Here are some more great ideas from the
book, “How To Build A Great Church,” by Mac Layton (whom Francis Harkens tells
me used to be her preacher, and who, she tells me, has now passed away).
Have
a vision for the future.I do like the
quote from George Bernard Shaw that Layton
uses: “The ordinary man looks at things as they are, and he asks, ‘Why?’But the man of faith and vision looks at
things as they should be and asks, ‘Why not?’”
Evangelize,
evangelize, evangelize!(Matthew
28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).I had never heard
before what Layton
says—that according to tradition, “many of the early Christians sold themselves
into slavery so they could be sent to another place, somewhere Christ had not
been preached.”
Don’t drive away young families. Here’s how Layton
puts it: “A lot of older members of the church are going to have to answer to
God for those precious young mothers they frowned at during worship when their
children misbehaved.”He later adds:
“Give me a church where there is the noise of little ones in worship, and I
will show you a church that has hope for the future!However, where there is only the quietness of
adults, about the only difference between the worship service and a funeral is
the smell of the flowers.Here I will
show you a church that only needs dirt thrown on it to be its final resting
place.”
Recognize the power of the Bible
school.I know don’t where Layton got this statistic, but it is
note-worthy: “85 percent of our baptisms originate” in the Bible school.One can easily see the importance of a great
Bible school.Layton is right in acknowledging another
blessing of the Bible school (in addition to the teaching that take place): “It
answers social and friendship needs”—he’s right!In speaking of the Bible school’s role in
outreach, Layton
quotes “someone” who, no doubt, is on to something: “What people are looking
for is not a friendly church, but friends!”—to which Layton adds, “The Bible school provides the
ideal setting for that.”
Recognize the power of women.Layton rightly recognizes
that there are several jobs woman can do in the church, without exceeding
Scripture’s limitations: hospital visits, door greetings, soul-winning,
hospitality, and encouraging—to name a few.And Layton
wisely recognizes that women have a gift when it comes to teaching children,
noting, “They have a way of leading and teaching children that no man could
ever have.Their patience, wisdom, and
tenderness in molding and making young lives in the image of Christ is without
compare!”
Get to know your brethren.Layton emphasizes keeping every Christian faithful, and that
through friendship, through getting together and thus keeping up with each
other’s lives—a noble cause, indeed.I
love, too, the poem that Layton
includes, which begins:
If we knew each other better,
We would praise where now we blame,
We would know each bears his burden,
Wears some cross of hidden shame.
We would feel the heartaches bitter
They so long alone have borne,
If we knew each other better,
We would praise instead of scorn.
Be benevolent. Layton wisely points out: “A harvest of souls and broadening
of Christian influence is always the result when the church is engaged in
benevolence.It is no wonder that,
shortly after the matter of the daily ministration of the poor widows in Jerusalem, we read, ‘the
number of the disciple multiplied’ (Acts 6:7).No church ever undertook great works of benevolence and mercy but what
God blessed it with growth.”Layton includes this
great poem:
“Go break to the needy sweet
charity’s bread,
For giving is living,” the angel
said.
“And must I be giving again and
again?”
My pitiful and peevish answer ran.
“Oh, no,” said the angel,
Piercing me through,
“Just give ‘til the Master stops
giving to you!”
Layton also point out that giving frees us from
materialism.And he makes a note-worthy
comment: “For each one that we have lost in my years of ministry to some
‘issue,’ we have lost dozens to materialism, the love of this world and the
things that are in the world.”And
here’s a great story Layton
tells:“Once a congregation was in a
special fund-raising drive.On the last
Sunday of this effort, the preacher jumped into the pulpit with a great deal of
excitement and said loudly, “We have the money!We have the money!Praise God, we
have the money!’Everyone in the church
smiled for joy.But then the preacher
said, ‘Now all we have to do is give
it!’”
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