We had a round-table discussion tonight with a business consultant / entrepreneur / pastor who’s speaking at our weekend services. We discussed how church leaders can help to foster an atmosphere of bold, creative faith that goes outside the church walls, encouraging and empowering every person to be a minister wherever they are. Basic kingdom stuff, from a biblical perspective, but sadly, it takes us awhile to catch on! But he’s saying what lots of people are saying: it’s all going to change. The church has to change, because she isn’t affecting neighborhoods and cities and nations. She is seen as largely irrelevant, and most of us think that if we just shout a little louder and raise the banner a little higher that that’s all it will take. It all has to change. Good words for us to hear right now, but transitions can be messy.
Anyway, one of the thoughts that stuck with me was this: For people who are out there doing this stuff, having a network of encouragement and support is far more important than having good teaching. For most pastors, that statement would be like getting hit in the head with a stick. Being vitally and organically connected with other people who will support, pray for, and encourage me is far more important than having great teaching on impacting my workplace. That flies in the face of a lot of what pastors are taught and the way a lot of churches go about things. It all has to change.
Good stuff Ben.
I agree, less teaching and more encouragement to do the stuff.