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A Personal Devotional by Debbie Hall
Kick it Up a Notch
“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men”
-Colossians 3:23 in the Holman Christian Standard Bible
Those of you have seen Emeril, the affable host of Emeril Live on the Food Network, have heard his famous saying by now. When he is ready to really do something spectacular, he smiles enthusiastically, and with a gleam in his eye looks into the camera and says, “it’s time to kick it up a notch!” Well, WHBC family, as we look at this year and everything that will go with relocating, it is time for Wayne Hills Baptist Church to “kick it up a notch!”
In keeping with that thought, I am asking you to memorize the verse above and let’s speak it to each other all year long. The word translated “enthusiastically” in the new HCSB above is very interesting. Other translations render it as “heartily,” or “with all your heart.” The New Living Translation translates it “work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do.” And in the Message paraphrase it is particularly interesting: “Don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master.” So what is Paul saying? He’s saying, with apologies to Emeril: “Church, kick it up a notch for the Lord!”
That’s my challenge to myself and you for this coming year. We serve a great God who can do the impossible in our midst. We stand firm on the truths taught in the inerrant Word of God. We love and are committed to each other and have seen God bring us through tough times. We have again given the prayer meeting the prominence it deserves in the life of the church. In the last year or two we have reached out to our community as never before through things like the Community Outreach Festival and the Angel Tree ministry. We have even joined God on mission trips to the other side of the world, and sent one of our own to Bolivia. Last but not least, we are about to begin the actual construction of the building on Ladd Road! What exciting days!
There only remains one thing to do if we are going to grow to the next level God has for us: In many areas we need to “kick it up a notch” and stop settling for mediocrity. Humanly speaking, the main difference between churches that plateau and churches that break through to another level is a commitment to be excellent for the Lord in all they do. I’m not blowing smoke. Consider these facts:
-63% of Southern Baptist Churches have 100 or less in attendance on Sunday mornings.
-30% have 101-350 people in attendance on Sunday mornings. WHBC averages around 300.
-Only 6 % have 351-1000 in attendance on Sunday mornings.
-Only 1 % have over 1000 in attendance on Sunday Mornings.
Now almost all of the churches above are trying to be like the churches in the New Testament, and honor God in all they do. Ultimately God in His Sovereignty will determine how many people are ministered to at WHBC. Our primary task is to abide in Jesus and He promises that that will lead to bearing much fruit. But if you take the time to read church growth books, attend conferences and talk to other growing churches, one element stands out among the churches that keep growing: a church-wide commitment to excellence for Jesus in all that’s done is at the heart of “kicking it up a notch.”
So get ready, WHBC! All year long we are going to talk about excellence:
Excellence in Worship Services and all that entails, including Preaching
Excellence in making visitors feel welcome
Excellence in Sunday School
Excellence in our Outreach program
Excellence in our Nursery
Excellence in our ministries
Excellence in our missions endeavors
Excellence in maintaining our facilities
Excellence in leadership
Together let’s kick it up a notch! Pastor Danny <><