35th Best Idea?
I just read this on the Deliberate Simplicty Blog
That's a really good question for ministry. How deep do we go before we say, "Yeah, that's a neat (important, innovative, awesome, whatever) idea, but how close is it to our mission?" You know, there are things we do in ministry that we have to do - some out of obligation (paperwork, I'm talking to you) - some out of passion (evangelism, discipleship) - and they're probably on mission somehow.
So this quote is from a guy who thinks the best ministries are the least complicated. And that's a great goal...but whose congregation isn't complicated these days? Simple example: website. I don't think a church should be without a website. But should it just be utilitarian? I don't think so - that says a lot about a church (we jumped into this technology...but we don't really care enough about it to learn...well...anything) - all flash? Ugh... But it does open up a lot of complications. How often to update? How much information? Sermons online? Audio or video? Online giving? Online calendar? If so, everything or just the stuff visitors need? And so on... But a website is absolutely on mission for churches...but it's complicated too...
So what to do? Heck, no answers today. Just musing...
Many money managers diversify. They attempt to spread their risk by placing smaller bets on a broader number of stocks. But that is not what the best money managers do. The best money managers (Bruce Berkowitz, Warren Buffett) have narrow portfolios, maybe 25 stocks in which they are heavily invested. These are stocks in which they really, really invest, and from which they expect big, big returns. Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger: "Why would you want to put money on your 35th-best idea?"
That's a really good question for ministry. How deep do we go before we say, "Yeah, that's a neat (important, innovative, awesome, whatever) idea, but how close is it to our mission?" You know, there are things we do in ministry that we have to do - some out of obligation (paperwork, I'm talking to you) - some out of passion (evangelism, discipleship) - and they're probably on mission somehow.
So this quote is from a guy who thinks the best ministries are the least complicated. And that's a great goal...but whose congregation isn't complicated these days? Simple example: website. I don't think a church should be without a website. But should it just be utilitarian? I don't think so - that says a lot about a church (we jumped into this technology...but we don't really care enough about it to learn...well...anything) - all flash? Ugh... But it does open up a lot of complications. How often to update? How much information? Sermons online? Audio or video? Online giving? Online calendar? If so, everything or just the stuff visitors need? And so on... But a website is absolutely on mission for churches...but it's complicated too...
So what to do? Heck, no answers today. Just musing...
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