How can churches measure the right things? | Is it a sin to buy and sell things in the church lobby? | Reminding people of the “why”
Episode Summary
In this episode, Derek and Danielle discuss the challenges of social media, buying and selling things inside the church lobby, and what Jesus would say about it. Pastor Scott Michel joins the conversation to share insights on measuring discipleship in the church, drawing from his background in sports medicine. Finally, Derek and Danielle talk about the importance of finding the “why” when meetings go off the rails.
SHOW NOTES
FROM THE PASTOR’S INBOX Is it a sin to buy and sell things in the church lobby? Derek addresses the question about whether it’s sinful to buy and sell things inside the church lobby, referencing Jesus’ actions in the temple:
- Jesus overturned tables because the temple had become a corrupt system exploiting people for profit, especially during Passover. His critique wasn’t about money itself but the deeper corruption of the temple system.
- The church today isn’t the temple. The church building is a resource for ministry, and selling coffee or event tickets isn’t the same as the corruption Jesus confronted. The focus is on supplementing worship, not charging people to access God.
- In churches, money collected through bookstore or coffee areas is used to fund ministry, not for personal profit. It’s a practical tool, not a barrier to worship.
REINVENTING CHURCH TOPIC
How Can Churches Measure the Right Things? Derek and Scott Michel explore how churches can go beyond just counting attendance and giving to measure real discipleship growth:
- Churches often default to measuring input metrics (like attendance) but need to focus more on output metrics (people’s spiritual growth) and impact metrics (collective impact of mature disciples on their communities).
- Scott’s Background: Drawing from his experience in sports medicine, Scott shares how outcome measures in his field can inform the way churches assess discipleship, moving people from awareness to mastery over time.
- Bloom’s Taxonomy: The levels of learning (awareness, competency, proficiency, mastery) are useful frameworks to track the spiritual growth of disciples in the church.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK?
Reminding People of the “Why” Derek and Danielle reflect on the importance of reminding people of the “why” in meetings when things go off track. Keeping the focus on the bigger mission helps align teams and bring clarity to discussions.
LINKS & RESOURCES
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