Building the Joy of God's House
Building the Joy of God's House
Building the Joy of God's House
I've been racking my brain trying to think of a great church management tip to share with you, and then while I was sitting on the floor eating lunch, it hit me.
You see, I was eating on the floor because two hours ago I closed on my first house and the only thing I've had time to move inside is some grass that stuck to my feet (but at least it's grass from my lawn).
Anyway, I was so excited to have a house that today I drove home and ate lunch sitting on my floor, just so I could breath my air.
I'm pathetic. But, it did get me thinking about how we should feel about the church.
Often, we feel we should build the church because it's where we meet with our brothers and sisters. But that doesn't give us much stability when our siblings annoy us (and what sibling doesn't at some point).
Often, we feel we should build the church because it's God's house. That's a better reason, but let's be honest. Our loyalty to our earthly parents' house varies a lot based on context, so our feelings about the Heavenly Father's house can probably shift, too.
The real reason we should value the church is because it's our house where our future lies. We live there with God as a family. A smart child knows that beyond a desire to see their parents happy is the reality that the child's neck is on the line, too.
Whatever happens to the parents affects the child. If our parents are honored, doors will open for us. If our parents are humiliated, our future is in jeopardy. We are a family and we're one in everything.
So, how can you make your church members just as obsessive about maintaining and building the church as they would be with a new home they just bought?
Encourage the Language of Ownership
This has two sides to it:
One is that you have to constantly give your members permission to think of the church as their own property. This can be a hard step to take, because we can all think of a hundred ways this could be abused. But, even while there are limits that must exist, your members need to see the church as their home, because when people are in their homes and they see a spill, they don't expect someone else to clean it up. They grab a rag and dive in.
Place phrases like "welcome home" over your visitor center.
Hold periodic meetings for the leaders of the church, and make it clear that anyone who wishes to be a leader is welcome, because leadership is for all.
When you talk to people, always assume they'll take on a leadership role. My second Sunday attending what became my home church, one of the pastors asked if I was going to the leadership meeting that night. He knew it was my second time at the church, but just assumed I would dive in headfirst and be a leader from day one, so I did. I went to the event; I felt like a leader; I considered myself a member of the church. Today I'm a leader in the church.
The other way you encourage the language of ownership is by getting people to speak of the church's plans using "we" rather than "they." Mostly you do that by modeling it in your own speech, and as you raise up leaders you can tell them that you expect them to do the same. That mentality will slowly creep down to your entire church.
Forcing your leaders to say "we" sounds a bit nit-picky, but there is a direct correlation between saying "we" and actually beginning to think and act as a part of the family would. The best illustration is to think of it, not in church terms, but in the context of marriage.
What is the difference between a husband saying "My wife wants to have a baby," versus, "We want a baby"?
That "we" makes a huge difference.
Why Corporate Houses Need Reputation Management Review Of The Housemaid Movie 2011 Part 8 Watch Online Free The Housemaid Movie Part 1 Download The Housemaid Full Hd Movie Part 2 Online Watch The Housemaid Movie 2011 Part 3 Watch Online Free The Housemaid Movie Part 4 Watch The Housemaid Online Free Movie Part 5 Online Free The Housemaid Movie Part 6 Watch The Housemaid Movie 2011 Review Online Part 7 Prime Venue for Your Business Marketing; Reaching over 40 Million Households Analysis Of Real Estate Out Of The Central Enterprises Will Face "difficult Birth" - House Information regarding Housebreaking To Crime Free Housing Programs By Landlordonline.com