Comments on: Make Every Effort

By: Dave Quinn

Dave Quinn — Tue, 20 May 2008 14:08:11 +0000

Hi Craig, I got referred to your site from another blog I read regularly. I just wanted to make a general comment at how positive and practical your posts are. Thanks,
Dave
Dave

By: Rusty Williams

Rusty Williams — Sun, 11 May 2008 03:19:06 +0000

Craig,

I love this post and I love the fact that I saw this in action from you at the Creative Marriage retreat with Ed and Lisa Young. On that note I want to thank you for a phenomenal but simple message that I really needed to hear. The reality is I do not pursue my wife nearly enough. Sometimes she probably wonders if I even live on the same planet. It was an honor to hear you. Please tell Amy my wife really appreciated her godly spirit. Her short greeting really impacted my wife in so many ways. The fact that Amy homeschools 6 kids no doubt is a biggy for my wife. Anyway, thanks!

Rusty Williams
Shippensburg,PA

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:10:44 +0000

I gotta say, I agree with kevin. It is a great thought for churches to meet with each other. Although it would seem that for me I see most of those meetings there are too many “cooks in the kitchen”. Most meetings I have been to intentionally ignore the big church leaders and listen only to the small church leaders. I am not saying that big churches have all the answers but ignoring all together seems a bit off. I love unity but is the thought of churches working together a bit of a reach especially since , like kevin said, most meetings bring you down.

By: What Leadership Demands - These Got My Attention

What Leadership Demands - These Got My Attention — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:02:42 +0000

[...] I loved this post by Craig Groeschel. This guy gets it and is working to help us all see that those of us who follow [...]

By: eugene

eugene — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:15:29 +0000

a good word.

i’m thankful that despite some conflict and contentious conversations, there is a larger spirit of collaboration that is taking place in the Church. through it all, His grace covers us.

thanks for the work that you are doing, the courage to lead, and the humility to listen.

By: Mark Jr

Mark Jr — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:23:21 +0000

Love these verses. It would seem to me that the way we accomplish this is in verse 2:

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

It’s only out of a humble, gentle, patient and loving heart that we can make every effort towards unity. We fail at unity when we are arrogant, pushy, impatient and self-serving. If we can wrap our hearts around the right motive and then make every effort, God’s kingdom grows and he receives all the glory, we just get a chance to go along for the ride!

Craig, thanks for modeling the right motives, plenty of big cutting edge churches and their leaders don’t get it. Thanks for leading the ones who do into One Prayer.

By: Kenyon

Kenyon — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:13:47 +0000

Currently we have a pastor of another church “officing” in our facilities. It is a great relationship as our churches are similar in size and age. There is mutual encouragement and we can share ideas and bounce ideas off each other. As well as just having someone else around always feels better.

By: Chris Marlow

Chris Marlow — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:59:35 +0000

Question,

Where’s the line drawn? For instance. I hate to say names, but it’s all public anyhow.

Driscoll will call out Rob Bell or Brian Mclaren. He does this because he is “contending” for the gospel and fighting false doctrine. (In his mind)

Is he breaking the “unity” of of the Spirit?

So…I’m not asking your opinion on this situation in- particular. This is just an example. How do we draw the lines?

Seems so hard to discern!

By: Kevin Bussey

Kevin Bussey — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:07:10 +0000

I tried going to associational ministers meetings but they actually dragged me down. Are you suggesting going just to show support to other ministries?

By: brandonp

brandonp — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:39:36 +0000

Isn’t it astonishing to think about how much time is wasted doing just the opposite? “Making every effort to prove the other guy wrong.”

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:33:52 +0000

This is what I want to see happening in our community. Our pastor has great relationships with other pastors in the area, but I would love to see churches unite and work together in some kind of common minstry. Big church, small church, difference in denomination…whatever. Doesn’t matter.

Imagine what the church would really be like if we combine our resources, energy, and time. What an impression we could make by standing together and working side by side on a regular basis. Thanks for initiating One Prayer. I think its the start of something great.

By: Chris S.

Chris S. — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:11:55 +0000

Thanks for throwing “youth pastor” in the same category as the church van and sound system.

By: tony

tony — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:56:27 +0000

an absolutely beautiful verse - nothing about standing out, being flashy, growing faster, etc

defintely not knocking these things - but the core is pretty clear here and isn’t it interesting how the Gospel so many times uses (in Englsh translations)one syllable words for us Gentiles to read

one, love, give, peace, fruit, proaise, knock, etc - oh, and pray!