JUNE 23 & 24, 2007
For today's installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I want to review a fundamental of our faith. It is crucial to differentiate between why we do what we do, and how we do it. Our purpose is unchanging, but our strategies must adapt as times change.
Our overall purpose as a church can be succinctly worded: we exist to glorify God. That's why we exist as individuals, and that's why we're here as a church.
To live for anything else is to settle for something less. Most people are essentially self-seeking, but this is not the example Christ set. Take a look at Phil 2:3-5 to see that his followers are to follow his example of not living for our own glory. Recorded in Jn. 8:50, Jesus said, "I am not seeking glory for myself ..." The theme prayer of His life was: "Father, glorify your name!" (John 12:28). If Jesus lived for God's glory, we should too. Maybe our theme verse should be 1 Cor 10:31 - "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." To insist on our own way, to demand the style we like, or to insist that methods match our tastes is to miss the boat. Our message is unchanging, but our methods adapt to be strategic.
Our overall purpose as a church can be succinctly worded: we exist to glorify God. That's why we exist as individuals, and that's why we're here as a church.
To live for anything else is to settle for something less. Most people are essentially self-seeking, but this is not the example Christ set. Take a look at Phil 2:3-5 to see that his followers are to follow his example of not living for our own glory. Recorded in Jn. 8:50, Jesus said, "I am not seeking glory for myself ..." The theme prayer of His life was: "Father, glorify your name!" (John 12:28). If Jesus lived for God's glory, we should too. Maybe our theme verse should be 1 Cor 10:31 - "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." To insist on our own way, to demand the style we like, or to insist that methods match our tastes is to miss the boat. Our message is unchanging, but our methods adapt to be strategic.
Comments