Success isn’t having all the right answers. It’s the courage to ask the right questions.
This was pointed out to me in a conversation with a pastor friend who built a large mega church of over 12,000. His ministry was built on one key question:
Who are we trying to reach with the gospel?
My friend went to great lengths to define their target audience and focused their efforts into developing a powerful Sunday service to reach that group.
This is also the same question that has driven church growth the past 30 years. And the result has been remarkable success at growing huge churches. Unfortunately, these are huge churches with little loyalty, exhausted staff, and stretched budgets.
This struggle has now provoked many mega church pastors to ponder a far more courageous question. One my pastor friend is painfully wrestling with:
What are we trying to create?
Jesus taught we should bear fruit. We are called to be clay in the potter’s hands, willing to be molded in His likeness. We are told to not only reach others with the gospel but make disciples as well.
Effective church leaders must have the courage to ask both of these questions and then act.
Does your church ask both?
