Goal #2 Revelation 2:10, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Folks, this is the only crown that matters; it's the only life that endures forever. Be faithful to Jesus. Trust Him alone and always as your dear Savior. Do not let anyone or anything stand in the way.   

Goal #3 Mark 16:15-16, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." My third goal is to take that which I have spiritually and give it away, and the more I give it away, the more I'll have it. Who says so? Jesus! Go share the Good News with everyone you can. I want to spend the rest of my life doing that.

Goal #4 Revelation 22:20-21, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." There was a Christian man who asked this question each evening at bed time: "Perhaps tonight, Lord?" When waking the next morning: "Perhaps today, Lord?" If we are going to prioritize things, Goal #4 would be the development and growth of the concept within myself that the imminent return of Jesus in the sky is about to take place. Unless I am operating with that kind of thinking, I'll spend too much time on peripheral piffle (Don't ask me how to spell that correctly). I'll be robbing myself of some of those good stewardship concepts and promises that are rightfully mine as a child of God.

Intentionally focus on these four goals in the days ahead. And then make the confession of St. Paul your very own (Philippians 3:12-14): "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." 

God bless - for Jesus' sake!

1. "To continue to do what you've always done expecting new and greater results is the definition of insanity."
2. If a church is not intentionally working for growth, it will not grow.
3. Many of our churches are dominated by strong members who want the Status Quo.
4. There is no plan or vision or strategy for growth.
5. Bickering or grumbling among the members is a sure sign that the church has turned in on itself.
6. Lousy fellowship where members are not loved and visitors are overlooked.
7. No prayer, no life, no fervency. Why would anyone want to join something that looks dead?
8. We cling too much to past traditions - "We've never done it that way before."
9. The pew hardly ever rises higher than the pulpit. If the preacher has lost his joy, zest and relevancy, it translates quickly to the pew.
10. Too much mediocrity and comfort zone and not being aggressive enough for Christ.
11. Our message never changes, but our methods better change. Change or die!
12. In worship Content is king over Form. We rely too much on form.
13. Church growth doesn't happen by chance. Where is the attitude of St. Paul who said, "I seek to become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22).