10 Personal Growth Questions

Perry Noble has these on his blog today. I thought they were good:

#1 – Am I reading my Bible for information or transformation?
(James 1:22-25)

#2 – Am I allowing people or circumstances to steal the joy that Jesus promised to me? (John 10:10)

#3 – Is there anything in my life that God is consistently dealing with that I am trying to ignore? (Ezekiel 14:1-5)

#4 – Who are the people in my life that God has placed around me for the purpose of me sharing Christ with them and/or inviting them to church? (II Corinthians 5:16-21)

#5 – Is there anyone I need to apologize to? (Ephesians 4:25:27)

#6 – Is there anyone I need to forgive? (Ephesians 4:32)

#7 – Is there a sin I need to confess to others and ask for help? (James 5:16)

#8 – Am I fully utilizing the gifts and abilities that God has blessed me with…or am I simply choosing to waste my life? (I Peter 4:10)

#9 – Do I know more lines from the movies that I love than verse from the Bible that I read? (Psalm 119:11)

#10 – Is there anything going on in my life privately that, if it became public, would cause me and/or the body of Christ to be embarrassed? (I John 1:9, James 5:16)

Thanks to Church Volunteers

Things We Say Wrong

Penetrating Questions

Tim Stevens asked some penetrating question in a recent blog post:
The Pain of Growth
Last week I was asked, “If our church is going to double in the next two years (from 500 to 1000), what will it take?” Here is what I shared…

Some of you won’t have as much access to the senior leader. This has to be okay with you.

Ask: Are you more committed to maintaining the tight-knit staff size and your proximity to the pastor? Or are you more committed to the church growing?

Some of you are doing okay as a leader in a church of 500, but that’s not going to cut it at 1,000. You need to be willing to step aside into another role.

Ask: Are you more committed to keeping your position and title? Or are you more committed to reaching more people?
You will need to anticipate the strain and pressure before you actually feel it. You are the leader–looking ahead, around the corner.

Ask: Are you comfortable? If so, you probably aren’t anticipating growth adequately.

You will have to be as willing to stop stuff as you are to start stuff.
Ask: What are you doing that takes time and energy and diverts your focus? What has God uniquely gifted your team to do where you should put more focus?

You will have to drive up the level of excellence. When people walk up to a fair booth to buy food, they have one expectation of service and quality. At McDonalds, it’s another level. And when they walk into a Houlihan’s, it’s yet another level. As you grow, so will the expectations of your guests.

Ask: What areas of the ministry would not be considered excellent if you were a church of 1000?

What would you add to the list?

What a Great Weekend

We had a terrific weekend at Cedar Creek. Bob Russell did an excellent job preaching, and the church received him well. On Sunday night, Bob met with the elders and staff for an informal time of teaching and leadership Q & A. I was privileged to spend some time with him (playing golf and talking shop) before we went the the Men's Rally at Lake James Christian Assembly. It was a record-setting night, with nearly 500 people in attendance. Bob's message was challenging and convicting. I was very proud of the Cedar Creek guys (the staff, the elders, the band, the tech team) and the LJCA staff. It was a wonderful night and the Lord was praised.

Bob Russell Coming to The Creek

Cedar Creek Church is excited to welcome Bob Russell this weekend. Bob will be preaching during the morning services at The Creek, and also speaking at the Men's Rally on Monday night at Lake James Christian Assembly. If you are in the area, we would love to have you worship with us.

Hipster Christianity

A few weeks ago I read Brett McCracken's piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled The Perils of Hipster Christianity. I thought he really hit the nail on the head. I ordered his book from Amazon and read it essentially in one sitting. This guy is no clueless dorky prude (he writes for Relevant magazine!), but he makes some very vaild points about the church's vain pusuit of "cool." We're never gonna get there folks. Just be the church!