Radical Together by @plattdavid : Book Review
"...you and I are not intended to plunge down the mountain of radical obedience alone."
On page one of the book's introduction, I had a sneaking suspicion that I was going to like this book. I come from a 'group life' perspective and believe that very little about following Christ is a individual activity. It only makes sense that being 'radical' in our faith is best lived out in the context of biblical community!
I haven't (yet) read Radical, Platt's preceding text in which he challenges believers to 'take back their faith from the American dream.' However, it is now on my reading list. In Radical Together, Platt challenges the local church to adopt a radical focus on the lost. Two chapters in particular were of interest to me.
In the first chapter, Platt starts off hitting straight on with a challenge for local church leaders to to put everything on the table. To sacrifice the GOOD for the so that the church can accomplish the GREAT commission. He makes a great argument regarding church programming and how the very things we do in the church can impede the church members from actually living out the mission of the church! There is, of course, nothing wrong with church programs and ministries. However, often, churches can get so busy with internally focused progamming we fail at making a significant impact in the lives of those who do not yet know Christ.
The fifth chapter, Our Unmistakable Task, also struck a cord with me. Platt's call to affect world missions, not just local missions resonated with me. Probably because I grew up in a missionary home as a young child. (David: I can actually remember seeing both black and green mamba's while living in Kenya and share your dislike for snakes - you'll have to read chapter six for that story.) Platt doesn't present world missions as the priority over local missions, it isn't a case of either/or but rather both/and.
One of the bonus pieces in this book is an included Small Group Discussion Guide. It isn't just a time to rehash a chapter of the book but instead a time to talk about what it would look like in your life if you were living radically.
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NB: I received a free copy of Radical Together from Multnomah Publishing for the purpose of this review.
You can pick up your own copy at: Amazon or Christian Book Distributors. Both of these providers offer electronic version for your eReader.
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Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code : Book Review
Culture eats vision for lunch! You can change the look of the platform but nothing has changed until you address the culture.
Samuel Chand presents a great look at what prevents successful change and transition in "Cracking Your Church's Culture Code."
Chand presents the idea that it is a church's culture that needs to be addressed even more so than an eloquently articulated vision or strategy. Culture is about the people, and deep lasting change will never happen unless the culture is addressed. Presenting vision, implementing strategy and not addressing the deep issues of culture will result in resistance to the vision and strategy.
He identifies five categories of church culture - Inspiring, Accepting, Stagnant, Discouraging and Toxic - and goes on to give some of the defining characteristics of each category. Once the category has been determined, Chand provides seven leverage points that can specifically be addressed to change the culture. He uses an acronym of the word CULTURE; Control, Understanding, Leadership, Trust, Unafraid, Responsive, Execution. Chand also anticipates many of the key issues that will arise during times of organizational culture shift.
Having served on two churches that attempted significant transitions, this book could have been used a few years before it was actually written! This is a book that every church leader who is looking to impact deep long-lasting change should have.
Cracking Your Church's Culture Code from Leadership Network on Vimeo.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the this book for the purposes of blogging about it from Leadership Network.
In the church, who are the customers?
I'm reading through Ken Blanchard's book, Leading at a Higher Level. One of the points he makes is that every organization has two types of customers. The external customer, the outside person you are trying to serve, and the internal customer, the inside person that is employed and supported by other employees in the organization. Both sets of customers are important for a healthy organization.
Churches that believe the regular attender is the customer are churches that do not understand the priesthood of all believers. A firm understanding of the priesthood of all believers leads to others focused thinking. In a department store, front line employees are served by behind the scenes personnel (stock personnel serve the floor associates). The floor associates are the 'customers' of the stock personnel. The floor associate serves the external customer, the paying customer who has a need that is being met through the store. The most important customer in the chain is the external customer, without them, the whole chain dies. However, this does not mean that you can neglect the internal customer! Without the internal customer, the chain will also die.
In the church world, there are both internal and external customers.
Misdiagnosed
When I go to my doctor because I'm not feeling good he goes through a process to diagnose what it really wrong with me. He starts asking some basis questions that narrow the options of my illness. "Where does it hurt?" "My elbow." He has now narrowed down the potential diagnosis... I clearly don't have a broken ankle.
When dealing with situations in our organization, we need to start by asking the right questions. Asking the wrong question won't get you the right answer. In fact, asking the right question won't usually get us the right answer! Asking the right questions will get us to the right answer!
The Path Leads Somewhere
A friend in a former church that I served used to say of parenting, "Pick your path and live with where it leads." No parent looks at their newborn and dreams of an emotionally broken, codependent, needy and/or abusive future for their child. No parent in their right mind would do that. Every parent wants the best for their children.
And yet, plenty of children grow up and become emotionally broken, codependent, needy and/or abusive. The difference is the path, not the intent! Often times we make decisions with intended consequences... the outcomes we are trying to accomplish. There are also unintended consequences. Unintended consequences can sometimes be positive, but they may also be negative.
Lately I've been trying to ask myself, "What are the potential unintended consequences to this decision?" More often than not it is impossible to see into the future and predict all the consequences of a decision. However, intentionally asking the question helps me look past the decision as a strategic step to address an issue. I have a better chance of keeping the ultimate goal in mind.
Parenting isn't the only arena in life where the path we choose leads to different destinations with multiple unintended consequences. Some other paths to choose carefully include:
- marriage
- employment
- spiritual growth
- education
- personal finances
The list can go on. Pick you path carefully, it does lead somewhere. There are consequences, intended and unintended to every decision we make.
What I'm Thinking...
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