You’ve heard about the frog and the boiling pot of water. It is a Fable, a Tale or a Proverb. These are stories are not necessarily factual, but they consist of a learning opportunity.
Find a happy frog and toss him into a pot of boiling water it will hop out hardly even feeling the heat. However, if you put the same happy frog into a pot of cool water, then gradually raise the temperature, the frog will be lulled into ‘comfortable’ and will relax enjoying the experience. Increasing the temperature gradually and the frog will be cooked. Hmm! Not sure if there is any scientific value but as a fable, it works.
The average church has less than 100 people in attendance on a weekend. Some people go to Prayer meeting and others go to Home groups. A few others volunteer. The church is comfortable and relaxed. The people all know each other and enjoy the coffee, conversation and traditions. The average church has many traditions that make everyone comfortable. The average age gets older and if you looked at attendance stats (average churches rarely monitor anything) the people are aging. There are no baptisms, rarely does anyone re-dedicate their lives and a current testimony is rare. Everyone is comfortable, somewhat happy and content.
However, drop a terrorist group at their front door, a major flood or fire and something happens. Something dramatic happens. The people begin to pray seriously. They begin to live Matt 6:33 “seek ye first the Kingdom of God”. (KJV) In fact with the presence and fear of the crisis outside, the people get active, re-dedicate their lives and the church actually starts to grow, become relevant and moves toward ‘Health’.
If the tale of the Frog and boiling water (average church) has any learning for us, let’s learn from it and start praying. The crisis is here. Our world is in desperate need of a Savior.
Leadership is… guiding your church from ‘comfortable’ to ‘health’.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com