The Absolute Critical Context of the Book
In writing this book it quickly became apparent that defining the context of the book would be critical for readers to best understand the material presented. The book relies on a number of assumptions and I believe that some of the issues discussed in the book could lead to incorrect conclusions if I do not properly define and “fence” the issues.
At the highest level, Projects With a Purpose is designed to illustrate a framework for projects in churches and Christian organizations that will produce healthier projects that lead to God glorifying ministries in the church. If the only thing I achieve by writing this book is helping people place God’s glory at the center of every ministry in their church, then the book has been a fabulous success.
Below is a description of the context in which Projects With a Purpose is written. It is by no means exhaustive, but it does hit on the most important elements.
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Absolute Critical Context of Projects With a Purpose
The context to the book is absolutely critical to understanding how healthy projects can and should be developed in the Church. This book is not a guide to guaranteed project success or to church growth. Rather it is a way of placing God’s glory first in the ministries of the church by being good stewards of resources and doing “all things in decency and in order“. I firmly believe that a projects “success” is defined by God, and all the planning or lack of planning that man can muster will not stop God’s purposes. He does not depend on our project management or our planning to bring about His will. Proverbs 21:1 says that, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; He directs it like a watercourse where He pleases.” Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Our planning does not preempt or trump God’s sovereignty. In the past God has mightily used stammering prophets, He has used a dysfunctional band of 12 disciples to turn the world upside down, He has used the power of a few hundred to defeat tens of thousands, He has used nothing to create everything, and has used a dying Savior to save sinners. I Cor. 1:27-29 expands on this by saying that, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.” Only in the context of God’s sovereignty can project management be absolutely healthy.
So what does this mean for making plans, building ideas, or project management? Should Christians even make plans? Is it even worth writing this book?!
Motivation for Projects With a Purpose
While God is sovereign in all of His ways, He has chosen to use means to build His kingdom, grow His people, and accomplish His will. God is not bound by means, rather He chooses to use means. Take prayer for instance. Matthew 6:8 says that, “your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”, and yet I Thessalonians 5:17 commands Christians to “pray continually”. These verses are not conflicting passages; rather they illustrate the absolute sovereignty of God and the God glorifying means (prayer) that God has appointed for us to use.
So what about projects in Churches? What are the principles that should guide Christians?
God calls us to plan and to be good stewards of the talents and resources that He has given to us. Proverbs 12:5 says, “The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.” Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” God desires that Christians make wise plans in accomplishing tasks. He has given us talents as individuals and resources as churches and Christian organizations and He expects that we use them wisely. Luke 12:48 says, “To whom much is given, much is required.” Matthew 24:14-30 describes how God expects us to use our talents, and how we are not to use them on ourselves or waste them. The Bible is filled with projects that were undertaken; from Noah building the ark, to Moses leading Israel out of
Stewards of Our Resources: Managing Our Projects:
In writing Projects with a Purpose I am seeking to build healthier projects in Churches and Christian organizations. By building healthier projects I am hoping that Churches and Christian organizations can be excellent stewards of the resources and talents that God has entrusted them with. Projects With a Purpose presents a method for building, organizing, and executing healthy projects. I believe that projects in a church or Christian organization have profound affects in three directions:
Upward, Inward, and Outward
Upward – The health of projects in the church has an “upward” component as God directly cares about the “decency and order” of the church. God has called us to be good stewards of the resources that He has entrusted us with, and projects that are managed poorly typically waste a significant portion of the resources that churches and individuals have. God receives glory when churches/individuals are able to wisely steward the gifts and resources that they have. It is critical that the projects and ministries that are undertaken in a church have a God glorying emphasis on how to use these resources in the wisest and most orderly way.
Inward– The health of projects in a church or Christian organization has a profound impact on the unity and moral of its members. Healthy projects are characterized by a deep trust in God as well as a defined direction and well communicated goals. These attributes builds unity among church’s and organizations members by building a common vision that is both actionable and dependant upon God’s blessings. People become discouraged when they cannot see or understand the direction of a project and they are often quick to abandon the projects cause. Too often projects in a church or Christian organization lead to people “pulling” in different directions and this inevitably leads to disunity. God is glorified when the church is trusting Him, when it is using its resources wisely, and when members are working together in unity. Healthy projects in a church or Christian organization can help demonstrate a reliance on God while building greater unity among its members.
Outward– The health of projects in churches or Christian organization also has an impact on those who are outside the church or outside of Christian organizations. Order, leadership, and management in a church provides a good testimony for those who’s first impression of a church or Christian organization may be based on its experience or interaction with one of its ministries or projects. The testimony of a well ordered church or Christian organization ultimately reflects upon God’s character and testifies to a God of order and control. When churches and Christian organizations seek to build healthy projects they also will be building a testimony that shows a God of order.
When Reading the Book
When reading this book, you will be helped by remembering the points discussed in this section. The book does not expound on them, but does relies on them heavily when for framing the material content of the book.
1- God is sovereign in all His ways and yet…
2- God chooses to use means to accomplish will
3- God expects us to be good stewards of our resources and talents.
4- God expects us to be orderly in our plans and our ideas