So ... What's the Problem?

This is the last Sunday that Josh and Crystal will attend your church. Next Sunday they will continue their search for a church home and they don’t even know why. But we do. It’s not the church. This is a wonderful church. They love the preaching. The music is right up their ally. It’s not the people. The greeters were friendly and gracious. The ushers were kind and helpful. So why is this Josh and Crystal’s last Sunday at your church? It’s not the worship service. The experience was delightful, and they really felt the presence of the Lord. So what’s up? Why are we losing another couple before we get a chance to know them? The problem is they never got connected. A crowd of people can be a lonely place when you are the new face in the crowd. Put yourself in their shoes. People are talking and laughing, but not you. How can you enter in when you have nothing to talk and laugh about? We know what you are thinking, if my people would just be friendlier. That’s not the problem. People are people. They are not machines that can be programmed to do our bidding. They are just like Josh and Crystal. In order to be a part of any group of people there must be a point of connection, where they feel like they are a part of what’s going on and not just a lonely unconnected face in a large group of connected people. So what is the answer? How can we make sure that Josh and Crystal don’t join the long line of people to love our church yet leave because they don’t feel a part of it? We believe the answer is Connecting Points.

The Premise of Discipleship

The premise of Connecting Points is that there can be no discipleship without relationship. Connecting people with God and each other has to do with relationship. Quality of life both here on earth and in eternity is dependent upon the relationships we develop. True discipleship is the work of God in a person’s life that takes place both before and after regeneration. Christ used His relationships to disciple those He called to follow Him. He kept them near and got involved in their lives. We can be taught, encouraged, exhorted, even rebuked form a distance. Real discipleship, on the other hand, can only take place if we take the time to get connected to and develop a relationship with people. True discipleship can only come through relationship.

The Standard of Christ

Jesus prioritized connecting by commissioning all believers to go out and make disciples of all people everywhere. This cannot be done without connecting. Connecting helps us to understand and comprehend the true essence of ministry. There is no higher goal than that of obtaining the standard of Christ Himself. When asked which is the greatest commandment Christ answered with the standard of God. That standard is to love God and to love people. Connecting Points is designed to connect people with God and with each other. It is by this means that we will begin to see people experience the two great purposes of God. These two purposes are communion and community. We were made for God (communion) and for each other (community). As we help people find their purpose singularly, we will see our church find its purpose collectively.

Spirit Productivity

Productivity is where the rubber meets the road. This is the intended destination of every church leader. We want to bloom where we are planted. This is our time. We only have a small window of opportunity, and it is incumbent upon us to produce. Imagine with us all God’s people seeing themselves as God-ordained ministers with a clear understanding that God has called and gifted them to reach the people in their sphere of influence. Imagine each one of them equipped to have their own ministry that is built around their own interests and giftings. This is what Connecting Points is designed to do. What would it look like if each one was being what God made them to be and doing what God intended for them to do when He made them. In the economy of God, no real productivity can take place outside of the realm of God’s Spirit. When we look back on times when we have tried to do the work of God by our power or by our might, we see clearly that we labor in vain unless the Lord builds the house. It must come from and through the Spirit of the Lord!