The “Git R Done” Church
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Sun, November 27, 2005
- Viewed 239
- (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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Evangelist Jeff on Tue, November 29, 2005
Pastor Ray, where do you live?
Dan Moore on Tue, November 29, 2005
Git R Dun. Great attitude. Seems similar to one I had as a young soldier in the Army: “Can do!” The equivalent verse is Phil. 4:13 which has the same spirit.
It is not always contagious. My observation is that in some circles (work or church) are those who enjoy being spectators while you “Git R Dun.” No complaint - just an observation.
Jesus saw some dirty feet and “Got R Done” by getting the water and a towel. Peter tried to stop Him but Jesus kept going. John does not record anyone else jumping up to help the Lord. He still taught the lesson.
I do wish all churches would have the same spirit to “Git R Dun.” Those of who do will ... and those who don’t well… you reap what you sow.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Dan
Jeffery Goodwin on Tue, November 29, 2005
“What if your church did everything they could to reach the lost in your community? What would that look like?”
It would be a discipleship-driven church. A discipleship-driven church is a body of believers that is:
1) Focused on growing-up Christians.
2) Approachable – so people with inquiring minds can quickly understand Christ, the Good News, and Christianity and can make a decision to give-up their life to Christ or not. (If not, they can always join some club or group that provides an environment that meets their fleshly expectations and desires (it is the natural mans bent and the regenerated mans comfort zone).
3) Clearly and completely presents the Gospel.
4) Building each other up in the local church.
5) Actively engaging their relational world while in the world with the Good News so people can make a decision to give-up their life to Christ or not.
6) Spend enough time together as a body of believers to know each other well. How else can “iron sharpen iron” and there be proper implementation of church discipline.
“And what is keeping you from getting there?”
This has been an issue for decades, perhaps centuries, probably since the NT church began. Church has become an institution or a club that must meet “my” expectations.
1) Meet my felt-needs
2) Please don’t try and know me well enough to know my secrets.
3) Give me an emotional boost when I attend a service.
4) Allow me to compartmentalize my life.
5) Show me how to talk “Christian” but don’t take a close look at my Christian walk.
6) Don’t ask me to tell my relational world about Christ and what he requires – give me an alternative plan please!
It has always been very difficult to be a church. Even a Bible believing church finds itself seeking to fill the seats (pews or theatre…I prefer the soft theatre seats with a cup holder for my coffee) with people. Anytime the focus is on filling the seats with people then the people are the ones that are ultimately dictating the local church service…be it a “traditional” or “contemporary” or “other” service. When the goal is to fill the seats rather than reach the lost then we find ourselves reaching the lost with another Jesus, another Bible, and another message – one that they allow and will not find offense.
So, how do we reach the lost in our community? We go out and we reach the lost in our community! You and I go into our relational worlds – neighbors, co-workers, soccer kids and parents, grocery store acquaintances, and so much more – and give the Good News (which has a lot of hard to swallow “bad news” including giving up their life to Christ).
What happens when somebody comes into a discipleship-driven church? Since it is a place to disciple believers that are eager to reach the lost – they welcome the “seeker” and present the gospel. In other words, it is an approachable environment because the local body is made up of believers that committed to being full disciples, not just pew (or theatre seat) potatoes.
Thanks for reading – are these thoughts crazy and unrealistic? Are they biblical but ineffective or impractical to our thinking? Are they unbiblical?
Bruce on Wed, November 30, 2005
When we served on the mission field we used the acronymn WIGtake (what’s it gonna take to win our community?) I have tried to utilize this idea as a pastor, unfortunately so many churches are not interested in doing whatever it takes. We tried to move from a committee structure to a team approach and the remarks from the “so called leaders” was “you are trying to make us do more work.” Needless to say I think we discovered an obstacle that is very difficult to overcome.
The church of which I am pastor has not grown for 15 years (I have not been here that long) yet they insist that everything is going well at least til I got here. They want to reach the community, but they want me to reach the community. This is the problem in too many churches. The pastor is nothing more than a hired gun and when the church does not grow the pastor is to blame.
It is time to get er done. It is time to be serious about the Great Commission and reaching this world for Jesus Christ. In order for this to happen we must rid ourselves of anything that is a stumbling block to others and their ability to come to Jesus. Be relevant Church! The reason people (at least where we live) are not interested in church and the things of God is because they believe the church is not relevant. Who is to blame here? The people who do not know or the church that knows better. It cannot be the mission of a few, but it has to be mission of the entire church. Get er done means doing whatever it takes to get the saving message of Jesus Christ to the people of our communities in such a way that they will either reject or receive the good news of Jesus Christ. I desire should be to see as many people as we can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they too may worship HIM in spirit and in truth.
kc on Wed, November 30, 2005
To “be all things to all people” surely did not mean that Paul would call himself a pragmatist. Pragmatism states: the end justifies the means and if it works it must be right. Cults practice pragmatism and will do and say whatever it takes to get someone into the cult.
I applaud the brother on his passion. Go forward. Just don’t be judgmental of others. He writes, “If we keep doing what we’ve always done; we’ll always get what we always got.” There are lots of great churches who are doing church the right way and God is blessing those ministries.
Danny on Wed, November 30, 2005
Hi,
I am blessed and know in my spirit the Lord is blessed as well to see His Church finally waking up.
I have been saying to a brother that enemy is running scared because the sleeping giant (The Church of Jesus Christ) is arousing from her slumber.
The steps you are making mention of is going to bring persecution from the religious churches so be ready for that.
We shouldn’t wait to react but to act.
What come to mind as I am typing this is the account of Elijah when he was ready to give up thinking he was alone. (I Kgs.19)
He was tired of dealing with them breaking covenant and their wavering hearts.
Those who are breaking away from the traditions of man are going to have their greatest battle with the religious, not the world.
I am just blessed to see that I am not alone and neither are you. As the shoe phrase says; “JUST DO IT”.
Do not grow weary in well doing for you shall reap if you faint not.
Garry Eadon on Wed, November 30, 2005
Yeah, great motto for minsitry. Thanks for the reminder to watch out for people with that attitude. Its a great disguise to dismantle people and their family because they are not cost effective! Truth without love is a difficult place to hang!!!!
Garry Eadon on Wed, November 30, 2005
Yeah, great motto for minsitry. Thanks for the reminder to watch out for people with that attitude. Its a great disguise to dismantle people and their family because they are not cost effective! Truth without love is a difficult place to hang!!!!
Bernie Dehler on Wed, November 30, 2005
Bruce said:
“They want to reach the community, but they want me to reach the community. This is the problem in too many churches. The pastor is nothing more than a hired gun and when the church does not grow the pastor is to blame.”
I think one thing the mega-churches do well is manage volunteers. Ed Young ( http://www.fellowshipchurch.com/FCWeb/AboutFellowship/edyoung.aspx?pgId=266 ) has lots to say about that. I’ve been learning some things from him. I think this is something smaller churches can learn from the bigger one. Warren’s PDL is also very good about getting people serving, from being pew-sitters only. See, I’m not 100% against mega-churches! (Just 95% http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif
ld on Wed, November 30, 2005
Hey, I have an overactive imagination sometimes and this is what I am seeing show up in this blog. We are headed into trying times as the end time nears and God is using mega and all churches to bring in as many as possible as He does not wish to see any perish but He is also raising up leaders who will know how to run underground churches as there are in China today. See we really are all working together!
BeHim on Thu, December 01, 2005
Or, perhaps this is the great falling away in end times and it will be so deceptive that if it were possible even the elect could be deceived.
I have to tell you, there are SO MANY teachers and teachings out there, MULTITUDES that sound good and great and even True that it’s hard to know what is True and what is not. It takes allot of prudence and prayer to really discern what’s going on today.
Praise God, the numbers of prudent and prayerful people has grown over the last few decades. Unfortunately they have only grown a fraction of what the lies and deceptions have (TBN as an example).
Evangelist Jeff on Thu, December 01, 2005
BeHim: I believe that you hit the nail on the head my friend about the end times. The bible clearly states that in the last days they would have itchy ears, and that there would be a falling away from the truth.
You also asked, “There are so many teachers and teachings out there multitudes that sound good and great and even true, that it’s hard to tell what is true or not true.”
The bible clearly states that the Spirit of Truth will teach you all things. The Holy spirit will prompt a caution light inside your spirit. He gives us the spirit of discerment. Example: now I am in no way condemning or judging but this is what happened. Most of us remember what happened with Jimmy Swaggert. One Sunday my dad and I was watching him on t.v. When all of a sudden I could tell there was something wrong. I told my dad, dad there something wrong with Jimmy. He did not believe me, and the next thing you know. A week later every thing was uncovered…
There are alot of Preachers on T.V. today but I allow the Holy Spirit to speak to my spirit, and He warns me. Turn it that is false.
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