Does Size Matter? Blog Post By Craig Groeschel

I Read This On Craig Groeschel's Blog & Wanted To Share It With All You!!

I love small businesses. Four years ago, I bought my only television from a local, small business. They delivered it, set it up, and called a week later to see how I liked it. Great service.

I decided to get a second television so I could watch the Superbowl while my kids watched “18 Kids and Counting” or whatever they’ll be watching. So I went back to the small business. The sales guy remembered me and showed me four different televisions that might work. He quoted me a price. I decided to compare prices and went to a mega-store. The salesman showed me probably 40 different options, all priced considerably less than the smaller store. My heart was with the small business.

But I bought from the big business…

Why? They had more options and better prices.

In a multi-site church, you can worship with a smaller group of people at your campus. You can be deeply involved with Christ in your specific community. At the same time, you can experience the options and excellence of the large church.
This certainly isn’t the only or best means of doing ministry, but we have found it effective to minister to those God has sent and reach more along with way.

Church Planting

I know there are a ton of pastors out there right now thinking about starting a church. This excites me. I have been researching church starts, how to start a church, successful church starts, and all kinds of other resources on starting a church, and I have to be honest with you for a second, it can be somewhat overwhelming. There can be this feeling that creeps in that causes you to think, "Am I Able To Start A Church?" "Will Anyone Really Attend?" "Does This Specific Community Need Another Church?" And I am sure that many of you out there have many other questions that bombard your thoughts as you think about starting a church. Here is the question that tops all the other question for me as I get ready to leap into the unknown, "What If My Church Doesn't Become As Successful As Some Of The Churches I Have Read About?"

Don't Allow That Question To Paralyze You! Starting a church is all about reaching people for Jesus Christ! Yes, there have been some churches out there that have grown fast, and that might happen to you! I get stoked as I follow those pastors and see what God is doing through those Churches, but the thing that gets me even more excited is seeing what God is going to do through your church start! Your church hasn't hit the community yet, that means that anything is possible! If you reach 1 person, was it worth the start? If you reach 3 was it worth the start? If you reach 10,000 on any given weekend was it worth the start? The answer to this is obviously YES! I am right now working through this process myself, so stay with me over the next couple of months and let's start some churches together! I look forward to hearing what God does through your church start! Don't back down! Stay the course you believe God has put you on!

Don't Re- Tire, RE - FIRE!!

Inside of my little brain has been many thoughts that I sometimes don't understand. I have gone through a whirlwind of emotions and feelings about different topics that I have been faced with. I have prayed more than ever before in my life, and I believe it is time for us as leaders, bosses, business owners, teenagers, and Christians to refuse to Re- Tire, or accept the status quo with the thought that things will never work out the way we originally thought, and begin to position ourselves to RE - FIRE, get excited about our future, and move forward with a passion for the things yet to come. YOUR BEST DAYS ARE NOT BEHIND YOU!! Your best days are AHEAD!! RE- FIRE!!! Don't settle!! Let's position ourselves to RE - FIRE! The Best Is Yet To Come!

A Little Extra

H Jackson Brown Jr once said, "A racehorse that consistently runs just a second faster than another horse is worth millions of dollars more. Be willing to give that extra effort, that separates the winner from the one in second place." I love this audacious statement. When you read this statement you can tell that there is a high expectation for human beings to go the extra mile. If you're in business, go the extra mile for your client or customer. If you are a pastor, go the extra mile for your community and congregation. If you are a teacher, go the extra mile for your students. If you are a mother or a father, go the extra mile for your children. There is no better time to practice going the extra mile than today! Be A Person Who Is Willing To Do A Little Extra!

Go The Extra Mile

In life, most of us walk the first mile. We'll do what's required. We'll perform what's expected. If you want to keep your job, stay married, and have friends, the first mile is the bare minimum. The first mile is secure, it sometimes feels like a very long mile, but none the less, it's secure and comfortable. But what about the Extra Mile? What about the mile that no one really sees coming? What about the mile that becomes a surprise to on - lookers? This is the mile where we find a ton of fulfillment. Why are so many people unfulfilled daily? Could it possibly be because the extra mile is the mile less traveled? I believe that when we decide we are going to go the extra mile on a daily basis we will experience a life of fulfillment. What can we do today to go the extra mile? Choose one thing, do it, and see what happens. This is going to be a ton of fun! Enjoy feeling fulfilled today. When your head hits your pillow, smile, you went the extra mile!

Do More Than The Minimum

Last week I talked about adopting a "Rubber Band Mentality." When stretched, a rubber band does what it was purposed to do. Here are some phrases that are intended to stretch us. No, they are not easy, but worth applying to our lives -

I will do more than belong - I will participate
I will do more than care - I will help
I will do more than believe - I will practice
I will do more than be fair - I will be kind
I will do more than forgive - I will forget
I will do more than dream - I will work
I will do more than teach - I will inspire
I will do more than give - I will serve
I will do more than live - I will grow
I will do more than suffer - I will triumph

Enjoy being stretched this week!!! Remember "Rubber Band Mentality!"

Church Life Part 3

Church Life Is Awesome! Keep that in mind as I talk about being stretched for just a minute. A rubber band is a very interesting tool we use in life. If a rubber band just sits on our counter top, it is not being used for its intended purpose. A rubber band finds its purpose when it is stretched! I Want To Be Stretched! I believe that if we adopted a "rubber band mentality" the word of God would spread like wild fire all across America. Our Churches would begin to fill up, our work life would be full of excitement, and our families would be stable. Be The Church Today, Allow God To Stretch You In Any Area He Desires, Yes, It Hurts, But The Payoff Is Eternal!