This morning I have a professional drain cleaning guy coming to my house. For the last 10 days I’ve been fighting the sewer lines, thinking I had them whipped only to have small amounts of sewage come up in the basement again and again. I had a small hand snake that I’d been using. I thought about going to the store and renting a bigger electric one. But just so it would be fixed when my wife gets home from a short trip (she’s been very patient), I thought was time to call in someone who has the right tools and knowledge to take care of the job. The only difference between me and the professional who is coming to work on the drain is that he has experience and the right tools.
I’m going to make a not-so-smooth transition here from professional sewer cleaners to the church. Obviously the church is filled with people who come from all walks of life. Most of you who read my blog go to church somewhere. And if we’re not careful, we can go to church and think that most of the work at the church and on behalf of the church should be done by “professionals” – people who are paid and/or more properly trained than we are.
I read an article yesterday about the church and it said, “If you make disciples you will always get the church, but if you try to build the church you will rarely get disciples.” Many church consultants see the main problem in the church as churches having crowds of people, but not having very many disciples (followers of Jesus).
It’s the problem that John Wesley saw in the church in his day (in the 1700’s). The Methodist Church basically began because John Wesley thought the church in his day was just a crowd of people gathering and not taking their faith seriously. Some people from the church began meeting on their own (still going to church) to deepen their relationship with Jesus and become better followers. He basically started a small group.
What churches need today is some disciples who want more than what they’re getting on Sunday mornings alone. And they can’t wait for the pastor or paid/trained staff to set it up. God is surely calling some people to start home Bible studies. Click here for a great resource to start.
God will honor your efforts by giving you what you need. You don’t need a professional. You can’t always even rely on professionals. Mine is 45 minutes late. I wonder if I’m going to be renting an electric drain cleaner today.
*
*
*
Scott Knowlton's Blog 