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August 12, 2008
Be Your Own Church
(Filed under: Philosophy)This week Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv is talking about his journey to "find his voice" as a leader:
"Many leaders lack originality. One reason is that they’re learning from other great leaders, but often trying to reproduce what they see. ... I’d suggest you study great spiritual leaders, read anointed authors, and talk with gifted friends. But don’t try to be them. God made them to do what they are doing. You’re created to do something else!
These are good words for leaders and I think they're good words for churches, too. It's so easy as we read about the cool things other churches are doing to simply follow in their footsteps. As we borrow ideas from other churches or even businesses, repurposing them for ourselves, we rarely realize that we're no longer being our own church. We're somebody else's church.
So as Groeschel says, learn from other leaders and get inspiration from other churches, but in the end you've got to be your own church. Be the church God wants you to be, not the church down the street.
Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks at August 12, 2008 6:42 AM
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Comments
I'm reading Craig Groeschel’s book "It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It." The illusive "it" is what attracts people and makes ministries effective. Craig says "it" can't be taught, but "it" can be caught. God gives "it." "It" has a lot to do with the Holy Spirit. Churches that have "it" are incredibly focused, willing to fail, led by people who have "it," and those people see potential when others see problems. Craig says "the spark of passion ignites the fuel for innovation." And he says "it" follows big vision. God makes "it" happen. "It" is from him, by him, and for his glory. You may want to watch brief videos about the book's message at http://www.zondervan.com/it and http://floatingaxhead.com/2008/08/11/the-power-of-it/
Posted by: Jon Petersen at August 12, 2008 2:25 PM
Wow. Super Arrogant. If you go to Life Church, you'll see it is all about mortal self-aggrandizement masquerading as biblical teaching. Not a fan.
Posted by: Robert Smith at August 13, 2008 3:53 AM
Robert Smith, you hit the nail on the head! Was a member of LifeChurch.TV. If you go there you had better not ask any questions on what they are doing or they label you a trouble maker and get this, they tell you to leave the church! You are not allowed to question their teachings. Isn't that called a "cult"? All Craig is interested in is becoming the biggest church on the face of the earth, not ministering to its people!
Posted by: Jaz at September 27, 2008 10:39 PM
Robert Smith, you hit the nail on the head! Was a member of LifeChurch.TV. If you go there you had better not ask any questions on what they are doing or they label you a trouble maker and get this, they tell you to leave the church! You are not allowed to question their teachings. Isn't that called a "cult"? All Craig is interested in is becoming the biggest church on the face of the earth, not ministering to its people!
Posted by: Jaz at September 27, 2008 10:39 PM
Robert Smith, you hit the nail on the head! Was a member of LifeChurch.TV. If you go there you had better not ask any questions on what they are doing or they label you a trouble maker and get this, they tell you to leave the church! You are not allowed to question their teachings. Isn't that called a "cult"? All Craig is interested in is becoming the biggest church on the face of the earth, not ministering to its people!
Posted by: Jaz at September 27, 2008 10:39 PM
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