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How to Change the Culture, Part 2
After acknowledging what you’d like to change, preach toward the new vision. Cast vision, not for what is, but for what could be.
Many churches program toward the vision. People generally don’t get excited about programs. They want to be a part of a movement or a mission.
Preach toward the desired outcome and let the activities be an overflow of passion, not a program or class.
As you preach toward the change, model it personally.
- If you’d like to lead a more generous church, become more generous personally.
- If you’d like to lead a more evangelistic church, step up your own personal evangelism.
- If you’d like to lead toward a more worshipful church, worship more on your own.
I believe whatever you do personally (and often in secret), God will reward. As you change, so will those who follow you.
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agreed. 100%
I suppose what you are saying is that preaching trumps programs for casting vision to change church culture. Also, as we model the change, we become change. Isn’t that the plan? God uses us as his change agents through the preaching of the gospel. Great thoughts. I can see how God is using Craig as a change agent in the church today.
Great thoughts!
So true! Thanks Craig… great reminder. The old saying more is caught than taught…. is very true in this case. We cannot lead our people to somewhere we have never been.
My prayer is that my simple life will impact others for God’s purposes. I am on an “identity theft” take-back mission. Reclaiming and truly believing who God says I am. This world has stolen our TRUE Identity and it is time to reclaim and walk Boldly in our Spiritual identity.
“let the activities be an overflow of passion”
That phrase, in and of itself, has made my morning!
Thanks Craig!
…model it personally - huge. I could sense this in your talk at the last all-staff and I just wanted to give you a big hug but some peeps told me I probably would’ve been tackled and maybe even tazed, not including what security would’ve done to me. I held back instead but definately gave you a standing O - I can’t tell you how excited I am to hear that you won’t come in until you are overflowing - again, huge.
When reading this I thought of 1 Samuel 15, “to obey is better than sacrifice” - the vision may be amazing but if you don’t first have the desire to truly live it (model it), what are you really doing and who are you really praising?
Programming a change is like going to a conference and coming home with another shrink-wrapped package of guaranteed growth. People just roll their eyes and yawn. Ezekiel preached a message using a toy battlefield to illustrate truth and Jeremiah hid his underwear in the rocks. Elijah called down fire from heaven. How do you shrink-wrap that? Passionate preaching, birthed out of a God-given burden, works better than anything to move people toward action.
Being a network church leaves us with limited windows to “preach” for change. Although Craig does a marvelous job he cannot speak into the specifics of where we are as a local body at a given time. Intentional vision casting in the gaps, including one-on-one conversations, is where we find our opportunity to lead for change. For us leadership by ACTION “whatever you do personally” has had great influence in stirring people to respond. Program seems to have become the dirty word in church, but aren’t behind the scenes “systems” critical to guide movement?
tackled and tazed!?!? perception vs reality… walk through the room.
“I believe whatever you do personally (and often in secret), God will reward. As you change, so will those who follow you.”
I love that…that’s what I’ve been really realizing again and seeing this past 2 weeks.
I’ve kind of gotten into a mindset of “Going back inside the walls”. I speak to people on my blog and in person and in a Lifegroup.
What I’ve had to do though is kind of escape and spend a whole week with just God and I. I had to go back “inside the walls” before I could be efficient and effective “outside the walls” (the walls = myself).
That week felt GREAT! I used to always read, thinking, “This could really be a great lesson,” but then I’d never think of Scripture in terms of me. That’s changed!
I want to stay inside the walls a lot more often…bc it makes me a lot more effective outside the walls in the big picture.
Just personal thoughts!
Good Post.
I was going to a church for about 7 years without ever hearing the vision or direction of where the church was heading.
I was constantly told to just go to meetings.
I have to be honest and tell you that I lost my desire for going to church, until recently I started going to a new church that is very vocal in their vision and how they are impacting the community and it has made such a huge difference in my own personal walk with the lord.
If the church has a vision and is actively moving forward, the enthusiasm will filter down through the members of the church.
I completely agree with leading by example. Model, mentor, coach, lead…it’s all about setting the example. I know there is a fine line between doing and delegating, there are things that we should do personally so that we as pastors can set the pace and example, and then there are things that we should delegate so we can continue to function and not get burned out.
Right on Craig! WHen somethings not right with our church, i go take a good long look in the mirror!
[...] Do You Change the Culture? Part 1 & Part 2 Swerve Blog by Craig Groeschel Some specific things to do when leading toward a cultural [...]
“I believe whatever you do personally (and often in secret), God will reward. As you change, so will those who follow you.”
I love that…that’s what I’ve been really realizing again and seeing this past 2 weeks.
I’ve kind of gotten into a mindset of “Going back inside the walls”. I speak to people on my blog and in person and in a Lifegroup.
What I’ve had to do though is kind of escape and spend a whole week with just God and I. I had to go back “inside the walls” before I could be efficient and effective “outside the walls” (the waols = myself).
That week felt GREAT! I used to always read, thinking, “This could really be a great lesson,” but then I’d never think of Scriptude in terms of me. That’s changed!
I want to stay inside the walls a lot more often…bc it makes me a lot more effective outside the walls in the big picture.
Just personal thoughts!;
Hmm Sounds familiar, I read something similar recently. Oh yea, when I was reading the Holy Bible.
he he Exegetical Preaching ROCKS!