Every time you make an announcement to the congregation imagine you are passing out cinder blocks. If you are telling your congregation about something, there is a good chance you want a commitment in return for an event or ministry. They then need to check their schedule and their family and friends’ schedule, then perhaps arrange someone to pick up their kids because they are now helping with something at Church.
Even if you drop two cinder blocks you are asking a lot. Have you ever tried to carry cinder bocks more than 100 yards, the distance from your sanctuary to the car?
Some Questions:
1. Are you being a pharisee at your Church? Making people jump through hoops to do things, laying on heavy burdens as Jesus described it. For example, to be a member at this church you have to take these 12 classes each an hour long over the course of 3 months.
2. Is there more then one event or ministry being pushed at them on during services? Flyers, hand outs, bulletin boards, pulpit announcements, bulletins and/or signs around your place of worship? (Remember it is a place of worship)
3. Has your Church ever tried to do just one thing for a season? Its easy and tempting to stay busy doing dinners, fellowship events, picnics, holiday dinners, special worship services, apple picking and my favorite, fund raisers and then have 2-3 services on top of all that. It is hard to do one thing and only do one thing.
Where is the line between making disciples and making people do nonsense training and hoop jumping?
Even if you drop two cinder blocks you are asking a lot. Have you ever tried to carry cinder bocks more than 100 yards, the distance from your sanctuary to the car?
1. Are you being a pharisee at your Church? Making people jump through hoops to do things, laying on heavy burdens as Jesus described it. For example, to be a member at this church you have to take these 12 classes each an hour long over the course of 3 months.
2. Is there more then one event or ministry being pushed at them on during services? Flyers, hand outs, bulletin boards, pulpit announcements, bulletins and/or signs around your place of worship? (Remember it is a place of worship)
3. Has your Church ever tried to do just one thing for a season? Its easy and tempting to stay busy doing dinners, fellowship events, picnics, holiday dinners, special worship services, apple picking and my favorite, fund raisers and then have 2-3 services on top of all that. It is hard to do one thing and only do one thing.
4. What is your Church's one thing?
Tony Morgan’s book, Killing Cockroaches, goes into great simplicity on this topic as does his blog.
Tony Morgan’s book, Killing Cockroaches, goes into great simplicity on this topic as does his blog.
Where is the line between making disciples and making people do nonsense training and hoop jumping?
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