CLARIFY THE WIN

Last year I read through a book called 7 Practices of Effective Ministry (by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, & Lane Jones; 186 pp. © 2004 Multnomah Publishers) and much of what it has to say has helped me focus my own approach to ministry. I have special interest in the philosophy of ministry this book teaches as it can greatly increase a church’s effectiveness in actually making discipleship THE purpose of the church.

Let me tell you about the first “practice” – clarifying the ‘win’.

What does it mean to succeed as a church? Is it numbers? Is it programs? Is it budget? Is it facilities? Is it meaningful worship services? What is it?

In football, as with most sports, the “win” is pretty easy to understand…end up with more ppoints on the board at the end of the game. Everything that happens on the field should contribute to that goal. Yet coaches don’t rely on that single measure alone to determine if their team is playing to its full potential. They know that they have to have a solid rushing game, passing game, offensive line, good pass protection, pass coverage, defensive line, special teams, etc., in order to win game after game. They have to clarify not only the overall “win”, but the “win” at every level of the organization.

Again…what does it mean to “win” as a church? What do you use to measure the effectiveness of the church? In my experience, church-goers tend to look to their own impressions and feelings as the primary measure of success. Did I ‘enjoy’ the music or sermon? Did I ‘feel’ the Spirit in worship? On the other hand, church-leaders have a tendency to look at attendance, or offerings, or key programs. Unfortunately, neither of these methods of evaluation tell us if we are truly succeeding. Wouldn’t it be nice if God had given us some direction…

…Oh, but He did! There is a little passage of scripture that actually gives us a goal to achieve…a “win”. Matthew 28:18-20 is known as the Great Commission. Jesus had a task for his followers (the church) to accomplish. The scripture reads as follows:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20; NIV, emphasis added)

The command in this passage…the goal to accomplish…the “win” to be achieved…is to make disciples. Every other phrase in these few sentences are in support of this “win”.

So, I ask again: What does it mean to succeed as a church? The answer…to make disciples of Jesus Christ! How do we tell if an individual ministry or program is succeeding? The answer…determine if it is effectively contributing to the goal of making disciples.

In Him,
Jason Cooper