February 20, 2013
By Phil Maynard
Some version of the statement “you can’t keep doing things the same way you have been and expect to get different results” (notice how tactful I was here!) seems to be worth pondering by churches Ffrom a wide variety of denominational tribes. We all know it just doesn’t work.
If, from a personal standpoint, we are trying to lose weight we probably can’t keep eating like we have been and not exercising and expect to get healthier.
If we’re trying to get out of debt, balance our budget, and live within healthy financial margins, we will probably have to make some shifts in the way we utilize our resources.
I think the same is true for congregations. If health, effectiveness, and vitality is the goal some shifts may be in order.
I’d like to suggest 5 shifts for consideration:
Fellowship to Hospitality
Christianity is a relational faith. We are invited to be in a relationship with God, a relationship with each other, and a relationship with the world that God has created and loves. For the most part, congregations do fairly well with the first two dimensions of this relational faith. We enjoy fellowship with God and each other, gathering with people who are like us, who love each other and care for each