Start with Why.

From Paul Cameron:

It is important as we approach Dreaming Day:2 to not get too into the How and the What, but to start with, and focus on, the Why.

We may talk about a Covenant for churches, and the benefits and responsibilities of an alliance with Churches of Christ. In the background will be the idea of the emerging Ministry Contribution (current modelling is based on a percentage of a church’s tithes and offerings, on a variable scale depending on a church’s offering income). Another idea flagged in the Affinity discussion paper is the responsibility (and benefit) of churches of having “an intentional future viability conversation with Churches of Christ—Mission and Ministry when its membership falls below 25; and the idea of a church relinquishing management to Churches of Christ—Mission and Ministry when membership falls below 10”.

These are important. But they are really the Hows. Or maybe even the Whats.

They are maybe not as important as considering the things we value, the practices we share and our unifying dream. Our identity and purpose. The Why. 

Why did Jesus come to earth?
Why did he die on the cross and rise from the dead?
Why are you a follower of Jesus?
Why could you invite others to become followers of Jesus?
Why does your church exist?
Why did Churches of Christ start?
Why do Churches of Christ continue to exist?

Why.

And then we can begin to consider How we are called and empowered to live out the Why in our context, our town, our suburb, our street our workplace, our place of learning…

Looking forward to the conversation!

By the way I like what Simon Sinek says in this article about the Why. Food for thought.

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What’s your why?

What is our future?

A second article from Stephen Curkpatrick:

“Churches of Christ have their genesis in a particular focus. The defining reason for our existence is Jesus Christ as the source of life for the body of Christ, its impulse for worship and imperative to discipleship and mission in the world. This is the apostolic faith that was first given and the crucial factor in every renewal of Christian faith and testimony since.

 Churches of Christ have resisted the temptation to make any other factor of human life or activity a focus that would displace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our impetus is to resist as relative any other focus or agenda that might command our attention or obscure our purpose. …”

The rest of the article continues here.

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Are there things that you find ‘command our attention or obscure our purpose’ away from Jesus Christ?  What are these things and what could be done to avoid this changing of focus?  Please comment below…