Check out this post from Gary Lamb, on “Thoughts Keeping Him Up”. It contains thoughts that are keeping him awake at night as they prepare to launch their first satellite campus. Here a few good ones.

• What is the bottom line cost we can launch campuses for without compromising our vision, style, and excellence?
• How quickly can I launch campuses?
• How important is the role of campus pastor?
• How do you duplicate the buzz and energy of our main campus?

Check out his post for more of his thoughts and questions about it.

One of the things God has been putting on my heart lately is the concept of dreaming big. You know, reaching for the stars, going for it at all costs, walking around with your head in the clouds. Yeah, that type of stuff. So I recently came across a copy of “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkenson and decided to buy it (it was $1, can’t beat that) and give it a read. I am loving it so far as it is really challenging me to re-think my dreams and how to go for them. Anyway I really just want to share some of my thoughts on Dreaming Big.

1. We serve a BIG God, who gives BIG Dreams. - Yes, you have a big dream and it is from a big God.
2. He gives us BIG dreams so we can go out and fulfill them. - God gives us those dreams to go after, not to sit around an reminisce about.
3. He can do more with your big dream, then you can even dream. - check out Ephesians 3:20
4. People will try to discourage you from going for your dream - Weather it is in the form of doubters, criticizers, or those “just trying to protect you” from failing. Don’t listen to them!

One of the areas He has stretched me with this is the area of church growth. I have seen too many times churches that just don’t dream big and don’t have the desire to grow, because they think that they should just be content, and that God doesn’t want them getting to big for their britches. What a load!

The God I serve wants to see people come to know His everlasting Love and know the life that is found in Him. Why would he not want your church to grow. For all you church leaders out there struggling with this, know this, God did not call you into ministry to stay where you are and not experience growth. He will never think you are self serving for trying to grow your church through reaching the lost. Other pastors might, church members may, outsiders might say things mean and untrue about you, but the God of the universe will be pleased that you are reaching the lost and seeing lives changed.

Big Dreams are from God, don’t be afraid to pursue them.

Having been fortunate enough to have the author of “Beyond Megachurch Myths” stop by my blog and leave a comment. I thought it would be cool to share some of the lessons that I am taking from the book, without giving too much away, so you will still and pick up a copy yourself.

Lesson #1: Know your target audience.

While this is no new concept for commercial marketers, when it comes to church marketing I think that this idea is still hard for church leaders to grasp. Often times we are consumed with the need to reach everybody, rather then figuring out who we are in the best position to reach and who our style and message will appeal to.

Yes, I know the message of Jesus is for everyone. I get that, but let’s look at a scenario and see what you think. We acknowledge the fact that the message is for everyone but let’s say that you are a 20-year-old , unbelieving, long haired, surfing, college student and you walk into a church in the south that is predominately 40+ year old and highly conservative. Is the message that you will hear at that church going to have as the same chance of reaching you that a message coming from a church of that is held on the beach in Southern California where afterward the pastor throws on his wet suit, grabs his board, and hits the waves with you? Do you see what I mean? The message is the same, but often times the delivery is what makes all the difference. The vision behind what the church wants to be, the goals of the church, its mission and its style all play a part in determining who we want to reach.

So if you want to experience success, stop trying to reach everyone. Obviously don’t turn people away, but when it comes to your marketing and communications efforts, know who you want to reach and make sure that you do.

G- “The church then had peace…. and it grew in strength and numbers. The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”Acts 9:31

R-The Fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, hmmm. Sounds kinda like an oxymoron to me. How do I walk in both fear and comfort at the same time. Well here is my take on it. Fear of the Lord means that we respect His awesome power and strive to do what is right in His sight. In the case of Acts9:31 I firmly believe that it is speaking of outreach. the believers had a healthy fear of the Lord and because of it they preached the gospel. The comfort of the Holy Spirit was there to encourage them along in this and give them peace after the time of intense persecution they had just suffered(and the times that were to come still). I think this tell us something about why we preach gospel. We preach not beacuse it seems like it will be a good time for it. We preach the gospel because that is what the Lord’s command to us was before he ascended to heaven. Whether it is a good time or not our fear of the Lord is what drives us to do this. The Comfort of the Holy Spirit is what will keep us going when the times get rough and it seems difficult, or it feels like noone is listening, or we face persecution.

If we want to see the Gospel continue to be spread then we must learn to walk in Fear and Comfot at the same time.

O-Oh Lord, Let me learn to walk in the fear of You. let that desire to do your will completely consume me.  Let me be a man who fears the Lord. As I step out in that fear to preach your word to this world give me the comfort of your spirit and the peace of knowing that I am doing your will.

W- As I am learning almost daily, I need to be out in the world preach the GREAT NEWS to people. I need the fear of the Lord to be my motivator to get out there.

THink about it!

So I just picked up “Beyond Megachurch Myths” tonight and even though I am only into the first chapter I can tell I am going to love this book. it is jam packed full of stats and analysis on megachurchs and what has made them successful. I am really going to be learning a lot from this book and hopefully gain some great insight for how I can contribute to my church. I will keep you posted