“Why don’t you go see a doctor?” she said.

Actually, she’s been saying this for over two weeks. You see, I’ve been coughing for two weeks and it’s been miserable for her…and me too.

I hate going to the doctor. It always takes longer than it should. It always feels like a waste of time. Who designs a waiting room, for a waiting room?

But after two weeks of tossing and turning until three or four in the morning because of the coughing, I gave in and went to the doctor this morning.

I went to see the doctor for a cough.

Came out of the doctor’s office with a prescription for antibiotics and a future appointment for a colonoscopy!

COLONOSCOPY!!!

That was not on my radar. That was not the plan.

What the freak! I just wanted something for my cough!

That’s why I hate going to the doctor

“What do we have to do to grow the church?”

“How can we grow the church?”

These are probably one of the most frequently asked questions amongst church leaders. That’s because most congregations are growing older and declining. The growth of the church is literally a matter of life and death for most congregations.

However, these are absolutely the wrong questions for the church to ask.

Jesus doesn’t ask the church to grow. God doesn’t call the church to grow. This doesn’t mean growth isn’t important. Growth is vital. Without growth, churches die.

However, growth is the byproduct and the result of a congregation where God is at work. Growth isn’t the goal of the church. Growth is the byproduct of a church where God is at work.

“…and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3)

The question congregations ought to be asking is, “How can our church be a blessing to our neighbors?” “What do we need to do to be a blessing to our community?”

When God begins to bless the people in our community through our congregations, our congregations grow.