I'll tell you. We had another great Sunday service. I try really hard not to live and die by the numbers but as a pastor that is difficult. Every pastor will tell you that, and if they say they don't care about the numbers, well, let's just say, they do.
Numbers do matter though. When you read the scriptures many times God is asking about numbers and many times the writers give numbers. God even has a whole book in the Bible called Numbers. So they must matter to God.
But, the true leadership lesson here is, what numbers matter to God and therefore should matter to us? When it comes right down to it, the best numbers are those who have accepted Christ for the first time, those who rededicated their lives back to Christ and yes, even, how many showed up on Sunday. And also how many have been baptized into Christ.
Think about that, we have 110 seats in the theater we meet in. Each seat represents a soul that could be sitting there. Each seat taken on Sunday morning means there is someone there who gets to hear the life giving message of God's Word. Therefore that makes attendance important.
The least important numbers: finances. I don't see a whole lot of financial figures getting thrown around in the Bible. I think that is because the prophets and Apostles knew that God is ultimately in control of those numbers and He can and will provide in any way He wants to. The Bible says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. My old presbyter used to say, "And my daddy said, the potatoes under those hills too." That means God has the resources to provide for any and all of our needs.
And the best part is He has given us the Holy Spirit as our helper. We have the Great Commission of going into all the world and preaching the Gospel. Notice, (C0) mission. That means the Holy Spirit and us. We must cooperate with Him to reach this world. Also we have the power to do it through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8. You and I will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us, to preach to the world. Awesome.
Those numbers are important. Leadership lesson: Don't count the numbers that don't matter and there are numbers that do matter that we might not think so.
Numbers do matter though. When you read the scriptures many times God is asking about numbers and many times the writers give numbers. God even has a whole book in the Bible called Numbers. So they must matter to God.
But, the true leadership lesson here is, what numbers matter to God and therefore should matter to us? When it comes right down to it, the best numbers are those who have accepted Christ for the first time, those who rededicated their lives back to Christ and yes, even, how many showed up on Sunday. And also how many have been baptized into Christ.
Think about that, we have 110 seats in the theater we meet in. Each seat represents a soul that could be sitting there. Each seat taken on Sunday morning means there is someone there who gets to hear the life giving message of God's Word. Therefore that makes attendance important.
The least important numbers: finances. I don't see a whole lot of financial figures getting thrown around in the Bible. I think that is because the prophets and Apostles knew that God is ultimately in control of those numbers and He can and will provide in any way He wants to. The Bible says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. My old presbyter used to say, "And my daddy said, the potatoes under those hills too." That means God has the resources to provide for any and all of our needs.
And the best part is He has given us the Holy Spirit as our helper. We have the Great Commission of going into all the world and preaching the Gospel. Notice, (C0) mission. That means the Holy Spirit and us. We must cooperate with Him to reach this world. Also we have the power to do it through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8. You and I will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us, to preach to the world. Awesome.
Those numbers are important. Leadership lesson: Don't count the numbers that don't matter and there are numbers that do matter that we might not think so.
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