RELATIONSHIP OF STEWARDSHIP TO DISCIPLESHIP #3

 

I’ve been talking the last couple of weeks about the relationship of stewardship to discipleship, talking about the mission statements of churches, church windows and doors and reaching outside our buildings.

How often do our mission states talk about our core values? We are loving, Bible-based, welcoming, diverse, open-minded. None of that is bad, of course, but it is not our mission. They hopefully describe our church but those words don’t explain what God is calling your church to do and to be.

In working with some churches, I’ve taken the time to ask some questions, like:

What does the community think about when they think about your church?

Does the community even know you’re here?

If I were to ask you what is your church about, what would you say?

 

            Most importantly, I think, is the question, what is God calling your church to do? To be?

            So…what is your church called to be by God?

a.    Does your mission statement reflect that?

b.    Does everyone know?

c.    If everyone were asked what the mission state is, could they answer?

So, from our conversations about mission statements, I hope you’re able to take these things away with you?

1.    Your mission statement needs to have an action/an outcome. In other words, is there a so that what???

2.    People need to know what your mission is, and be part of articulating it as well.

3.    People don’t respond, either through prayer, mission or giving, if they don’t know it, don’t embrace it and don’t share it!

So, what is God calling your church to be? How is that happening? What is the outcome that God wants to see from your church?

            When your disciples are able to talk about their discipleship, then they are also stewards, and everything will work together to fulfill God’s mission for your church.