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What Powers Your Church?

By charlie worley
This morning I was looking forward to a day of rest when the power at our house went out. It has now been out over four hours and we're still waitingÐand waitingÐand waiting. In this electronic world, it's hard to get things done when your power goes out, things like writing this blog, for instance. So this brings to mind an important question, "What powers your church?" Consider the following answers.
What Powers Your Church?

     This morning I was looking forward to a day of rest when the power at our house went out. It has now been out over four hours and we're still waiting and waiting and waiting. In this electronic world it's hard to get things done when your power goes out, things like writing this blog, for instance. So this brings to mind an important question, "What powers your church?" Consider the following answers.

     Is it the pastor or pastoral staff? Often times, especially in smaller churches, the lead pastor can become the focus of church ministry, especially if he is a gifted, charismatic leader whose leadership has attracted many to the church. Or, sometimes, a pastoral staff team becomes the focus of ministry in a medium-size church. If something happens that causes the lead pastor or members of the pastoral staff to leave the church, the congregation feels lost and without direction. It might feel like the power goes out and the church wanders around in the dark.

     Is it the leadership board of your church? In some churches, a governing board such as the elder team provides vision and administrative leadership – it seems to hold the church together. People feel that members of the key leadership team are always needed and the church can go nowhere without this team. The board is always needed to flip the light switch on or off when ministry happens. This usually happens whenever a ministry leader, ministry team, or even individual church member needs to get the approval or permission of the board before anything can happen. In many churches, a transition to board leadership and control happens because of a subtle move over time to this leadership or a sudden power-grab due to a crisis in the church. It appears that the power for church ministry and life doesn't go on until it gets permission from the top.

     Is it the money and resources of your church? Churches that have been around for a while can easily slide into a hyper-dependence on the money and resources available whether it's a building, bank accounts, or historic programs that help fund the existence of the church. One or more of these can easily become the power source for the congregation. Everyone in the congregation seems to know this, but this is the elephant walking around in the room where money and resources power your church.

     Is it the history and tradition of your church? In churches similar to the one above, some churches have grown to depend on history and tradition. Ministry happens in these churches because they say, "We have always done it this way before." It's not so much about ministry as it is about maintenance. The power goes to those people, groups, and programs that best reflect and maintain the history and tradition of the church. In-reach becomes more important than out-reach. If your church is becoming like these kinds of churches, watch out. The Great Commission has become the Great Omission.

     If any of the above power your church, it's time to refocus – according to the Scriptures, what should power your church? Let me give you the two sources of power for your church.

     Is it the prayers of your church? When your church prays, your church has power. No prayer, no power. It's that simple. When you flip the power switch, you turn on the heat and light of the churchÐand keep it on!

     Is it the Holy Spirit that powers your church? Here's the secret: God has given His Holy Spirit to the church, to indwell the church, and to empower the church to do His will. And as believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, the church is filled with His fruit and power to bring about His glory on earth as it is in heaven. J. I. Packer says it this way: "Were it not for the work of the Holy Spirit there would be no gospel, no faith, no church, no Christianity in the world at all."

     If your church is filled with the Holy Spirit and it prays like it, it will have all the power it needs. That's what powers the church.

     What powers your church?

[Photo by mk. s on Unsplash]