What’s The Big Idea?

Is it vision?  Is it imagination?  Is it inspiration?

Maybe it’s the pressure of expectation.  Maybe it’s all about the process, and not so much about the fulfillment.

Maybe it’s for someone else.

Whatever it is, I don’t know how to define it any longer.

Pastors are supposed to be men of vision.  We are expected to have fresh and innovative ideas.  We are expected to initiate these ideas in order to maximize our: outreach, effectiveness and congregational growth.  The hip young pastors who are leading some of the fastest and most innovative ministries in America are said to be men of vision.  They’re leaving their mark, and the funny thing is… their marks all look the same.

They’re getting book deals from Zondervan.  (just because they write one good book, doesn’t mean they can write two more…)

They are peddling outrageously priced training materials on their web-sites. (for granted, some guys are putting free stuff out there, like Andy S. -  thanks Andy)

They are hosting, speaking at and attending the conferences that appear to be designed around the outrageously priced stuff they are peddling on the web, thus maximizing their output.

They are blogging.  What about?  The stuff they do, which, by the way, is also all the stuff I can’t do because: I am not a speed reader,  I have a very limited budget and I have a very large, very demanding family.

They are coaching.  They have coaching networks. They are being coached to coach.  They are peddling outrageously priced coaching to those who want to be coached.  (since when did “coaching” become such a popular term in the church?)

They are developing ideas that carry the new mandatory labels of:  ‘innovative’ and ‘relative’.

I don’t really mean to criticize my fellow church planting pastors.  (except for the part about the “outrageous prices”).  They are doing an incredible job, lives are being changed and many people are hearing the gospel.  Good stuff is happening and God is using them in a HUGE way.

Their hearts are good, their work is good and they surely love Jesus.  So why is it, THAT I FEEL SO PRESSURED to do what they are doing… to have the vision, to come up with the innovative ideas, to mimic their programs and read their material???

I’ve come up with some pretty good ideas.  The most significant one is Overflow.  I’ve worked on this idea for years and have publicly announced that THIS IS WHAT CCCVILLE IS GOING TO DO, YOU CAN BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR FOR SURE!!!    -But we’re not doing Overflow.  I don’t feel like I have permission.  I feel like it would be a complete and total work of my flesh if I tried to make it happen right now.  I don’t think our congregation is ready.

I had two ideas for ministry on the down town mall this summer.  I wanted to do a simple vs. by vs. Bible study through Mark every other Friday.  There are soap-box preachers down there giving the church a black eye.  Someone should be preaching the Word from the Word with humility and not just condemning people to Hell from a spirit of self righteousness.   I also wanted to send out people in groups of two every Friday night for the purpose of evangelism.  But not like it’s normally done.  They aren’t going to shove tracts in everybody’s face hoping that they might get a break-through with one person.  Instead, they are going to go out, asking God to lead them to one person in need.  There’s a bit more to it, but this is the quick run-down.  Well, I’ve been looking over my calendar, and I have/had 4 free Fridays from June – August.  GREAT IDEAS FOR MINISTRY.  I’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THEM.  I CAN’T DO THEM.

Which brings me back to the beginning.

Is it vision?  Is it imagination?  Is it inspiration?

Maybe it’s the pressure of expectation.  Maybe it’s all about the process, and not so much about the fulfillment.

Maybe it’s for someone else.

Whatever it it, I don’t know how to define it any longer.

I don’t intend on receiving the self induced pressure anymore.  I’m glad that others are having a great experience with their: books, training materials, coaching, time management, productivity and their innovation.

I’m not like that.  I can come up with great ideas for ministry… but, they’re probably just that: (my great ideas).  For now, I’m discouraged by those great ideas.  Why did I go through all of that?  (especially with Overflow)  Is it something for someone else?  Is it for the future?  Was it just about the process?

I don’t know.

From here on out, I’m investing more into the preaching.  I’m investing more into word studies.  I’m investing more into research.  I’m investing more into the preparation and the presentation.  I’m not going to feel pressured to: come up with innovative ideas, or read more John Maxwell books, or attending hip “one word titled” conferences.  Innovation and vision…  they can happen naturally on their own, when I’m not feeling pressured to make them happen.

Anyone want a good ministry plan?  Overflow is available.  It’s yours for free.