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June 9, 2006
Time Management: Don't Overdo Excellence!
At one point in my tenure as a leader, as I look back now, I overdid it on the aspiration toward that big word, excellence! What was once a good idea, actually a no-brainer, the concept of excellence, has now been applied far out of balance. Now, at virtually every church of over 500 across the US, the morning service is timed down to the precise minute. I see nothing wrong with timing things out. In a sense, that sort of approach keeps us honest and avoids wasting people’s precious time, and they are investing their limited time with us each weekend. Don’t ever forget that fact. People don’t have to suffer through many poorly executed weekend celebrations before they decide that leadership doesn’t respect the gift of time they are handing over to them in one-hour chunks. They will, sooner or later, abandon the church that is wasteful of their time.
On the other side of the coin, an over-emphasis on the value of excellence, which I now see all around me across the US, kills the attitude of fun. People can sense an attitude of overkill on the serious end of things. If you think that people will forsake a church that is wasteful of people’s time, they will even more quickly forsake a place that is deadly serious. There is nothing that kills a great atmosphere faster than an inflexible attitude that comes out of a weekend service that resembles something that looks more like the Tonight Show than it does a gathering of Christ-followers who are getting together to experience the presence and power of God and the simple teaching of God’s word with lots of practical applications.
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I think the balance in excellence here becomes what type of excellence you are striving for. Let me explain.
I would think a non-negotiable is what I would call relational excellence. Are we relationally showing the love of Christ every, and I mean every time we come together to worship. Is there a lazy response of the church of someone who may be in our midst who needs relationship or is there a passionate pursuit of conversation and knowing new and seeking people. When it comes to relational excellence, we better hit it out of the park every week so that hospitality gift is in full use in our worship together.
The next kind of excellence is what I will call preparation excellence. Is it evident that the people who are leading music, preaching, leading have prepared ahead of time? I think this burden lays on everyone, on the church members as well as the church staff. 1 Corinthians 14 implies each of us must prepare for worship in bringing an encouragement for one another. Corporate worship is to be an overflow of our heart. If a preacher gets up and it is obvious she hasn't prepared, then what in the world is she doing up there? If she isn't "prepared" then is she depending on the Holy Spirit to move through her? In short, is she sharing her heart?
The third kind of excellence is production excellence. This means, did every thing run smoothly, did we flow nicely etc. This can become important but I think it is the least important of these three. but let me say this, if you are trying to reach this culture you should strive to not distract people. Paul makes reference to this as well in how people should only speak in tongues one at a time etc.
The scriptures speak to all of these principles. Our challenge is to live the scriptural principle and worship in the Spirit, not worship by our own strength and excellence.
I would think a non-negotiable is what I would call relational excellence. Are we relationally showing the love of Christ every, and I mean every time we come together to worship. Is there a lazy response of the church of someone who may be in our midst who needs relationship or is there a passionate pursuit of conversation and knowing new and seeking people. When it comes to relational excellence, we better hit it out of the park every week so that hospitality gift is in full use in our worship together.
The next kind of excellence is what I will call preparation excellence. Is it evident that the people who are leading music, preaching, leading have prepared ahead of time? I think this burden lays on everyone, on the church members as well as the church staff. 1 Corinthians 14 implies each of us must prepare for worship in bringing an encouragement for one another. Corporate worship is to be an overflow of our heart. If a preacher gets up and it is obvious she hasn't prepared, then what in the world is she doing up there? If she isn't "prepared" then is she depending on the Holy Spirit to move through her? In short, is she sharing her heart?
The third kind of excellence is production excellence. This means, did every thing run smoothly, did we flow nicely etc. This can become important but I think it is the least important of these three. but let me say this, if you are trying to reach this culture you should strive to not distract people. Paul makes reference to this as well in how people should only speak in tongues one at a time etc.
The scriptures speak to all of these principles. Our challenge is to live the scriptural principle and worship in the Spirit, not worship by our own strength and excellence.
Theres a great deal of truth in what was said. We value excellence and 1 upping our experiences. I've been inspired by raving fans, good to great, and the 5 star church amongst many other works. I fully believe God is a god of excellence. We should strive for excellnce but not perfection. Perfection is what gets us in trouble.
One other thing I have noticed is that love and relationships trump excellence. In the early days of the church we didn't have much more than love and relationships and the church grew inspite of having a terrible facility, inspite of the fact that are worship was by boom box, even when the kids church was in the locker room of an elementary school right near dirty socks.
I love excellence and embrace it today. The bells and wistles that come with it do help get people in the door, but it is love and relationships that keep them there. Without it, they will walk right out the back door.
Infact, we grew our church using many of the same things Steve preaches. We call them simple acts of Christian Kindness.
One other thing I have noticed is that love and relationships trump excellence. In the early days of the church we didn't have much more than love and relationships and the church grew inspite of having a terrible facility, inspite of the fact that are worship was by boom box, even when the kids church was in the locker room of an elementary school right near dirty socks.
I love excellence and embrace it today. The bells and wistles that come with it do help get people in the door, but it is love and relationships that keep them there. Without it, they will walk right out the back door.
Infact, we grew our church using many of the same things Steve preaches. We call them simple acts of Christian Kindness.
Thanks for the great and timely thoughts. I'm planning an article for PROfile, a newsletter/web resource for church office staff on Excellence vs. Perfection. I'll probably include the link to this so my readers can read your thoughts. God seems to be confirming that this topic is the next one I should present to them. Thanks for sharing!
