Keeping It Simple

This picture is from the very 1st service that we had in our new building. Time flies when you are having fun!

If there is one thing that drives me in ministry right now is one simple concept: Keep It Simple. Thankfully, I'm the pastor of a church that makes that an easy concept to attain.

What I'm noticing about most churches is that we start out from humble beginnings. We begin to see growth in the body and therefore think we have to "do" certain things to maintain that growth. Before you know it we become churches that are so encumbered with stuff that we can no longer move freely in the Kingdom of God. I like the idea of "Simple Church."

I'm sure that some could argue that it is because of my lack of education. Maybe if I would have pursued a bachelors degree, masters, or maybe even a doctorate I would understand the importance of maintenance. Oh, of I would have only attained the knowledge needed to understand that we can't keep it simple there is just too much at stake. For those who may think that way let me ask a simple question: Did you "do" anything to bring about the growth? Don't tell me about your visitation plan or your strategized evangelistic outreaches. The real answer is NO. You may have planned outreach events, evangelized strategically, formatted your services to reach a potential target group - but the truth of the matter is that if your church grew it's because God gave the increase. And if God can give the increase without our plans can He not also maintain the increase?

A few years ago Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger came out with a book called "Simple Church." The process in the book is nothing new it's just something that has been forgotten. What has been forgotten in the church is that keeping it simple actually enables the church to grow, helps members plug in, and continually advances the church ministries. The simple process is this: "Love God, Love Others, & Serve Both."

Please pay careful attention to the following excerpt: "The significance is that, in general, simple churches are growing and vibrant. Churches with a simple process for reaching and maturing people are expanding the kingdom. Church leaders who have designed a simple biblical process to make disciples are effectively advancing the movement of the gospel. Simple churches are making a big impact." p. 14

I was sitting in a meeting the other day with some pastor's and for the 1st time felt a little out of place with some of them. As I walked away from the meeting I came to understand that each of us were going after the same thing (I think), and that thing is reaching people for Christ and allowing the church to be all that it can be. However, what made it different for me is that I am seeking the simplest process out there. I'm not looking to entrench our church in denominational life. I'm not trying to burden our people with as many services as possible. We aren't creating more opportunities for our folks to serve but rather trying to help them see open doors where they can serve as God leads. Am I really that different or have I come to understand something a little more profound???

When Jesus cleansed the temple in Mark 11 we find that He was bothered by the meaningless and distracting clutter of everything. There were people buying and selling in the temple. Money changers were exchanging currency for the Gentiles. And the temple had become a shortcut for people to pass through the city. Many of the distractions probably started out as a "good thing." They thought they were providing a "necessary" service. But as with most things - what was necessary for the time became a standard. How many of our churches have become cluttered? "So cluttered that people have a difficult time encountering the simple and powerful message of Christ. So cluttered that many people are busy doing church instead of being the church." P. 19

I wonder how many pastors were committed to ministry to make disciples but became program managers instead? Do you want to know why so many pastors burn out these days? They can't keep up with the demands of the organization. Between the preaching, teaching, counseling, visiting, and squeezing in the family time there is this overwhelming burden to keep everything afloat. We are constantly greasing the wheels of the ministry to make sure it runs properly. What if those pastors were released to a simpler ministry? I'm finding more and more of these pastors who leave a larger church and get into church planting. Why? Because the process is much simpler. Sure they are starting from the ground up, but it's refreshing. They would much rather help a church body get on it's feet rather than simply turning people over so they don't get bed sores! {Did I say that out loud?}

The real question for the church of today is whether or not we can abandon everything that falls outside of the simple ministry process. Can we pursue the simple and still feel successful? I think so.

I shared the picture from PBC's 1st service in the new building because our church is an a time of great growth. We are considering ways to handle a full building. However we deal with this I want to ensure the readers one thing: It will be simple. We will continue to love God, love others, and serve both. PBC will continue to be a place "Where Relationships Matter."

Have a blessed day.