Comments on: Fear Wrapped in Pride http://www.carlthomas.net/fear-wrapped-in-pride Father, Christian, Preacher, Husband (not necessarrily in that order) Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:32:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Carl http://www.carlthomas.net/fear-wrapped-in-pride/comment-page-1#comment-323 Carl Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:28:24 +0000 http://www.carlthomas.net/?p=225#comment-323 There is a real battle regarding size. I am currently leading a small church. (Though statistically it is an average size church in America.) I have come to the realization that churches that have a demonstration of the Spirit of God rarely grow huge. If you look at the largest churches from Spirit-filled movements, you will see that their services are not true reflections of the denomination. The largest Vineyard church that I know of does not allow gifts to be practiced on Sunday morning. So I have to come to peace with what God has called me to while at the same time not making excuses for lack of growth. But it is this fear of failure that causes ministers to give God the old heave-ho in search of the brass ring of attendance. I would love a church of 8 billion but I am not going to do it at the expense of God's presence and transforming power in the service. And regarding your comment on judging performance by the crowd's reaction: You are right, that is a deadly trap to fall into. We have to be at peace with our call and just be obedient to God while striving for excellence in all we do in His name. There is a real battle regarding size. I am currently leading a small church. (Though statistically it is an average size church in America.) I have come to the realization that churches that have a demonstration of the Spirit of God rarely grow huge. If you look at the largest churches from Spirit-filled movements, you will see that their services are not true reflections of the denomination. The largest Vineyard church that I know of does not allow gifts to be practiced on Sunday morning.

So I have to come to peace with what God has called me to while at the same time not making excuses for lack of growth.

But it is this fear of failure that causes ministers to give God the old heave-ho in search of the brass ring of attendance. I would love a church of 8 billion but I am not going to do it at the expense of God’s presence and transforming power in the service.

And regarding your comment on judging performance by the crowd’s reaction: You are right, that is a deadly trap to fall into. We have to be at peace with our call and just be obedient to God while striving for excellence in all we do in His name.

]]> By: Don Mancha http://www.carlthomas.net/fear-wrapped-in-pride/comment-page-1#comment-322 Don Mancha Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:16:08 +0000 http://www.carlthomas.net/?p=225#comment-322 Whenever I talk to another preacher and they ask me how's the church doing they always want to know how many folks are you running. To a lot of us we judge our performance by the size of the crowd and their reaction to us. It took me a while to get it but I've come to insight that for me success is simple doing what God told me to do, by the power of the Holy Ghost. That way He (God) gets all the glory and it makes my job a whole easier... Whenever I talk to another preacher and they ask me how’s the church doing they always want to know how many folks are you running. To a lot of us we judge our performance by the size of the crowd and their reaction to us.

It took me a while to get it but I’ve come to insight that for me success is simple doing what God told me to do, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

That way He (God) gets all the glory and it makes my job a whole easier…

]]> By: Tracey http://www.carlthomas.net/fear-wrapped-in-pride/comment-page-1#comment-229 Tracey Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:25:15 +0000 http://www.carlthomas.net/?p=225#comment-229 amen! Holy Ghost power is the answer! amen! Holy Ghost power is the answer!

]]> By: Steven Brady http://www.carlthomas.net/fear-wrapped-in-pride/comment-page-1#comment-228 Steven Brady Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:31:21 +0000 http://www.carlthomas.net/?p=225#comment-228 AMEN AMEN AMEN! AMEN AMEN AMEN!

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