I’m a big fan of being “Kingdom Minded.” Craig Groeshel wrote a couple of years ago on his blog, “We should not just focus on our ministry, but embrace, celebrate, and partner with God’s Spirit in our cities, countries, and around the world.” I’ve never thought for a minute that Cross Point does church better than anyone else. Our way of doing church is not the only way, nor the best way. We are one of hundreds of thousands of churches that makes up the body of Christ around the world.
I believe the future effectiveness of the church will be directly tied to our ability not only to get along with one another, but in our desire to share resources, ideas, missions, buildings, and ministries.
I was told early in my ministry that smaller churches “get it” but most larger churches are too concerned with their own kingdoms and egos to partner with other churches. I’ve found that thought to be so untrue. In fact, here’s a couple of contrary examples.
The first example comes from Long Hollow Baptist, a fast growing contemporary church running around 6,000 just up the road in Hendersonville, TN. Their senior pastor David Landrith sought me ought a few years ago when Cross Point started to really grow and has been an incredible friend, mentor, and sounding board. When we announced we were launching Cross Point North (just a few miles from their main campus) David was one of the first ones to contact me and not only welcome us to the area, but offer all kinds of contacts and resources if we needed them.
A few weeks ago (on the first Sunday of our Cross Point North launch) David invited me to speak at their staff retreat. Invitations like that communicate to his church and staff that they are not in competition with other churches in the community but rather partnering with them. That’s Kingdom thinking!
My second example (and the inspiration for this post) comes from Perry Noble the pastor of New Spring Church in Anderson, South Carolina (Yeah, I don’t know where it really is either). What I do know is God is using Perry and New Spring in some amazing ways. The fact that they are running over 11,000 people in their weekend services is amazing, but that’s only the beginning. A couple of weeks ago they baptized over 900 people in one stinking day!
So I get a twitter from Perry yesterday afternoon that he met a woman at his church who was from Nashville and he told her all about Cross Point and wants to get her connected here. My first thought is with everything going on there how and why would he take the time to twitter me concerned with getting some random woman he had just met connected with our church? Then later in the afternoon in the middle of his four services he CALLS me still excited and determined to get me this woman’s contact information so I can call her.
I’ve always known Perry is relentlessly committed to growing New Spring Church. Yesterday, he proved to me he’s equally as committed and passionate about growing THE CHURCH.
Guys like David and Perry are having a tremendous impact in their own churches, but the eternal impact they will make will go far beyond the four walls of their church to the larger Church. They get it. It’s not about their name. It’s not about the name of their church. It’s about making Christ famous and His church of all sizes and styles coming together to communicate His hope to a watching world.
What are some ways you think the church should be more Kingdom minded?
