In my previous post, I provided a summary of a few principle transitions suggested by Thom Rainer in his book, “Scrappy Church” that are necessary for a church to remain relevant in reaching the lost and developing disciples in today’s world. Here are a few more for consideration:

    

• Move from despair to joy. We cannot allow the mechanics of the church to get so complex and difficult that the joy of ministry disappears. Ministry should not be a burden. If it is, maybe you are involved in the wrong ministry of the church and need to explore other areas! Minister with a Philippians 4:8 attitude, “rejoicing in the Lord always” (emphasis added)!
• Move from fear to courage. Leaders need to lead with a God-given confidence rather than a human-centered fear. This includes leaders from staff to deacons to Group leaders to worship team members to the grounds crew.
• Move from the impossible to the probable. Philippians 4:8 reminds us, “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” It’s possible to transform a church that has been sitting still into a thriving center for disciple making; to move from surviving to thriving.