The Main Ingredient

Right now I'm sitting in a hotel room in the Endless Mountains of PA., what a beautiful place God has created. During my travels to this place I had a lot of time to reflect between my meetings with church planters. The question that surfaced in my mind today was "is there anything new that hasn't already been said or tried to reach people for Christ?" I've heard so many things over the last month from church planting networks or church planters who are implementing "new things" in their locations. It seems that every year that goes by some church planter surfaces as having the next best answer and thing to reach people for Christ. I don't know about you but all of this is beginning to exhaust me. Solomon said; What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Eccl. 1:9) I asked this question; "does this apply to church planting today?" The answer I received by the Holy Spirit is YES! My next question was where will this end? I remember the Church Growth Movement of the late 80's and 90's. Many people authored books and generated programs that were sure to be the next answer to growing God's Kingdom. This latest popularity surge in church planting may not be much different. We're seeing new books, conferences, and hands-on coaching being provided at an accelerated rate. Man, I don't want to go through this again. I don't want the current generation to experience what the church experienced in the 90's, a lot of energy used and a lot of hype generated with no results. Wondering if we were still riding in the same type of pattern, just in a different decade, I asked this question; "what is it the church really needs to focus on?" Should our focus be on church growth, church planting, prayer, expository preaching, bible study, or what?" The Lord reminded me of His Main Ingredient to change the world; LOVE. The greatest command He gave us was to love Him and the people He has created. We know the commandment, we just have a real challenge of implementing this SIMPLE principle within the CHURCH. I've realized at this stage of my journey, it doesn't matter what you think you can create, write, publish, advertise, or preach; love is the only thing that can change the hearts of people and the world in which we live. God proved that at the cross, His love forever changed the world. When I think about all the things I've done in regard to pastoring and church planting this one profound principle stands true; if you love God, love people, and serve the Master in love, God will use your life and church to change lives. So, the next time you grab the latest book on the market, or hear the latest church plant guru, try using the Masters Main Ingredient first and foremost; LOVE. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (Matt. 22: 36-38, John 13:35)