Perhaps you've heard the old saying, "Money follows mission." In other words, when the church does what it is really suppose to do (go and make fellow disciples), some how, some way, God provides.
The Bible tells the story of the disciples fishing one long day, but its not going well. The professional anglers are getting shut out, which is not a good thing since that is how they financially support themselves and the community. In the midst of this despair, carpenter Jesus chimes in with his own fishing-tip-of-the-day, saying, "Hey guys, you should throw the nets to the other side of the boat!"
I'm pretty sure the bubble over everyone else's head read: "Thanks, carpenter, like you know anything about fishing." Peter, however, takes a different direction. He innovates, saying to Jesus, "Its tough out here...and your request goes against the common sense of the world, BUT since YOU said to throw the nets a few feet in a different direction, we will do so!"
HOLY TUNA FISH! In a moment's time the nets are so full of fish the nets begin to tear....
Friends: like the alphabet where O comes before P, the same is true when we are planting (fishing) churches. Obedience comes before Provision. Jesus sets the stage for a miracle. He then invites us to participate with him. As we trust and obey him, it breaks open the flood gates of heavenly provision!
Get it?
Here's one example: I'm always hearing church planters and even existing churches lament about their lack of money (fish). They are trying all their old methods of catching, but the lake seems to be dried up. I USE to say to God, "If only I had more money, THEN I would be able to _______(this is where you can fill in your own wrong answer). I always did...that is, fill it the wrong answer. I have discovered, however, that when we do what we are suppose to do (do mission as a lifestyle that leads to discipleship) God ALWAYS does what He promises to do (the needed provision!).
So, here are some thoughts for you to bait-up and throw into the waters: Instead of adding another full-time employee for working inside the temple, implement a training to send more equipped fisher people into the lakes. I have found that all sorts of folks WANT to be equipped to do ministry in their own spheres of daily influence. Their occupational pay in the marketplace now becomes the funding means for their Christian vocation! Likewise, instead of spending hundreds-to-millions by adding onto your existing facility, be innovative in how you can build your influence into an existing city facility or program that is already standing in the community. Yes, its more inconvenient, but it will also produce greater results in reaching the unreached. Again, I invite you to see yourselves as pastors that equip other anglers to be pastors. They have, after all, greater assess to the marketplace's fishing holes than pulpit pastors do! When we obey Jesus' Great Commission to GO TO the people as nets of grace, we will make the catch. This is crucial to obey since no longer are people just jumping into the boat (our Sunday morning gathering time), no matter how professional the anglers are.
In other words, I am inviting you to stop thinking that people showing up for Sunday morning worship is your only means of having a major net breaking catch. Instead, throw your net OUT and in a different manner. Obedience will over-come your own sense of what is "normal." Our God of the abnormal, will then supply the provision--- which is changed lives and transformed cities...not just more butts in the bleachers.
Money (or provision), will always follow Mission (or obedience) to Jesus. Try it. Throw to the other side...
NEWS and NOTES: The movie, Son of God, opens in theaters this Friday, February 28th. I have already heard great reviews! Also: I would appreciate your prayers as I travel this coming weekend to Salt Lake City to be the keynote speaker and workshop presenter at the 2nd annual Intermountain District meeting for LCMC churches in Utah and Idaho. On another note, do YOU have any prayer concerns you want others to pray into? Feel free to share on this blog as you see appropriate!
Sunday, March 2nd: Destaye Crawford is ordained. She is the planter of Every Tribe and Tongue in Minneapolis, MN. Also March 2nd: Hosanna! Lakeville, MN is launching its new satellite in Shakopee, MN.
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