I have been reading a book lately; in fact, I am now reading through it for the second time because it has provoked me to rethink my concept of church and church growth. I have always believed that in order for a church to grow there must be programming. A growing church must have a creative and active ministry for children and youth. The growing church must provide a dynamic Bible study opportunity and a strong mission focus. I still believe a progressive church must develop these and other programs to be healthy and growing, but this book is helping me to come to a new understanding of how to get from here to there.

 The book is The Simple Church, written by Thom Rainer. He suggests that instead of becoming a more complicated institution the church should endeavor to simplify. Rainer says the church needs to focus on three things; what brings people in, what develops there Christian faith, and what sends them out to be witnesses for others. In my reading and reflections I was confronted with the following question, what one thing do we do at Antioch that brings people into our fellowship? Think about it for a moment. Can you come up with an answer? Why would our neighbors want to visit and worship at Antioch? Rainer suggests that a church should answer this question and then focus on making that one thing the greatest strength.

 I have been pondering this for a month now and I have come up with an answer or two, but I want you to wrestle with the question. Could it be the richness of our worship experience? Is it the warm hospitality that people feel when they visit for the first time? Maybe it is our compassionate spirit that makes people feel wanted no matter their perceived status in society.

 Sometimes when a church is trying to develop into a growing congregation the discussion becomes negative. I have known congregations that seem to always be talking about things they have failed at doing. Some say we could grow if we had this or that. God has given Antioch all the people and all the resources we need to do what God has called us to do! I want us to focus on the positive and make those positive things our best strengths. You attend Antioch. You love Antioch. What brought you here and keeps you here will bring others and keep others here. So let us think together and pray together for wisdom and for the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Let us develop that one thing that brings people into our fellowship and then we can develop ways to nurture and to train them so they can go out as faithful witnesses of God’s grace and love. Remember, God has given us all the people we need and all the resources we need to do what God has called us to do.