An Alternative to Strategic Planning: Who are We?

As I read the letters in the New Testament and the messages to the churches in the Book of Revelation, I am struck by the differences in the local gatherings of believers. Many are engaged in conflict. We would have far fewer books in the New Testament if we did not have the epistles that the apostles wrote to churches dealing with hypocrisy, heresy, and just plain old sin! As the same time , the writers often point out the things that are good about a local fellowship and encourages the believers to do more of those activities.

Leadership often emerged from within the local church. An apostle or an itinerant evangelist might come alongside for a while, but leaders were usually identified within the body and called out to serve important functions in the life of the church. These individuals came from varied backgrounds. Therefore, there might be struggles over identity because the church included people with different racial, ethnic, or socio-economic profiles. Some might have been God-fearers (Jewish proselytes) before their conversion while others were pagans. Some were relatively well off while others struggled to get by.

They found commonality around one central truth: “Jesus is Lord.” This was the common profession of faith and baptism was the act of admission. At the same time, each person’s gifts were unique, and this prepared the church for mission where they were located. The challenge for them was to find the most appropriate way to be on mission with God in their setting.

As you seek the leadership of God for your community of faith today, what makes you unique as the people of God? Even when you are part of a larger denominational “tribe,” there will be some things about your church that make it unlike any other, even a church of the same denomination down the street.

How do we discern our uniqueness? In humility, we talk and prayer together, honoring each other’s giftedness, realizing that our distinctive composition and nature are not a source of pride, but preparation for servanthood—to be on mission with God in our community as only we can.

This is the first step in seeking the way forward for a congregation.

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