Success Happens Through Life Change Part 2

Success = Life Change Through Equipping

Not just equipping students and adult leaders to do work inside of a church building.  That's great and all, but it's not what Jesus did.  When Jesus equipped believers, he trained them to live and share their fatih effectively with people in their circle of influence.  I love the words of Bill Hybels:

"So many churches consider 'success' the aggregating of ever-increasing numbers of people.  But that is only one measurement, and, in some cases, not even a good measurement of effectiveness.  A much better measurement of effectiveness is how many people in the church are envisioned and equipped to bring Christ to their arean of influence.  How many bring the power of the gospel into where they work, live, and play golf, and into the neediest areas of the community?"

Ministry success in the eyes of God is equipping people to BE the church 24/7--where they live, work, and play.  In Luke 10:21, after hearing the report of the seventy-two believers Jesus sent out, Jesus was "full of joy."  I think Jesus was full of joy because his circle, his disciples got it, they were equipped and trained to share the gospel effectively with people in their circle of influence.  I think it bring Jesus great joy even today when we move from being spectators to being participators.  My prayer is that I would be a leader that challenged people to move from the bench to the field!!!