God's Purpose for the Church

Perhaps you see the benefit of purposeful leadership but have a difficult time staying the course. You sometimes attempt to measure what you do against God's purposes for the church but other times you just plow through all you have to do with little intentionality in why you are doing what you do.
 
Affects of Sporadic Purposefulness:
 
While it might be tempting to say that occasionally being purposeful is better than not thinking about it much at all, one can't help but wonder how much greater of an impact the ministry might have if ... And, how might it be affecting the people you lead?
 
People might get a sense that the ministry is floundering, not really going anywhere. They might feel confused about mixed messages they are receiving due to leaders vacillating. That can affect their desire to be involved or give sacrificially to the work. People tend to be more willing to give of their time and resources to what they believe will make a difference.
 
Causes of Not Persisting or Staying the Course:
 
What does God look for?
 
What will it take?

• Perseverance and self-control are in the middle of a list of qualities that must be added into our lives to get us from faith to love.
  

  "Make every effort to add ... these qualities ... For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 1:5-8)

  Notice verse three which provides the context for acquiring these qualities: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him."
   
  
• Patience, faithfulness, and self-control are among the fruit of the Spirit with love leading the list (Gal. 5:22-23). -- Notice that the Spirit develops this fruit within us and so the context of these verses deal with walking in or living by the Spirit.
   
  

To Do: Take time to look up the verses above under "What does God look for?" Turn the verses into prayers that God builds these traits into you more and more in increasing measure.
 
 
To Think About: Lining up with God's purposes for the church requires consistent and persistently acknowledging Him in all your ways. What can you do to remind yourself to stop before acting and take a more purposeful approach to leadership?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

To Read: Living Life with Purpose is a Process with Great Potential
 
 
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