There is no magic to size. Focus on getting healthy, and size will take care of itself. Or to switch metaphors, pull some weeds, till the soil, plant some seeds and trust God to grow things at the pace and to the size he wants.
4. Stats
I love stats too much. I watch attendance, baptisms, givings, group participation and volunteer rates like a hawk and then am disappointed if they don’t meet my exaggerated expectations.
I watch my blog and podcast stats too much, and—if I’m not careful—I’ll even allow them to dictate my emotions. (Before you gloat a little, ignoring stats can be another idol.)
Being the slacker-who-doesn’t-care/I’m-too-hip-for-that leader can close you off to God as readily as being the leader who rises and falls with the numbers.
Stats tell you things. But they don’t measure your worth. Or God’s faithfulness. Watch them. But don’t believe they’re a barometer on how awesome (or awful) you might be.
5. Alliances
I wish I had a better title for this, but ‘alliances’ simply refers to the group we do ministry with.
In some cases, it’s your denomination or a church planting group. Or in my case, as a North Point Strategic Partner, it’s North Point Church.
Alliances are often strategic and helpful. They have been for me.
But they are not your savior.
It’s tempting to think, “If we join X group, our church would take off.” No…it probably wouldn’t. Just so you know. Alliances help. But they will not save. God does that.
RELATED: A Pastor’s Calling
6. More
Too many times I’ve caught myself worshipping the idol of more. If I had more staff…more money…more lights…more team…more square footage…more fill-in-the-blank-with-whatever-your-current-obsession-is, then our church would be awesome.
Nope. God is awesome. And again, there’s nothing wrong with having more. It’s just that more will not be your salvation.
Faithfulness is measured in what you do with what you have.
And if you steward what you have well, guess what? Often (not always, but often), you eventually end up with more.
Focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have. That’s better leadership.
