In Summary:
What people want from their church is spiritual guidance and belonging.
What people need from their church is spiritual guidance and accountability/impact.
What people want from their pastor is preaching and casting vision.
What people need from their pastor is spiritual challenge.
What is spiritual guidance?
* helping you develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
* providing a clear pathway that helps guide your spiritual growth
* helping you understand the Bible in greater depth
What is spiritual challenge?
* challenging you to take the next step spiritually
* encouraging you to take responsibility for your own spiritual growth
As you think about the coming year and your life with God, you may want to consider how to get some more accountability in your life. You are probably already facing some challenges, so the key for you is to let those hard times and difficulties become a platform for trusting God more, getting more wisdom, and building your character.
People need help in figuring out how to grow spiritually, and they need the church to help them with accountability to take the next steps they know they need to take. And accountability requires relationships, a form of mentoring and friendship, a willingness to care about another person, to check in on them and speak truth in love.
People also need their pastor to help them embrace the challenges of life and let them shape their relationship with God. For those that are comfortable in life, they need their pastor to help them step out of their comfort zone into a life of faith and risky love.
People don't need more programs to grow spiritually. They need to make a decision, and then they need to use everyday life as fodder for loving God and loving their neighbor. Programs can be a helpful tool, but they are for a limited time and purpose. The challenge you accept does not come from a program but a inner choice to grow more mature, to align your character with Christ's.
At Anchor this year we will be providing you with a place to belong and grow spiritually. You must take the initiative, but we will walk with you. As the pastor, I am committed to challenging you, to helping you accept the challenges of your life, and blossom into a Christ-centered person. The choice is yours, but we will be an anchor for you every step of the way.
