The Message You're Really Sending...

Note the rear tire on this Auto Repair Shop van. All repairs. Really?

Your church's systems and structures either confirm or refute what you say about your church's vision and values.

Example: Most churches say they value having guests. What does the single mom experience when she arrives? Do the greeters welcome her warmly? Do they know where to direct her to get her kids to the right places?

Example: Many churches say they value families. Does your programming or schedule so fragment the family that they never see each on campus except in the parking lot?

What message are you really sending?

Principles vs. Methods

Methods are many, principles few

Methods often change

Principles never do...

As I visit with church leaders and look at churches, it seems like one of the hardest things for a church to overcome is broken systems and structures. The reason, I believe, is that we get stuck on our methods. Methods (our ways of doing things) are familiar; therefore, they are the path of least resistance for us. Methods are comfortable for our leaders because that's the way they've always done it. In short, we mistake methods for principles. At some point in history (hopefully) there was a principle that caused someone in a church to implement a method. Somewhere along the way, though, the church leaders forgot the principle but kept the method. That's why it's so hard to kill so many sacred cows that roam the halls of our churches.

What would it look like if your church took a hard look at WHY you do things (principle) before considering HOW you do it (method)?

Example:

Bible Drill vs. AWANA vs. insert children's Bible memory fad here: ______

Principle - It's important for kids to meditate on God's Word.

Method - the program or process that best carries out the principle in a given context.

The methods aren't necessarily right or wrong, but consider the timeless principle and accept that methods come and go over time.