As the year wore on, disgruntled feelings began to rise more and more to the surface. Key members, sometimes not even able to articulate why, became dissatisfied. A Board member resigned and left the church. And, the staff—whose intentions were honorable as far as we knew—began to endure accusations which stated that we thought only in terms of the grandiose.
I particularly came on the firing line, with a certain number demanding how I could expect them to be involved in playing a role of destiny in terms of the twentieth-century church when they were mired in the minutiae of inscrutable personal problems. A member of several years stated, “I’m tired of students. I just want a church where I can come with my kids and have them taught about Christ.” We began to joke and say, “Whereas the charge to view fireworks at staff meetings is $10.00, the fee to attend our tension-laden Board and business meetings should be $50.00!”
Openness was not lacking, indicated by comments such as, “David, I really am beginning to distrust you. I think you want to be another Billy Graham. If you don’t stop this trend, it will be the death of the church.” We were brutally honest, and discovered with amazement that honesty was not the cure-all for every difficulty.
I began to react to criticism which had no positive application. And, my irritation did nothing to allay matters. A goodly number did not like the growth pattern. The alternative of splitting off was even less liked. We couldn’t stop the increase because it represented lives with needs. The cries—which essentially mounted to “Do something, we don’t like the way things are going!”—only magnified the dilemma.
On top of all of this, here were all those newcomers, thrilled with Circle Church and its philosophy, overwhelmed by the consistency of worshipful services, intrigued by the new experiences of interaction, delighted by the team staff approach, and enthusiastic to say the least. Many of those same people were later to express, “Why, we never dreamed the church was undergoing difficulties. If we had known, we would have prayed or tried to help somehow.”
Yet I am glad they were unaware. Their fresh inspiration deserved its full chance to flower.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
