God operates on the principle of what I call ‘structure’ and ‘flow’, namely He first establishes a structure and then releases a flow. In creation, having formed man from the dust of the earth, God breathed the breath of life into him. Similarly, when Moses built the tabernacle the glory of the Lord filled it. Likewise, a mature and effective church is one that has an effective structure and an effective flow. In terms of structure, you will find that most churches are comprised of five levels of commitment; let’s look at these:
The strength of any organisation is determined by the strength of its core; the stronger the core, the stronger the church. The Core are the people who make things happen. Everything you enjoy when you come to church is a result of the dedication, faithfulness, commitment and sacrifice of these people for whom there is a massive reward awaiting them in this life; and an even greater reward in eternity. They are the most consistent and most generous givers and so, not only do they carry the church spiritually, they also carry the church financially. They are committed to ministry.
The Committed are those who have made a personal commitment to spiritual growth. Their involvement with church goes beyond just Sunday attendance. They are more than just members and although they may not yet be actively involved in ministry, they are serious about their faith and serious about making a difference for Christ. They are growing in their relationship with God and are consistent, reliable and dependable. These people are committed to growth.
Wherever you find yourself in this picture, God is calling you to the next level - from the community into the crowd; from the crowd into the congregation; from the congregation into the committed; from the committed into the core. Even at the core, there is always a higher level of involvement.
So, how do you answer that call? The answer is in one single word – commitment. Whenever God calls you to a higher level in anything, He is actually calling you to a deeper level of commitment. Commitment first starts in your heart and ultimately manifests in your actions. It is first a decision and then a corresponding action.