All about the Numbers

I have been thinking about this for some time now and have been setting up “new things” goals as we come up on our Annual Members Vision Meeting on June 10th… is all about the numbers.

Let me just clarify something: 
Northgate is all about the numbers.

The number of lives that Jesus can permeate and penetrate with the gospel.
The number of relationships that can be restored.
The number of people following the Lord.
The number of depressed people that can find hope in Jesus.
The number of hurt people that can find healing.
The number of people who will learn to order their lives by the Word of God and start prioritizing their lives accordingly.

What else matters? What else should we be about?

This might come as a shock to a lot of people, but measuring numbers and putting an emphasis on them isn’t a new phenomenon. 2000 years ago, Luke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote:

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day…47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
 Acts 2:41, 47

Apparently God is all about the numbers. So I want to be, too. And so should you.

It’s unacceptable to me as a pastor that we would stop growing when the Lord wants to add to our number daily those who are being saved. And in order for that to happen, we need to track every scrap of statistical data at our disposal. We’ve got to make sure we’re measuring ministry numbers to measure our effectiveness and enlarge the Kingdom of God. I don’t want to waste a single dollar or second on a program, piece of equipment, or ministry position that isn’t the best option for reaching the most people.

You might be averse to numbers for a number of reasons.

Maybe you don’t like the idea of big crowds. If that’s the case, you wouldn’t have liked the New Testament Church. And you really won’t like heaven.
Maybe you think it steals away from discipleship. It’s possible. But it’s just as possible for that to happen in a church of 10 people as it is in a church of 10,000.
Whatever your reason is, remember: every number is indicative of a story.

Personally, I don’t want to put a cap on the number of stories God wants to redeem. Especially when I read this:

9 I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God.”
Revelation 7:9-10

Now that’s a number worth shooting for. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to wait until I die to see this. I want to see this partially fulfilled in my lifetime. More people worshiping Jesus than I can count.

I want to see a little heaven on earth through Northgate. Through every church. I think it’s what God wants too.

And that’s why we’re all about the numbers.

I ripped off that phrase-be a bringer- from @KevinGerald. He uses it to remind his church of their responsibility to be witnesses for Christ. Not only should we invite people who are far from God to come to church-we should bring them with us. We should do whatever we can to compel them. Because there is a great chance their life will be changed in the presence of Jesus Christ.

As we prepare and get ready for our weekly Sunday worship experiences, we need to be putting a lot of effort into motivating our people (you) to be bringers. Northgate is not only for you, but for someone in your life who needs to find hope in Christ.

We’re going all out to present the Gospel. The opportunity is great. The need is urgent. And although public worship gatherings aren’t the only way someone can come to Christ, we’ve seen thousands respond to Jesus in this environment. We believe God moves in a special way when His Church comes together. Not just in our church, but anywhere the Gospel is preached.

Believers all over the world, let’s be bringers this season.
You never know the impact your invitation could initiate.