How Do We Know We're Winning?

Had a good time so far with our Strategic Partner friends here at North Point. Earlier today, one of the partners talked about the difference between entering a football stadium and entering a church.  Thought it was a good point.

Though it wasn't his main point, the thought that struck me most deeply was that everyone in the stadium at a football game knows what's at stake and what a win looks like.  It's just so clear.

How come it's not that way at church?

Think about your expectations this weekend.  What does a win look like on Sunday? I think for a lot of Christians a win looks like this:

• I liked the sermon.
• They sang the songs I liked.
• It met my needs.
• I felt good about it.
• I talked to some people and had coffee.

Is that really what a win looks like?  Biblically?  Missionally?

What should winning look like or feel like for us?  Would it be better if it was something like this?

• When our unchurched friends come with us and want to come back.
• When someone decides to follow Jesus.
• When someone gets baptized.
• When we feel God speak to us and we actually change because of it.
• When a child whose parents are divorcing realizes someone else cares about them, because a small group leader made a connection with her.
• When a 13 year old boy in Xtreme finds a kid like him who's interested in Jesus.
• When a small group leader had a heart to heart with an 18 year old girl whose boyfriend just dumped her.
• When parents go home with their kids and begin to talk about faith with their kids. 
• When Christians actually grow in love (I'm increasingly convinced that love, not knowledge, is the key to maturity) and begin to respond to each other and the world with compassion.
• When we start praying for what breaks God's heart (a dying world) and stop praying only for what breaks our hearts?
• When you invited a friend and they didn't come this week, but they're watching your life and might accept your invitation next month when you ask again.
• When we welcome a stranger.
• When we fill several trucks up with tons of food for those in need in our community.

I could go on.  But what should we start celebrating in our churches?  What does a win look like? 

If the win continues to be "I liked the message and the music, got some coffee and talked to someone", get an iPod and go to Starbucks. You don't need church or the Kingdom of God.

So...what does a win look like to you?  What should a win look like to you?  What would give us all cause to celebrate on Sunday?

Comments

[Michelle]

Although you can get the same, less desirable type of "win" at starbucks with your ipod.. I think for a new potential church member that "weaker" win of a pleasant experience is the equivalent of breaking down the first wall he/she might have built around seeing the true 'wins' in life. Just because the next wall is more difficult and time-consuming to break down (ie. it may be a struggle to get more than surface enjoyment from churchgoing), doesn't mean they should give up on such a potential-filled venue and go to Starbucks. I didn't mean for that to sound harsh re:the blog.. just my two-cents.

[Carey Nieuwhof]

Hey Michelle,

You are totally right. That is a huge win for a first time guest. I guess I was thinking about long time attenders - "mature" Christians. What happens we continue to evaluate a "win" on terms like that? Are we really alive in the Kingdom of God then?

I am so glad you brought up what you did, because I am with you. I am totally into breaking down walls for new attenders. Thanks!

[Greg Watson]

I am now reading Andy Stanley's book on the 7 practices of a successful church ("Clarify the Win" is the first practice), so your blog today really hits a chord. The question that occurs to me now, is... How would we measure the win? I have some ideas, but they don't really fit in the comment box very well. I am interested in knowing what others have used.

[Ron Edmondson]

This is a great reminder. As a friend of change and growth, sometimes if I'm not careful I look to much at the overall numbers and overlook the individual stories of life change and growth.

I think the type win you are suggesting is harder to measure, but easier to see and know if it is occurring if it is what we are actually looking for.

I have used this example before. It is hard to measure all the parameters of a successful marriage, but I KNOW when I have one; at least at the time. If I'm in tune with my wife and I'm trying to love her and grow with her, I know without being told if it is working today or not. As I live life with her, each of us will let the other know when it's not working.

As we live lives with people, discovering their hurts, their dreams, their passions, their burdens; we will know when God is working in their life and bringing about positive changes. In that knowledge we can find our "win".

For those of us who need numbers, we can still measure those, because as we look for the win described above, the increase in numbers will naturally occur.

[Laurie McNair]

How do you know we are winning---by the way others respond to your actions. If we are being Christ-like this will be obvious to those that are watching--it will have a big impact on peoples lives but be sure you are being true to God and yourself. If you are not living what you preach the Kingdom will suffer.

This is an excerpt from a friends blog who is currently on a mission trip: "The children from the village show up each day with lots of enthusiasm for the worship, games, crafts and our company too. It has been very special getting to know many of these kids, spending time with them and sharing a little bit of camp magic.

Over the weekend we took a short break from Gilvánfa and hosted the local villagers of Markoc’s (where we are staying) for the day on Saturday. It really felt like a real, old fashion community gathering. In the morning a group of us walked up and down the street (the village consists of only 1 street and has a population of 62) inviting kids to join us for some crafts and activities in the morning and for everyone to join us for dinner at the house we are staying in. Most people were out in their yards and gave us a very friendly and positive response. Many villagers arrived in the evening with local desserts, it was a very delicious (nagyon finom) meal and the company was wonderful!"

They are winning!
God is moving within this mission field and He can do the same within our own local mission fields of our communities...

[Doris Schuster]

The list of things Carey mentioned as "signs that we are winning" touched me deeply. There are so many little examples of lives being touched and changed every day through a caring word, a simple prayer or a helping hand. We don't always hear about the positive results these bring, but the person on the receiving end is likely to go do the same for others. That's growth for the Kingdom of God. That's a win!
... I'm praying for my family and relatives to come to Connexus this Sunday to experience life change and I'm hoping they'll "want to come back"!