The Targeted Approach
It's been an ongoing phenomenon for years, the exercise gadget that is aimed at addressing one area of your body; The Thighmaster, the Ab Roller, and the list could go on. These products promise results on a particular area of your body. Thinner thighs, tigher abs, etc.
The problem with this targeted approach is...it doesn't really work. If you want six pack abs, you're going to have to eat a lean protein, lower calorie diet and exercise the other areas of your body to burn calories too. If you want thinner thighs, you're going to have to ditch the doughnuts and hit the treadmill. Overall changes, exercising your entire body, changing what you are fueling your body with, those are the only ways to have the desired results; a targeted area without the changes simply won't produce the results.
Its much the same in the church. Take evangelism for example; If we want to have a congregation that is active in evangelism, we can't just focus on evangelism, but we need to have a well balanced approach. Before evangelism can take place, our people need to receive the evangel (good news, gospel) and be spiritually filled by God's Word and Sacraments. After members have shared the good news with others, they need a healthy church to bring them to so that they can continue to receive the spiritual food of God's Word and Sacraments.
The reality is that there aren't any shortcuts to rock hard abs, nor are there any shortcuts for churches. If you want rock hard abs, you need to make some life changes. If you want congregations that are doing the work of God as He has designed it, you need to start with doing things His way overall.
The problem with this targeted approach is...it doesn't really work. If you want six pack abs, you're going to have to eat a lean protein, lower calorie diet and exercise the other areas of your body to burn calories too. If you want thinner thighs, you're going to have to ditch the doughnuts and hit the treadmill. Overall changes, exercising your entire body, changing what you are fueling your body with, those are the only ways to have the desired results; a targeted area without the changes simply won't produce the results.
Its much the same in the church. Take evangelism for example; If we want to have a congregation that is active in evangelism, we can't just focus on evangelism, but we need to have a well balanced approach. Before evangelism can take place, our people need to receive the evangel (good news, gospel) and be spiritually filled by God's Word and Sacraments. After members have shared the good news with others, they need a healthy church to bring them to so that they can continue to receive the spiritual food of God's Word and Sacraments.
The reality is that there aren't any shortcuts to rock hard abs, nor are there any shortcuts for churches. If you want rock hard abs, you need to make some life changes. If you want congregations that are doing the work of God as He has designed it, you need to start with doing things His way overall.
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