Don’t Do It All, Part One
I’m going to devote this week to the topic: “Don’t Do It All.” It will be divided into five parts.
With six kids, a large staff, and a bunch of campuses, people often ask me how I do it all. The answer is, “I don’t do it all.” In fact, I probably do much less than most imagine.
(Don’t skip over that part… I don’t do it all. I never did. If you are a church planter, student pastor, solo-pastor, bi-vocational pastor, or starting a business, you may believe you have to do it all. You can’t and shouldn’t!)
Remember: those who get the most done usually aren’t those who work the most hours. In fact, some of the most productive people I know have far more free time than less productive people. As my family and ministry have grown, instead of doing more, I do less.
Instead of adding to your “to do” list, maybe you should start a “to-don’t” list.   Â
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Thanks so much for sharing Craig!!!
I know that I have heard Andy Stanley say that he only works 45 hours a week.
Here are two really practical questions that come to mind…
#1 Is it easier to do less as the church gets larger? I imagine that it is easier to focus on your strenghts in a large church than a smaller one(?) I also imagine that most church planters and small business owners burn out within 2 years because there is just so much work to do at the start. What do you think?
#2 What does your week look like??? How do you divide it? Is it possible to acutally only work a 45 week like Andy suggests?
On a personal note - thanks so much for being an awesome inspiration!!! You are a great communicator and leader, but there are many great communicators and leaders. What stands out to me is that you truly focus on Jesus and his Kingdom, and your generosity to missions and your willingness to release people to other churches is such a fine example to all!!!
Thanks for being a leader worth following!!!
This is amazing concept that far too many people miss. I think that so many times, we fill up our life with so much stuff to do that we miss the God factor. For some reason, it has become unacceptable to just stand back and watch God work. We get so focused on our tasks that we end up trying to make it happen on our own. We miss the God factor. When this happens, everything suffers -your relationship with Christ, family, your ministry -and it’s all from losing the ability to say “no.” Just because the things we do are worthwhile, it does not mean they are what God wants from us (especially in place of a solid relationship with him).
Craig has said it perfectly in the past. “I will not sacrifice my relationship with God or my family on the alter of ministry.” What a refreshing perspective! God first, family second, and then ministry.
Rely on God and what He wants to get done. See who else steps up! A saying that I like to use is “God is going to accomplish His will, with or without me.” Let’s make it all about what He gets done, and not what we get done. God will use others. It will be amazing to see the rest of the church step in and become leaders because you are willing to delegate some of the tasks to them. Some people will surprise you…they are merely looking for a chance to excel at something!
Well, sorry this became so long, I could talk about this all day. As you can tell, it’s something I’m passionate about. I’ve been through the burn out that comes from doing it all. God wants you on fire, not burnt out.
Mark, You asked if it gets “easier to do less as the church gets larger.” I’d say in some ways yes and other ways no. It is easier to focus on your strengths. It is more challenging because there is more to be involved in.
I think an important point is that if one doesn’t learn to limit what they do in the early years, they are not likely to limit what they do in the later years.
Larry, Thanks for the great thoughts!
Craig, can I just say thank you so much for the Urban Legends series where this came from, it really ministered to me and God is using you in a powerful way.
I think that example of Moses gathering godly leaders around himself to help take the burden off of him is something we all need to seriously practice.
For one thing, it does take a huge burden of of us and lets us focus on our strengths. For another thing, it helps get the focus off of us and onto Jesus first of all, and secondly, how others can use their gifts to be involved.
My wife taught me an amazing lesson once. I was leading worship at church and I was getting a bit prideful about the fact that when I wasn’t there, things kind of fell apart. She gently said, “Ryan, the greatest testament to your ministry, would be that if when you’re not there, nobody notices.”
I was trying to do everything on my own because I didn’t trust the other people to do it. It caused me stress when I had to take a day off, it caused me to be burdened with volunteers who I didn’t equip properly, and it caused me to constantly focus on myself instead of Jesus. I am so thankful that He’s teaching me to let go, and thank you so much for the teaching on this concept.
[...] Mon 12 Feb 2007 Work Less Achieve More? Posted by chrismarlow under Church , church planting Craig Groeschel is starting a new blog series: Don’t Do It All. [...]
Been trying to respond to this all morning, but ironically I haven’t had the time to answer. This topic really hits home with me.
My job is strategic, so in many respects I am “on� 24/7. I work 10 to 12 hours a day, then spend part of my evenings answering emails/calls, researching, reading, etc…
Last year our family made a commitment to be involved in our church. It started with micro-missions, but quickly spread to volunteering on Sunday. On many occasions you’ll find us there on Saturday night too. We also host our Lifegroup, serve as a Lifegroup Coach, etc… If we are needed, we’re there. Saying no isn’t an option.
Between my work and church commitments I’ve had to cut some things out – and I am not proud of my choices. First, I stopped reading God’s Word (wow, that is embarrassing to say). I found myself looking for cliff notes to the Bible.
A couple of weeks ago my five-year-old daughter said to my wife “I don’t spend enough time with my Daddy.� Ouch.
God amazes me though. I get up this morning, read Craig’s post, and then Larry writes, “Just because the things we do are worthwhile, it does not mean they are what God wants from us (especially in place of a solid relationship with him).� Just what I needed.
Thanks for the topic and words of wisdom.
[...] Craig Groeschel just taught a great series which included thoughts about people doing too much and therefore getting burnt out. He’s also started a series of blog posts on the subject. I think this concept applies to everyone in church ministry, and it’s something I desperately need to work on. So, worship leaders/tech directors, are you one who does the following: [...]
I think the culture of our day praises a “do-it-yourself” attitude, which only feeds and breeds the sin of pride (at least, it does so in my heart). I know I have a hard time trusting someone else with any task. The reality is this, we should learn to trust the “hands” and the “feet” (1 Cor. 12:14-27) and all the other parts of The Body, otherwise we could be stunting their growth (and ours).
[...] Some small-time pastor named Craig Groeschel put up a post on his blog Swerve about the same subject. You should check it out. [...]
Man, I’d love to start a to-don’t list…what a great idea!
Even this post is great encouragement.
hmm. what a concept! looking forward to reading it.
part of the issue not only in the church culture but in the larger culture is that ‘busyness’ is a sign or a status symbol of significance.
[...] Don’t Do It All Part One & Part Two. Craig Groeschel shares something that I have just started to learn, that I can’t and shouldn’t do everything. Some people will make you feel guilty if you don’t but better some unhappy guilt pushers than a burned out ineffective leader. [...]
Megachurch Pastor Craig Groeschel on Time Management
Over at the Lifechurch.tv Swerve Blog, Pastor Craig Groeschel is doing a 5-part series on Time Management.
Craig is an amazing communicator and the founding Pastor of a very innovative multi-campus megachurch in Edmond, OK.
His Time Management Bl…
[...] Greg Groeschal at LifeChurch.tv (the splash page on this website is well worth the click) has a 4-part series on his blog about why their church doesn’t “Do It All.” Check him out. Don’t Do It All, part 1 [...]