Today’s video captures several special moments that you do not want to miss including the grand finale of my run.  Since this video is so emotional and moving I will not share one of my marathon insights with you.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the video:

As the church grows, so should your standard of excellence not your desire to to more.

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• Excellence and complexity always compete.
• Excellence does not mean extravagance.

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Questions to wrestle with:

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• What changes do we need to make in regards to programming?
• Why do we do the offering that way?
• Is there anything we do as a church that you hate but feel we can’t kill because…
• Anything you need to change in regards to personnel?
• Can she really sing?
• Is it really good?
• How is the sound?
• Do musicians look like they enjoy playing?
• Has the job outgrown somebody?

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• Everyone of us love to feel like we are in control.
• If we go into protection mode and control everything we will cripple our church.
• We don’t like to change because we love to protect the image that we are the man.
• What changes are you oblivious to because you are emotionally attached to them?

Change is a major catalyst for growth in our churches.

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• You, the leader, must be the person who pulls the trigger on change.
• Change is always accompanied by hard decisions.
• People will let you preach inspiration all day long and never get off their blessed assurance!
• Do not get so obsessed with the 120 people that are coming that you neglect the thousands who need Jesus!–(talking about how the church grew from 120 to thousands in Acts)
• As a leader you must change from a relational leader to a coaching leader.
• Growth comes in waves.  120–3,120 in one day.
• When growth comes in waves you are FORCED to change.
• If you keep hitting a ceiling there is a change you must make.
• Major changes are required when you are running:  250, 500, 1000, 2500.

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When you plant your church you love everything that you implement.  However, around year 3 you have to start changing the things you once implemented.  Many churches never make these changes.

Your church is probably one change away from seeing more people come to know Christ than ever before.  What is it?

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From Pastor Perry Noble:

One of the lessons I’ve learned while being in the ministry for the past 17 years is sometimes what people say isn’t exactly true…things such as…

(WARNING…you will probably only like this post if you are a pastor or a staff member of a church!)

What They Say:  “I’m looking for a church that preaches the Word!”

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What They Mean: “I’m looking for a church that preaches MY view of the Word.  I think the BLANK translation should be used…I think BLANK should be talked about a lot while BLANK should be ignored.  And if you ever stop preaching my view of the Word I will leave and tell others that you don’t preach the Word!”

What They Say:  “Lot’s of people have been coming to me and saying they don’t like is…”

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What They Mean: “I basically only have three friends…and all of them think exactly like me.  The other night we were enjoying a time of self righteousness because, after all, we are right about everything…and were also slandering you (in the form of prayer requests) and thought it would be wise to approach you with our pet peeve.  We’ve actually talked to no one else about this but said “lots” because we wanted to validate our dysfunction.”

What They Say: “I’m leaving the church.”

What They Mean: “Beg me to stay.  If you will just ask me I will share with you several ways you can compromise God’s vision that He’s given you, thus becoming nothing more than a people pleasing pastor who is more interested in popularity than obedience.  If you don’t bow to my demands I will remind you that I tithe and that the church needs my money, reducing you to a mere preaching whore…one who is paid for a service for the pleasure of another person.”

What They Say: “I want a church that is more focused on discipleship.”

What They Mean: Reno 911!: Miami video “I want a church where everyone knows me and how important I am!  I don’t want to reach people who are different from me, be it economic class or race or even musical preference.  I already know WAY more than I do…but I somehow equate spirituality with knowledge rather than application and I rather enjoy feeling intellectually superior to those who don’t know as much as me.”

What They Say: “Don’t take this personally…but…”

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What They Mean:

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“I am about to lower the BOOM on you…but you can’t get angry because I told you not to take it personally.  Even though you have dedicated your life to this and pretty much invest every ounce of energy you have to this cause…and I think about it once or twice a week…you need to receive my attacks, even when they are personal…and you cannot retaliate because, remember, it’s not personal.”

OKAY, that was fun!  I typed it all with a smile.  Trust me…I’m not mad or frustrated with anyone…I just thought a pastor or two MIGHT get a smile out of this. 

Original Post

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So far we’ve covered…

• #1 – The “I’m Going To Leave If” Person
• #2 – The “Let Me Tell You How Much Money I Have” Person
• #3 – The “Feed Me” Person
• #4 – The “At My Other Church” Person
• #5 – The “This Is Too Big” Person

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Now for the last two…

#6 – The “I Want To Know The Pastor If I’m Going To Be Here” Person 007 Quantum of Solace

Here’s the deal, pastor, you and I are called by God to lead His church.

BUT…before that is an even greater call on our lives to love Jesus, love our wife and love and disciple our children…and there is no way that you can do all of that and also grill hot dogs with everyone in your church!

For too long pastors have been manipulated by church people into a “a pastor ought to know his church people” mentality. A thought that sounds good on the surface…EXCEPT for the fact that it is COMPLETELY un-Biblical! (Acts 6:1-7 I Know Who Killed Me download

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is just one example. Exodus 18 is another!)

If a person comes in claiming they need to know you–TRUST ME ON THIS ONE–they have an agenda a mile long!!!

Yes, we should have relationships with the people we serve…but those should be led by the Holy Spirit and should NEVER take away from the first four priorities that I mentioned earlier. I lead a home group of incredible people who are not currently on staff. I go to lunch with lots of people in our church–but I never allow myself to be “guilted’ into doing so…and you can’t either.

Pastor, let me warn you–there are church people out there who will allow you to spend all your time with them…and then when your marriage falls apart or your kid turns out to be a hellion or you begin to fall apart spiritually they will turn on you so fast it isn’t funny!!! I’ve seen it…so have you–that is why you must prioritize your life…and if you don’t have time for every social in the church…so be it!

#7 – The “This Place Is Too Judgmental” Person

I was reading the other morning in the OT (either Jeremiah or Ezekiel) that if a prophet doesn’t preach repentance then he isn’t a true prophet.

Pastor, any time you begin to call people out in their sin…the fertilizer will hit the fan…and you will be labeled as an intolerant, judgmental preacher.

BUT…

The only people who get angry when you preach on giving are those who bow before money.

The only people who get angry when you preach on sexual immorality are the sexual immoral.

The only people who get angry when you preach on adultery are those who are committing adultery…or those who really want to.

The only people who get angry when you preach on gossip are the people on the prayer chain…uh…I mean those who are gossiping.

Pastors, speaking about sin isn’t easy…but it’s right. We are called to call for confession and repentance…and offer hope for those who are willing to follow Christ.

If someone isn’t angry at you then pray for God to set you on fire and lead you to preach a message that will hit the majority of your church between the eyes…and then HANG ON!

Enjoy

#3 – The “Feed Me” Person

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I have never been able to keep one of these people around…ever!

You know the drill…they always come from another church (they weren’t being fed there either) and they want you to know that they are sincerely seeking a church that teaches the Bible (and they will stay as long as you teach THEIR VERSION of the Bible.)

But, if they become displeased with the sermon direction…or dissatisfied with your particular view on a theological issue…or convicted of not doing what they know they should be doing–they will say you are not feeding them and leave.

Pastor, being honest here…I’ve NEVER encountered a person who claimed they weren’t being fed that also had a dynamic personal walk with Jesus. If that were true then they would show up to the church FULL and not need to latch on to the breast!

It’s not our job to feed–but to lead to places where food can be found.

#4 – The “At My Other Church” Person

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I have ZERO tolerance for this guy/girl.

They come into your church and begin to say, “Well, this is nice, but at my other church we used to (FILL IN THE BLANK.)”

I say, without apology, to these people that we are not “your other church,” and…if you liked your other church so much–GO BACK!

Enough about them…

#5 – The “This Is Too Big” Person

These people amaze me. A church will begin growing, lives will begin to change…literally the Bible begins to come to life…and because a person finally has to face the fact that the church is not about them…they take off, saying that the church is TOO BIG.

Now, that same person will go to a college football game the day before with between 80,000 to 100,000 fans (99% of whom they do not know) and be absolutely PUMPED that the stadium is packed. (Usually a sign that the team is winning!)

BUT…they want to go to “God’s house” the next day and desire for it to be small and “intimate.” Hmm, they want the football crowd to grow and the church crowd to be small…sounds like some very screwed up priorities to me.

Bottom line…the church is SUPPOSED to grow–period! And if it gets “too big” for someone, I would say it’s because their heart is “too small.” Seriously, ask yourself, what spiritual force would motivate someone to get angry when large numbers of people are coming to Christ and being taught to walk in an intimate relationship with Him? Jesus…or satan? Seriously–it’s NOT rocket science.

Let the “this is too big” person go…and don’t argue with them!

I was thinking the other day about what I would types of people I would warn a pastor/church planter about–there are seven, here are the first few…

#1 – The “I’m Going To Leave If” Person

Pastors, you are going to have people threaten to leave your church–period. And 999 times out of 1,000 the best thing you can do is let them go.

I remember once in the early years being on the telephone for over an hour, begging a young lady in our church not to leave. Why was she wanting to leave? A group of singles had gotten together and forgotten to call her.

You are going to have people who don’t like the music, your wife, you talking about your kids, the way you dress, the kind of car you drive, the version of the Bible you use, your hairstyle, your zodiac sign, your staff, and your belief on the end times.

You can’t please everyone…and, to be honest, that BOTHERS me! But, reality is, according to Hebrews 13:17 My Big Fat Greek Wedding buy you and I will stand before God one day and be held accountable for how we led the church…and I would much rather a disgruntled person walk out that God’s presence go instead!

Don’t ever be held captive by a person who keeps threatening to leave.

#2 – The “Let Me Tell You How Much Money I Have” Person. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory video Basic Instinct 2 film Dick Tracy buy

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Pastors, you’ve GOT to make a choice early – are you going to be motivated by money (thus becoming a prostitute, not a prophet) OR are you going to resign to the fact that Jesus purchased you, thus making you not for sale?

I remember early on a guy calling my assistant and demanding that I come to his house for dinner. (Something I just don’t do…explanation later!) He told her where he worked, where he lived (a NICE neighborhood), the kind of car he drove and also told her he wanted to get financially involved in the church…all I had to do was some to his house for dinner.

I didn’t go. I don’t play that game. When people begin to dangle money in front of you…it is ALWAYS attached to an agenda.

We have some incredibly generous people at NewSpring Church who give faithfully every single week. In our two campaigns that we’ve done we had a giver once give $1.4 million and another one gave $1 million…and neither of them ever asked me for one second of my time. They gave with a pure heart and with pure motives.

When people threaten to stop giving then that is an issue they will have to work out with God. Don’t let a person who has a lot of $$$ keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

When a person begins telling you how much money they have…trust me, they ultimately desire to either buy you or control you.  Don’t let it happen.  Tell them you are excited they have money, ask them to give generously, challenge them to be faithful in their giving…but don’t EVER begin to let them dangle money in front of you, thus becoming your source of motivation.

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