Reflections on the American Megachurch and the Obligations of Leadership

MILES McPHERSON
“God is always going to call you to step out of the boat.”

THE ROCK CHURCH

Don’t be a pastor if it’s just an option. It has to be the only thing your heart burns like fire in your bones to do, because it will kill you. In the end, you have to walk by faith. Theory and leadership slogans are not going to sustain you because God is always going to call you to step out of the boat. The only thing that’s going to hold you up is trusting in the Word of God.

The more well-known you get, the more negative press you get. It’s really a misnomer that when all the bright lights are on you, it’s all good, because there’s a lot of bad and a lot of disappointment and attacks and betrayal. Look at Jesus’ life, David’s life, Moses’ life—every leader in the Bible—they all were betrayed by very close people to them, so I think any leader who’s out there trying to do something is going to get the darts thrown at him, and those darts, those thorns in the flesh, will keep him humble.

FRANCIS CHAN
“Once your heart breaks enough for people, you’ll find a way to get the message to them.”

AUTHOR AND SPEAKER

The biggest problem with evangelism—the way we see it in the States—is that it’s gotten so impersonal. People in the church don’t know how to look an unbeliever in the eye and actually love him or her and carry on a conversation with them. It’s always going to be easier to hang out with believers or people who think the same way we do. It’s going to be uncomfortable to build relationships with unbelievers.

I would encourage leaders not to get too caught up in methodology, because once your heart breaks enough for people, you’ll find a way to get the message to them.

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