When you become part of National Community Church, we invite you into the collective dream God has given us for Washington, DC. And we make no apologies for that because it's not our dream. It's God's dream for us! You become part of something bigger than you and more important than you. And we want you to be a shareholder in everything we're called to do: lead a small group, serve in a ministry, help launch a location by being part of a launch team, go on a missions trip. We want you to invest your time, energy, and resources in the dream!
But let me flip the proverbial coin. We don't just invite you into the dream God has given us. You invite us into the dream God has given you!
On our recent leadership retreat I had conversations with a number of leaders. And it was so cool to hear their dreams: they ranged from becoming an FBI agent to starting a business to launching a ministry to athletes to running for office to starting a non-profit to help the homeless.
And it reminded me of this simple fact: if we focus our energies on helping people pursue the dream God has given them, then our collective dream as a church will become reality too!
Let me be blunt and speak to pastors for a moment. And I would encourage you to check your motives. I think our dream for our church can become an idol. If we aren't careful, we can cross that fine line from Thy Kingdom Come to My Kingdom Come. And when that happens, it distorts the way we view the people in our congregation. Honestly, they become a means to an end. They become a number to be counted. I know I'm hitting some nerve endings right about now. So how do we keep our motives pure? I think it comes back to this simple motivation: I want to see people become everything God designed and destined them to be. Is that your primal motivation for ministry? Do you care more about your dream or their dream?
A few weeks ago I met Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, so I decided to read Me, Myself, and Bob. The book documents the rise and fall of VeggieTales. After VeggieTales declared bankruptcy and the dream fell apart, Phil did some soul searching. And in the book he shares some honest thoughts and questions. Let me share one question and one thought.
Here's the question: "What do you love more, your dream or God?"
Here's the thought: "At long last, after a lifetime of striving, God was enough. Not God and impact or God and ministry. Just God."
Alright, I lied. Here's one more thought.
"The impact God has planned for us doesn't occur when we're pursuing impact. It occurs when we're pursuing God."
But let me flip the proverbial coin. We don't just invite you into the dream God has given us. You invite us into the dream God has given you!
On our recent leadership retreat I had conversations with a number of leaders. And it was so cool to hear their dreams: they ranged from becoming an FBI agent to starting a business to launching a ministry to athletes to running for office to starting a non-profit to help the homeless.
And it reminded me of this simple fact: if we focus our energies on helping people pursue the dream God has given them, then our collective dream as a church will become reality too!
Let me be blunt and speak to pastors for a moment. And I would encourage you to check your motives. I think our dream for our church can become an idol. If we aren't careful, we can cross that fine line from Thy Kingdom Come to My Kingdom Come. And when that happens, it distorts the way we view the people in our congregation. Honestly, they become a means to an end. They become a number to be counted. I know I'm hitting some nerve endings right about now. So how do we keep our motives pure? I think it comes back to this simple motivation: I want to see people become everything God designed and destined them to be. Is that your primal motivation for ministry? Do you care more about your dream or their dream?
A few weeks ago I met Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, so I decided to read Me, Myself, and Bob. The book documents the rise and fall of VeggieTales. After VeggieTales declared bankruptcy and the dream fell apart, Phil did some soul searching. And in the book he shares some honest thoughts and questions. Let me share one question and one thought.
Here's the question: "What do you love more, your dream or God?"
Here's the thought: "At long last, after a lifetime of striving, God was enough. Not God and impact or God and ministry. Just God."
Alright, I lied. Here's one more thought.
"The impact God has planned for us doesn't occur when we're pursuing impact. It occurs when we're pursuing God."
14 Comments:
Thank you. I needed to hear this. I've loved my dream more than God. I need to get back to just loving God.
Right on! You rather hit the nail on the head there.
Amen! Thank you for this!
I just finished reading Bob Briner's book Roaring Lambs. He spoke very frankly to this need as well. Thanks for the echo.
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That is convicting!
I continue to find your words encouraging! I was just laid off from my job of 10 years with a church. I am wondering what God is saying to me through this time. I felt I had to visit NCC. I came from Raleigh, NC to attend the launch of your Kingstowne location...and WOW! God continues to speak. Thanks for being faithful!
Roy,
You get the long-distance award. Man, wish we could have connected for coffee while you were here :)
Praying for your next chapter!
Blessings,
Mark
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This is great! I always dreamed of playing Major League Baseball. Now I am working towards my AG credentials as God has called me to full time youth ministry. The cool thing is that he opened up a door for me and currently I am the batboy for the Arizona Diamondbacks. I pray that I will some day have a ministry for pro athletes along with youth pastoring. God will continue to guide my dreams.
Loved Phil Vischer book, Me, Myself, and Bob. read it while on vacation at the beach last year. Tucked myself under an umbrella and had it done in two days. Amazing to read about what went on behind the scenes. Lovin' his new work, www.jellytelly.com.
BTW Mark. Just finished Wild Goose Chase... fantastic! Definitely rattled my cage!!
Mark,
hey man, great word. It's funny cause God is speaking the same thing up here in Buffalo through our pastor (Jerry Gillis)about the importance of knowing that our pursuit of our individual callings/dreams are for the sake of the body and not for the sake of the individuals..
Good stuff!!! Our church is currently redifining our vision for the next 5 years. This truth can be missed by the most sincere of hearts. Thank you for the gut check!!!
Amen! You nailed it right here.
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