The importance of momentum

Here's what I know (and something I alluded to yesterday):

In any sphere of life - momentum is huge.

We are beginning to experience that momentum in our church.  New people are coming.  People are growing in God.  Some are seeing life change by accepting Christ as their personal savior.  Many were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the Sunday evening that Allan Griffin was with us.

It is extremely exciting!

Momentum.  I love it.

We just saw in the Super Bowl this past Sunday how the New York Giants had the momentum, lost it towards the end of the first half, gained it back, lost it again, and finally, in the last four minutes won the game with a surge of momentum, with Eli Manning taking them down to score the winning touchdown.

I was reading today of the analogy of a train.  A train travelling 55 miles per hour on a railroad track can crash through a 5-foot thick steel-reinforced concrete wall without stopping.

But you take that same train, and start it from a stationary position, and it won't be able to go through an inch-thick block in front of the driving wheel.

What is the difference?

Momentum.

John Maxwell writes, "It is never the size of your problem that is the problem. It's a lack of momentum. Without momentum, even a tiny obstacle can prevent you from moving forward. With momentum, you'll navigate through problems and barely even notice them."

He goes on to state, "As a leader, your responsibility is to understand momentum, to get it moving for your organization, and to sustain it over time. Momentum can be tricky to comprehend, though, often appearing elusive and intangible."

What can build up momentum - and what can take it away?

Well, let me quote Maxwell again - He writes (I'll add some personal comments along the way) (when I put something in quotation marks - I am quoting John Maxwell):

Momentum breaker - double-mindedness
Momentum maker - focus

"By creating and following a clear and focused vision statement, a leader develops momentum. A leader drains away momentum by shooting at nothing or attempting everything."

What is our focus (at Stone Church)?  To love God and love people.  We do that by realizing that our church is a place to belong, a place to grow and a place to serve.  We encourage people to come on Sunday mornings, attend a life group and serve in a ministry.

If we go after people nobody wants, God will send up people everybody wants. 

Our ultimate vision is to glorify God by connecting everyone we can to Christ.  People ask me all the time, "how big should our church get"?  I always respond by saying that "we should continue to grow as long as there is one more person to bring to Christ."

Now, you would think that as a church grows, as a church gains momentum, everyone would rejoice!  Not so!

Maxwell continues along this point by writing, "Movement causes friction. When you paint a target for your team, you'll likely encounter resistance. As a leader, you can't restrict yourself by living inside of someone else's comfort zone. Great accomplishments require leaders to fix their gaze beyond what's easily attainable."

That is so true.  If I stayed within the comfort zone (as a leader) of someone in our church or someone(s), we would never gain any kind of spiritual or numerical momentum.

In fact, our statement of the year is from Samuel Rutherford, "We hope to over hope and over believe each challenge set before us."

Okay, Maxwell goes on to state:

Momentum breaker - the past
Momentum maker - the future

John Maxwell writes "An organization picks up steam when its leaders point to a better tomorrow. Momentum breaks down when leaders preoccupy themselves with the past. Or, as I've heard quoted, "Losers yearn for the past and get stuck in it. Winners learn from the past and let go of it."

I also would like to add a quote from Jack Hayford here, "the past is a dead issue and we can't gain any momentum moving toward tomorrow if we are dragging the past behind us."

It is very, very difficult to gain any kind of momentum with the "ball and chain" of the past linked to us.

It is cliche but so true - Hindsight is always, always 20-20.  The past always, always looks better than it was.

Maxwell states, "many people have powerful dreams. However, most don't realize that the viability of their ideal tomorrow is based on what they do today. The difference between a dream and wishful thinking is what you're doing now. Practice today what you want to be tomorrow. If you do it well enough, someday you may arrive at your dream."

Momentum breaker - individualism
Momentum maker - teamwork

John Maxwell writes, "If you want to kill momentum, then insist on doing things by yourself. Momentum grows through team victories in which numerous people can claim to have played a role. The level of celebration on a team depends upon the level of participation."

Our goal at Stone Church is to have 100% participation from our church family in the ministries of our church.  We need you!  We need everyone participating!

One person can't build a church!  10 people can't save an entire community.  Everyone is needed.  The entire body must work together. 

It's called the principle of synergism.  Two working together can do far more than just one.  One can put a thousand to flight (as the Bible says), but two can put 10,000 to flight.

Momentum breaker - critical attitude
Momentum maker - constructive attitude

Tennis great Chris Evert said it best, "The thing that separates good players from great ones is mental attitude. It might only make a difference of two or three points over an entire match, but how you play those key points often makes the difference between winning and losing."

I have seen more churches derailed by negativity than anything else.  One negative leader, one negative elder, one negative deacon, can switch the momentum of a church on a dime.

Isn't it true that no matter how positive you are about anything - that if someone comes along and states something critical or with a complaining spirit that you begin to wonder.  I am told it takes 10 positive statements to overcome 1 negative statement that is made.

Someone posted on face book today:  "I am allergic to negative people."  I wish we all that allergy in God's kingdom.

I guess I could say it this way:  I am really negative about negative people.

BTW, momentum can go either way - both in a positive and a negative direction.

Momentum breaker - tradition
Momentum maker - creativity

Maxwell writes, "Don't tear down the fence until you understand why it was built. At the same time, relentlessly question the logic, "that's how we have always done it." What worked in the past may be outdated and could hold you back in the future."

When I first came to Stone Church, I can't tell you how many times someone told me, "we've already done that," or "we've done that and it didn't work."  Okay, but what about this time?  What about 2012?

Momentum breaker – apathy
Momentum maker - passion

Again, Maxwell, "Passion energizes your talent and rubs off on those around you. If you have courage, then you will influence people based on your passionate convictions. If you lack courage, then you will only influence people to the extent of your comfort zone."

One person with passion will always outwork or outperform 99 people with only a passing interest.

Momentum breaker - dishonesty
Momentum maker - character


"Character is the sum total of our everyday choices. It cannot be built overnight. A trustworthy leader has a much easier time generating momentum than a leader with a reputation of being manipulative and deceitful."

Very, very good.

Momentum breaker - conformity
Momentum maker - change

As John F. Kennedy said, "Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth." Sticking with the status quo won't create an ounce of momentum. Although it's difficult and may demand sacrifice, change is required to build momentum.

Here's what I know:  Change does not automatically produce growth, but we can't grow as a church without change.

Momentum breaker - ingratitude
Momentum maker - gratitude

"As a Chinese proverb states, "Those who drink the water must remember those who dug the well." No one can claim to be self-made. Whatever accomplishments we attain in life have connections to the goodwill and support of those around us. When we express thankfulness for the benefits bestowed upon us by friends and colleagues, then those people are more apt to aid us again in the future."

Momentum breaker - indecision
Momentum maker - action

Finally, Maxwell writes, "I am never overly impressed with idea people. Anyone who takes a long shower can come up with a good idea. I'm impressed with a person who has the tenacity and discipline to make ideas happen."

He finishes by saying, "I've seen many leaders break the momentum on their team by succumbing to the paralysis of analysis. Leaders have to act with incomplete information. You can never know all of the variables. Momentum and risk go hand in hand. As a leader, if you always play it safe, then you'll never inspire excitement in those you lead."

Risks are always needed - but the rewards (as the risks are taken) are always, always that much sweeter.

Just some thoughts for a Tuesday.