Finding Your Rhythm (Part 3 of 6)
The Margin Principle
Last year I heard a message by Andy Stanley on margin. The message I heard dealt specifically with finances, but after listening to it I began to look at my life - and our church life - through the filter of living with margin.
At that time we were having 8 services per weekend at our Midtown location. I was preaching live at 6 of them. After experimenting with service times and formats for over a year (since Sunday services were full at our Midtown location), I learned some important things about myself and our church. Most of the lessons I learned are based on the principle of having margin built into most of our systems.
Here are the things I learned:
- Number of services per weekend: With my preaching style, I cannot preach live at more than 4 services per week without it affecting my health and my family life. So I made a life decision last December that I would never do this again except under extreme circumstances. I felt like God was OK with that decision.
- Length of services: Another thing we became sure of was that our worship services need to last for about an hour and 15 minutes for people to get the full Celebration experience. Part of the unique identity of our church has to do with spontaneity. We are at our best when we have time to “flow,” as we have come to refer to it. Some pastors have a style that works great with a more predictable, tighter service schedule, but I don’t. I had to find that rhythm.
- Time between services: We also learned that we need 30 minutes between services for appropriate egress (that’s people leaving and entering the facilities). If we have any less time than that, people don’t have the opportunity to connect with others, get the information they need, or check out serving and group opportunities. It feels more like we are herding cattle in and out - no one wants to feel like that!
The Application
What does all this mean for us moving forward?
It means that we will never again try to run 5 or 6 services a weekend at one campus, with live preaching, and that lasts only an hour. Yes, we gained more seating availability, but it cost us in other areas. It cost us in leading people to experience God. It also cost me in the area of my health.
Preaching that much every weekend really affected me.
It was not our God-ordained rhythm. Every pastor blessed enough to have a growing church will eventually have to find his rhythm in regard to church services. Once your two Sunday, primetime services are full, how many off-time services will you have? How much energy will you put into services at inconvenient times that while helping free up some primetime seats might cost you in other areas?
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8 Responses to “Finding Your Rhythm (Part 3 of 6)”
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Andy Stanley has a great book called “Choosing to Cheat” that everyone should read. In my experience, it’s very easy to “overcommitt” in ministry and end up sacrificing your health and time with your family. This might be one of the toughest things to admit, that you’re doing to much!
I’m glad to know my family is under leadership that recognizes when enough is enough…
sow a thought/reap an act
sow an act/reap a habit
sow a habit/reap a character
sow a character/reap a destiny
Pastor Stovall,
I think that the changes that the Church has made are very positive! Giving more time between the services really helps out with the flow!
To be honest with you, my wife and could listen to you preach 24/7! Last week was the best, but each week does get better.
Father, I thank You for keeping us ever closer to Your Beloved Son, our Saviour, Jesus. Please help us remember, Jesus that we need be even more enthralled with You - worshiping You in all we do - in spirit and in truth. Help us, Holy Spirit, to be humble enough to take Jesus’ yoke upon us and learn of Him, for He is meek, and lowly of heart, and we will find rest for our souls. It is Your joy, oh Lord Christ, that is our strength, empowering us with zoe life, causing us to be co-yoked with You - Your burden is light. Far too often we think it’s our job to build Your church - Father will take care of us ! You Yourself said You would build your church and this life that we know live, dead to sin, but alive to God through faith in Your righteous sacrifice, we live by the faith You Yourself give us Lord Jesus. It is Your faith, it is Your life, it is Your Spirit quickening our mortal bodies. Your Spirit sustains us and calls us ever onward and upward. Your grace, oh Lord God, is perfected in our weaknesses;show Yourself mighty on our behalf, to the praise of Your glory. Thank You for imparting Your perfecting wisdom and love to our pastors, their families, and those who lead us with such inspiring diligence and willing hilarity. You’re making us winsome and free to follow hard after You ! Thank You, Father for the glorious ways You chose to make Yourself know to us, among us, in our midst and through us. We praise and thank You for the continued outpouring of Your glory, bringing souls gifts of repentance and faith towards You. Continue to reveal to our spirits the mysteries of Your magnificence, the wonders of Your heavenly kingdom, and the light of Your glory in the face of our precious Lord and Christ, King Jesus ! Maranatha, Lord - Your Bride awaits !
I have been going to Celebration church for over 6 years. I just wanted to thank Pastor Stovall for his tireless and passionate preaching. It is the ‘real, relevant and enjoyable’ experience of God that makes people come back. Over the last few years I have brought along with me to church several non-christians including atheists. Almost everyone told me they were inspired ! Praise God and thank you Pastor Stovall.
Pastor,
I have experienced the same type of crossroads although on a much smaller scale. I was leading a men’s bible study on Saturday and Tuesday, a bible study at DANIEL on Mondays, and a group of men in the parking ministry. I was also spending endless hours ministering to the men of our church via email and telephone. I had to make some changes to my rhythm, so I could tend to my family. I praise God for the presence of Godly men in my life, and my authentic relationships with them, as they gave me some great wisdom and guidance about my schedule and how I should make some changes.
Press On
Jason
You know how some cooking salt shakers have the “pour” side and then the “sprinkle” side. Well, to get more salt in and get my cooking done quicker I sometimes choose the “pour” side and quite frankly I haven’t learned the art of the “pour” side yet because I end up ruining my meals.
I love to pour into people and ministry is like the endless black hole of opportunity and a place to spend your time and Gods wisdom…..but God has taught me I can certainly over do it and my health and family suffered because of it. He has made me more of a “sprinkled seasoner” type of gal which makes me well rounded as a wife, a mother and a teacher in wisdom to others around me wherever I go!
I think that we learned the same lesson. May God bless you and your family richly Pastor Stovall. Your obedience and discernment will cause you to serve God at your best which is the place I know you want to be. Well done.
Praise God for Celebration Church. My wife Linda and I started attending nearly a year ago and Wow!!! The oppurtunities to serve God is many. If a person comes and can’t find a ministry to serve in it’s because they are not looking. With this said, I have to be careful not to burn out and fade away. This brings to mind my testimony back when I was drinking and drugging. During that period of my life was a bit more than partaking in some recreational activities. I poured my heart and soul into looking, finding and using. Every waking hour which was many, for the less I slept the more time I had to look, find and use. I found myself old before my time and useless in many areas of life. Even today the effects of that lifestyle has effected relationships and my health for the longterm. After years of recover, I still had that emptiness that was never entirely filled. When I finally opended the door to Jesus (He had been knocking for quite some time. His knuckles was probably raw. I’ll look when I get to Heaven)
Well, when I finally let Him in and made that decision for Christ a few years ago and especially since coming to Celebration, I was like a bull in a china shop. So many ministries, I didn’t know which way to go. Like my past, I wanted to pour my heart and soul into serving the God who saved me from the depths of hell. Reading your post made me think of that and the adverse effect it can have, not only for me but others. Thankfully for Linda she will let me know when I begin to overextend myself. This helps me to remember the a, b, c’s of finding my rhythm:
a. Spend quit time with God in meditation and prayer.
b. Make the sacrifices of Jesus pesonal in my life.
c. Understand the difference between God’s will and my will.
God bless you Pastor, Kerri and your entire family for all you do.
Doug
Good word Pastor
Hearing the 2nd voice of God is what is critical, not blind obedience to the 1st set of instructions.
I wonder how many of us would have sacrificed our Isaac’s when the angel told Abraham not to do it? I’m sure I would have. After all, God told him to do it 1st so why not listen to what He said to do ?
Since there is no shadow of turning, why would He tell me to do something and then turn around and seemingly contradict Himself?
That is the true test- immediate obedience followed by discernment for that ‘next prompting’.
What sometimes appears as a contradiction is actually the real way out- the ram was available for sacrifice only after Abe heeded the ‘next’ instructions from God.
Better to err on the side of trying to do too much for God than to miss His prompting and blessings.