Does Your Church Function as a Coordinated Whole?

God designed the Church to function as a coordinated whole. — Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit . . . (Eph. 4:3-7)

For a church, with all of the diversity in its members and ministries, to come together as one coordinated whole, we need to . . . Continue reading Does Your Church Function as a Coordinated Whole?

Motivation for Coordination

If our greatest purpose as a Church is to love the Lord our God, which Jesus identified as the Greatest Commandment, then all we do with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength should be because of and for Him. If we all remember that, then ministry is no longer about pleasing ourselves, following our own agendas, or appeasing other people. Love for God provides great motivation for doing ministry together in a coordinated way. Why? . . . Continue reading Motivation for Coordination

Means of Coordination

The Church coming together as a coordinated whole will take more than good intentions or striving on our part. It begins by being motivated by our love for God but must also include love for one another.

Most people find it hard to work together in unity and harmony with people they don’t love. Even human love and affection tends to make people more cooperative with each other. But . . . Continue reading Means of Coordination

Coordination Integral to God’s Design

Consider God’s design for the Body of Christ to function interdependently. We need each other. If we don’t purposefully work to coordinate ministries and programs in the church with one another, we can find ourselves rather splintered, isolated, one part doing their thing and the other doing their thing. When that happens, the Body as a whole doesn’t tend to see much organic growth. . . . Continue reading Coordination Integral to God’s Design

Coordination Governed by the Great Commission

Given the make-up of today’s world, leaders face a major challenge in providing coordination in the Church. We live in a world where people want to do what is right in their own eyes. They desire choices. At the same time, we also live in a world where people long to be a part of something big, something that makes a difference, something going somewhere. Church leaders must help people see God’s big picture plan as worth their time and effort and at the same time . . . Continue reading Coordination Governed by the Great Commission

Coordination Showcases Christ

When referring to coordination as a leadership skill, we must qualify that for the Church it means more than getting people to outwardly conform and work together as a unit. Rather, we’re coming together in true unity — the kind of coordination that showcases Christ.

Lessons from Ephesians about How Coordination Showcases Christ . . . Continue reading Coordination Showcases Christ

Coordination in the Church is Possible

Look at some key verses depicting the need for coordination within the Church: . . . That sounds great but how do we get a diverse group of people to work together as a coordinated whole while still maintaining their uniqueness? How do we get the more vocal and aggressive members to give the more timid and laid back members the time and space to do their part? How do we get the more insecure members to speak up and do their part?

True coordination requires . . . Continue reading Coordination in the Church is Possible

Coordination Founded Upon the Gospel

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines coordination as 1) “the process of organizing people or groups so that they work together properly and well” and 2) “the harmonious functioning of parts for effective results”.

In the Church then, we’re talking about bringing together and organizing a diverse group of people so they harmoniously function together. To truly come together as one, we need more than the external conformity. We need . . . Continue reading Coordination Founded Upon the Gospel

Grace to Hurdle Obstacles to Coordination

When we as a Church with all of our individual differences and various programs seek to come together as a coordinated whole, we’ll face obstacles along the way. Some will plow head-on into whatever, or whoever, stands in their way because they’re unwilling to change. Others will skirt around the obstacles, pretending they don’t exist, never dealing with them. But, those rooted in grace will hurdle obstacles to coordination, acknowledging their existence and pulling on God’s grace to overcome. . . . Continue reading Grace to Hurdle Obstacles to Coordination