By Mark A. Taylor
Doug Wood, the subject of this week”s “CHRISTIAN STANDARD Interview,” has seen local churches make changes that preceded dramatic growth. Yet he emphasizes that external changes are not the “secret” to growth. His approach isn”t to force change, but first to build followers of Christ.
This disciple-building generates change from the inside out. It”s the difference between watching your diet or getting your exercise versus dressing for success or getting plastic surgery. The latter are quicker and more dramatic. The former lead to long-term health.
Wood”s own words, excerpted from the longer Web version* of his interview, say it best:
You can”t have a church full of disciple-making disciples and not be growing and changing the world, but you can have thousands of people coming to a show every Sunday and not truly having their lives changed in supernatural ways through a love relationship with God.
The “show” may be the polished presentation offered by the weekend worship services of many megachurches. But the problem he mentions could be present in a congregation of any size.
If folks “come to church” only because they like the music or the preacher there, only because it”s a good place to reconnect with friends, only because it”s a setting they enjoy””and nothing there or through the week builds their relationship with God””then spiritual growth will founder.
It is possible to increase attendance by concentrating on externals. But strong spiritual lives are developed slowly, simply, away from the hubbub of the crowds. That is not only Wood”s experience but also the point of this week”s feature articles.
Lynn Gardner says we must appeal to the thinking of those we reach, not just their emotions. And then Darrel Rowland shows how several local churches have developed a strategy for developing mature disciples.
These churches have not turned away from creative programming, but they have learned not to depend on it. They begin with their strategy to develop believers, not with the goal of attracting a crowd.
In a culture that builds businesses and elects presidents on the basis of slogans and image, church leaders may try to succeed through marketing or promotion. Doug Wood and several others interviewed this week are showing a better way to grow the church.
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