I've been reading yet another book on church leadership and how to make your church a success. Once again it seems to be secular business practice wrapped around a few Bible verses to make it a "Christian" leadership manual. gotten.

Christians can be a fickle lot. We jump on the latest program, book or prayer and consider it to be the "salvation" of the church or the key to success for our particular congregation. It's not that we mean to be fickle. We truly want the church to be successful and reach as many people for the Lord as we can.

The problem is that we've bought into secular thinking about what success is. A big church must be better than a small church. A bigger building with new technology must be a sign of more success than a smaller building. More staff, more programs, more of this and more of that must mean success. Doesn't it?

Not really. It might be success, but if it is, it's usually pretty superficial success at best(I know there are exceptions and thank God for them). The local mega-church grows at the cost of members from other churches more often than not. Building programs have burnt out more pastors and split more churches than we can count.

I read the book of Acts and I couldn't find a program or a cathedral anywhere. I couldn't find the latest church growth program or evangelism crusade. It seems that people came to accept Jesus, saw their lives radically transformed and committed themselves to the work. Perhaps they understood something we've forgotten.

Scripture warns us about buying into secular success.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Don't be conformed to the ways of the world. Instead be transformed.

So what is success for the church? If it's not in buildings, programs and numbers, what is it?

Our mandate is two fold. It's people coming to Christ and becoming more like Him.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35

Ten or twelve Christians meeting together regularly, truly loving one another and their neighbors and sharing the gospel may be far more successful than a church of ten thousand. There's nothing inherently wrong with buildings, numbers and programs. They all have their place. Let's just not be confused into thinking that they spell success in God's eyes.

Walk in obedience. Walk in love. Share the gospel. Be transformed to the image of Jesus. That spells success. It's not about checklists, programs, numbers or buildings. It's simply about Jesus.

Until next time rejoice in the Lord who loves us.

Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

Be blessed

Kevin