100 Days to a Healthier ChurchSample

Day 27

Today’s Big Idea: Reduce clutter and simplify. It’s easy to think of a busy church as a healthy one. After all, activity means life. But there’s a big difference between active and hectic. The most effective people, leaders, and churches are active, but they’re never hectic. When you’re hectic, someone else is in charge of your life and schedule—and it’s not who you want in charge.

Like houses, churches don’t have to work at getting cluttered. Clutter just happens—to the facility and the schedule. Meetings get added, but nothing gets dropped. Outdated events keep reappearing on the calendar. No matter how hard you work, there’s always more to do.

Key Verse: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants (Matthew 13:7).

Thoughts to Consider: Effective churches aren’t driven by events, programs, or schedules. They’re driven by the mission. And the mission is simple: Love Jesus, love others, share your faith, and disciple believers. There are a couple of simple but essential questions every church must ask on a regular basis if they want to avoid clutter. What do we do well that we’d like to do more of? And what do we do poorly that we’d like to do less of? 

As you consider what to write down, don’t think about what you want to do, what a church consultant told you to do, or what another church in town might be doing. Look at your current situation. This is not about wanting or wishing; it’s about knowing your strengths and weaknesses. 

What do we do well?:

What do we do poorly?: