groups in homes for fellowship, accountability, healing and nurturing just as the new testament church did. These smaller group churches would meet in a central location to worship(celebrate and Praise God) share the sacraments in remembrance and to be baptized for all to celebrate.
Keith
Greg Scott on Mon, November 28, 2005
It seems to be a growing trend. Has anyone besides me decided that it is better to go out from this kind of church and do a more out of the box style ministry?
I just resigned from a church where the leaders told me specifically that they didn’t like the ‘kind’ of people that I was bringing in.
We are two weeks in with about 20 people showing up to pray and laugh and share and cry and stretch and struggle. So different and so freeing. God keeps revealing his presence in unusual ways nearly every day.
If you are in the same general place in ministry - or you’ve already been there - I’d love to hear from you.
John on Mon, November 28, 2005
When I was Told I needed to turn my life over to JESUS,I needed to know when I grapped that LIFE PRESERVER,Ibetter know all about the one that had a hold of the rope to pull me in,Guess What? The Leader,
there did not preach personal commitment,or
Eternal Security,they were not believed in
just come and work your way.Being almost killed I took the only WORD I knew about
GOD,and began to read it,The Precious
Holy Spirit taughtme as I read and marked the places in my BIBLE,I came to know
Jesus enough then to TRUST HIM.That is the
word that needs to be taught.
How many times do we sit down on a chair,
with out checking if it will hold us?
People need to Trust JESUS,TRUST cements
your Faith to go forth and serve.
Lainie on Mon, November 28, 2005
BeHim:
To answer your comment on my post:
“Is the purpose of gathering together (Church) to make people (Christians or unbelievers) “feel wanted/welcomed”?”
No - not necessarily - but my comment was intended to make the point that if I and my family (as believers) do not feel welcomed - why would an unbeliever?
And it IS most definitely the job of the church to reach out to the lost and make them feel welcomed by God - and the only “God” they may ever come in contact with is us - as servants of God - who can, by welcoming them into the Body - introduce them to God.
You also wrote:
“Many of the churches I attend don’t believe as I do, or do what I would do (thank you Lord), or say what I would say (thank you Lord), many times, from the top down; but I still go to church…. why?
Because I’m commanded to: “… not forsake the assembling of yourselves together…” We don’t go to church for unbelievers or Christians; we go to Church for HIM. To WORSHIP Him (praise Him, thank Him, etc).”
Now I would agree with you there - we are commanded to go to church. But, brother/sister in Christ, I would ask you:
Would you attend a church that is doctrinally unsound or a church that subscribes to a different Gospel than you believe in?
I’m anxious to read your reply to that…
Next, you wrote:
“As a privledge of our “gathering together”, I get to speak to other believers, some nominal, some VERY authentic, but still an opportunity to talk about Him/The Word.”
We have been very blessed by God since we’ve lived in this community to have met, through our children’s associations in sports and school, some very interesting and kind “unchurched” individuals.
We have spent many hours sharing our faith with them, discussing why they don’t feel a need to attend church with their children, discussing the loving God we believe in, showing them no judgment for their “ungodly” lifestyles and fellowshipping with them in their arenas.
Because of this effort on our part, we have seen several of them come to Christ. They have asked that we begin a study in our home - some have even gone so far as to ask us to begin our own home church because they have felt so “unwelcomed” and unloved in the local churches they have tried to visit.
So - we are still out there doing the work of the ministry. Even though we aren’t plugged into a local church - we are still plugged into God.
And for those of you who might want to comment on the whole “covering” issue… we aren’t planning on beginning a study or starting our own church. If we did, we would most certainly go to our old church where we still have a great relationship, and ask them to be our covering.
Be blessed, and…
BE GOD’S!!!
Pastor Richard on Mon, November 28, 2005
Excellent thought, Todd!
Our fellowship has adopted a non-traditional commitment to the Lord, following along the same lines of “get it done”!
If we are waiting on the unsaved to cross our thresholds, to embrace our programs, to enter into our blessed assurances, we are badly mistakened.
Our response must be to the sinner in their enviroment, to reach out with all that is within us (Christ, the hope of glory) and share the “hope” in places of no hope, to give joy where there has been none, to share the “good news” where there has only been bad news.
Regardless of how many times you must go, regardless of the cost, regardless the inconvenience, someone sacrificially gave for you, and so you should do the same.
If your church, congregation, fellowship or assembly will not, you should!
The Word of God states “to know to do good and do it not is sin.” Guess what - this includes each of us. Get it done, indeed! Thank you, Todd!
Linda on Mon, November 28, 2005
“”Committees halt progress. Some churches have so many committees that nothing ever gets done (except meetings).”
Erwin McManus in The Barbarian Way pointed out that a group of vultures is actually called a committee!!
Also, I forget who said it but it’s true:
“Aim for ministry and you wont have time for missions. Aim for missions and you have to do ministry.”
If we’re not reproducing ourselves we have to ask the question, am I good soil.
“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Matthew 13:7-9
I loved this quote from a book called Radical Leap:
“Create an environment in which people can aspire to change the world.”
That’s what Jesus did.
BeHim on Mon, November 28, 2005
[Would you attend a church that is doctrinally unsound or a church that subscribes to a different Gospel than you believe in?]
Finding the Doctrinally Sound church that is preaching the Pure Unadulterated Gospel is the key. I just wished most churches would be willing to discuss Sovereignty. Have I attended churches that are doctrinally unsound - yes… Let’s face it, it is what is most prevalent in our society (also evidenced at times in the blog). BUT I still attend, I still post… Why?
Because many are Bible Believing, Holy Spirit filled Christians that like me before, are simply deceived (accepting that what I was taught is “the gospel truth” instead of believing the Word is THE TRUTH and test my beliefs [what I was taught] with Scripture). I once believed as many do now but I keep sharing, correcting, encouraging and at times reproofing not because I’m here to show how much I know (as I have been falsely accused) but because I wish for all to come to the Full Knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Truth does that… you just can’t keep quiet. You have to share. You have to correct. Why… because error is wrong.
Would I join their ranks? No. That would be like leaving the light to embrace darkness but I call out into the darkness (or grey stricken skies) because God has opened my eyes and my Hope is He will open other’s eyes too. I know this: It all starts with a person’s willingness to “take it to Scripture”… including beliefs and assumptions.
[but my comment was intended to make the point that if I and my family (as believers) do not feel welcomed - why would an unbeliever? And it IS most definitely the job of the church to reach out to the lost and make them feel welcomed by God - and the only “God” they may ever come in contact with is us - as servants of God - who can, by welcoming them into the Body - introduce them to God.]
I agree and disagree at the same time but not in the same sense. I agree we should be hospitable and kind to all who come to church but I disagree that they “feel welcome” is the Church’s primary concern.
Does God welcome the unrepentant sinner to commune with Him? Don’t misunderstand me, we can “hang” with sinners but does God? I know who He kept company with but to what end? Did His message: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” ever change? Also keep in mind, His very presence was conviction enough… there’s evidence in this understanding in our own lives… have you ever been around people and they know you’re a Christian and they hold back their “bad talk” around you… why? Salt! It may not have needed to convict because they were already convicted BUT Jesus NEVER changed His message of Repentance.
BTW. The Church’s primary concern should be to ask if they are Believers (“are you of The Faith?”) or unbelievers (“No, we’re not Believers, we’re here because Cindy asked us to come”) and if not a Believer, why they are attending??? (“Great, Cindy is a wonderful testimony to our Faith, we’ll ask her to introduce you to our fellowship and explain our Faith with you…)
We have welcomed them in and now have opportunity to share The Gospel openly during our time of Worship with these unbelievers and encourage Cindy to share the Good News of Salvation with her friends.
Imagine if every church did this… the unbeliever would “feel welcomed” and be given an opportunity to hear a full presentation of Our Faith.
[Because of this effort on our part, we have seen several of them come to Christ.]
I praise God for His Glory in using you to reap the Harvest of His Faithfulness in your life.
scott jones on Mon, November 28, 2005
Great article,Todd! It breaks my heart to read how people would rather argue, debate,and criticize methodology instead of embracing the problem and encouraging each other to explore how to do it right. The problem is us. We would rather take the Gospel and filter it through our plans and take credit for it, in Christ’s name, of course. I’m a sinner, saved by grace, and thankful. I desire and pray that in every way,everyday, I can make a difference in someone’s life by being a servant and a conduit for the Holy Spirit. Isn’t that what Paul is saying? And if every individual were to aspire to this type of servanthood, wouldn’t that be the church as we know it, the body of individual believers, with the individual gifts that God created them with?
Kevin, right on ! git-r-done and God bless you for it.Thank you for desiring to be God’s servant and reach others for Christ.Thank you for not boxing in creativity, but embracing it, using it for what it is designed for, Honoring God. and ditto to you,Todd. I’m on your side,brother, because Christ said to John in Luke 9:50 , after John reported stopping someone who was casting out demons in Christ’s name, “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” I hope all who read this will accept it in the spirit it is intended.
God’s love and peace be with you always.
Scott
Pastor Bill on Mon, November 28, 2005
sometimes you want the responses
sometimes you don’t want the responses
sometimes—it’s OK to disagree
sometimes—it’s not ok to disagree
If you have this type media for people to respond to, please be ready to accept their responses—even if you don’t agree
NOT EVERYONE AGREED WITH JESUS!
Do you think the same can happen to us?
liz on Mon, November 28, 2005
PB: thank you, I always love scriptural admonition. (not facetious) Ed & Jeff I applauded you with respect. I am in the trenches with you. James your words were like water in a dry land…sigh…thank you.
Scott you hit the heart, awesome.
It is no oxymoron that the truth of our need for Christ, repentance of sins, our Lordship of Christ in our lives can be presented in “uniquely” unchurchified ways. How about some more avant-garde ideas?
How about Web-a Nars. DVD or web based seminars on parenting, divorce intervention etc. Mail them out like AOL discs and see who comes to get further counsel and advice. Track contacts with key stroke recognition, or use passwords available on the free disc that let’s you know who is checking it out.
How about BANNING CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS!: using sound principles of contemporary marketing would dictate this move and save the sanity of seekers and believers. Being archaic at times, we still believe in barraging our members who aren’t interested in “everything” with guilt trips and other maneuvers..some quite comical. End the “turn off” and turn people on to specialized e-mails through “COCO Drip” a web based program that sends messages to only those interested, keeps them posted at intervals and acts as a contact manager like a realtor would use to develop prospects. You might see a higher return of response because of quality contacts instead of desensitization techniques.
However this would may a cute drama script..“announcements in a synagogue during Bible days”. (no sacrilege intended seems out of place doesn’t it? point made) Oh! and for those still debating the Seeker/non-seeker thoughts..Lilleanas has a great script called Mc Church I believe. It means you can order service and church just the way you like. Ahhh now that’s settled.
Want to know more? We have a dialogue continuing at [removed]
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Let’s love the lost. Let’s love each other.
Why? because Christ loved us.
Evangelist Jeff on Tue, November 29, 2005
Good Morning everyone… I am bubbling over with the Holy Spirit this morning. Why? Because last night at church we have vistation on Mon. Nights. My Church is Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church in Midway, Ky. If you ever get this way look us up.
The Holy Spirit had prompted me Sun. Night to go. I gladly said ok. Then Last it was raining very hard, I mean to tell you it was raining cats and dogs. The wind was blowing and there were Tornado watches out.
I got home with my family looked over a few bills and junk mail. Then I kissed the wife, kissed my son, told them I loved them and see after while. But, before I did this I almost stayed home. Why? Because I was tired, worn out, didn’t feel good, and wanted to pick the guitar and finish some songs I have been writing.
But… the Holy Spirit prompted me again and I felt like 1) I would be doomed if I didn’t and 2) it was as if I was suppose to be there. So I ended up going.
So when I got to church there was a few people there. I looked over all the names of the people but I noticed that it just did not click. Something was missing. I was on a mission for the Lord but were was it. Just then our pastor Todd Lester came from his office after meeting with a family.
When they seen me they greeted me. The lady use to baby sit our son, I put my hand out to shake hands and she said I don’t want that I need a hug.
We talked for a while and they left. Then Todd began to break everyone up into groups. He then said I am going to see Logan a 8 yr. old who is talking about accepting Christ. Just then it clicked inside of me like a light being turned on.
So my pastor and I talked to this little boy about accepting Christ and being baptized. We went over the plan of salvation with him and he agreed that yes Jesus was God’s Son, he was born just as the bible said, lived here as man who was blameless, healed the sick, but most importantly died on the cross, was buried and arose again the 3rd day.
He aslo knew that he was lost without him and was guilty. We used the analogy of a messed up blackboard but God erases all of that and gives us a brand new black board.
He got on his knees and prayed with Todd and accepted Jesus as his savior. Then we had a very good visit with the rest of the family.
I found out also they were experiencing the same thing my wife and I had experienced three years ago. They were trying to find a new home and sell the one they are living in. Next thing you know there were complications with the house and the builder had lied to them.
I told them to be patience because the Lord is always looking out for our best intrest. Because the same thing happened to us in buying our first home. Everything was going well then there was big time problems that was not told to us, the woman got mad and backed out on us. But then the Lord sent a man from our Church to us two days later and we were in our first home.
When I told them my story you could see the burden lift from them. It was a great time last night… I just wanted to share that with you all. Oh, and liz thank you. Please pray for us because I am starting a bible study on Sat. nights with our neighbors.
The Lord is good. I cannot love him enough or thank him enough…
Pastor Ray on Tue, November 29, 2005
I’ve been a Christian since 1972 and that probably makes me an old guy, but when I got saved at a youth ministry the first thing they did was teach us to go “soul winning” (EE). We had a Zondervon’s red letter underlined and indexed New Testement and a hand full of tracts and with all of 3 days instruction we hit the streets of Houston. It was the greatest experience of my life. I’d never experienced rejection and bitter hatred at that level and I’d never seen the power of the Gospel toppel a sinner like that before or since. It was unorthadox and should not have been as efective as it was, but it worked. I am not recomending this approach by any means, but what I am saying is that the missionary was working outside the box and at least there was tangible fruit for the effort. I’ve been shephearding this flock for 6 years and I cannot get but one or two people to actually attempt to evangelize. I’m doing good to get 6 people to evening services and do not have a clue as to how to “get it done.” Any suggestions?
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