Relevance is so subjective. You can stand in front of breathtaking paintings from the world's most renowned artists and you'll hear varying opinions. But one thing for sure - you can usually tell the greats from the not-so-greats.
The same can be said for Leadership. Although, there are varying methods and opinions on how to get the job done, ultimately, everyone knows what's working and what isn't.
You cannot PACKAGE relevance. It's not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to style, flavor, method, etc. Whether you wear jeans and un-tuck your shirt or you wear a suit and tie...neither makes you relevant.
Relevance is not a PRODUCT. It's not about the way you design your church service or the type of pulpit you use (or table) for your notes....neither makes you relevant.
Relevance isn't about PROGRAMS or systems. You have to find what works for you and go with that. I remember when we used to ask first time guests to raise their hands. We stopped doing that...not because no one was doing that anymore...but because of the size and scope of our church. We elected to use a different system and it added quality to what we were trying to accomplish at that time.
Doing what you do extremely well at the
right time with the right people is relevant.
The other side of relevance is IRRELEVANCE. Irrelevance means that what you do doesn't matter. It could be defined as working hard and only spinning your wheels. Nothing changes.
If we are leading people to Jesus and their lives are being changed...WE ARE RELEVANT!
It doesn't matter to me if your style of leadership/ministry is considered "old school" or "modern."
If you're winning people to JESUS,
YOU ARE RELEVANT!
At the end of the day, it's all about CONNECTION! Certain things can help us connect and increase our relevance.
For one, consider TECHNOLOGY:
- We no longer use typewriters; we now use computers. However, it's NOT ABOUT the computer, it's what you do with it.
- It's not about the latest iPhone...it's what you do with it. My smart phone helps me connect with people faster by using the social media tools at my disposal. With lightning speed I can communicate with thousands of people...NOW THAT'S RELEVANT!
Again, it's not about what you DO or DON'T have...it's what you DO with WHAT you have!
More to come...
