GlocalNet

“I want to start a church to reach thousands of people to change the world for Jesus.”  I’ve heard that again and again and again.  The idea is right, the metric and methods have to change though for that to work.  Here’s how it works:

Start a church that reaches millions (thousands is too small a thing) so the world can hear the good news of Jesus.  That means I must count beyond my building, and multiply millions of small gatherings (house churches and small churches), thousands of large churches, and hundreds of mega-churches, and dozens of giga-churches.

Start a single church to reach thousands - and start no churches?  You won’t change anything - not even your own members!  There is a different DNA and disciple that is produced in a church planting church than a church focused church. 

If you fulfill the Great Commission as a church it’s not cheap, and the price isn’t just in people and dollars - it’s in mindset.  As I’ve worked with people of different religions and governments, etc., I’ve learned that.  Everyone says they want to see the Great Commission fulfilled - as long as people becoming Christians are just like them!  I preached Galatians the past month, and one of the things that stood out in my mind is how hard it was for Paul to be the “apostle to the gentiles” - if only he would have focused on the Jews - no Judaizers that followed him, no disagreements with the Apostles, wow - if only he could have been more politically correct.

If only he had been more sensitive to his own culture, more politically correct - - - - - then you and I would never have known Jesus!