By Rob Campbell

www.cypresscreekchurch.com

In Dave Browning’s book, Deliberate Simplicity, he writes about “doubling up.” Let me paraphrase his thoughts.

As we venture into a new year, I believe Browning’s suggestion is timely.

Dave writes, “An exercise that every pastor should engage in regularly is to take out a piece of paper, write at the top, ‘My Ministry at Double the Size,’ and then start to bullet out what that would look like.”

“Would it require an additional service? Additional staff? Reorganization? A different meeting place?”

“Once you know what it would look like, you have ideas about what it will take to get there from here. A key question to always be asking is, ‘How can I serve twice as many people as I presently do in the coming year?’”

“The story Jesus told of the talents implied doubling as an expectation: The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more’”. Results certainly may vary from the story. We plant and water and God gives the increase. But in our planning and preparation, we should be getting ready for a 100 percent return on investment.”

May your work in the Lord’s vineyard produce great gains for the kingdom of God!

Comments?

Rob