The church is not a business! That statement has been made a number of times. Many people get antsy when they think about the organizational reality of a church. Why can't the church just be an organic ministry that just "goes with the flow" in how it operates? Why do we need organizational clarity? Isn't that taking us into a business model for our ministry?

Just because two or more people serve on a leadership team does not mean that they agree or see eye-to-eye on everything. The reality is that oftentimes, there are not mechanisms in place to help leaders to come to consensus, therefore, politicking and pragmatism kicks in and the leadership can quickly become divided.

When we were children, we played the game, follow the leader. There were two requirements for that game, a leader and a follower or a group of followers. When it comes to church life, there can often be a struggle between those who are leading and those who are supposed to be following. When this occurs, the life of the church can become endangered.

Nothing is more ugly for a church than if there are multiple churches under one roof. Oftentimes, when a person has an issue with another person in church, they can quickly seek to find people who will "unite" with them over their hatred, frustration, anger with the other person. When that happens, disunity sets in and if not dealt with, will often crystallize into multiple churches under one roof.

The ultimate church killer is in fact the sin of pride. Regardless of who it is, pride affects the greatest to the least and regardless of who is struggling with it, pride, in any person and in any form can and often-times will kill a church. This final episode will explore the reality of pride and its affect on the church.

You have heard the expression, "that person is a control freak!" However, the reality that hits many churches is that control is a real deal for people. Maybe because of their personality or maybe because of their past or maybe even because of their perceptions one person or one group of people feels a need to take control of the church in a way that God never intended.

What is the church? Is it a building, is it universal, is it local, is it an individual, is it an assembly of people? What constitutes the church and how do we delineate the various aspects of the church?

Compare the view that Satan likes to give of the church which is a place of abuse, a place of greed, a place of hurt to what Christ views it as which is His bride, His workmanship, His creation. Since theologically we know that Christ does all things well and that He is arrayed with splendor and majesty, we have to conclude then, that there is a beautiful aspect of the Bride of Christ

What did we learn from Covid? How does a pragmatic view of gathering affect us? Why does it matter that our children find the priority of attending church? Can't we just hop around and explore a variety of churches? Why does the week in and week out "grind" of church life help us in our walk with Christ? Can't we just livestream the service and call it good? Why does it matter that we make sure that we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together and why does it matter that we do that all the more as we see the day approaching?