Over the next few weeks I want to share some of the things I learned at the “All Access 2010 Conference” by the ARC in Baton Rouge as well as my Church Planting Coaching Network that met this week in Wisconsin.

Here are some highlights from Chris Hodges. He is the Lead Pastor of Church of the Highlands in Alabama. They have grown to over 16,000 people weekly.  Great Thoughts on “Growth”

Chris Hodges  / All Access 2010

1.   WE Grow OUR-self FIRST

• The Church began in Acts 1:4 with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That was God’s way of growing the church’s initial leadership.
• Too many leaders want to see results without first developing themselves. All healthy church growth happens through the Pastor’s personal growth.

2.   WE Grow for the RIGHT Reasons

• We need to remember to keep our hearts pure first – then realize that God has given us a JOB to GROW THE CHURCH!
• It’s is not for our ego, pride or to find our personal value (which should already be found as a son or daughter of Jesus Christ)
• Luke 17:8 (A powerful prayer from this passage) – Tells us to keep our hearts pure. We need to realize our motives will determine the value of our fruit.
• Growth is about GOD not your personal insecurity or identity crisis

3.   JUST  GROW

• I Cor 3:7-8 = we will be rewarded according to our labor – we are God’s workers – He needs us (the church)  to get it together so the Kingdom of God Grows
• We have lost sight of our assignment – heaven and hell are realities that too many churches are ignoring by refusing to engage culture with God’s timeless truth.

HOW DO WE GROW?

1.   Refocus on the GREAT COMMISSION

• We have an assignment from our king
• There is a lot of distraction / feel good  / social justice flow / we are feeding bellies that are still going to hell….
• Social Justice is a TOOL to communicate the message of Christ not the end itself.

2.   KEEP SCORE

• If people matter – we need to be willing to measure it
• Your team needs to know what matters  – they need to know what is a “WIN”
• The numbers need to tell us if we are doing our job or not

3.   If it’s not working -  CHANGE IT

• Take responsibility for not being effective and make changes
• Remove programs
• Change styles
• Be willing to kill the SACRED COWS so people will WIN SPIRITUALLY

Tom