Category Archives: Miscellaneous

To think outside of the box, we first need to know what the box is when it comes to the Church and ministry. Perhaps we can say the sides of the box form the parameters we’ve built around us … maybe our policies, traditions, denominational nuances, comfort level, etc.

The parameters may not be wrong in and of themselves, but the programs and strategies we’ve held on to may not work today. We need to think outside of the box. For the Church to not only survive but thrive, we need to constantly challenge what we do, asking if there’s another better way to accomplish ministry that best fits our current situation.

How far outside of the box can we go?

We first need to get down to the essence of who we are and what we’re to do as the Church. That means stripping away man-made conditions about it until we truly get down to the biblical mandates. What must stay the same is what’s actually commanded in Scripture. All the other parameters (sides of our boxes), can potentially be broken down, exposing who God truly designed us to be.

As an example, God commands us to not neglect meeting together (Heb. 10:25). But, Scripture does not tell us where, when, and how long we must meet. But, it does tell us why … so we can encourage one another. The essence of this command is that we meet to encourage one another — that’s what we must stay true to. When we strip away everything else, and start thinking outside of the box, we should find that there are so many, many ways to make that happen. The box we created undoubtedly is not the only way.

If we’re going to thrive as a Church, we must stop viewing what we do now against how we’ve always done it. To think outside of the box, we no longer use the box as the lens through which we look but rather God’s Word. That’s the foundation on which we build our new structures.

Is there biblical precedence for thinking outside of the box?

We do have precedence for thinking outside of the box with Jesus.

Jesus lived in a world steeped in tradition where the phrase “But we’ve always done it this way” would have been the way of life. He enters the scene in a most nontraditional way … a virgin birth, born in a manger. The methodology used in His teaching, healings, and miracles varied. He did not serve people the same way each time but rather tailored what He did to the moment. He raised women to a higher plateau than common for that day. Some of the activities of Jesus and His disciples went so much against status quo that it disturbed, even angered, the religious leaders. After being killed on the cross, He came to life proving that He could conquer death and sin. Who had ever done that before?

If Jesus, in a world where the pace of change was not near as rapid as today, thought outside of the box and took the risk, why shouldn’t we? Make no mistake, Jesus lined up His earthly activity with the will of the Father (Jn. 5:17-23). He knew why He came and lived accordingly.

Likewise, we too must align with God’s Word and His character in whatever risks we take. We must get to the essence … God’s purposes, design, and mission … and live accordingly. As we think outside the box, let’s envelope all we do in prayer, stay consistent with God’s Word, and follow the leading of His Spirit. When we do, we’ll find a fluidity and ability to adapt, not rigid walls that box us in.

Whether all ministry happens digitally, or just part, we need to remember some key elements to church life that will help us stay connected as members of one another in the Body of Christ.

In an Age of Digital Church Life Remember These 3 Points

What can you do to further enhance these key elements in all you do, however you do it? You’ll find some thoughts to consider and also some links that take you to other websites to provide additional input.

1) Relationships still matter.

Technology must never take the place of human connections. When Hebrews 10:25 warns about “not giving up meeting together” it’s about more than physically meeting, although that’s very important. It’s about being present in each other’s lives, “encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” in ways that can truly be considered fellowship.

• When using a digital platform, consider how you can still foster relationships.

For More:

• Best Practices for Life and Relationships in Digital Spaces

2) Engagement still matters.

We know people learn and grow as they participate in the process. Simply watching a worship service provides minimal or no interaction or engagement.

• When using a digital platform, consider how you can incorporate participation within it but also how you can follow-up to enhance engagement.

For More:

• 3 Great Approaches for Engaging Your Church Online
• 4 Ways to Engage an Online Audience
• Keep People Engaged Online – What’s the Secret?

3) Communication still matters.

We want people to continue to feel like they’re a part of the Body. That means we need to communicate with them. We must not, however, assume everyone is getting digital communication.

• When using a digital platform, consider how you can communicate with everyone by reaching out in multiple ways, even by making phone calls or through postal mail.

For More:

• 3 Steps to a Weekly E-Bulletin
• 10 Commandments of Technology and Team (as it relates to communication)
• Why Churches MUST Rethink Communication in a Pandemic World

The problem with applying a one-size-fits all, cookie-cutter approach to all people, ministries, and churches, is the tendency for it to:

lessen effectiveness
minimize unity

That doesn’t mean we can never use the same approach but we first need to take time to pray about it and assess what’s best. If we do apply the same solution to varying situations, it’s because it’s right, not because it’s convenient or easy.

Getting Beyond a Cookie Cutter Approach

We need to understand and distinguish between what should be applied to all people, ministries, and churches, and what needs to be tailored to each situation.

We can, and should, learn from others, but before simply copying what they’re doing, we need to determine …

1) if it truly is an approach that fits our situation either in part or in whole.

Just because it worked for some, doesn’t mean it will be effective for us.

2) if it is God’s will for us.

Just because He used it elsewhere doesn’t mean it’s right for us.

To lead to the greatest benefit, we need to tailor what we do to our particular people, ministries, and church. That could at times mean using a pre-packaged curriculum and strategies or tools developed by someone else. At other times we might adapt those resources to better fit our situation. But, it could also mean developing something new or unique.

When baking cookies we may want them to all look similar, of the same size and shape, and so we use a cookie cutter.

But, when it comes to people, churches, and ministries, they aren’t all the same, nor should we expect everyone to conform.

Why Cookie Cutter Approaches Tend to Minimize Unity Rather than Maximize It

God created people in His image, our commonality, but from the beginning, made them different from one another. God instituted the Church with two groups so different from one another that there was a “wall of hostility” between them (Eph. 2:14-22). Yet, in Christ they became one.

These commonalities are what
makes unity out of diversity possible.

When we expect everyone to conform and look the same, using a cookie-cutter approach, we diminish the value our differences can bring to the Body. We begin to fight against God’s design. Any time we step outside of God’s intent, we lessen our potential for arriving at all the good He intends for us.

In allowing for diversity, rather than trying to put everyone into the same mold, we are not minimizing our unity but rather maximizing it. Just as all the varying parts of our human body are needed in order to best function as a unit, so in Christ, we become better and grow when we embrace and benefit from our differences.

From him (Christ) the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:16)

Notice how this verse teaches that the Body grows as each part does “its” work. The verse doesn’t say “the” work. We can be unified in the Lord without using a cookie-cutter approach when we all come under the umbrella of HIS purposes, design, and mission. But, within those parameters, we have much room for individuality of people, unique ministries, and churches that look different from one another.

Sometimes we use a cookie cutter approach in the way we train and disciple people. Sometimes we expect all ministries within the Church to operate the same, using similar strategies and methodologies. Sometimes we think we should look like other churches, and so we simply assume their ideas as our own.

Why Cookie Cutter Approaches Lessen Effectiveness Rather than Enhance It

Cookie cutter approaches may seem to make life easier and take less time and resources but they’re usually designed for the convenience of the planner, not for the people involved. And so, rather than enhance people’s lives, we end up being less effective. And, in the end we may spend more time making up for what this kind of approach missed.

Here’s the problem:

1. They don’t take different individual’s needs, abilities, and spiritual maturity into consideration. When we take a cookie cutter approach, it becomes a hit or miss effort. Here are some examples:

• In your outreach efforts, some people may have heard very little about Jesus and the true Gospel. Others may have had a lot of exposure to the message. Consequently, for some people you need to do some initial planting of seeds and for others you just need to do some watering of what’s already been planted.

• When discipling people in their walk with God, you’ll have people are varying levels of biblical knowledge and spiritual maturity. Consequently, to be effective in your discipleship efforts, you may need to start at different places with different people.

• When training for ministry, not only will people be involved in different areas of ministry, but even within the same ministry, people will have different levels of experience and prior training. In addition, their personalities and learning styles will affect the way they learn best. Consequently, if training efforts fail to account for the topics, depth, time availability, and learning preferences needed by various individuals, some may come away feeling helped while others look at it as a waste of time with little personal benefit.

• In disciplining, children’s workers and parents will be working with children with different personalities, birth order, etc. that cause them to respond differently to the same approach. Consequently, discipline tactics that work for one child may not work for another.

2. They aren’t tailored to specific groups and how God may want to do something different within each. — There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Cor. 12:4-6)

• The varying ministries within a church have different objectives, staff needed, and target groups. Consequently, while all ministries should come under the umbrella of your church purpose, within that parameter, if the same methodology and structure is used in each area, you undoubtedly won’t truly accomplish the reason for which each ministry was established.

• From church to church, you’ll find different church cultures, backgrounds, communities, sizes, staff, facilities, and so much more that makes a lot of difference from one church to another. Consequently, merely copying what another church does may not be a good fit and therefore not be as effective as it was for the other church.

Click Below for:

• Cookie Cutter Approaches Minimize Unity
• If not a Cookie-Cutter Approach, Then What?

Churches experience the effects of a changing world which may require us to change in order to protect people (love always protects, 1 Cor. 13:7) and to provide a place and program most conducive to living out God’s purposes to love Him and others, function within His design for the Church, and fulfill His mission.

We can’t and shouldn’t promise people that the Church will never change. Yet, we can, and should, promise people that not everything changes.

What Doesn’t Change in a Changing Word – Not Everything Changes

1) The Character of God Doesn’t Change

… from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. (Ps. 90:2)

In thinking through how to best serve people in today’s world, we need to make sure that what we do lines up with the true character of God … someone of whom there’s none greater.

When we make our God fit our culture, to be someone we’re comfortable with, or who is politically correct, it minimizes who God is. He becomes an anemic God who is no greater than our human perception of Him. It’s hard to trust in that kind of God with all of our heart (Prov. 3:5-6).

In a changing world, we need someone we can count on to be there who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, who can faithfully and wisely guide the way. He is our “due north” when all around us gets confusing and we feel like we might lose our way.

• Who are you going to let determine the purpose, design, and mission for the Church — an immutable God or the changing world in which you live?

2) The Truth of God’s Word Doesn’t Change

Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. (Ps. 119:89)

In determining what changes need to be made because of the world in which we live, a reliable guidebook would help. While the Bible may not give us a step by step plan for what to do in every situation, it does provide principles, precepts, and parameters to guide the way into what is right and best. If, however, we pick and choose what to believe and apply to life, we have an unreliable book. If one part is no longer relevant or true, how can we know if the other parts can be trusted?

In a changing world, we need an unshakable foundation on which to build our decisions (Matt. 7:24-27). God’s Word doesn’t fade away but rather lights our path (Ps. 119:105) and thoroughly equips us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Our methods and strategies may change but His Truth stands firm.

• What grid do you run your decisions through — the reliable Word of God or faulty human thinking?

3) The Essence of Who We are as a Church Doesn’t Change

As already established in previous posts, though we might have to make some changes to adapt to our changing world, we still pursue God’s purposes, design for the Church, and mission. These form the essence of who we are as a Church, the Church God established to be light and salt (Matt. 5:13-16) in this world as “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Who we are, as the Church, sets us apart from other non-profits, community organizations, welfare programs, and the like, so that must not change. We may need to make some adaptions to how we pursue these priorities, but the essence of who we are must stay the same.

• Who do you let define the Church — the unchanging One who established it and gave us His reliable Word or the culture of this world?

Yes, we do need to make changes as a Church to be able to best reach and disciple people in today’s world to become lovers of God and others (1 Cor. 9:19-23). But, in doing so, let’s stay true to who God is and what He says. Let’s keep perspective in these uncertain days.