As we move back into sharing with you about the local church, I want to provide you with some steps that every church should consider taking. The church is God’s anointed body to advance the Gospel globally. The size of the church does not matter because each church needs to make wise, biblical decisions about how to utilize the resources available. Here are four helpful steps your church can take to evaluate everything financially.

 Rule Out Needless Expenditures

Stop pouring money into programs that are no longer effective. Tradition is an important part of our churches, but more importantly Jesus makes it clear that His church is to bear fruit. So evaluate where your church is placing its resources. Remind your church why it exists and have the courage to make the hard decision of pruning the branches that are not producing fruit. Remember, we are here to tell every person in the world about Jesus Christ and make disciples of all the nations.

Reduce Debt

Today’s economy has been a tough teacher to individuals, businesses, and churches about the challenge of indebtedness. While buildings are usually necessary, we need to keep in mind the importance of transforming lives. This is not usually accomplished because of buildings, but because of people sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Churches need to be wise about how they invest their money. Money gives options. Therefore, we need to come up with creative ways to reduce indebtedness so that more money can be allocated towards reaching and discipling people locally, nationally, and internationally.

Reallocate Resources

To be good stewards of resources we should reallocate money to more effective means of fulfilling the Great Commission. Can you cut from one area in order to mobilize more missionaries? What about reducing or eliminating spending on another line-item to equip next-generation ministers of the gospel? Seriously consider refocusing your resources into ministries than will have the most impact in your community and around the world. Avoid duplication and triplication of various tasks.

Be Future-Minded

Churches need to do a better job of keeping a watchful eye on the cutting edge, anticipating the direction our culture is taking. Freeing up our finances, of course, is the best way to be flexible and ready for change. Evaluate everything. Read more, listen better, and be more conversant with what is happening around you. Have your finger on the pulse of the culture so you will be ready for the changes that are coming. Have a future-ready faith.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd
Author of newly released book, Our Last Great Hope

In these significant days that God is permitting us to live, I believe it is appropriate for Southern Baptists to seriously study the possibility of changing our name. The recommendations that our convention adopted overwhelmingly in 2010 relating to the Great Commission Resurgence helped refocus us on our mission and re-establish our vision for the future.

The subsequent convention meeting in 2011 adopted with little to any debate at all, the recommendations that were necessary to implement organizationally what was needed to set the stage for us to move into this Great Commission Resurgence. These are unprecedented days in our convention’s history.

While serving as Chairman for one year of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, we did have a few recommendations presented to us about changing the name of our convention.

While we did discuss the possibility and felt the study needed to be done, we concluded that it was beyond our purview and would possibly sidetrack us from our number one assignment: To bring to the SBC meeting in 2010 recommendations for “how Southern Baptists can work more faithfully and effectively together in serving Christ through the Great Commission.” However, now is the right time for this name change study to occur.

I am going to discuss what I believe to be the critical issues the study committee needs to address. The question, “Should The Southern Baptist Convention Change Its Name?” can only be answered after giving serious thought to a couple of more important questions. What are those questions?

Question #1: Will a name change help us further our missional vision?

One of the recommendations we made to the convention in 2010 contained a newly defined missional vision. This recommendation was highly appreciated by most, if not all, of our messengers.

Therefore, we adopted the following statement to guide us from now on:

As a convention of churches, our missional vision is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.

This missional vision needs to be lifted up highly in all we do as a convention. It needs to drive everything we do. It is the vision that will unite us.

Therefore, we have ask ourselves seriously, “Will a name change help us further our missional vision?” Unquestionably, each Christ-follower has to take this missional vision seriously and own it personally.

Yet, in the larger context of our convention we need to ask if a name change will help us further our missional vision in the work we do together as churches regarding the Great Commission. A serious study will answer this question.

Question #2: Will a name change bring clarity about who we are and what we are doing across the world?

This is also a very important question that has to be answered honestly and forthrightly. This convention is very complex and is in need of clarity. How can you bring clarity in a convention that is comprised of 45,000 plus churches, twelve SBC national entities, forty-two unique state conventions and 1,200 unique associations?

Without a strong missional vision that receives our upmost priority and a name that reflects who we are and the vision of who we want to become, clarity will be impossible to achieve.

Does our name “Southern Baptist Convention” represent properly who we are presently? Yes or no? You have to decide that personally, but this study committee has to answer this difficult question.

I believe any one of us that answers this question seriously and objectively has to admit that we are no longer just a “Southern” Baptist Convention regionally. We are all over America and the world. While our present name represents so many wonderful and great things in this world and has served our past well, is it the best name that represents who we are today and who we want to become in the future?

I think the only debate that will be on the table will be regarding the words, “Southern” and “Convention”. But mainly the word, “Southern”. Why? It is simple and stated already: we are no longer just a convention of churches that are located regionally.

As a Great Commission people, we are not backing up in history, but forging new paths penetrating and pushing back on the extreme lostness of our nation and world. This I know we can agree upon.

Whether it is in New York City or Los Angeles or Great Falls or Tallahassee or Birmingham or Austin, or even in Tokyo or Jerusalem or London or Mumbai or Beijing, it needs to be clear about who we are and what we are doing across the world.

Yes, a serious study about a name change is needed. This is another reason why I encourage pastors and church leaders to read Our Last Great Hope. It will reshape their conversations with a greater emphasis on the church’s missional vision. It will help the reader answer these questions personally as well as in their church.

Question #3: Will Southern Baptists support a name change?

Based off of what is perceived, perhaps some have already made up their minds. I plead with you, do not do that. God is able to move sovereignly through our convention processes and reveal to us His will.

In time, legalities probably can be overcome. Through due diligence by this study committee, a conclusion can be reached that is best for Southern Baptists. I, for one Southern Baptist, will support the decision of the study committee.

If they come back and tell us that we just cannot change our name at this time due to history, legalities, or whatever else, then it is fine with me. If they recommend a name change, then I will embrace their recommendation. My trust is not in people, but in the power of God that works within and through them.

While a small group of godly men and women have been selected to conduct this study, there are things each of us can be doing as well. In closing I appeal to you in these specific areas:

• Be optimistic: There is nothing wrong with a due diligence study. Let the process occur. Choose against negativity.

• Accept the task force: These people did not beg for this task, but were asked by our President to study it. There is no secret plan or plot by anyone. These are godly people who do not deserve anyone to question their motives.

• Support them: Encourage these men and women, as well as our President. Anyone can criticize or be cynical; however, we are not some secular organization full of secular people. We are His church   filled with people that have trusted in the Lord Jesus alone for our salvation. Remember that we are His people filled with the Holy Spirit and should demonstrate the fruit of His Spirit at all times and in every situation.

• Understand the Issue: The issue being studied is over “name change,” not over whether we need revival or a new heart. All of us know our number one need is spiritual revival. However, if God grants this it will not negate the practical problems due to our name that will be encountered in various places outside of the South. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, one of our great SBC leaders, used to say, “You cannot spiritualize management problems.” We need to remember this in life, ministry, and even in our convention deliberations.

• Trust the Lord: Pray for them and this process daily. It will be a grueling and gut-wrenching experience for them. They need to know we are behind them in prayer, trusting the Lord to use them to show us His will.

We can do all of these things. In this special moment of time, let’s stand up and be His people together. I am trusting in the Lord alone.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd
Author of newly released book, Our Last Great Hope

The last two days I have been sharing with you my thoughts about the potential name change of the Southern Baptist Convention. In my first post I addressed the question of whether or not a name change will further our missional vision.

In my second post I pointed to the issue of whether or not a name change will bring clarity about who we are and what we are doing around the world. Today I want to propose a third question that I think is vitally important for the task force to answer in their study.

Question #3: Will Southern Baptists support a name change?

Based off of what is perceived, perhaps some have already made up their minds. I plead with you, do not do that. God is able to move sovereignly through our convention processes and reveal to us His will.

In time, legalities probably can be overcome. Through due diligence by this study committee, a conclusion can be reached that is best for Southern Baptists. I, for one Southern Baptist, will support the decision of the study committee.

If they come back and tell us that we just cannot change our name at this time due to history, legalities, or whatever else, then it is fine with me. If they recommend a name change, then I will embrace their recommendation. My trust is not in people, but in the power of God that works within and through them.

While a small group of godly men and women have been selected to conduct this study, there are things each of us can be doing as well. I appeal to you in these specific areas:

• Be optimistic: There is nothing wrong with a due diligence study. Let the process occur. Choose against negativity.
• Accept the task force: These people did not beg for this task, but were asked by our President to study it. There is no secret plan or plot by anyone. These are godly people who do not deserve anyone to question their motives.
• Support them: Encourage these men and women, as well as our President. Anyone can criticize or be cynical. However, we are not some secular organization full of secular people. We are His church   filled with people that have trusted in the Lord Jesus alone for our salvation. Remember that we are His people filled with the Holy Spirit and should demonstrate the fruit of His Spirit at all times and in every situation.
• Understand the Issue: The issue being studied is over “name change,” not over whether we need revival or a new heart. All of us know our number one need is spiritual revival. However, if God grants this it will not negate the practical problems due to our name that will be encountered in various places outside of the South. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, one of our great SBC leaders, used to say, “You cannot spiritualize management problems.” We need to remember this in life, ministry, and even in our convention deliberations.
• Trust the Lord: Pray for them and this process daily. It will be a grueling and gut-wrenching experience for them. They need to know we are behind them in prayer, trusting the Lord to use them to show us His will.

We can do all of these things. In this special moment of time, let’s stand up and be His people together. I am trusting in the Lord alone.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd
Author of newly released book, Our Last Great Hope

In yesterday’s post I began introducing my thoughts on the announcement that SBC President, Bryant Wright, appointed a task force to seriously study the possibility of a name change to our convention.

In this series of blog posts I am challenging my fellow Southern Baptists to pause for a moment to consider the really important questions that need to be answered in this study. The first question was whether or not a name change will help us further our missional vision. Here is the second question.

Question #2: Will a name change bring clarity about who we are and what we are doing across the world?

This is also a very important question that has to be answered honestly and forthrightly. This convention is very complex and is in need of clarity. How can you bring clarity in a convention that is comprised of 45,000 plus churches, 12 SBC national entities, 42 unique state conventions and 1,200 unique associations?

Without a strong missional vision that receives our upmost priority and a name that reflects who we are and the vision of who we want to become, clarity will be impossible to achieve.

As a convention of churches, our missional vision is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.

Does our name “Southern Baptist Convention” represent properly who we are presently? Yes or no? You have to decide that personally, but this study committee has to answer this difficult question.

I believe any one of us that answers this question seriously and objectively has to admit that we are no longer just a “Southern” Baptist Convention regionally. We are all over America and the world. While our present name represents so many wonderful and great things in this world and has served our past well, is it the best name that represents who we are today and who we want to become in the future?

I think the only debate that will be on the table will be regarding the words, “Southern” and “Convention”. But mainly the word, “Southern”. Why? It is simple and stated already: we are no longer just a convention of churches that are located regionally.

As a Great Commission people, we are not backing up in history, but forging new paths penetrating and pushing back on the extreme lostness of our nation and world. This I know we can agree upon.

Whether it is in New York City or Los Angeles or Great Falls or Tallahassee or Birmingham or Austin, or even in Tokyo or Jerusalem or London or Mumbai or Beijing, it needs to be clear about who we are and what we are doing across the world.

Yes, a serious study about a name change is needed. This is another reason why I encourage pastors and church leaders to read Our Last Great Hope. It will reshape their conversations with a greater emphasis on the church’s missional vision. It will help the reader answer these questions personally as well as in their church.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd
Author of newly released book, Our Last Great Hope

In these significant days that God is permitting us to live, I believe it is appropriate for Southern Baptists to seriously study the possibility of changing our name. The recommendations that our convention adopted overwhelmingly in 2010 relating to the Great Commission Resurgence helped refocus us on our mission and re-establish our vision for the future.

The subsequent convention meeting in 2011 adopted with little to any debate at all, the recommendations that were necessary to implement organizationally what was needed to set the stage for us to move into this Great Commission Resurgence. These are unprecedented days in our convention’s history.

While serving as Chairman for one year of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, we did have a few recommendations presented to us about changing the name of our convention.

While we did discuss the possibility and felt the study needed to be done, we concluded that it was beyond our purview and would possibly sidetrack us from our number one assignment: To bring to the SBC meeting in 2010, recommendations that would move us to fulfilling the Great Commission together in a more effective way. However, now is the right time for this name change study to occur.

Over the next several posts I am going to discuss what I believe to be the critical issues the study committee needs to address. The question, “Should The Southern Baptist Convention Change Its Name?” can only be answered after giving serious thought to three important questions. For now we will look at the first one.

Question #1: Will a name change help us further our missional vision?

One of the recommendations we made to the convention in 2010 contained a newly defined missional vision. This recommendation was highly appreciated by most, if not all, of our messengers.

Therefore, we adopted the following statement to guide us from now on: “As a convention of churches, our missional vision is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.”

This missional vision needs to be lifted up highly in all we do as a convention. It needs to drive everything we do. It is the vision that will unite us.

Therefore, we have ask ourselves seriously, “Will a name change help us further our missional vision?” Unquestionably, each Christ-follower has to take this missional vision seriously and own it personally.

Yet, in the larger context of our convention we need to ask if a name change will help us further our missional vision in the work we do together as churches regarding the Great Commission. A serious study will answer this question.

There are two other fundamentally important questions that need to be asked before we can offer an informed opinion about a potential name change of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the next couple of posts I will share with you my thoughts on each of them. Stay tuned.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd
Author of newly released book, Our Last Great Hope

Kudzu is a plant brought into the United States from Japan in the late 1800’s. Its growth is extraordinary and provides lessons for the church. This stuff spreads like crazy and there is no way of stopping it. Churches should reproduce in the same way.

Growth in an Ideal Climate

Kudzu flourishes in the climate of the Southeastern US. We need to strategically plant churches using methods and styles that are most conducive to the area in which they are planted. This will give the church the best opportunity for success. Copying what has been highly effective in one region may fail miserably in another. Be sensitive to the surrounding culture.

Growth by Multiplication

Kudzu vines grow as a tremendous rate but what makes its growth more impressive is the way it grows and multiplies at the same time. We sometimes see churches that grow but do not create new churches. We should mimic Kudzu in this regard and grow while planting new churches. The most effective way for a church to fulfill the Great Commission is to grow while planting healthy churches that grow while planting healthy churches.

Growth through Tough Conditions

Many have discovered how difficult Kudzu can be to eradicate. It can survive cold winter weather and hot summer droughts. Even herbicides typically do not kill the plant. These elements will kill the leaves but are ineffective on the root system. Soon enough the vines will begin growing again and reproduce new vines. Similarly, churches that remain attached to the root, God’s Word, will survive the harshest of environments.

This pattern of acceleration and resiliency is what we have adopted at Cross Church, where I am pastor. We planted 11 churches in 7 years. Then we launched 44 churches over the next 10. Now we are planting 50 churches over the next 3 years. Each year we are growing larger at a faster rate. Let the Kudzu plant be a challenge to you in your local church. What are you doing to mimic this pattern as you grow and spread the message of Christ?

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd

Money is a subject many pastors choose not to talk about. They are afraid the message will not be received well for any number of reasons. My advice to pastors and church leaders when preaching about money is as simple as ABC:

Accountability

The biblical approach to life is to acknowledge that we own nothing, and He owns everything. He holds us accountable for how we manage the resources He has entrusted us with.

Every pastor should remind his church of the responsibility God has placed on them to be good stewards of His resources. Here is how I define Stewardship in my book:

The wise and proper management of all that God has entrusted to us, whether it be time, talent, things, or anything else.

Belief

Motivate your church to believe that God will maximize the return on your eternal investment. Supporting the Great Commission means having confidence that God will use His resources (including ourselves) to share the gospel with every person in the world.

People will give to ideas they believe in. Develop a church that deeply believes in the task Jesus gave us and your financial support for that task will increase.

Commitment  

Ask with confidence that all Christ-followers give at least the first tenth of all they have through their local church. However bad we may perceive the timing in a call to finance the Great Commission we must always keep things in perspective.

As frightening as your people’s financial prospects may be, far more terrifying is the prospect of millions dying without hearing the saving gospel.

Challenge your church to grow their faith by giving back to God the resources that are His in the first place. How committed are you and your church to giving His resources back to Him in order to see dying people come to know Him?

Financing the Great Commission requires pastors and church leaders to boldly challenge their church families to be accountable for the resources at their disposal, believing through faith that He will make effective use of them, and to renew their commitment to see people from all nations come to Christ.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd

More than 2500 years ago the prophet Joel addressed three values that are desired by all people, both then and now. He warned Judah that the people’s spiritual complacency spelled disaster.

The key to attaining these highly coveted blessings is to focus on the One who gives them. Everyone wants protection, provision, and joy but Joel teaches us that only when we repent of our casual commitment to God and completely give our lives to Him will we experience these gifts to their fullest potential.

God is Our Protection

Joel spoke of the destruction of Judah all while calling the people to repentance. The day of the LORD was coming. Destruction was inevitable unless they returned to God. What a relevant concept in our world today!

Both as individuals and as a nation we have at times felt the walls caving in around us. Our circumstances become grim and we don’t know who to turn to.

Joel points the way. He says, “The LORD is a refuge to his people.” (3:16). He is our protector and we must repent of our sin and rely on Him to protect us.

God is Our Provision

Joel also suggests that we can lose God’s provision for us through our spiritual complacency. When we fail to take seriously our commitment to the Lord we should not be surprised if He withholds His blessings from us.

Our last great hope is realizing that God reigns, that all good gifts come from Him and can be removed as a measure of loving discipline, just as a parent may send a child to bed without dinner.

Joel says, “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love… Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him?” (2:13-14).

God is Our Source of Joy

Joel describes Judah’s situation as a never-ending funeral where “human joy has dried up.” (1:12). Here again, many of us can relate to the people of Joel’s day. We see the circumstances around us and begin to despair. Yet, Joel says, if His people will repent and return to the Lord they will experience great joy.

The joy we find in God cannot be diminished by our poor circumstances. You may not always be happy, but if you turn from spiritual complacency to a life fully devoted to the Lord, then joy will fill your life.

Who do you look to as your protector, provider, and source of joy? Is it your friends, family, or career? Maybe for you it is modern technology or medicine. Let me encourage you to rely on the Lord for these blessings.

When we repent of our spiritual complacency and wholeheartedly seek God, we can be assured he will protect us, provide for us, and be our source of Joy.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd

Each of us is responsible for our own obedience and availability in fulfilling the Great Commission. In my book I offer 9 action points to help you learn to talk Jesus daily so that the world can meet Him.

• Prioritize: God has designed our world so that it works only when we set our priorities according to His design. Our problems suddenly become small when put into the perspective of the world’s lostness.

• Pray for Opportunities: Every morning ask God for opportunities to talk about Jesus with someone each day. God will answer this prayer every time. Plus it will put sharing your faith at the front of your mind.

• Pray by Name: Pray specifically for individuals you know who are not followers of Jesus. As you pray for those people you will discover that the passion with which you pray for them will bleed over into your conversations with them.

• Prepare Yourself Personally and Practically: Spending time in God’s Word every morning will help place you in the right state of mind for sharing the gospel throughout the day.

• Prime Your Relationships: The most effective witness comes through a powerful relationship. The old cliché is true. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

• Present the Gospel: Friendship evangelism is a great idea, except when it is all friendship and no evangelism. There must come a time in your relationships to present the message of Jesus and ask your friend to make the most important decision of his or her life.

• Provide the Moment for Receiving Christ: We need to build deliberately toward the moment of clearly asking for a decision. Then be sure you give them an opportunity to respond to the decision you have asked them to make.

• Position for the Future: Many people will not be ready to receive Christ. The best thing you can do then is wisely position yourself for future efforts by focusing on building the friendship rather than forcing the issue. God will draw people to Himself in His timing.

• Place Your Trust in the Lord: Whatever happens, praise God and keep trusting. Provide an effective, Spirit-led presentation of the gospel. Then allow God to work in their hearts.

It all comes down to such a simple thing: talking Jesus every day, in every way. I challenge you to spend some time examining yourself to see how well you do these nine steps. Which of them is more difficult for you and what are you doing to become a better Christ-follower in that regard?

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd

Sadly, the only growth many churches experience is through births within their current membership mixed with the occasional transfer family who has recently relocated to the area. In these churches there is little being done to reach out to people who need the message of Christ, both locally and globally. We can avoid this failed approach by making two important course correctives that reflect the central priority of the church’s existence.

People Must Change Their Mind-Sets

The Great Commission is not an option. Yet, we have let it become a sin of omission. We limit Christianity to a “lifestyle choice” instead of a decision of eternal destiny. Let me encourage you with a couple of ideas for developing a Great Commission oriented mind-set.

• Be faithful to talk Jesus daily. Make Jesus a regular part of your conversations. Begin everyday with a prayer asking God to show you opportunities to speak Christ into someone’s life today.
• Be sensitive and respectful. This will make your presentation of the gospel far more effective than if you were to be pushy or obnoxious.
• Be a good friend. Earn the right to be heard by building genuine friendships with people who do not know Christ. When a crisis strikes people turn to their friends for help. This often results in a great opportunity to share the gospel.
• Be confident that God is in control. We serve the Lord of all things. Rest assured that he will bring you the right moment to share Jesus with someone. Simply listen to Him and be open to his prompting.

Churches Must Change Their Cultures

We can offer the best facilities or programs of any church in the world but we’ll never make disciples until we talk about Jesus with people. We have to reinvent church life so it’s built around discussion, planning, and execution of faith sharing. The best part is, Jesus has already given the church the means, message, market, and method for fulfilling the Great Commission!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

• Means:  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me… I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
• Message:  “…observe all that I have commanded you.”
• Market:  “…all nations.”
• Method:  “make disciples…baptizing…teaching…”

The church has all the tools it needs. The only thing missing is our will to be obedient. It’s time to repent, change our mind-sets, and change the culture of our churches. Taking seriously the command to talk about Jesus with people is the key to growing a healthy church.

Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie Floyd