We must start with our ‘output’ in mind

Reflections on the Church:
What business are we in?

“The total activity of the church in its worship, its preaching, its teaching, its pastoral care should have the purpose of helping the ordinary membership of the church to become what they are in Christ” (Mutual Ministry by James Fenhagen).
What is the purpose of the activities of your church? Sometimes we are so busy we forget why we are in this business.
At a recent church seminar, the leader said that every institution must ask questions about “input, throughput and output.” If you want to produce wool sweaters, you must begin with sheep. Then you can decide the activities necessary to make their wool into sweaters.
In church life we can be so preoccupied with the “throughput” activities as ends in themselves that we forget what we are hoping to produce. We must start by deciding “output” before we make plans for “input” and “throughput.”
If we are in the business of producing disciples of Jesus Christ who will be prepared for service and witness to God’s shalom, what do we need to be doing to accomplish our mission?
What would we have to change to make that output happen? Who are the hurting and hoping people we would invite to be participants in a redemptive church that serves God’s purposes?
As a leader in your congregation, would you be willing to ask these questions? Would you be open to God’s spirit in coming up with some new directions for your church?