My wife and I are blessed to be a part of a great church. Next month will mark our 14th year as members of WFR Church in West Monroe, LA. Yes, it is the “Duck Dynasty church”. But, it was a great, thriving church long before the popular TV show and the popularity of the Robertson family. WFR (Whites Ferry Road) has been one of the leading churches in northeast Louisiana for many years, and among churches of Christ there are few churches in the state that are as large and far-reaching.

I have been an observer of churches for many decades and pastor/teachers have been among my best friends since the early ’70’s. I believe there are some concrete reasons some churches succeed while others survive. Success can be measured in many ways and is quite subjective. However, given the mandate to reach the lost with the saving gospel of Christ I believe numbers matter, though for sure membership numbers, the number of baptisms, etc. are only one piece of the puzzle. As I think about why WFR Church of Christ is the size and kind of church it is, the reasons are the same ones that other great churches share. A few of those markers, from my perspective, follow.

Men and women of vision  Our history is one of men like Alton Howard, Carl Allison, Bill Smith, Norm Rhodes, and a host of others whose vision for the impact of the work in West Monroe always and forever included the whole world. Every great church I have observed, without regard to the brand, is global in scope of mission. Yes, they are impacting their communities, but their reach is to the far corners of the world.

WFR’s leaders believed they could get the gospel to the ends of the earth so World Radio was born. Now many decades later tens of thousands of people have been reached with the good news and thousands of churches have been planted because of visionaries who thought big. Every church I am aware of that is baptizing people weekly at home are global in the scope of their mission. WFR Relief was begun to serve the planet in the aftermath of natural disasters. Since the early ’80’s WFR Relief has responded to the needs of hurting people around the world. Vision is not confined to only the men. Dr Joneal Kirby began a ministry to young mothers called Heart to Home. It’s a ministry where the older women teach the younger women by example, by word, and monthly meetings where “Heart mom’s” host “Heart sisters” for a great meal, fellowship and a Bible lesson. In the group my wife helps host women who a few months ago were really troubled are now themselves ministering to others and becoming great leaders among our woman. Heart to Home has been a blessing to our church and many others and is soon going national. What a great work!

People with no real vision past their church walls will do little to help anyone.

Transparent leadership  Sadly, in most churches, the people in the pews believe the pastor, the elders, or deacons, are somehow on a higher spiritual level than they are. In some cases that is surely true but for the most part its baloney. Leaders who never hint that they have struggles in life, who never admit they struggle with sin just like everyone else, will not produce sold out followers of Jesus. The most holy people I know are also the most honest and the quickest to admit they are flawed people who desperately need God’s grace. Unless church leaders are marked by humility and the willingness to be honest about themselves, publicly, they will not be good leaders.

One of the most important reasons many people come forward at the invitation at WFR to confess some sin, to be baptized, to be prayed for about some sickness or marriage problem is that they know they will not be judged by any of our leaders, or our members as less than one of the family who is hurting. It’s OK to be up front with all of life’s problems, even when it’s ugly and sinful. The folks are met with several people around them, giving hugs, words of encouragement, and unconditional forgiveness.

Generosity  One of the first marks of the church after Pentecost was their generous hearts. People who had stuff sold it and gave the money to brothers and sisters who had little. A stingy congregation will never do much good. Many of the fastest growing churches in America give almost 50% of their funds away every year. Someone once said “If you get a man’s heart you’ll get his billfold”. I think there is some truth to that. Some people are just plain stingy and as a result are either broke or can’t enjoy what they have been blessed with because they hoard. Churches should be givers. They should help the helpless. I have been amazed at the generosity of our people at WFR over these years. All great churches heavily support missions but also give to other worthy causes.

Christ centered-Grace driven   Every great church shares this distinctive. Far to many churches invest their time and resources in the wrong places. God never called anyone to do “sin management”. Christ came to crush the power of sin and to make men and women righteous. Most preachers on Sunday give the folks in the pew a devotional that appeals to their emotions, or they try to encourage spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study, having a quiet time, giving, etc), or some other message with a view of behavior modification. The preacher is thinking “If I can just get the church members to do this or do that or be this or be that….” I have a suggestion. Start preaching Christ and when they fall in love with him, when he becomes their greatest treasure they will do that stuff you want them to do.

No great church (and no great preacher) gets a fraction of an inch from the gospel. People need to not only know the basic facts of the gospel, they need to know what those facts mean for them. I know that when the light comes on and they know who they are and why they are who they are they will be different people. Every ministry of every age group should be gospel centered, Christ saturated. People desperately need to know that better behavior is not the answer to life’s difficulties, Christ is the answer to those problems. Preaching holiness to carnal Christians is like teaching physics to pigs. It’s a waste of time. I promise that if you will teach a man about Jesus and what Jesus has accomplished for him and who he now is in Christ his life will change for the better. Many churches are trying to make great disciples of people who are not even saved. Unless you preach Christ, think, eat, and sleep gospel and grace your ministry and church will do little good.

Every great evangelist, every great revival, every great pastor, and every great missionary have one thing in common. They keep the main thing the main thing. And that thing is the good news about Jesus and what He as done for ungodly sinners and what he offers as a free gift. It never gets outdated, it never looses its power, it never fails. Please, preach Christ to your people.

Royce Ogle
Monroe

This is part of a comment I posted on a friend’s blog.

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The good news about Jesus’ work for the ungodly is not about our “doing” but His “done”. God was in Christ reconciling the cosmos to himself. We have been (past tense) reconciled to God by the death of His son. In Adam the law of sin and death reigns. Even those who had no law sinned and died. Just as Adam represented us in sin and death, the second Adam (Jesus) represented us in defeating death, hell, and the grave. When he died we died with him and just as a widow is freed from her marriage by death, so we are freed from the penalty of the law by the representative death of Jesus for us. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made righteous.

The gracious offer of the gospel is the free gift of being set free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and finally the very presence of sin. Sinners hear the good news, they repent of their unbelief, and beginning with confession and baptism, try the best they can to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Jesus said he came to seek and to save (only he saves…) that which was lost. He also said he did not come to condemn, and he didn’t appoint anyone else to condemn either.

Royce

I’m a big talker. I suppose you could say I have the “gift of gab” what ever that is.. Those of us who talk a lot are not usually the best listeners. And, there’s that thing about having 2 ears and only one mouth…. So, I’ve set about to become a better listener.

What have I been hearing? Here is the list.

Music – I know that is strange to most of you. Almost everyone I know listens to music at least while they are in the car but not me. Until recently that is, sometimes I actually listen to music on purpose. I have often joked that I like music a lot but not enough to listen to it. I have discovered anew the beauty of music, several different kinds.

Public Radio – One the way to work I listen to the local Public Radio FM station. Yes, they still have a liberal to nutty political slant but I am listening, and to my shock, enjoying the programming. Some of the segments are very educational and interesting. I would like it better if all the men didn’t sound effeminate and the woman as if they were performing for an English Professor. And, I think the programming is actually good enough to stand on its own sans federal tax dollars.

I enjoy Click and Clack, the car guys, Prairie Home Companion (I cringe when Garrison Keillor mentions politics…) because the music is so good. I must say Garrison is a pretty good singer himself, and I enjoy the music of Louisiana they play frequently on the weekends. It’s good stuff!

My Wife – I’m trying to do better at this. It should be easy because my much-better-half is an interesting woman! When she comes home from one of her many exploits I sit with her at the kitchen table, look her in the eyes, and listen to her talk about what she has been doing. I am always amazed at how much she can get done and how many people she can recruit to help her get it done. 

I love the sound of her voice! Just hearing her in the other room gives me a level of comfort. I love hearing her signature little moan as she awakes from a midday nap. And, my wife Carol is one of the most wise persons (and most generous) I know. So listening to her is very worthwhile, in many ways.

People in the midst of grief – Last Wednesday Carol and I began our 11th year of facilitating grief groups. We had a room full of pain last week, people desperate to find answers that are not forthcoming, a brief respite from the insistent inner pain, but nothing makes it better it seems. Oh, except for talking. Each week we watch a video together and then have some discussion afterward. It was our listening to their talking that made a difference last week. Crying and talking is what soothes the grieving soul. There were tears and there was lots of talking. In those times my chief assignment as God’s representative is to be a compassionate listener.

Yes, the leaders talk some but the real help comes when the hurting soul pours out the pain in verbiage. Anger at God, the unfairness of it all, and the shear pain of a broken heart that has no cure at hand. We will listen for 12 more weeks (too much ice this week..) and out listening will make a difference in those lives. People know that if you hang in there and listen to them that you must care, and we do. 

Great Bible teachers/preachers – For a long time now in an average week I will listen to a few hours of sermons. It’s like an ongoing seminary class. There are so many wonderfully gifted people available on my Ipod or my laptop just a click away. My heart is made glad and I am fueled for the fight of faith that each day presents. I love the Word of God and after more than 50 years of studying I am still hungry for knowing more about Jesus and his grace and love.

Well, it’s time to feed my beautiful body. Carol has the good stuff ready to put where my laptop is now so this is all for this installment.

As a well-known female friend says, “Go with God”. That is a good plan!

Royce