Anytime a church leader begins to discuss their desire to reach people, build a big church, break a numeric barrier, get off a growth plateau or add numbers there is usually a confrontation from the super-spiritual.  Comments are fired at the leader like, “God is worried about quality, not quantity,” or “bigger is not always better,” or “now, don’t be prideful pastor.” Often as pastors prepare to give their “vision speech,” they open with a disclaimer like, “Not that I am worried about numbers, but…” or “Not to compete with the church down the street, but…” or “If God’s will is for us to stay this size then fine, but…”

Why is that we as church leaders feel compelled to make excuses for growth? Is church growth bad? What about numbers are they holy or unholy?

Well, good news for us church growth fanatics…

• There is an entire book of the Bible called Numbers. (Numbers 1:1-2)
• Jesus himself drew crowds. (Matthew 8:1)
• God takes the credit himself for growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6)
• The book of Acts has several numerical growth indicators.  After Peter preached the church grew from 120 to 3,120. (Acts 2:41)

I don’t know, maybe its the old football coach in me, but the idea of a scoreboard makes sense.  I think as the church we ought to know the score.  Call it my carnality or sin nature, but deep down inside I want to win!  After all didn’t Apostle Paul call this a spiritual wrestling match? That is “rastlin” in Tennessee!  (Ephesians 6:12-13) And didn’t Christ come and deliver a knock-out punch on the cross? (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Thanks to one of my church leader heros, Nelson Searcy, I have coined (or stolen) a new term called, “Maximum Redemptive Potential” (MRP). Now, that term helps to spiritualize growth.  It helps to make numbers holy!

Here is the concept… God’s desire is that every individual, small group, ministry, and church reach its Maximum Redemptive Potential.  As followers of Christ we have a MRP and God wants us to get there.  As a church its the same.  This is equally true for our small groups and ministries.

God’s Word says that we have been handed the ministry of reconciliation, as God is making His appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)  Jesus died for the redemption of the world. God commissioned his disciples to make redeemed disciples.  Through our individual and corporate Maximum Redemptive Potential God’s plan continues!  We all have a part to play in God’s redemptive master plan.

Here is the question…

• For you personally: are you reaching your MRP?
• For your small group: are you reaching your MRP?
• For your church: are you reaching your MRP?

I feel better about numbers already and I hope you do.  If you have reached your MRP, then you have grown enough, your small group can end, and your church can be satisfied.  If you haven’t then let’s concern ourselves with numerical growth!  Imagine what it would be like if we all achieved our Maximum Redemptive Potential…

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*** I warn you this is a brutally honest blog.***

When asked about my recent leave of absence many asked, “How was your vacation?” or “How was the sabbatical?”  Let’s get this straight – it was neither a vacation or a sabbatical.  I have to be honest – those five weeks messed up my routine.  I felt the pressure that many “stay-at-home Moms” feel.  My schedule was wide-open family stuff from daylight to past dark.  Moms – I feel your pain.

The most important part of my day is my personal time with God.  My schedule over the last few weeks wasn’t as conducive to that as my regular “pastor – dad” schedule.   ATTENTION: THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SPENDING TIME WITH GOD.  Here is how Pastor Mark Batterson said this in a recent blog on a similar subject, “If you want to grow spiritually, you need a consistent diet of Scripture.  In fact, you will never outgrow your consumption of Scripture. There is no substitute. There is no supplement.”

While I was out playing the role of “disneyland dad” as I call it… running from big moment to big moment… I realized that I developed the following symptoms: I was grouchy, selfish, irritable, complaining, short-tempered, tired, lazy and spiritually numb.  The symptoms were easily recognizable by all, especially my spouse and kids.  Someone actually said, “I will be glad when you go back to work!”  Work is not what I needed.  What I needed was Jesus.  I was missing my daily time with God.

I need Jesus – bad.

For me, this was an eye-opening experience of how easy it is to fall-out of the routine or discipline of spending time with God.  Every week at Bethel Community Church we stress the importance for every follower of Jesus to read the Bible.  A huge part of growing in God is spending time with God through worship, prayer, and His Word. Reading your Bible is much like physical exercise… every day that you miss it, it is much easier not to do it the following day as well.

One more warning for pastors and those in ministry… Bible reading has to be for personal devotion.  Often times we read/study to see what God would say through us instead of spending time with God to see what He wants to say to us!  As pastors and leaders, we must recognize the priority to be a Christian first and spiritual leader second.  We can only minister from what is within.

I need Jesus – bad.

Here are a couple of Bible reminders on the subject:

• James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
• Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
• 1 Peter 2:2 – Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
• Psalm 119:72 – The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
• Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

My response?  Repent. To steal a line from the late King of Pop, “make a change.”  I believe it was Einstein who said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  Confess your mistake and start fresh today.  Proverbs 28:13 – “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”

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